Palo Alto Stanford Heritage |
| Inventory photo |
The following is from the Historic Buildings Inventory as revised in 1985:
This very large Spanish Colonial Revival house with its courtyard play, its combination of two and one-story masses, outside stairway, and wrought iron evoke the hacienda atmosphere. A stucco wall along the street has replaced the original iron fence which now surrounds the swimming pool in the rear.
This is a superbly evocative example of the style.
The house was built for Peter D. Middlekauff and his wife Emma; he was a harvester machine company executive from Chicago who moved to Palo Alto in 1926. The Middlekauffs owned and occupied the house until 1955.
Succeeding owners were Merle R. Zinser, finance officer of Varian Associates (1957 to 1962); Lester A Roberts, scientist with Watkins-Johnson Company (1963 to 1972), and in the later 70s, Dr. Richard A. Kramer, of the Palo Alto Medical Clinic. The Kramers were followed by Foster and Dania Gamble, and in 1983 by Bruce and Karen McCaul.
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| Location map |
This house was built in 1927 and is a Category 2 on the Historic Buildings Inventory. The architect was Charles K. Sumner and the builder was Osborne and Knight. The property measures 205.5 by 187 feet.
Sources: Palo Alto City Directories; Palo Alto Times 7/12/26, 4/19/27, 10/8/27 (illustrated), 10/29/27, 5/10/39 (illustrated); Palo Alto Historical Association obituary files; interview April 1981, Mr. and Mrs. Forest Gamble
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