This past August we rented a home in the historic Haddon Hill neighborhood overlooking Lake Merrit in Oakland California. I of course took many walks to enjoy the gardens and architecture, and photographed this large house on the corner not knowing that it was the Kaiser House at 664 Haddon Road, built by shipbuilding mogul Henry J. Kaiser. This was also interesting to me as I was born in Kaiser Hospital in Oakland!
This nearly 5,000-square-foot Italian Renaissance Revival style home designed by architect William Schirmer is Bay Area history. Built in 1924, the four-bedroom hosted Kaiser’s powerful guests over the years — including a visit from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt during World War II. Every room with a window looks out at either the East Bay hills, Oakland’s skyline, Lake Merritt or the rear garden.
Had I known about the significance of the home I surely would have taken many more photographs and maybe even climbing the front stairs, but I did not, and so it goes! Keep on reading for some interesting information about this historic home.
Kaiser and his family apparently lived at the house until the mid-1940s, when they moved to a 16,000 square foot mansion in Lafayette. In 1967, the Kaiser House became the first site of the Clausen House, which itself later moved to the former home of Earl Warren.
In 2004, the Kaiser House, then being used as a hospice and in moderate state of disrepair, was purchased by Jay and Marlies Patterson. The Pattersons spent more than two years restoring and upgrading the home, and received a Partners in Preservation award from the Oakland Heritage Alliance for their efforts.
The iconic residence once hosted President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for the evening. The visit occurred during World War II, when the president came to the East Bay for an update on the construction of naval vessels. Roosevelt is rumored to have enjoyed homemade meat loaf from the comfort of the home’s library finished with coffered wall panels and a box beam ceiling. He lodged in the adjoining bedroom, which includes a restored bathroom with period fixtures and color scheme.
Kaiser added a special detail ahead of the presidential visit. The prolific shipbuilder, who christened vessels with many Champagne bottles over the years, commissioned an entry door accented with broken wine bottles. The yellow and purple bottles create a stained-glass effect, while their cylindrical shape lend uniformity to the front door.
Above: The back entrance to the home.
I hope you enjoyed this little slice of history, and if you are ever in Oakland, head to the historic Haddon Hill neighborhood and take a walk, it is truly special!
