An open house will be held from 12 noon to 4 p.m.
on Sunday, Nov. 27, at one of the signature buildings in Point Reyes
Station, the Foresters Hall on Mesa Road – now for rent.
Two years ago, Point Reyes Station cabinetmaker Stephen
Marshall bought the three-story, 5,600 square-foot behemoth, complete
with matching cupolas – which many considered a white elephant
– and made a total renovation of the historic edifice. While the
venture took twice as long as anticipated and twice the cash, Marshall
told The Light, "it's a very nice project . . . my heart is in
it."
Marshall is now accepting applications for the six
rental units within the Frontier Victorian, which he's transformed from
a hodgepodge of rooms into three apartments, one live/work studio, and
two office spaces. A single 500 square-foot apartment will be designated
as an affordable-housing unit, while the remaining quarters will rent
at market value.
One venue is a 1,400 square-foot, two-bedroom apartment,
large enough to accommodate a family. Marshall has also restored the
third floor, which had been taken out by the previous owner to create
a high-ceiled studio, and crafted a 1,400 square-foot live/work studio
there. A one-bedroom apartment has been created in the tower. The compact,
affordable-housing unit boasts an outdoor deck.
Several units are warmed by hydroponic radiant heating
in the floors or baseboards. Solar panels are set for installation on
the roof, as part of the heating system.
A rich, 91-year history
Foresters Hall was the last of several properties
in West Marin owned by celebrated abstract expressionist painter Sam
Francis. In 2000, his widow, Los Angeles artist Margaret Francis, put
the Godzilla on the market for $1,225,000, but the asking price proved
to be sky high.
It was taken off the market for several years and
in 2003, Marshall – who has lived in Point Reyes Station for more
than 30 years and performed his cabinetmaking artistry in countless
expensive, high-end homes – snapped up the property for $775,000.
Wherever possible, Marshall has included recycled,
used materials. His best find in previously owned goods once supported
the posteriors of Nebraska sports fans as old gymnasium bleachers. The
wood now provides the floor of the restored third-floor studio.
Over the years of its long history, the once powder-blue,
now creamy-yellow Frontier Victorian has changed hands and uses several
times.
Built in 1914 by the Foresters of America, it served
as a community center where Saturday-night dances attracted railroad
workers and ranching families from all over West Marin. In the 1920s
movies were shown on Thursday evenings; electricity for the projector
came from a dynamo rigged to the driveshaft of an Oldsmobile parked
outside.
Movie night
West Marin historian Jack Mason in Earthquake Bay
describes one young audience member on a Thursday night in 1923: "The
boy watching the movie from a bench in Foresters Hall looked like any
other brown-eyed kid. Next to him sat his grandfather, Frank Dolliver,
known locally for catching the largest salmon ever taken out of Paper
Mill Creek -'so big, by golly, I had to take it into Tomales Bay to
turn it around... The movie: 'The Kid.' The boy: its star."
The boy, Jackie Coogan, who was in West Marin visiting
his grandfather, was the biggest child star of his era, and played alongside
Charlie Chaplin in 1921's The Kid.
In 1940 the Companions of the Forest, the women's
counterpart to the Foresters, bought the club. The Companions sponsored
the first Western Weekend in part to raise money for maintaining the
building.
WWII hospital
During World War II the downstairs was outfitted as
an emergency hospital to treat injured soldiers or civilians.
The Sandcastle
The Companions of the Forest sold the building to
Charles Mel for $7,500 in 1960. Later, artists Jean and Bill Booras
bought it for $35,000 and converted it into an art gallery called The
Sandcastle, which remained open for 14 years.
After Jean Booras' death, Inverness resident Rip Goulet
– whose son Blaise Goulet owns the Depot (formerly the Red Barn)
across the street – and his wife Leslie in 1985 bought the Foresters
Hall for $160,000 with the intent of converting it to a recording studio,
theater and art gallery. However, the cost of bringing the building
up to code was stratospheric, and in 1988 the Goelets sold the building
to Sam and Margaret Francis.
Rumor has it that around that time, a famous pop star
used the building as a residence and recording studio.
Given West Marin's need for rental housing, Stephen
Marshall may now find himself something of a local hero. "All the feedback
I've gotten has been supportive and helpful," he said.