200 Wooded Way
Lots 5, 6, 7, and 8
“The Lovejoy Houses”
Built in 1908/1913/1940
Currently owned by Jeff and Anna Campbell
Click to enlarge
The Lovejoy family was from Oakland and had three generations of family members who owned cabins in Bracken Brae spanning lots 5,6,7, and 8. All the Lovejoys were contractors in the Oakland and Santa Cruz areas.
In 1908, Lyman H. Lovejoy bought lot 7 and built a small cabin on it. Lyman was a native of Michigan and was married to Ada Lyman who he divorced in 1890.
In 1913, Lyman’s son Frank V. Lovejoy bought lot 5 which is the lot closest to the mail boxes. On this lot, he built a cabin. In 1914, Frank married Meta Erickson but she died a year later at the age of 22. Frank re-married to Emily Gilmore in 1922 and they had a son named Walton E. Lovejoy.
In 1929 the cabin on lot 5 had a big cement cellar built under it by Fred Moody, a local contractor. In 1940 the cabin burned down and appears to have been rebuilt as the outbuilding that now stands near the road. In 1917 Frank also purchased lots 6 and 8.
In 1929, the Lovejoys built the house at 333 Wooded Way for Jennie Hosmer and in 1933 built the house behind the gate at the entrance for Mrs. Hazel Murphy. The Lovejoys donated their labor when they helped build the dam at the swimming hole in 1927. In 1944 they helped build the sea wall at the swimming hole and also built a 25 foot bench which was washed away long ago.
In 1940, Lyman Lovejoy died and left lot 7 and its cabin to his grandson Walt Lovejoy. A settlement was made where Walt got lots 5 and 6 and Frank got lots 7 and 8. Frank built another small cabin on lot 8 in 1941 and connected it to the cabin on lot 7 making a larger house which stands today.
Frank Lovejoy died in 1945 and Walt inherited the remaining lots. He lived there until 1950 when he and his wife Violet sold the property to Hugo Breidenbach. Walt ended up moving to Santa Cruz where he would build many custom homes in the Santa Cruz area. He retired in Oregon where he died in 2001 of Parkinson’s disease at the age of 78.
Frank Lovejoy is angered that construction workers are cat-calling women who are walking by.
The Lovejoys were contractors building many homes in the east Oakland area.
Frank and Emily Lovejoy are married.
The Lovejoys are honeymooning in Yosemite and Bracken Brae.
Frank Lovejoy builds a huge bible at his church
Fred Moody is building a cement cellar for Frank Lovejoy on lot 5
The Lovejoys are building the cabin at 333 Wooded Way for Jennie Hosmer
Lyman’s ex-wife and Franks mother Ada dies.
The Lovejoys are building a fine cabin for Mrs. Hazel Murphy at the entrance, behind the gate. The author has it switched, the Lovejoys are in Bracken Brae and the Murphy’s in Forest Park as that property was part of the Forest Park subdivision.
Lyman Lovejoy, the oldest of the Lovejoys has died.
Frank Lovejoy dies only five years after his father.
When trustees of Bracken Brae Charles Doss of 611 Hazel Brake and Frank Lovejoy both die in the same year, William Putnam of 1550 Hillside Drive and Howard Fisher of 450 Hazel Brake are appointed the new trustees.
Walt and Violet Lovejoy are in an accident.
Walt Lovejoy obituary