A major fire Wednesday afternoon did extensive damage to Barbara Chevalier's historic house in Stinson Beach.

The fire broke out about 5:30 p.m. and it took firefighters from Stinson Beach, Bolinas, Inverness, and Throckmorton until 6:45 p.m. to extinguish it.

The house was designed and built in 1917 by Mrs. Chevalier's uncle and was notable for the craftsmanship of its redwood interior.

The home's garden was especially famous and had been the scene of numerous weddings and other formal events. It was an almost annual stop on Bolinas Museum's garden tours, and it even provided a theater for one season of Shakespeare at the Beach.

Last August, Mrs. Chevalier, who owns an interior decorating business in San Francisco, celebrated her 90th birthday with an elaborate party in the garden.

At press time, the county fire marshal was still trying to determine what caused the fire.

About a quarter of the house - at least two rooms and their contents - were destroyed in the blaze. There was smoke and water damage throughout much of the house.