Solve the mystery: Can you identify this historic Sonoma estate?

Help the Sonoma County Library identify a photo donated to their collection of historic images. Was this a residence on the Spreckels' family Sonoma Valley estate?|

Can you solve the mystery of this photo, believed to be a residence in the expansive Aldolph and Alma Spreckels’ estate in the Sonoma Valley?

The infamous Spreckels family made its fortune in sugar after the patriarch Claus allegedly acquired water rights in a poker game with the King of Hawaii. The plantations and refineries financed later ventures into real estate and transportation throughout California.

In the late 1800s, the family purchased land in Sonoma County as a summer retreat. The expansive “Sobre Vista” estate had man-made lakes, residences, a game reserve, pool, dance hall, golf course and a barn for raising horses.

In the early 1900s, the estate was an illustrious getaway for the who’s who of the era. The bohemian Alma, who made a name for herself in her early years as a nude model, entertained a host of guests including boxing champion Gene Tunney, banker A. P. Giannini, and movie stars Mary Pickford, Charlie Chaplin and John Barrymore.

By the late 1940s, the estate was broken up into several parcels and sold off to developers, but portions of the estate remain to this day.

The Sonoma County Library gathers images like those in the gallery above as a virtual time capsule for future generations to enjoy. Photographs come from donations by people like you, who share found photos or family collections.

Was the home in the mystery photo above a part of the Spreckels’ family estate? Or was it another Victorian family’s home away from home?

Email janet.balicki@pressdemocrat.com to share your photo sleuthing stories.

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