Neighborhoods
August, 2003
Ask Homestead residents where they live and they respond with the name of a street. Most residents do not know the original name of their neighborhood. Development often involved purchase of land from the Tamalpais Land & Water Co. followed by subdivision into lots and streets. A map, signed, sealed, notarized and recorded, named the development. Previous history articles described six developments. There are many more:
1. In 1910, Carrie E. Bridge bought about 30 acres bounded by Sequoia Valley Road, Ridgewood (still a paper street) and Homestead Blvd. (now Amaranth Blvd.) The subdivsion of 112 lots was called Castle Park. The name comes from a 40-foot high vertical greenstone outcrop called Castle Rock which used to be visible from much of Homestead Valley.
2. In 1910, Ranch 5, west of Sequoia Valley Road (then not part of Homestead Valley) was subdivided as Marin View Acres. An advertisement stated, “45 minutes walk from Mill Valley station. 45 minutes ride from the city; round trip tickets 10 cents. You can reside on a Suburban Home Farm and go to your business each day in the city. Soil: Deep and rich, of such fertile quality will grow anything, combination of soil and climate make it ideal for fruit, vegetables, berries and chickens. Large Profits in Eucalyptus Trees: We will plant Eucalyptus trees for our buyers and guarantee them to grow for $30 per thousand or we will sell the trees for $10 per thousand and you can plant them yourself.” By the 1950’s, part of Marin View Acres had become the Flying Y Ranch (horses). During the last 20 years, it and other lots have been annexed to Homestead Valley. Homes in the Walsh Estates subdivision and others on Sequoia Valley Road required sewer attachments.
3. In 1907, Alice Scott bought 5 large lots between Evergreen and LaVerne, combined them and subdivided the property into the Scott Tract: 10 lots on the newly created Scott St., 5 lots on LaVerne and 5 lots on Evergreen.
4. Other developments are: Oak Tract, 10 lots on Oak St. (now Holly St.) and LaVerne; Bernhard Tract, west of Oak Tract; Morton Subdivision, 8 lots on Linden Lane south of Evergreen; Rivers Tract, 17 lots on LaVerne east of Reed; Ney’s Subdivision, 8 lots on Hawthorne, LaVerne and Reed; Glen Grae; Douglas Drive Gardens; Marin Terrace two and four; and Tamarin Highlands.
Can you name your neighborhood?
If you have comments or questions about this article or other topics
pertaining to the history of Homestead Valley,
please feel free to e-mail Chuck Oldenburg.