Home tour a throwback to less hectic times Home tour a throwback to less hectic times (May 07, 2004)

by Jeb Bing

M aking the Historic Homes Stroll with more than 800 others last Saturday was one of those magic moments in Pleasanton when everything and everyone turns out perfect. Even the weather cooperated as mild temperatures made the walk from Division Street and St. Mary across Main Street to East Angela and Second Street both comfortable and nostalgic. With sidewalks filled with walkers moving in and out of the 14 homes open for viewing, it seemed like a throwback to less hectic times when friends strolled the neighborhoods.

Many started with Alen and Chris Robinette's home at 690 Division St. and moved east. The Robinette's home was built in 1940 by Amy and Ed Orloff, and although remodeled and upgraded, its hardwood floors and plaster walls are evidence of the quality workmanship of pre-war Pleasanton. Nearby, Gary Blum and Jeannette Miller completely rebuilt the old two-bedroom home that had stood on the lot since 1912. The house needed too many repairs to restore, so the new 3,600-square-foot house still under construction shows how downtown lots can be improved with architecturally pleasing new structures that blend into older neighborhoods. Down the street, crowds seemed especially pleased by the period furniture, original chandeliers, wainscoting and wooden beamed ceilings in the carefully refinished Craftsman style house at 565 St. Mary St., owned by Veneta and David Roberts. Built in 1912, the house was purchased by the Robertses three years ago, who stripped and varnished the wooden floors downstairs and restored the home to its early 20th Century character. Next door is the home of Don and Noel Anger, a popular stop for teachers and tennis players from Amador Valley High where Don Anger was the school's champion tennis coach. It turns out that Don's longtime commitment to Pleasanton nonprofits prevailed to make him open his home for the Saturday benefit for Hope Hospice. He underwent angioplasty on Friday and chose to rest at a neighbor's house so that we could take a walk through the couple's beautifully renovated and superbly maintained home, which was built in 1921.

Over at 220 E. Angela St., Kelly Davis held us spellbound as she told of being on the first floor of the house at the time of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Her problem was that the first floor had actually been hoisted 20 feet up and was sitting on timber supports while crews dug a basement and were building a new first floor when the earthquake hit. She showed us photos of the workman's ladder that she climbed down once the shaking stopped, clutching her newborn baby. The next time you're on East Angela, take a look at the home Kelly and Pete Davis rebuilt. It's hard to believe the top floor was once small single story home built in 1902 and originally located on Second Street.

The homes stroll was the brainchild of Realtor Rebecca Bruner who, with the help of 100 volunteers, raised $14,500 for Pleasanton's Hope Hospice. Associated with Hometown GMAC Real Estate, she organized the Friends of Pleasanton Heritage to plan and conduct the event after talking to Angela Aloise, vice president of Residential Pacific Mortgage, who had just returned from a tour of antebellum houses in Savannah, Ga. Working with fellow real estate agents and associates at the Museum On Main Street, where she is a board member, she contacted owners of a select group of historic homes, who agreed to open their houses for the benefit. Already, she's had calls from owners of other 19th and 20th century homes who want to be part of a second tour Bruner is planning for next spring to showcase the pride of Pleasanton's past.

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