~A treasure of historic importance~

I promised I would reveal the wonderful treasure I found in the "ballroom" at The Mulvaney estate sale last weekend. Underneath a table, in a box of junk, I pulled these out...


At first, I was not quite sure exactly what I had unearthed. I initially assumed they were the blueprints for the Mulvaney house and I excitedly put them into my pile.


After I paid for everything, my friend Catherine and I began to load our loot into the trunk of my car. She saw the blueprints and declared " Wow, I think you scored a serious treasure!"


It wasn't until we stopped at my Mom's house, which was just down the street from the estate sale, that we were able to take a closer look at them.


It became immediately clear that neither set of blueprints belonged to the Mulvaney house.


Suddenly, we had a mystery on our hands. Were they spec homes that J.J. Mulvaney built back in the 1920's or were they drawn up as alternate choices for his personal residence?



It's still a mystery. All I can tell you right now is, they are original hand drawn blueprints dated May 11, 1925. Designed for Fred J. Wood Co. Inc. Alameda, California. Williams & Wastell Architects.



I googled Williams & Wastell Architects and found that they are listed in the Register of Historic Places in California. Their firm designed several historic buildings in the Sacramento area. I found a link to a hacienda style home they designed, in the Oakland Hills, that was featured in the August 1927 issue of Sunset Magazine!



It seems I found a very old and priceless piece of Alameda history!



An architect friend of ours, insists, that if I drive around the surrounding neighborhoods, and look very carefully, that I will find these 2 homes!




The first house is 1588 sq. ft., while the second house is only 1442 sq. ft.



They are so grand and detailed, yet so cozy and intimate at the same time!



I think they would be very desirable today, with more and more people embracing smaller homes.



My sweet husband said maybe one day he might build one of them for me!



Now that would be a dream come true!