Meek Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Meek Mansion and Carriage House
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Meek Mansion in 2008, photographed from the south end of Meek Park
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 Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Location in California
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| Location | 240 Hampton Rd., Hayward, California |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italian Villa |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000393 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1973 |
The Meek Mansion is a historic house located near Hayward, California, in an area called Cherryland, California. It's a very important building and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This large Victorian home was built in 1869 by a man named William Meek. It sits on almost 10 acres of land.
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History of Meek Mansion
William Meek traveled to the West Coast in 1846. He brought seeds and young trees with him, traveling along the Oregon Trail. He first settled in Oregon, but later moved to Alameda County in 1859. He lived there for the rest of his life.
By the time his mansion was built, William Meek owned a huge amount of land. It stretched for about 3,000 acres! This land was mostly filled with orchards. He grew cherry, apricot, plum, and almond trees. Some people say that the area became known as Cherryland because of all the cherry trees Meek planted.
William Meek became a very important person in the community. He was a trustee for Mills College and a County Supervisor for Alameda County. This meant he helped make decisions for the county. He passed away in 1880 at 63 years old. His estate, including the mansion, stayed with his family until 1940.
The Mansion Becomes a Park
The last 10 acres of the original Meek estate were owned by the Milton Ream family. In 1964, the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD) bought the home for $270,000. A year later, in 1965, the mansion was opened to the public. People could visit for weddings, tours, workshops, and even plays about local history.
The Meek Mansion was recognized as a California Point of Historical Interest in 1972. Then, in 1973, it was added to the National Register of Historic Landmarks. However, because so many people visited, the mansion closed in 1982 due to wear and tear.
Restoring the Mansion
In 1991, HARD started working with the Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS). Their goal was to fix up and reopen the mansion.
Between 1964 and 2004, HARD spent about $1.9 million to restore the mansion, its carriage house, and the surrounding grounds. In 2004, HARD agreed to let the historical society lease the mansion for 25 years. HARD still manages the park land around the mansion. They also work with the historical society on renovation plans.
By 2009, HAHS had spent about $600,000 on restorations. This included updating the heating and plumbing systems. It's estimated that another $1 million to $1.5 million is needed to finish all the work.
Once the renovations are complete, the historical society plans to open the mansion as a house museum. Visitors will be able to take paid tours. These tours will show how the house looked during different times in history.
A piece of land next to the mansion, which used to be part of the Meek estate, is now being turned into a community garden.
Architecture of Meek Mansion
The Meek Mansion is a large house, about 7,902 square feet. It has between 23 and 27 rooms, depending on the source. These rooms are spread across three floors above ground. There's also a small tower, called a cupola, on the third floor.
The house also has a basement. This basement has a special bracing system made of thick, diagonal wooden boards. This was unusual for buildings in the area. However, it was a smart idea because of the earthquake faults in the area. Other interesting parts of the mansion's design include a mansard roof (a special type of sloped roof), a round "bull's-eye" window in the central tower, and pairs of arched windows. As of 2006, historians were still not sure who designed and built the home.
The mansion now sits on about 9.75 acres of land. This land is used as a park with picnic areas, walking paths, and benches for visitors to enjoy.
Mansion Renovations Over Time
The Meek Mansion has been updated several times over the years.
- In 1910, William Meek's son, who lived in the house, added bathrooms and running water.
- In the 1940s, the Ream family remodeled the kitchen. This kitchen is still in the house today. They also added more bedroom space and a ballroom.
- More recent renovations include all new windows and a new roof. The previous roof was put on in 1985.
