Dunsmuir House: Past, Present, and Future

A discussion about the Dunsmuir House, an 1899 Victorian mansion built by an ill-fated coal tycoon on 50 acres of land and owned since the 1960s by the city of Oakland. The current state of the property is worse for wear, and the panelists will talk about both its history and the plans for its future.

Panelists:

Frances Dinkelspiel is the great-granddaughter of Isaias Hellman, who purchased the Dunsmuir House in 1906. She will discuss the history of the Hellman family at the house from 1906 through the 1950s, show photos of the property in its heyday, and share information about what's going on with the house since the city took over. Frances is the co-founder of Cityside and Berkeleyside. She's also the author of NYT bestseller Tangled Vines: Greed, Murder, Obsession and an Arsonist in the Vineyards of California, and SF Chronicle bestseller Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California.

Edmund Clausen was a charter member Dunsmuir House and Gardens, Inc. / Dunsmuir Historic Estate, the nonprofit that managed the house from 1971 until the city reclaimed sole proprietorship in 2010. A dedicated community supporter, Edmund served several terms as president of the board, on which he served for 19 years ending in 1989. He'll share stories of his work with the house, past stewardship and restoration efforts, and notable events like the filming of Burnt Offerings.

Mandolin Kadera-Redmond Executive Director and CEO of the Oakland Parks and Recreation Foundation (OPRF) with a long history of advocating for community-led Oakland park stewardship. As a former Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) Commissioner and OPRF Board Chair, Mandolin brings a depth of experience and knowledge, guiding OPRF as the organization grows and advocates for parks, recreation programs, environmental stewardship, and inclusive communities.

Moderator:

Liam O'Donoghue is the host and creator of the popular local history podcast East Bay Yesterday and the East Bay columnist for SF Gate. Liam's newsletter article "Why should you care about old houses?" is recommended reading for both those who aren't sure why they should care and those who already have their answer, and his recent podcast episode How to Save a House gives good insight into what it takes to preserve a historic property.