The House as a residence.

City tax records suggest that Dr. Samuel Merritt built the Italianate Victorian structure (known today as the Camron-Stanford House) in 1876 as part of his development strategy for downtown Oakland. What is know for sure is that he transferred title to the lot and the house to Mrs. Alice Camron in 1877, a purchase made possible by an inheritance. Alice, her husband, “Will”, and their two daughters became the first residents of the up-scale home.

David Hewes rented the house from the Camrons’ for three years. David and his first wife, Matilda, honeymooned in Europe on a Grand Tour. Today the House proudly features some of the actual paintings, sculpture, and artifacts they collected during that trip in its beautifully restored Period Rooms.

Josiah Stanford (Leland Stanford's older brother and business partner) and his wife, Helen purchased the House in 1882 and owned the House for twenty-three years (the longest residency). They split their time between their Oakland home and their ranch east of Fremont near Warm Springs. There they established a large and prosperous grape vineyard. Stanford Brothers Winery, as it was known, later became Weibel Winery. Josiah, among his may business ventures (often including his brothers), was also a principal in one of California’s first major oil companies.

John and Terrilla Wright purchased the House from Helen Stanford. John Wright was a sea captain in the days when masted and steam ships carried freight in and out of San Francisco Bay. Among his many ventures and adventures; he was part owner of the first refrigerated ship. These vessels soon proliferated and allowed California to export its vast quantities of perishable goods worldwide. The Wrights’ stay in the House was a short one. They sold the House to the City of Oakland, which planned to convert the House to public use.