James Franklin Devendorf
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Franklin Devendorf | |
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.jpg) James Franklin Devendorf (1877), 21 Years Old | |
| Born | James Franklin Devendorf April 6, 1856 Lowell, Michigan, US |
| Died | 9 October 1934 (aged 78) |
| Occupation | Real estate development |
| Spouse | Lilliana Augusta Potter |
| Children | 5 |
James Franklin Devendorf (April 6, 1856 – October 9, 1934), was a pioneer real estate developer and philanthropist. Devendorf and attorney Frank Hubbard Powers (1864-1921), founded the Carmel Development Company in 1902. He became the "Father" of an artists and writers' colony that became Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, which included the Carmel Highlands, California. Devendorf spent the next 30 years of his life developing Carmel and the Carmel Highlands into a community of painters, writers, and musicians.[1][2]
Early life[edit]
Devendorf was born in Lowell, Michigan, on April 6, 1856. He was one of the three children of Thomas Jefferson Devendorf a merchant, and Grace Congdon. Devendorf attended public school at Lowell.[2]
Professional background[edit]
In 1874, the family moved to California where he became interested in business and land development. He got a job as a clerk at Hale Bros. Department Store in San Jose, California. On February 19, 1879, in San Jose, he married Lilliana Augusta "Lillie" Potter (1859-1940). They had five children.[3][2]
In 1901, Devendorf had property in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Stockton. He decided to trade some of his land holdings for land in Carmel.[4]
Carmel Development Company[edit]
In 1902, Devendorf purchased land in Carmel from developer and real estate agent Santiago J. Duckworth, who, in 1889, wanted to build a Catholic summer resort.[5]
On November 25, 1902, Devendorf became partners with Powers and formed the Carmel Development Company to operate at the Carmel Development Company Building in the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Powers provided the capital and did the legal work of the corporation. Devendorf was general manager and oversaw subdividing and developing the land.[6]
Devendorf hired engineer Henry Fisher to layout the village of Carmel. A new subdivision map of the town was filed with the County Recorder in 1902. Under Devendorf's direction, Carmel became a colony of artists and writers and was established as a city in 1903.[7]: p112 [3][1]: p24 By 1904, there were 75 permanent residents, several stores, a restaurant, school, and Carmel City's first hotel, Hotel Carmelo. In the spirit of planting Monterey pines down the center of Ocean Avenue, Devendorf renamed the hotel the Pine Inn.[6]
By 1905, Devendorf used the Carmel Development Company to donate lots for the construction of a community church and school.[4] Devendorf was one of the founders of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club to support artistic works. In 1927, the club was replaced with the Carmel Art Association. He donated the site that would become the Carmel Forest Theater; and gave land for the Devendorf Park.[2][8][9][10]
In 1906, Devendorf, through the Carmel Development Company, purchased land from local ranchers five miles south of Carmel where he developed the Carmel Highlands. In 1915, he developed the Highlands Inn in the Carmel Highlands, which was a resort hotel. His friend, marine artist William Frederic Ritschel helped Devendorf design the Highlands Inn. He sold the Highlands Inn in 1922.[7][6]
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more lots were sold because of relocated residents. By 1909, the Carmel Development Company was advertising "Carmel-By-The-Sea" round trip railroad rates to get people to come down to the town. A row of pine trees was planted down the middle of Ocean Avenue because of Devendorf's love for trees and the beautiful environment of the Monterey Peninsula.[7]: p106 By 1913, there were 550 residents in Carmel with thousands of summer visitors.[3] The Carmel Realty Company publish a map and brochure of Carmel in 1913, advertising a "A town in a Pine Forest." The town included a post office, Wells Fargo Express office, public school, and free library.[8]: p40
Death[edit]
Devendorf died on October 9, 1934, at the age of 78, at his home in Oakland, California.[7] His funeral was at his family home in Oakland.[10]
Legacy[edit]
Devendorf's daughter, Edwina Dupre Devendorf (1881-1954), became a painter and sculptor. In 1949, she made a bronze bust of her father that was dedicated at the Devendorf Park, which was named in his honor.[1] The mountain behind the city of Carmel was named after him.[2]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Arcadia Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ a b c d e White, James Terry (1893). "Devendorf, James Franklin". The National Cyclopædia of American biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time. New York: J. T. White & Company. p. 154. Retrieved 2022-03-06.
- ^ a b c Grimes, Teresa; Heumann, Leslie. "Historic Context Statement Carmel-by-the-Sea" (PDF). Leslie Heumann and Associates1994. p. 16. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ^ a b Hale, Sharron Lee (1941). A Tribute to Yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, Calif.: Valley Publishers. p. 8. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ "Carmel City. Great Enterprise of a Montereyan". Monterey Cypress. Monterey, California. 14 Dec 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
- ^ a b c Gilliam, Harold; Gilliam, Ann (1992). Creating Carmel: The Enduring Vision. Salt Lake City: Peregrine Smith Books. p. 14. ISBN 9780879053970. Retrieved 2022-03-10.
- ^ a b c d Dramov, Alissandra (2013). Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Early Years (1903-1913). Bloomington, IN: Author House. pp. 98–100, 208, 221. ISBN 9781491824146. Retrieved 2022-01-19.
- ^ a b Seavey, Kent (2007). Carmel, A History in Architecture. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Pub. pp. 7, 34–39, 45. ISBN 9780738547053. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
- ^ Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A tribute to yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
- ^ a b "Devendorf, Art Patron, Realty Dealer, Dead". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 10 Oct 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
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