611 Hazel Brake
Lots 1 and 2
“The Doss House”
Built in 1905
Currently owned by Pat and Laura Hanley
Click to enlarge
In 1905, Charles and Mabel Doss built their cabin at 611 Hazel Brake. The Doss family was instrumental in the development of Bracken Brae and were among the founders. They had two daughters, Esta and Mabel, and three sons, Vernon, Auburn, and Robin.
Charles was a succesful contractor from Oakland building many houses there. He also built houses in Boulder Creek. It is likely Charles built many of the early houses in Bracken Brae and possibly many of the houses in Forest Park, which are the houses along Park Avenue and along Big Basin Road.
Mabel Doss’s family (Estey) was among the founders of Oakland. Boulder Creek as we know it was built by Oaklanders during the summer-home boom of 1905 when Boulder Creek became a health and pleasure resort. Her sister Minnie Spence and her husband built the cabin at 260 Wooded Way.
The Doss family owned the cabin until 1929, but they did not leave Bracken Brae. In 1921, they had built a magnificent castle as 605 Hazel Brake. Their houses, as well as most in Bracken Brae, were also vacation rentals. It is likely hundreds of families enjoyed their summers in the Doss cabins. Charles Doss was a trustee of Bracken Brae and many real estate transactions went through him.
The house was sold to William and Rose Bunker in 1929. William was a politician from Gustine, Ca. and there are thousands of mentions of him in the papers.
Courtesy Ancestry.com
The Doss family bought lot 2 in 1904 and built the cabin in 1905. Minnie V. Spence was the owner of the cabin at 260 Wooded Way and was Mabel Doss’ sister.
The Doss family also built the castle at 605 Hazel Brake.
Charles Doss is building a country home in Bracken Brae. (first initial should be ‘C’, spelling errors were common in this era)
Doss the architect and builder
A Doss designed house in Oakland 1907.
Announcement of the erection of the apartment building below.
In 1918, Charles Doss was involved in the alleged attempted murder of Ellen Wilson at 511 Hazel Brake. Ellen accused Doss of waiting outside while her husband Thomas Wilson beat and then shot her. The pair then forced her to walk all the way to town to the Boulder Creek Hotel where they left her for two days. They then took her back to Oakland and dumped her in front of the hospital. When the Santa Cruz County sheriff begins investigating, her story falls apart. Read the whole story at this link.
Charles was a clubman, which meant he was a member of high society.
Eula Mabel Doss was born Eula Mabel Spence and she was the daughter of Aaron Spence who built and owned 260 Wooded Way.
In 1929, the Doss’ sold the house to William and Rose Bunker. William was a politician from Gustine, Ca. in Merced County.
‘Closing’ a summer cottage meant reinstalling the windows. The windows would be replaced with screens in Spring where they would stay all season.
In 1940, the house was sold to the Murrays but was foreclosed a few years later.
Paul Thelen forecloses the house and sells it to W. H. Quarg
The house is sold to Mr. and Mrs. R. G. Watson in 1958
