260 Wooded Way

Lots 11, 12, and 13

“The Spence House”

Built in 1905

Currently owned by Richard and Annie LaConte
Photo by Richard LaConte
Legend of Lots and Addresses
Click to Enlarge

In 1905, Aaron and Minnie (Estey) Spence built the house at 260 Wooded Way. They were married in 1890 and had two children named James Carol Spence and John Ernest Spence. John died in 1907 at the age of 3. The Spence’s were among the founding members of Bracken Brae.

Minnie Spence was the sister of Mabel (Estey) Doss, who along with her husband Charles, built the house at 611 Hazel Brake. The Estey’s were among the founding families of Oakland and were high society.

A. T. Spence was a contractor and inventor and built many houses, apartments, and commercial buildings. He was one of the builders of the famed Neptune Beach of Alameda that was once known as “The Coney Island of the West Coast”.

In 1917, Mr. Spence placed a bet with the Neptune Beach subdivision company that he could build a modern, electrically equipped bungalow in their subdivision in only 8 hours. There was much fanfare around this promotion and thousands of people came to watch. In the end Spence triumphs and collects from the Neptune Beach company a cool $1000 – the value of the house.

In 1924, Mr. Spence was instrumental in the conversion of the Bracken Brae Land and Improvement Company to the Bracken Brae Country Club.

Aaron died in 1930 leaving the house to Minnie. Minnie died in 1934 leaving the house to James Carol Spence. James owned the house until his death in 1962 in a motorcycle accident. The house stayed in the Spence family for at least 57 years.

Marion Smeaton’s History of Bracken Brae lists 260 Wooded Way as having been built in 1913. However, newspaper records indicate the Spence Family purchased the lots in 1904. Also, the Spence family is listed as one of the founders of Bracken Brae so it is most likely that the house was built in 1905 with the rest of the first houses.

In 1904, the Spence family purchased lot 12. In 1905, they built their cabin on it.

The Spence family was among the founding members of Bracken Brae.
December 8th, 1904 – Evening Sentinel
Aaron and Minnie Spence purchase lot 12 and build their cabin on it shortly after.
June 13th, 1907 – The San Francisco Call
Aaron and Minnie’s son, John, dies at the age of 3.
January 4th, 1904 – Oakland Tribune
September 9th, 1907 – The San Francisco Call
Spence-built apartment building on San Pablo avenue in Oakland.
September 6th, 1902 – Organized Labor
Spence has a run in with union officials.
In 1908, Aaron Spence patented a floor sanding and polishing machine.
September 14th, 1911 – Alameda Daily Argus
1206 Lincoln Avenue in Oakland
February 27th, 1909 – Oakland Tribune
The Spence’s niece is married and making a tour in her White Steamer.
Example of a White Steamer. This is the kind of car that might be seen in Bracken Brae.
October 16th, 1912 – Santa Cruz Evening News
November 9th, 1913 – Santa Cruz Evening News
May 3rd, 1930 – Oakland Tribune
September 6th, 1916 – Oakland Tribune
Surf Beach Park was built in part by A. T. Spence. It later because Neptune Beach which was claimed to be “the Coney Island of the west”.
Surf Beach Park, predecessor to Neptune Beach circa 1916
September 6th, 1917 – Oakland Tribune
June 17, 1917 – Oakland Tribune
February 26th, 1921 – Organized Labor
The Spence house at 641 Taylor Avenue in Alameda was later converted to apartments.
August 8th, 1930 – Oakland Tribune
July 29th, 1934 – Oakland Tribune
August 2nd, 1934 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
June 4th, 1942 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
February 25th, 1937 – Oakland Tribune
James Carol Spence daughter is born so he flies over the hospital to give her a salute.
July 11th, 1962 – Oakland Tribune
James Carol Spence dies. He still owned the property at his time.