Original Eichler Home Owner's Policy, circa 1955

I recently acquired an original "Eichler Home Owner's Service Policy" in the original vinyl case and wanted to share. The policy is dated November 19, 1955 -- same year our Eichler home was built!

The Eichler Home Owner's Policy states:

1. During the course of its construction, your Eichler Home has been given a number of very rigid inspections -- three by either the Veterans Administration or the Federal Housing Administration, five by local city building inspectors, continuous inspection and one final inspection by our own construction department. From the breaking of the ground to completion, every care has been taken to assure you top quality construction.

2. Minor defects or omissions may show up after you are in the house. Where the work is that of a subcontractor you will receive faster service by calling him directly. A list of the subcontractors is included in this kit. For other work write or call this office directly.

3. If you feel that there are any defects in your home due to improper workmanship or improper materials, please call us. If your requests are reasonable we will make the necessary corrections immediately.

4. A manual of suggestions on the care and maintenance of your home is given you with this Service Policy. It will help you to understand the minor adjustments to most newly constructed homes necessary in the first few months. It will aid you in the proper care of your home so that its value may be preserved for a long time.

5. This Home Owner's Service Policy is non-transferable. Any obligation under it terminates if the property is resold or shall cease to be occupied by the Home Owner to whom it is originally issued.

Another cool leaflet came with the Policy regarding the Eichler Homes Building Supply Company, located in Mountain View, CA. Apparently this was a "do-it-yourself headquarters" for Eichler Home owners.

The leaflet includes some of the products that were sold at Eichler Homes Building Supply Company.


For a closer look of the Policy and the Building Supply flyer, see my Eichler Homes Ephemera Flickr set.

One home, two families

A week ago, the couple who recently moved in graciously allowed me to meet the original owners' daughter and her family at the Eichler. Thank you M & J!

It was nice to finally meet Dr. and Mrs. H's family on their way to Dr. H's memorial service that weekend. I hope they enjoyed seeing the house one more time as did I -- perhaps a little closure for all of us.

I will continue to post about our Sacramento Eichler neighborhood, Eichler Homes history and other mid-century modern architecture, design and resources. I would also like to feature other neighborhood homes in this blog.

Cool Sacramento MCM: Googie Around Town

Hollywood Hardware on Freeport Boulevard near Fruitridge

US Post Office 95822 on South Land Park Drive near 35th Avenue
Designed by William Koblik

Vic's IGA Market on South Land Park Drive near 35th Avenue
Designed by Sooky Lee

Pancake Circus at Broadway and 21st Street
Designed by Sooky Lee

I was going to put together a post on some of the wonderful Googie architecture here in town. I've covered this topic regarding a few of Googie structures in the neighborhood here and here.

Then I remembered the terrific photographs by Tom Spaulding that I'd seen on Flickr that include all sorts of wonderful neon, signage, historical buildings and architectural elements from the 20th century in our area. Many of which have, tragically, been knocked down.

It was through looking at these photos that led me to his excellent and well-researched blog post from earlier this year regarding Sacramento Googie.

Enjoy.

And for more great pictures of Googie architecture, visit the Googie group on Flickr.

Eichler Home Plans For Sale: Claude Oakland atrium designs

Four different Claude Oakland 1960's house plans from the Mill Valley and Oakland Hills Eichler developments are now available for sale.

Article with additional information below, dated July 28, 2009 via SF Gate:

Build your own Eichler home

Even people who are passionate about the mid-century modern homes designed by architect (sic) Joseph Eichler admit that they can represent major renovation and maintenance headaches. So the news that you can build your very own genuine Eichler from scratch with all-new materials should be welcomed by fans of the architect who advocated "affordable housing for all".
Bay Area stock-plan company Houseplans.com has just released four original mid-century modern Eichler plans as part of it's Exclusive Studio Collection. The designs were done in the 1960s by architect Claude Oakland who was one of Eichler's regular architects.
All the Eichler characteristics are there: an exposed post-and-beam one-story structure, floor-to-ceiling walls of glass and the promise of easy indoor-outdoor living. One plan includes a signature Eichler open-air atrium around which the home is wrapped.
A reproducible set of master plans costs $4,500 and Houseplans.com says it will provide ideas and advice for updating them in line with today's energy codes and lifestyles. A percentage of the price of each plan supports the Environmental Design Archives at UC Berkeley, which preserves the original drawings. For details visit Houseplans.com.

Cool Sacramento MCM: Shepard Garden & Arts Center

I finally made it to the Iva Gard Shepard Garden & Arts Center in McKinley Park for a bromeliad show and sale this last weekend. I've been admiring this building's exterior for years. What an amazing and grand mid-century building! And boy, does it stick out in a neighborhood mostly known for popular style architecture from the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s.

The dramatic roof line is an A-line attached to a butterfly -- I've never seen another building quite like it. Built in 1958 by the City of Sacramento and designed by Raymond R. Franceschi, the Center utilizes mid-century materials with flair and exuberance. My favorite is the two-sided fireplace made of flagstone and terrazzo, with a glass mosaic on one side and a huge copper vent on the other.

