Sunday, as Dana Green’s Sneak Peek subscribers were opening their email alert announcing that Lafayette’s historic Hamlin House (670 Sky Hy Circle) was going to be on the market for the first time in nearly 40 years, Dana was opening the home’s door to let Ollie Hamlin, her friend and Lafayette Woodlands neighbor, in.
Ollie is the son of Federal Judge O.D. Hamlin, who originally commissioned this Spanish style custom home just prior to WWII.
Ollie has documented the interesting history of the Hamlin House for the Lafayette Historical Society (LHS), where he is a long time Board Member. This history includes the years when Ollie was a youngster and his grandfather had a cabin on what was then a 200-acre parcel of land that had been in the Hamlin family since 1871.
By Ollie’s account, Judge Hamlin had visited Hearst Castle prior to building the house and been captivated by the views there so he chose to build his new house on the highest peak of the Hamlin property and then had it designed to maximize view potential.
“Completed in 1941, the Hamlin House has features popular today that were considered modern back then, including a large outdoor entertainment area with a wood-burning fireplace, one of three original to the house,” says Dana. “The pool, cabana, and separate guest quarters that Hamlin added later are also among the kinds of features in demand by today’s home buyers.”
In 1972, Judge Hamlin sold the house and 45+ adjoining acres to Stekoll Development Corporation and Fidelity Savings, who used the combination to create Sky Hy Ranch, Lafayette’s first gated community. Varied builders bought land for spec housing. Meanwhile, Gayle Uilkema and her family bought the Hamlin House, the cornerstone of the new development.
Walking into the house on Sunday, Ollie immediately noticed the newly stained hardwood floors, fresh paint, updated furniture – and the missing rugs.
“The thing I remember is that Gayle had a prolific amount of Oriental rugs,” said Ollie, about his visit to the house several years back to attend an election party hosted by Gayle, who by then had become a well-respected local political figure.
We usually stage a home for sale to help buyers imagine what it would be like if they lived in it. For Ollie, staging cleared the way to inspire family memories, starting with furniture placement. Everything from a piano that sat in the nook by the front door and the game table in the corner of the living room, to dinner parties in the oversized dining room and books that lined the family bookcases.
Ollie, a 1942 Stanford graduate, was in college when his parents built the house, so most of his childhood memories of the Hamlin property pre-date the house. For a time, though, the bedroom with the en-suite bathroom and walk-in closet located off the hall between the dining room and the master bedroom was his room. Apparently, he shared the bathroom with a canine fraternity buddy from Stanford.
“Rudy was a pet down there and when I graduated no one wanted him, so I brought him home,” said Ollie, with a smile. “I’d wash him in the shower and then quickly throw him out the window so he wouldn’t get everything wet.”
There is one room in the house you can’t help but love — then and now.
“The library was everybody’s favorite,” said Ollie, as he walked towards the inviting paneled room just off the living room. It served as the Hamlin’s family room but could just as easily be used as an executive office. Its fireplace, built-ins and custom hexagon ceiling are original, as are the large windows, which now overlook the garden and pool. The wet bar with the Dutch door in the corner of the library was a popular spot for all ages, said Ollie, including all the kids who liked to spice their soft drinks with maraschino cherries.
The home’s original views were magnificent but Ollie explained that, with the house standing alone atop otherwise undeveloped land, the family decided to add some natural wind barriers.
“All the pine trees were planted from one gallon cans,” recalled Ollie.
Today, the Hamlin House sits in the heart of Sky Hy Ranch. In many ways the main house remains unchanged from 1941. The commanding views, however, no longer surround the home. What strikes a stronger chord are the beautiful window views of the varied gardens that embrace the house on all sides, and the paths that Gayle built to connect them, personally placing each paver.
The house bears Judge Hamlin’s name. Always has, and likely always will. Each of us, though, makes a mark on the history of the homes we live in. Gayle’s legacy on the Hamlin House comes with a Zen-ful gardening touch.
The big question remains: What lucky family will move in next and what will their Hamlin House legacy become? One thing for sure, this home won’t stay on the market for long.
Says Dana: “Given the penchant for people to buy and live in this house for long stretches of time, if you’ve ever wanted to see inside the Hamlin House, now is your moment.”
It’ll be open on Sunday, April 14, from 1pm – 4pm. Stop by!
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