Submitted by Kristi Wachter on
Julia Morgan
About the Building
The elegant simplicity of this rectangular Italian Renaissance style home is accentuated by wave ornaments along the parapet and a banded cornice integrating keystones above the upper windows.
The residence was built for Elizabeth Watt, the wealthy widow of Gold Rush pioneer Robert Watt. Left with Robert's mining and banking fortune, Elizabeth became a noted Bay Area philanthropist.
From 1943 to 1959, W. Edgar and Irene Gallwey owned the home; he was president of the Vacu-Dri Company in Oakland.
From 1959 to 1989, the home belonged to Elaine and Donald Magnin, scion of the I. Magnin family and Magnin executive.