Ruby Press

Sam and I took a tour of Oakland’s historic Pardee Home this weekend and we were both wowed.  The Italianate mansion was built for Enoch Pardee and his family in 1868 and until the 1990’s, was lived in by two of the Pardee daughters.  I love a historic home tour, but don’t love how you are normally kept out of the rooms by velvet ropes and how the tops floors are typically kept off-limits.  This is not that kind of tour.  Walk through the rooms and imagine what life was like back then or just enjoy peeking into the many glass cabinets which hold Enoch’s wife Helen’s profilic collections….of just about anything you can imagine- scrimshaws, rosaries, books, candlesticks.

My favorite rooms were the dining room- a pale aqua blue room with dark wood built-ins and furniture and this mounted elk head, hunted by Mr. Pardee himself- and the “macabre” room, which was just that.  A cabinet of creepy curiosities and the kind of things I have always dreamt of finding in an old attic.

If you live in the area and love old homes, history, and amazing antique collections, do not miss this one.  {And for those pinky-extended ladies and gents- you can even book your own high tea in the charming dining room!  Love it.}

{photo quickly snapped on the tour by yours truly!}