Wolf House (Glen Ellen, California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wolf House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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The ruins of the Wolf House
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Glen Ellen, California |
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| Part of | Jack London State Historic Park (ID66000240) |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Wolf House was a huge, 26-room mansion. It was built in Glen Ellen, California, by the famous writer Jack London and his wife Charmian London. Sadly, the house burned down on August 22, 1913. This happened just before the Londons were going to move in. Today, the stone ruins of the house still stand. They are part of Jack London State Historic Park. This park has been a special National Historic Landmark since 1963.
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Building a Dream Home: The Wolf House Story
Jack London had a big dream for his perfect home. He wrote about it in an essay called "The House Beautiful" in 1906. He wanted a house that was both useful and beautiful. It had to be built honestly, using good materials. He imagined modern bathrooms and plenty of space for everyone. He also wanted it to be easy to clean and have lots of fireplaces. London believed he would build this dream house in about seven to ten years.
Choosing the Perfect Location
Around 1905, Jack London bought a 130-acre farm in the Sonoma Valley. He later bought more land next to it. This made his farm about 1,200 acres in total. About one-third of the land was used for farming. The other two-thirds were wooded hills. He called his property "Wonder Ranch."
Designing the Wolf House Mansion
London hired Albert L. Farr, an architect from San Francisco. Farr was known for his Arts and Crafts style buildings in California. The design for Wolf House was unique and natural-looking. It included a large library, about 19 by 40 feet. The living room was two stories high and measured 18 by 58 feet.
Jack London wanted a very modern home. So, Farr's plans included many cool features. There was a water heater and electric lights. It also had refrigeration and a built-in vacuum cleaning system. There were even special laundry machines. The house also had a wine cellar. London and Farr made sure the house was super strong. This was because of the big 1906 San Francisco earthquake that had caused a lot of damage.
Experts in architecture studied Wolf House in 1987. They said it was like a mix of two styles. It had parts of the "ultimate bungalows" from Southern California. It also looked like the grand lodges found in the Adirondack mountains. The house was huge, about 15,000 square feet. It had 26 rooms and nine fireplaces.
How the Wolf House Was Built
Building started in late 1910. Workers blasted stones and cut down trees. London hired Natale Forni, a skilled Italian stonemason, to lead the project. He also hired his older sister, Eliza London Shepard. She helped manage the daily construction work on the ranch.
The house was built using five main materials. All of them came from the local area. These included Coast Redwood logs with their bark still on. They also used large boulders and chunks of volcanic rock. Blue Slate and concrete were also important materials.
The Fire That Changed Everything
The Wolf House was almost finished. The Londons were getting ready to move in. But late on the night of August 22, 1913, a fire started. The fire spread quickly and burned the inside of the house. However, the strong stone walls stayed standing. The red tile roof fell into the burned interior. People thought someone might have started the fire on purpose. But no strong proof was ever found.
The fire deeply affected everyone involved. Jack's sister Eliza cried that night. Charmian London later wrote that Eliza was "scarred to her soul." She also said the foreman, Forni, was like a father who had lost his child. Charmian also felt that the fire "killed something in Jack." She said he always felt a sad sense of loss.
What Happened After the Fire
The fire caused a lot of money loss, about $35,000 to $40,000. Jack London had insurance on the house. He received $10,000 from his claims. An insurance company even used a thank-you letter from London in their ads.
Jack London promised to rebuild the house. His workers started cutting new redwood logs. These logs needed to dry for 18 months before they could be used. But Jack London's health got worse. He passed away three years and three months after the fire, on November 22, 1916.
Charmian London continued to live at Beauty Ranch. She stayed there until she died in 1955. She eventually lived in a home she called "The House of Happy Walls." This house was about half a mile from the Wolf House ruins. There, she worked to protect her husband's legacy. She also wrote a book about him. Her home is now a museum. Both Jack and Charmian London are buried at Beauty Ranch. Jack's sister Eliza is also buried there.
The London family's heirs gave the property to the State of California in 1960. The Wolf House ruins were named a California Historical Landmark in 1959. They became a National Historic Landmark in 1963. Steel supports were added to the stone walls in 1965. This was to stop them from falling apart. Visitors can walk up to the outside walls of the ruins. However, the inside is fenced off for safety. Wolf House was one of the very first places added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened on October 15, 1966, the same day a law called the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 was signed.
What Caused the Wolf House Fire?
In 1995, a team of ten experts studied the fire. They were led by Robert N. Anderson, an engineering professor. They looked at different possible causes. The day had been very hot, but there was no lightning. The experts found no proof of arson. They also found no sign of an electrical fire. This was because the electricity generator had not yet been installed.
Instead, they believed the fire most likely started because of spontaneous combustion. This happens when something catches fire on its own. Earlier on the day of the fire, workers were putting a linseed oil finish on the beautiful oak and walnut wood inside the house. Workers had been warned before about being careful with these flammable materials. The fire probably started in cotton rags soaked with oil. It likely began in the dining room on the ground floor. This room was below the library and Jack London's work room. Some windows had not yet been put in. This allowed fresh air to feed the fire. The fire probably burned the wood floor first. Then it spread to the wood panels on the walls. By the time the fire was found, it was too big to control.
Images for kids
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Wolf House ruins
