Please join us for a relaxing afternoon at the North Star House on Sunday, July 10, 4-6pm. There will be docents in the house and garden, a band, a photo booth, and food and beverages will be available. Admission is free.
We also want to share with you our recently installed Julia Morgan display to honor the amazing architect who designed this historic home.
Julia Morgan was the first woman to receive a diploma from L’Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, in 1902. That was the most prestigious architectural school in the world at the time. She was also the first licensed female architect in California and went on to design 800 or more unique buildings, in a wide range of styles. She is best known for Hearst Castle and Asilomar but that is just a small part of her legacy.
The North Star House, built in 1905, was Julia’s first significant-sized commission. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as an excellent example of Arts & Crafts style, which was popular in the Bay Area at that time.
James Hague, owner of the North Star Mine, had the house built because the North Star mine was doing well and he wanted a large enough home to entertain visiting dignitaries, investors, mine owners and engineers. (Mr. Hague lived in New York City.) The 10,000 square foot home became the family home of Arthur D. and Mary Hallock Foote, and subsequently the next generation of the Foote family. The Footes were cultured, educated people who enjoyed entertaining the guests.
The North Star Historic Conservancy, a 50(c)(3) nonprofit, is restoring the home and grounds after it was very severely damaged by vandals and weather when it sat empty for over 20 years. We want this historic home to represent the gold mining history of the region while providing a beautiful and versatile venue for both public and private events.