The schedule for the Center stated that they are redoing the floors; I sure hope they keep the existing design and colors. See my Flickr set for additional pictures of this remarkable building.

For further scheduled events at the Center, check here.

Of special note: On July 29th at 6:30pm there will be a documentary by Sacramento filmmaker Robert Lee Grant premiered at the Center: "Nourishing the Kids of Katrina" Click link for additional details.

For sale: 4 bedroom Eichler on SLP Dr.

Occasionally I find out about mid-century modern homes in the Sacramento region that are either for rent or for sale. I am not an agent nor am I affiliated with one. I am passing this information along as a public service to those who are interested and love MCM design and architecture as much as I do.

Fresh on the market today: a four bedroom, 2 bath large Eichler built in 1956 on South Land Park Drive. With a pool!

UPDATE 9.4.09 -- also for rent. See Craigslist listing.


If you need an agent you should contact Paloma Begin for further details regarding this home. Paloma has specialized in MCM homes here the the Sacramento region. Or you may find more information from the MLS listing here.

For additional information on other Sacramento region MCM's that are or have been for sale, check out Modern Valley.

Cool Sacramento MCM: Mahoroba Bakery

I've been watching a little Googie building being rehabilitated at 4900 Freeport Boulevard and am happy to report it has been transformed into a wonderful Japanese bakery! Open from 7:30AM to 7PM, according to a handwritten sign in their window. Of course I had to geek out for a moment on the mid-century aspects of the building, -- a small octagonal cutie with pinched pleat zig-zag roofing! It was originally a MacFarlane's Candies built in the mid-1960's.


Being the sophisticated foodies we are, my six year old and I skipped past the creamy and bean paste items and headed straight for the CHOCOLATE! Mahoroba serves "authentic Japanese baked goods, featuring our acclaimed freshly made 'Kobe cream delight'." They have both sweet and savory pastries, various breads, coffee drinks and bottled juices.

I got the "An pan man choco" and my son got the "Chocolate Hat." Both were absolutely delicious. Mine was still slightly warm. The pastry bread on the "An pan man choco" was soft and fresh and the chocolate filling was tasty. "The Chocolate Hat" was refrigerated and had crunchy chocolate on top. The pastry was crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Both were sweet but not cloyingly so.

We will be adding this to our once a week repertoire of fun places to go in the morning before school. I would love it if they offered fresh fruit salad but I realize this is a bakery and most bakeries do not offer this. We'll be back, definitely. My son would like to eat like this every day, of course!

For more reviews and food pictures, visit Mahoroba's review page on Yelp. For additional information regarding the business, this is an interesting article.

UPDATE 8.9.09: Additional pictures by the Sacramento Bee in this photo gallery here. According to the Bee: " Business owner Narusuke Monguchi chose Freeport Blvd., in Sacramento as his first USA location for his Japanese bakery Mahoroba"

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Part II

Thanks to Pam Kueber of RetroRenovation.com for featuring our strange dual-dial lighting control system over at the wacky ranch today. And a big hello, fellow Retro Renovators!


I recently took some snaps of our highly idiosyncratic 1961 ranch house here in Sacramento, which is about two miles up the street from our Eichler. Thanks for stopping by -- have a look around here at our 1955 Eichler or go to my Flickr set specific to the wacky ranch.

"After" pictures: Finally, our restoration is complete

Here is a Flickr set of "after" pictures since we purchased this home from the original owners' estate in Fall of 2008. Before pix can be seen here.

We've been restoring and refreshing this home -- while trying our best not to take away any of its original mid-century character or essence.

What we've done so far:
1) built a new extensive drainage system around the entire house. This was by far our biggest and most expensive improvement. It is also most likely to be the least appreciated -- until it rains.
2) installed new carpet.
3) installed new linoleum.
4) put in a new washer/dryer and refrigerator.
5) completed electrical upgrades and restored ailing light fixtures (look here for one example).
6) completed plumbing upgrades and improvements.
7) painted with new paint where needed.
8) installed new shower fixtures, new toilet seats and bath/shower enclosures.
9) had a full inspection of both sets of heater and A/C units plus installation of a new filter in the hallway (so we didn't have to climb on the roof to change the filter!)
10) installed new window coverings throughout.
11) rehabilitated the grasscloth closet panels.
12) replaced dilapidated exterior fixtures with period-appropriate Remcraft double bullets.
13) extensively cleaned all surfaces and fireplace.
14) updated and installed an automatic sprinkler system.
15) rehabilitated existing landscaping.
16) proactively maintained and repaired flat rooftop.
17) installed new wall exhaust fans in both bathrooms.
18) installed a metal plate under countertop above stovetop as additional protection against fire hazard.
19) installed six smoke detectors.

Voilà! She is done. For now.

Give-away Contest at Home Sweet Split Level Blog

This is an MCM Public Service Announcement!

Occasionally I find out about MCM-related contests and promotions. I don't want to keep this intel to myself. Everybody likes a chance to win free stuff, right?

Our friends (and kindred tiki lovers) over at Home Sweet Split Level in Atlanta's NorthCrest neighborhood have hooked up with All Modern for a free give-away. Check out their awesome blog and their give-away contest, which ends on July 16th.