Flood’s Summer Residence: Almadale

1/10/25 33 Comments

Authored & Curated By

M.J.G.

In 1894, Captain Stillman H. Knowles, a wealthy miner and business partner of James C. Flood, sold his large property—a fifteen-room house on the shores of Howe's Lagoon—to John F. Farley. Farley then transferred the property to Maria Rosena (Rose) Flood. It is said that tensions within the Flood family, who were not very accepting of Rose, may have prompted the couple to seek out this rural estate, where they could establish their own social circle.

The property boasted stunning views and close proximity to the Alma, California, which was a small logging and ranching town in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Alma had its own train station, which was crucial for James Flood's work. Flood extensively remodeled the Knowles house, transforming it into a forty-room mansion. The estate, renamed Almadale, was further expanded to include an additional residence, cottages, and numerous outbuildings.

Situated on a narrow ridge, these developments required significant site improvements, such as excavation and retaining walls. The Floods also constructed a private road linking the estate to Alma and acquired additional farmland and orchards, ultimately owning 800 acres. It is estimated that they spent approximately $250,000 on the estate's development.

The Grounds
Large, lush elephant ear plants in the foreground offer a striking contrast to the rolling hills and gravel road in the background.

Elephant Ears, a favorite from the Victorian era, are often underappreciated today. They frequently appear in historic photographs, either displayed in urns or planted directly in the ground.

This is one of the charming cottages situated along the winding road on the property. The land also featured several outbuildings, orchards, and gardens. Additionally, the Flood family constructed a road that led directly to the tiny town of Alma.

This was the small train station in the small town of Alma, which the road the Flood’s built went directly into from the mountains. This station was frequently used by the family.

Fun Fact: The small town of Alma would be completely wiped off the map, demolished and intentionally flooded during the 1950’s to construct the reservoir. More information on Alma can be found here.

Here is Constance gathering flowers in the field.

Constance had a pony she loved to ride during their visits to Almadale.

One must wonder if the pony of Constance was also “Housed in Luxury” as The Examiner, San Francisco stated.

A rustic cedar “summer house,” a popular feature of the 19th century, reflects the era’s trend for charming outbuildings and benches. Rose is seen on the right inside the summer house, accompanied by her sister Maude on the left and an unidentified boy. Maude is pictured with her left hand raised. For researchers studying this topic, the term “gazebo” is almost never used to describe these structures.

What is fascinating about these summer houses, now commonly known as gazebos, is their rustic appeal while still adhering to the ornamental design principles of the time. This reflects the Victorian-era interpretation of what “rustic” meant.

The House
The house is visible straight ahead. The property was lined with paths, gardens, outbuildings, and more.

This map of Almadale gived you an idea of how big the property was. The house is circled in red. The pond in the foreground is seen to the left of the circle. Also take note to how many buildings are on the property that aren’t photographed.

This is a view from the other side of the pond. Looking toward their summer home. You can make out many other buildings beyond that which were also part of this estate.

Here is an article written about Amaldale in 1895 by The Examiner, San Francisco.

The entire article can be read here.

This a closer view of Almadale, taken from the other side of the hill. The home features a monochrome paint scheme design with a large wraparound porch, and in front, artistic pathways and plantings create a charming strolling garden.

This section of the house is intriguing, sparking curiosity about its purpose. What was this room used for? Did it offer a beautiful view? Could it have served a function similar to a tower?

Perhaps this was the property’s carriage house.

This appears to be some sort of sunroom, featuring large fan-style stained glass windows.

This appears to be Rose’s sister Maude with Constance dressed in boys’ clothes. If you look closely above her, you can glimpse into the sunroom and make out some of the stained glass windows on the other side.

Here, you can almost see into the sunroom. The windows appear to be either opaque glass or solid sliding shutters. The porch features chicken wire to help vines climb and attach themselves.

Can you identify the small tree?

Here is a photo of Rose, Constance, and Jim Flood on one side of the porch, accompanied by three dogs. You can easily identify the “gay 90’s” as it became referred to as by the enormous puffy arms on women’s dresses.

This photo of Rose standing behind Maude sitting and Constance along with a dog appears to have been taken at the front of the house, facing the meandering roads that wind through the expansive property. Almadale was renowned for its lush gardens, orchards, and a range of rustic outbuildings, including a summer house that embodied Victorian-era design trends. The Floods also constructed paths and walkways throughout the estate, enhancing its natural beauty and making it a perfect setting for leisurely strolls and outdoor activities.

Can you see Jim peeking from behind the corner of the house on the left?

Entering the Front Hall
While the exterior of the home followed a typical west coast design, the interior was decidedly more exotic. Today, we’ll focus on the main hall. This dramatic entryway boasts a Moorish flair, with wall-to-wall carpeting, throw rugs, intricate fretwork, and more.

This statue holds a tray, likely designed to hold calling cards. As many are aware, calling cards were an essential part of social etiquette in the 19th century. When you “called” on someone by visiting, you would leave a card—much like leaving a message today.

Decorating with mace, swords, and shields was not unusual during this era.

The high dado seems to feature a Lincrusta-Walton pattern called “Wrought Iron.” It also appears there are additional details, possibly added to the top.

A close-up of the newel post and carpeting in the hallway.

At the top of the fretwork, decorative vases add an elegant touch to the design. Beyond that, the stenciled ceiling enhances the room’s intricate detailing, contributing to the overall aesthetic.

A beautiful inlay chair next to a table.

Next time we’ll explore more rooms of this home’s exotic interior.

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