About
" It was towards evening of a hot day, September 5, 1955. The first shades of dusk were settling peacefully on the quiet hills around the lonely mansion, itself buried in deeper stillness. Weary in body but elated in spirit four of us climbed the small rise of ground to our new monastery, to a new future for our order and ourselves. We had finally arrived in northern California, a significant milestone, we reflected, on the road to new horizons of achievement to self determination."
Thus, Fr. Edward described in his diary the manner in which he and the other three founders took possession of the mansion, which was to become the first Carmelite monastery in Northern California.
The Doak mansion referred to, was built by David Terry Doak, industrialist. It was begun in 1917 and completed in 1921, at the cost of $250,000. Weeks and Day of San Francisco, were the designers. Landscaping was provided by John McLaren, designer of Golden Gate Park, San Francisco. David Doak died in the House on February 26, 1921 shortly after its completion. Perry's widow, Frida, married Colonel John McGill.
The mansion itself is situated on 2000 acres of land, extending from the heels to Highway 29. In its prime in 1927, it was offered by McGill to President Coolidge at no charge, as the summer White House. However, President Coolidge chose rather to find a remote summer home in Colorado.
From about 1930-1945 the mansion was without resident and largely neglected. In 1945, the entire property was sold to the wealthy Napa Valley rancher, Martin Stellings. He was interested in the prime agricultural land and never lived in the mansion. Through caretakers, he kept the house from serious deterioration. But quite a lot of vandalism took place.
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Carmelite House of Prayer