Alameda Sun- House Museum Now Open Twice Monthly

Alameda Sun- House Museum Now Open Twice Monthly

Meyers House News, News
By Judith Lynch The Meyers House is the only vintage home in Alameda open to the public. For the past 16 years, the home has been open only one day each month, staffed by volunteers under the direction of Alameda Museum Curator George Gunn. The gracefully proportioned Colonial Revival house was completed in 1897. The Meyers family bequeathed the property to the Alameda Museum and the city in 1994. At first the museum and the city’s Recreation and Park Department co-managed the house. Last year sole ownership of the property passed to the museum. The board of directors started a much-needed capital campaign to cover maintenance, such as painting, and to upgrade the home for events like weddings. Spurred by the need for more public education and major fundraising, Gunn…
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Thank You Party Photos

Thank You Party Photos

Meyers House News, News
We had a lovely party on the grounds of the Meyers House on Saturday, August 17, 2013, to thank all the supporters and contributors to the Meyers House Capital Campaign. More than 50 people attended, including Alameda's City Manager and Mayor. Charlie Howell and Joe Woodard were kind enough to take photos of the day, which you can view on this gallery page.
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Meyers House Gets a New Look

Meyers House Gets a New Look

Meyers House News, News
It's been a busy summer at Meyers House. Dry rot on the house and garage has been repaired, volunteers have helped the new gardener clean up the trees and planting beds, and a storage shed for event furniture is being added. But the most dramatic change... (drumroll) is the new paint! Check out before and after pictures of the pumphouse, which has also been released from murky shadows into the light of day. Of course, what you really want to see is the house... The new paint has done wonders. The main color is a creamy, very pale beige. It contrasts subtly with the white trim and fence, highlighting architectural details that were easy to overlook when everything was painted the same color. Touches of dark green around the windows…
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City Transfers MHG Ownership to Museum, Maintenance Begins

City Transfers MHG Ownership to Museum, Maintenance Begins

Meyers House News, News
At the February 19th meeting, all five City Council members voted yes to transfer the Meyers House to Alameda Museum. Citing the Museum’s dedication since 1997 with operating the house museum portion, plus years of our past investment in building improvements for roofs, gutters, restroom and back gate, it was agreed that we are better poised to care for the property and get the grounds ready for rental activities than the city. Transfer of the property was deemed easier than a complicated lease. With consent of the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF) and the hard work of Amy Wooldridge, Director of ARPD, working with city staff, the house will become our responsibility not later than May 1st. As a reminder to all, while the property is transferred on paper, neither…
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Oakland Heritage Alliance Home Tour

Oakland Heritage Alliance Home Tour

Meyers House News, News
The Oakland Heritage Alliance will be hosting “Great Estates in April, A House Tour of Claremont Pines & Upper Rockridge” on April 20, 2013. The tour will feature splendid examples of Tudor and Mediterranean revival style homes, including residences designed by Oakland architects William Schirmer and Geoffrey Bangs. This year, OHA offers a new twist – two different tours to fit your schedule and your pocketbook. Vintage Vistas, 1-4 pm Advance Purchase: $30/OHA members, $35/general. On-site Admission: $35/OHA members, $40/general. Sunset Over the City, 5-8 pm Includes access to “Vintage Vistas” tour from 1-4 pm, and reception with refreshments at tour homes. ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED: $75/OHA members, $95/general. For more information about the tours, or to purchase tickets, visit the Oakland Heritage Alliance website.
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What’s New at Meyers House?

What’s New at Meyers House?

Meyers House News, News
To all who donated to the Capital Campaign, thank you! Meyers House will be painted when the weather stabilizes. We are still gratefully accepting donations to help us catch up on deferred maintenance this spring. In addition to paint, repairs will be made to the pergola, and the pump house roof. We hope to have the Meyers House grounds ready as a venue for events by July 2013. Meyers House was recently featured in Alameda Magazine. See the article in the March/April issue, pages 21-22, or click the cover to read the online edition.
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Capital Campaign Success!

Capital Campaign Success!

Meyers House News, News
We did it! The Capital Campaign reached the goal of $40,000 by December 31st with the included $10,000 matching contribution from the East Bay Community Foundation (EBCF). Over 100 people donated specifically to the campaign while others rejoined the Meyers House Guild, with those funds also benefiting the house. Several donations of $250 and $500 were received, but it was the Alameda Architectural Preservation Society donation of $2,000 and that of now retired docent Jeanne Gallagher for $2,500 that put us over the top. It all started with Joe Young’s $10,000 in April. The need for capital will not end. If you have yet to make a donation, please do so with a check payable to Meyers House, c/o Alameda Museum address. Thank you to all who donated. In February,…
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A Tale of Two Paintings

A Tale of Two Paintings

Meyers House News, News
Artists have been known to speak of their paintings as their “children." If we accept that metaphor, then the Alameda Museum participated recently in a mini “family reunion” that involved a painting located in distant Munich, Germany, and another in nearby Hayward. It all began when a letter arrived in the Curator’s office from Mark di Frangia, a longtime American resident in Germany, who introduced himself as a great-grandson of Gertrude A. Snow Brooks, a well-known Alameda artist. He kindly offered to donate a painting by her in his possession and also indicated that his brother, Brian Harris of Hayward, would most likely be happy to donate one, too. This, of course, came as great news to us. Some years ago the mother of these two men, Marilyn Harris, donated…
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