Forest Home Farms
Encyclopedia
The Forest Home Farms is a 16 acres (6.5 ha) municipal historic park located in San Ramon, California
. In 1997, Ruth Quayle Boone bequeathed the land and all buildings on it to the City of San Ramon for use as a park and historical site in memory of her husband, Travis Moore Boone. After Ruth Boone’s death in 1998 at the age of 94, the City expanded the memorial to include Ruth, in honor of her generosity to the people of San Ramon and in recognition of the contribution women made to agriculture in the San Ramon Valley
.
, and Oak Creek divides it in two almost equal parts. The northern portion of the site contains all of the structures built or used by the Boones, except for the cistern
, which sits atop a hill on the southwest corner of the property. The structures include two houses, fourteen outbuildings and two pergola
s. The houses represent almost a century of residential development in the valley. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that was remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. This home will eventually serve as a retreat and meeting center. The fourteen outbuildings, which vary significantly in date of construction and size, include a barn originally built in the period from 1850 to 1860, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) farm equipment and automobile storage structure and a three-building walnut processing plant that includes a three-story hulling and drying structure.
The southern portion of the property is now home to the David Glass House, a Victorian
style structure dating to the late 1860s to early 1870s. This home was relocated from its original site at Lora Nita Farm. The Glass House is a two-story, wood-frame dwelling with a one-story rear wing, which may be older than the main body of the house. The tank house, somewhat modified from historic condition, is a two-story, wood-frame structure that is probably slightly later in date than the house. The Glass House exterior will soon be restored to its original beauty. Following that part of the project, the landscaping around the home will be reworked to resemble a photo of the home from 1890s. The photo shows a windmill
behind the home and the windmill from the Henry Farm will be placed there to best recreate the way the Glass House is depicted in the photo.
tractors and vehicles. School groups will be able to schedule field trips to the site.
San Ramon, California
-2010 census:The 2010 United States Census reported that San Ramon had a population of 72,148. The population density was 3,991.1 people per square mile...
. In 1997, Ruth Quayle Boone bequeathed the land and all buildings on it to the City of San Ramon for use as a park and historical site in memory of her husband, Travis Moore Boone. After Ruth Boone’s death in 1998 at the age of 94, the City expanded the memorial to include Ruth, in honor of her generosity to the people of San Ramon and in recognition of the contribution women made to agriculture in the San Ramon Valley
San Ramon Valley
The San Ramon Valley is a region in Contra Costa County and Alameda County, California, east of Oakland. The cities of San Ramon, Danville and Alamo as well as the southern edge of Walnut Creek are located in the valley. Interstate 680 serves as the primary transportation route for the...
.
History
The 16 acres (6.5 ha) farm is located at the base of the Berkeley HillsBerkeley Hills
The Berkeley Hills are a range of the Pacific Coast Ranges that overlook the northeast side of the valley that surrounds San Francisco Bay. They were previously called the "Contra Costa Range/Hills" , but with the establishment of Berkeley and the University of California, the current usage was...
, and Oak Creek divides it in two almost equal parts. The northern portion of the site contains all of the structures built or used by the Boones, except for the cistern
Cistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
, which sits atop a hill on the southwest corner of the property. The structures include two houses, fourteen outbuildings and two pergola
Pergola
A pergola, arbor or arbour is a garden feature forming a shaded walkway, passageway or sitting area of vertical posts or pillars that usually support cross-beams and a sturdy open lattice, often upon which woody vines are trained...
s. The houses represent almost a century of residential development in the valley. The Boone House is a 22-room Dutch colonial that was remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. This home will eventually serve as a retreat and meeting center. The fourteen outbuildings, which vary significantly in date of construction and size, include a barn originally built in the period from 1850 to 1860, a 7000 square feet (650.3 m²) farm equipment and automobile storage structure and a three-building walnut processing plant that includes a three-story hulling and drying structure.
The southern portion of the property is now home to the David Glass House, a Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
style structure dating to the late 1860s to early 1870s. This home was relocated from its original site at Lora Nita Farm. The Glass House is a two-story, wood-frame dwelling with a one-story rear wing, which may be older than the main body of the house. The tank house, somewhat modified from historic condition, is a two-story, wood-frame structure that is probably slightly later in date than the house. The Glass House exterior will soon be restored to its original beauty. Following that part of the project, the landscaping around the home will be reworked to resemble a photo of the home from 1890s. The photo shows a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
behind the home and the windmill from the Henry Farm will be placed there to best recreate the way the Glass House is depicted in the photo.
Current events
On May 5, 2007, the city of San Ramon began holding a farmers market on the site. In addition, tours of the site are conducted by appointment on Thursdays and Saturdays.Future plans
The scope of work for this project is quite large and there is a master plan that outlines what needs to be done to make the park accessible to the public. The work will probably take place over the next five years but hopefully some parts of the property will be available to the public on a limited basis. Eventually the site will allow the public to see what life was like the valley near the beginning of the 20th century. In addition to the structures, there will be agricultural artifacts and a collection of antique farm equipment. City of San Ramon Public Services employees along with volunteers have already restored several John DeereDeere & Company
Deere & Company, usually known by its brand name John Deere , is an American corporation based in Moline, Illinois, and the leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery in the world. In 2010, it was listed as 107th in the Fortune 500 ranking...
tractors and vehicles. School groups will be able to schedule field trips to the site.