300 Wooded Way
Lot 14
“Watuamuk”
Built in 1905
Currently owned by Miles Escobedo and Della Duncan
Click to enlarge
In 1905, the cabin at 300 Wooded Way was built for famous doctor Susan Jane Fenton. It was named ‘Watuamuk’, which is said to mean ‘Welcome’ in the language of the Ohlone Indians. The house was constructed by local carpenter John W. Wood. Dr. Fenton was an amazing philanthropist and spent much of her life in service of the poor. Her story is below.
The cabin has a complete history as all owners are known to the present date (2020). A search of “Susan Fenton” on newspapers.com returns more that 1000 results.
The trail of owners in the History of Bracken Brae by Marion Smeaton. The dates are not accurate.
In 1905 house was built by Susan J. Fenton
Somewhere between 1909 and 1923 house was bough by Dr. O. S. Dean
In 1923 house was purchased by Eugene ‘Pop’ Elliot
In 1946 house was inherited by Cynthia Elliot
In XXXX inherited (?) by Ross Regan
In XXXX house was purchased by Walt Hicks
In 2008(?) house was inherited by Alicia Powers
In 2018 house was purchased by Sarah Mapel
In 2021 house was purchased by Miles Escobedo and Della Duncan
In 1905, Dr. Susan Jane Fenton purchased lot 14 and shortly after built her cabin on it.
Dr. Susan J. Fenton purchases lot 14 from Bracken Brae founders, the Todd Family.
Announcement that Dr. Fenton is building her cabin in Bracken Brae. J. W. Wood was a local carpenter that lived at 12770 Boulder Street in town.
Construction of Dr. Fenton’s cottage began in April of 1905. She was one of the first female physicians in Oakland. Originally from Pennsylvania, she lived in Sacramento before moving to Oakland. Dr. Fenton received her degree from Hahnemann Hospital College of San Francisco in 1889 at the age of 40. She also studied in Berlin in 1896. In 1890 she began a free health clinic for the poor, her generosity being a theme throughout the rest of her life.
She was the head of Associated Charities of Alameda County for many years, and also the president of the Child’s Welfare League of Alameda County. In 1911, Dr. Fenton was one of doctors on staff at the Shepherd’s Home, a “rescue home” for girls at 1354 – 8th Avenue. In 1900, Dr. Fenton was the commander of the Oakland Hive of the Maccabees, the women’s auxiliary of the Knights of Maccabee fraternal organization. She was also an outspoken suffragette.
She was one of the founders and the namesake of the Fenton Home Orphanage. The hospital she worked at was Fabiola Hospital in Oakland, where she had a wing named after her. She spent most of her later life dedicated to the poor and abused.
Her brother, Elbridge Seth Fenton (Nov 10th, 1846 – Oct 27th, 1942) was the inventor of Rocky Road, Swiss Mocha, and Toasted Almond ice creams and was one of the first people to commercially produce ice cream. Dr. Fenton was particularly fond of her neice, Laura, for whom she built the house. The Fenton Family started the Fenton Creamery, which still has stores in Oakland and Vallejo. Pixar Director Pete Docter, producer Jonas Rive, and others are regulars at Fenton’s and because of this it was featured in the Pixar movie ‘Up’.
Dr. Fenton maintained a clinic for the poor at Fabiola hospital. Fabiola became the site for the first Kaiser hospital in 1942.
https://about.kaiserpermanente.org/our-story/our-history/19th-century-fabiola-ladies-championed-health-care-for-all
George C. Hunt, a candidate for sheriff, is declared insane. Dr. Fenton had tried to restore his reason.
Dr. Fenton gives her thought on the way to prevent consumption (flu).
Dr. Fenton had a wing named after her at Fabiola hospital due to her generosity.
Dr. Fenton is arrested for not tying up her horse.
Dr. Fenton purchases a Pope-Waverly electric car.
Dr. Fenton was very fond of her niece Laura and it is said she built the cabin for her. However, it was announced that Susan build them a house in Piedmont as a wedding gift so this may not be true or she built her two houses.
Laura Fenton has friend over to the cabin
Sometime between 1907 and 1921 Dr. Fenton sold the house to the Dean family.
Dr. O. S. Dean and Evelyn O. Dean (Ivey) were wealthy Oaklanders. Dr. Dean, besides his dental practice was the choir director for churches in Oakland, San Francisco, and Santa Cruz. I found hundreds of mentions of him in the papers.
There are no mentions of him purchasing lot 14, but there are mentions in the paper of him staying at his place in Boulder Creek.
The year the cabin was sold to the Dean family is up for debate. Although our recorded history indicates it was sold in 1921, the fact that they purchased 13 and 15 much earlier than that and that there are mentions of them visiting their cabin in Boulder Creek. I may have found a link that would prove that the Deans and the Fentons were family.
Dr. Dean is selling his horse and buggy.
After he sells his horse and buggy he must have decided to get an automobile.
Although many people took the train to Bracken Brae, the Dean family likely visited Bracken Brae in this car.
Dorothy Dean, daughter of Mr and Mrs Dean, is having a birthday party for her 11th birthday in August. One of her hobbies is collecting postcards of resorts from all over the world. Undoubtedly she had some of Bracken Brae where she played at the same swimming hole we do. She died just a few months later.
Dorothy dies a couple months after her birthday.
Picture of Mrs. Dean in 1930
In 1923 the house was sold to Eugene ‘Pop’ Elliott
