Valley Homes
River Rd.
Real Estate section, p1
Oakdale estate offers living history, working farm
A
virtual historical landmark, the beautifully restored Queen Anne
Victorian on River Road in Oakdale is a hidden treasure. Surrounded by
cottage gardens and more than 80 acres of prime farmland, the estate
offers endless opportunities for gardening, entertaining and
relaxation.
Built in 1883, the 4,000 square foot home features
five bedrooms, three and one half baths, barns, a workshop, greenhouses,
fruit trees, sprawling lavender and picturesque river frontage.
Offered at
$2,850,000, the property is listed with Norma Torres-Manriquez and
Robin Stephens of Century 21 M&M Associates in Modesto.
A step back in time
Appreciating the home’s history starts with a backward glance.
The
father of eight sons and one daughter, Stanislaus County pioneer Walter
Crow trekked across the plains to California from Missouri during the
Gold Rush of 1849. In fact, the town of Crows Landing, as well as the
railway station, bear the Crow name.
One of Walter’s sons,
Lewis J. Crow, purchased 482 acres of land just outside Oakdale on the
Stanislaus River in 1863, and later added the existing home. Old family
photographs and the signature of Lewis Crow have been found on the
property.
Primarily a dry land grain farm, harvests supplied
gold miners with wheat for bread. However, there was little profit in
grain farming. Without sufficient revenue to pay the irrigation taxes,
the Crows divided the land into 80-acre parcels, one of which was
purchased by the Curliss family in 1908. Almonds were planted and a
small dairy created.
In the 1960s, the home underwent
modernization: ceilings were lowered, bay windows removed and
wall-to-wall carpet was installed to match the then-contemporary decor.
Four generations of the Curliss family have occupied the home.
In 1998, 90 years after the Curlisses first moved in, a grown son and
his wife undertook a comprehensive restoration process to return the
house to its original state. The result is an architectural marvel,
complete with 21 varieties of custom-crafted exterior moldings and
siding identical to the original, double pocket doors, natural flooring
and fresh paint.
Right at home
An iron archway leads
to the welcoming main entrance and semi-wraparound porch. The entry
features bamboo flooring and entrances to light-filled rooms.
On
the left is a library that may have originally served as the farm
office and later a bedroom. To the right is a parlor with dual pocket
doors on two walls, bay windows and a marble, wood and brick fireplace.
Bamboo
flooring encircles burgundy carpet in the formal dining room, with its
ample fireplace and space to accommodate a large dining table. The
traditional country kitchen features modern appliances, a solid wood
island, pine countertops and hickory cabinetry. Adjacent is the
washroom, complete with natural linseed marmoleum, as found in the
original home.
Next are the guest bath, master suite and family
room. Last century, the family room housed a bedroom and screened-in
porch, where children probably slept on hot summer nights.
Special
touches include period light fixtures, hand-painted ceiling medallions
and handsome bead board wainscoting. Central heat and air conditioning
is controlled by separate upstairs and downstairs units.
The
sturdy original staircase, with its 1800s Newell post, ascends to an
open foyer with oak-covered flooring on level two, from which the
bedrooms are accessed. Transom windows atop each door invite in natural
light – a prized commodity prior to the advent of electricity.
Each
of the four upstairs bedrooms offers spectacular views of sitting
gardens or orchards, plus soaring, angled ceilings and large walk-in
closets. The main upstairs bath features twin pedestal sinks, a large
closet and separate lavatory. Behind stacked glass blocks is a
spa-quality, step-down bathtub.
In recent years, former unfinished attic
space was turned into an extra-large master suite with brick pad for a
woodstove, plus three closets: a walk-in, a cedar-lined walk-in and
mini linen built-in. A marmoleum floor enhances the upstairs master
bath, with its charming claw-foot tub and pedestal sink similar to
those found in the downstairs master bath.
Sweeping landscape
The
three-car garage bordered by grapevines, as well as the house and patio
overlook 83.4 acres of organic, biodynamically farmed walnuts, an acre
of fragrant lavender, a vibrant rose garden and plentiful fruit,
redwood, pecan and oak trees.
Landscaped cottage gardens offer
plenty of room for families to play, retreat and relax in sun or shade.
Posts from the exterior of the 1880s home add character to the
surrounding arbors and gazebo.
Nearby are two barns – one
original, the other rebuilt. With exception of the roof, the
100-plus-year-old barn is unchanged. Flanked by greenhouses, the second
barn contains a sizable workshop/hobby area with workbench, storage
and overhead lighting.
Observant visitors will notice the
antique wagon parked outside, dating back to the Crow era, along with
ancient barrels, which play a role in biodynamic farming. Based on
Rudolph Steiner’s agricultural theory, biodynamics utilizes techniques
such as natural composting and specific timing to promote balance and
bountiful harvests.
Rather than relying on irrigation water, the farm has its own wells and a complete sprinkler system.
The
current owners planted almost all of the trees on the property. Pie
lovers will appreciate the backyard fruit orchard filled with apple,
cherry, apricot, plum, peach and hazelnut trees.
Close by, a
half-mile path leads to an acre of river frontage, where three Native
American grinding rocks were discovered in recent years among the
towering oak trees.
The land, home and gardens offer a serene,
enchanting blend of historic vision and modern comforts. Realtor Norma
Torres-Rodriguez says, “Whoever comes in is definitely buying a
wonderful piece of property. Its energy cannot be put into words. But
you’re also buying a piece of history.”
Qualified buyers are
invited tour the home by appointment. For more information, please
phone Norma Torres-Manriquez at (209) 495-7090 or Robin Stephens at
(209) 312-9491.
© HHWS for The Modesto Bee
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