1550 Hillside Drive
Lots 54, 55, and 56
“The Putnam House”
Built in 1936
Currently owned by Liz Taylor and Valerie Agard
Click to Enlarge
In 1936, Vera A. Strange and William M. Putnam built their cabin in Bracken Brae. They lived at 1945 Clay Street in San Francisco. Mason, as he was known, was an accountant for PG and E.
Mason married his first wife, Pansy, in 1911. They had one son, William Mason Jr. They were divorced in 1923. Mason married his second wife, Vera, in 1926. They did not have any children together. There are over 100 mentions of Mason in the paper but unfortunately, none of Vera. I verified their relationship via ancestry data.
Mason was the son of wealthy Ferndale (Humboldt County) banker Adam Putnam and there are many mentions of him in the papers. The Putnam’s were one of the pioneer families of Ferndale. As the founder and president of Ferndale Bank, Adam had amassed a fortune of over $300,000 by the time he died in 1930.
Adam was a severe alcoholic and was disgusted with his families lack of business sense and often blamed it on his in-laws, the Johnston’s, and would go into fits of rage whenever he heard their name. He was verbally and physically abusive to Mason and his family.
He was the quintessential Ebeneezer Scrooge and was severely disappointed in Mason’s achievements in life. He went as far as calling Mason’s bosses at PG&E and asking why he was not an executive at the company yet. Mason just wanted to be a working man and enjoy life.
Nevertheless, Mason had extravagant tastes and often got into debt. Adam hired private investigators to seek out his creditors and pay them off, the shame of his son being a debtor was too much for him.
When he died he made his disappointment clear when Mason only inherited a $250 monthly allowance. Mason contested the will saying his father was such an alcoholic that he was mentally unfit to be writing a will. It went all the way to the supreme court and Mason won.
Mason’s extravagant tastes continued with the building of the cabin. The cabin features walls and a magnificent staircase made of curly redwood and is a rather large cabin for Boulder Creek, which was not unusual as Bracken Brae was considered the finest resort in town.
The Putnam’s owned the house for 17 years. The current owners, Valerie Agard and Liz Taylor, are the fifth owners of the house.
The details of the contesting of the Putnam Estate can be found here: https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/estate-putnam-32320
Charles A. Doss who built 611 Hazel Brake and 605 Hazel Brake (the castle now in ruins) and was Trustee of Bracken Brae sells lots 54, 55, and 56 to Vera Putnam.
The Putnam’s also purchase lots 30, 37, and 38 and later sold them.
The Putnam’s bought extra lots when they came to Bracken Brae but sold them off. In this case, Vera sells lot 30 to Clarisse Ducket, owner of 435 Hazel Brake.
Mason Putnam
A young Mason Putnam is visiting his uncle.
There are many mentions of Mason and his camping trips in the papers.
Adam Putnam sends Mason to military school.
https://www.marinij.com/2020/05/25/marin-history-how-marin-academy-came-to-be/
In a feat of bravery, Mason Putnam and his cousin take down a raging bear.
It turns out they were lying and got exposed in the papers.
In early adulthood Mason moved to Alaska and began working in the mines. First digging in the actual mines and later as an accountant.
Mason’s love for exotic woods is apparent when he acquired a large redwood burl.
Mason’s brother Edwin dies after being sick only 4 days.
Mason and Pansy are visiting his parents.
The death of Adam Putnam
Mason’s father Adam has died. Adam was among the founders of Ferndale and owner of the Ferndale Bank.
Mason contests the will of Adam Putnam after receiving only a $250/mo. allowance.
Mason wins.
A flashback in the paper to 1932 notes that the court reporter transcripts in the Putnam case totaled 390,000 pages – a record at the time.
Two of our earliest members die in the same year and happened to be Trustees of Bracken Brae, Charles Doss of 611 Hazel Brake and 605 Hazel Brake (the castle) and Frank Lovejoy of 200 Wooded Way. Mason Putnam and Howard Fisher of 450 Hazel Brake are elected to replace them.
An ad in the Oakland Tribune advertise the Putnam House. It is sold to H. l. McIntyre and Dick Wright.
Ruth Silva’s daughter is getting married. The house was purchased by the current owners from Ruth Silva. Anthony Strauss who lived at 575 Hazel Brake appears to have been divorced from Ruth Silva. https://marineraiderassociation.org/strauss-anthony-h/