'Summer Cottage' is a treasured part of Diablo history


Hiden treasure, summer cottage, at 1904 La Cadena

‘A community with an ideal, in the shadow of the Purple Mountain’---is how a 1916/1918 brochure described Mount Diablo Estate, Diablo, California. In the informative book, Diablo’s Legacy by James C. Stone, we learn how the far-sighted entrepreneur R.N. Burgess founded the Club and the community of Diablo, beginning in 1912 when he purchased the Oakwood Stock Farm and other properties around Mt. Diablo.

Burgess established Mt. Diablo Villa Homes to handle the promotion and sale of lots. Well-to-do San Franciscans and Oakland residents were lured by the idea of owning a summer home in the sunny foothills of Mt. Diablo. Club membership was an added benefit. By 1917, the Mt. Diablo Country Club had 106 members, including the legendary William Randolph Hearst.

The Oakland, Antioch and Eastern Railroad laid tracks from Danville to the Mt. Diablo Country Club, where the original Casino on the Farm was used as a clubhouse. Today, few of the original homes remain in the community of Diablo. But the seclusion and charm of the country lifestyle still characterizes this quiet, close-knit community.

Built in 1917, the home at 1904 La Cadena is one of the original summer cottages that have withstood the passage of time. Located near the ‘crossroads’ of Diablo, where Alameda Diablo meets La Cadena, the .992 acre property is a treasured piece of Diablo history.

Cross the picturesque bridge over Green Valley Creek, and you are transported back to another era. Here, nestled midst a grove of oak trees is a sweet summer cottage. Over the years, with the addition of a guest house, a garage and an apartment, it turned into a year-round residence. Tom Seabury and his wife Roberta moved into the home at 1904 La Cadena thirty-five years ago.” It was very, very nice,” says Seabury reminiscing about those early years. “We knew everybody there and everyone relied on each other.” His children grew up in this friendly community, the girls often riding their horses up Mt. Diablo.

Wooded path to 1904 La Cadena

The main house measuring around 2,513 square feet, consists of a living room, dining room, kitchen, four bedrooms and two bathrooms. The front door opens into a large, enclosed porch. Marilee Headen, real-estate agent with Remax Accord, Danville, tells us that it was probably enclosed in the 1940s. The lovely arched windows here and at the rear of the home allows plenty of sunlight into the rooms. Says Headen, “It’s a really nice feature of the house…and gives it an interesting character.” The old oak floors and double-hung windows in the living room hark back to 1917. It’s easy to picture a family relaxing here in the evenings, surrounded by the warmth of the solid brick fireplace. Windows frame views of the verdant outdoors and creek-side entryway. Large baseboards, solid oak doors, molding and trim hint at the quality of the construction. The dining room has a decorative medallion ceiling and a built-in china hutch with its old wavy glass. The kitchen with a center island offers access to a back deck and a laundry room.

Nearby, another enclosed porch with arched windows and doorway also exits onto the back deck. The main bedroom has a sunny ambience, a large closet and a decorative, old stained-glass window. A claw-foot tub, pedestal sink and old brass fittings add charm to the bathroom.

One of the secondary bedrooms has a skylight that brightens the interior and an adjoining space that could be used as a dressing area. A smaller bedroom nearby, may serve as a sunroom/ nursery. The third bedroom overlooks the backyard. The second spacious bathroom still has the original bath tub/shower and vanity.

Step onto the back deck, and it feels like you’re in a storybook setting. Lush, green landscaping and brick pathways lead to a darling, shingle-sided guest house/artist’s studio. We’re told by Marilee Headen that the president of PG&E bought the main home for his family in the early 1920s and built this 400-square foot guest house with closet and bath. Those with a love of history, will be fascinated by the still functional, 1924 water heater and tin shower here!

The property also houses an over-sized, 600 square-foot, 2-car garage and a 195-square foot attached workshop with an additional 195-square foot room that can be utilized as an office. Behind the garage is an apartment, complete with kitchen, bath and bedroom. The entire property can be accessed by a separate entrance from Diablo Road as well.

Tucked away to the left of the garage is the corral, barn and chicken coop. The quaint barn, made of redwood logs preserves another piece of Diablo history. The structure served as one of the changing rooms at the Diablo Lake and was relocated to this property years ago. Headen also points out the rustic swimming hole/trout pond built into the creek, where children of the pre-1950s era would have frolicked in the summertime. In today’s 21st century world, the home and its environs at 1904 La Cadena still retain the country-retreat appeal that first attracted the big-city folk to summer in Diablo. The Country Club, famed 18-hole golf course, as well as the little Post Office/gathering place, all add to the charm of life in this exclusive, friendly community. 

Philippa Coelho
Vital Statistics
What: A charming 1917 summer cottage, nestled in a grove of mature oaks. 
Creek-side setting and sheer privacy give the property an exclusive aura. 
Bedrooms: Four
Bathrooms: Two
Features: The home has large arched windows, hardwood floors, oak doors, base boards and trim. 
A separate guest cottage has a lush, garden setting. 
An over-sized 2-car garage, workshop, office and guest apartment are also located on the property. 
Along with a barn, chicken coop and corral nearby.
Price: Offered at $1,895,000
Agent: Marilee Headen, Remax Accord, Danville. 925-743-1225 

To view an scanned version of the original story, click here