445 Hazel Brake

Lot 32

“The Rowe House”

Built in 1905

Currently owned by Scott and Leesa Tucker


Legend of Addresses and Lots
Click to enlarge

In 1904, Purcell and Sarah Rowe purchased Lot 32. In March of 1905, the cabin was built by carpenter John W. Wood. The Rowe family were among the first members of Bracken Brae, having purchased their lot the year before opening of building in 1905.

Purcell was a well known attorney with offices in Oakland, San Francisco, and Bakersfield. He studied law at the University of Michigan.

In 1905 house was built for Purcell and Sarah Rowe of San Francisco

In 1905 house was built by Purcell and Sarah Rowe

In 1923 house is sold to Ethyl L. Anderson of Alameda

In 1936 house is sold to Everett and Dorothy Bargones of Alameda

In 1946 house is sold to Albert and Martha Raible of Alameda who are family to the Bargones

In 1962 house is sold to Lillian and Harry Madden of San Francisco

In 1976 Harry Madden dies and house is sold by bank

In 1994 house is sold to Wendy and Ferdinand LaRocca

In 2001 house is sold to Lynne and James Sims

In 2007 house is sold to Teresa Soto and Theodore Huff

In 20125 house is sold to Leesa and Scott Tucker


In 1904, the Rowe family purchased lot 32. They built their cottage upon it in 1905.

September 30th, 1904 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
April 18th, 1905 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
March 6th, 1905 – Santa Cruz Sentinel
From the 1913 edition of ‘Who’s who on the Pacific Coast’.
June 6th, 1905 – Santa Cruz Evening News
April 24th, 1906 – San Francisco Call
The 1906 earthquake and fire was just a week ago. Purcell moves his legal practice to his residence as his office had been destroyed.
The Rowe’s house at 816 Clayton Street in San Francisco. The house was designed by E. W. Hyde and built by Robert Pieper.
March 23rd, 1905 – Santa Cruz Surf
The first directors of Bracken Brae are C. A. Johnson (I think this is an error and should be C. A. Westenberg of 421 Hazel Brake), Edgar Bishop (owner of the lot at 511 Hazel Brake), Archie Kerr (of 530 Hazel Brake), Clinton McAllister (of 435 Hazel Brake), and Purcell Rowe (of 445 Hazel Brake)
March 24th, 1905 – Santa Cruz Evening News
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After 18 year of ownership, Sarah Rowe sells the cottage to Ethel Anderson, of Alameda.

April 16th, 1923 – Santa Cruz Evening News

In 1936, Ethel Anderson sells the cottage to Everett and Dorothy Bargones of Alameda after 12 years of ownership.

November 11th, 1936 – Santa Cruz Evening News

In 1946 the cottage is sold to Albert and Martha Raible of Alameda and Martha’s brother Leonard Bargones. The cottage stays in the family a total of 28 years.

July 19th, 1937 – Oakland Tribune
A tragedy happens across the street from the Raible’s previous summer home at Redwood Estate
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In 1962 the house is purchased by Lillian and Harry Madden of San Francisco.

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I found this postcard when we first purchased the house in 2015. I thought it was so cool to have an original picture of Bracken Brae. But whose house was it? I couldn’t figure it out but that the roof pitch was the same as mine but the chimney is on the wrong side and the mountain slopes the wrong way.
Postmarked August 27th, 1908
Dear Leora, Did you ever get left? Were at this place Saturday, it is grand. Saw Mr. and Mrs Moor’s name on the registry. – Laura
I finally realized that the picture was backward and it was my house.
The house when we bought it in 2015.
The house was built by carpenter John W. Wood of 12770 Boulder Street in Boulder Creek. The house was intentionally built to look ram-shackled and as if built on the spot – which is was of old-growth heartwood redwood. This redwood is more insect and fire resistant than wood from younger trees. The erratic placement and angle of the battens in this spot are a signature J. W. Wood mark.
Many of the wall boards are very rough cut boards to add to the rustic feel of the cabin.
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After the Woods house burns down, they purchase a new lot in Lorenzo from J. W. Peery. Peery founded the town of Lorenzo which was just a half-mile south of Boulder Creek in the area where the SLV museum stands. It is now considered Boulder Creek.
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The Wood home at 12770 Boulder Street in Lorenzo (now Boulder Creek). The house was built in 1899.