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Date and Time:

August 16, 2025
10:00 am - 11:00 am
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Location:

To be provided
Redwood City California

Hard Hat Café Tour: Creekside Family Compound in Wellesley Park

Step into one of Redwood City’s rare original acre-sized Creekside lots nestled in Wellesley Park—a historic, groundbreaking subdivision west of El Camino Real, conceived in 1888 as an exclusive commuter-rail suburb by journalist and Bohemian Club founder Daniel O’Connell, with landscape plans by William Brown. Though O’Connell didn’t complete it before his death in 1899, local attorney George C. Ross—orchestrated its fulfillment around 1906, and today the elegant layout, park, and streetscape largely mirror the 1889 design The Library of CongressLibrary of Congress Tile.

Date: August 16, 2025 

Time: 10am-11am

Location: Redwood City. Exact address will be emailed to registered attendees.

Safety Gear Required: Bring your own Hard Hat & closed-toed shoes. In a pinch? Bring your bicycle helmet as a Hard Hat!

What to Expect on the Tour

  • Intro by John Shroyer, your friendly, long-time Peninsula realtor and local history buff with nearly 40 years of experience—whose passion for uncovering artifacts has made him a familiar face in Redwood City Whearley & Cojohnshroyer.com.

  • A guided walkthrough of our evolving multigenerational family compound, including:

    • Main house (Spanish-Hacienda style):
      Arched arcades, recessed bull-nose windows, Spanish clay-tile roof, tile accents, quarry tile floors, wood-beam and plank ceilings, massive skylights, and flat roof sections prepped for future solar panels.

    • ADU (cottage-style): A warm, modest retreat for the wife’s father.

    • SB9 unit: A modern, thoughtfully designed living space for the husband’s sister—built new after the original creek-overhanging house proved unsalvageable.

    • Foundational innovation: A steel I-beam now supports the cantilevered structure over the creek, reinforcing it for safety and design integrity.

  • See real-time progress: framing details, structural installations, architectural craftsmanship—each feature designed with intention and character.

Tour Logistics

  • Offered approximately every two months through the Hard Hat Café series—perfect for watching the estate take shape over time.

  • Earn one professional learning unit with your attendance.

  • Reservations required—spaces are limited, so reserve your spot early!

Lot Area: 39,959 SF = .92 Acres

Buildings:

Main House: 5,400 SF

ADU:                1,530 SF

SB9 Unit:           741 SF

Barn:                   515 SF

Total               8,186  SF

Architects: Stewart Associates

Contractor: Avesta Development Group