Fundraising closer to saving county’s oldest adobe house
Historic home was built in 1841, early California museum planned
ORINDA » The effort to save the county’s oldest house and turn it into a museum where people can learn about early California history is on track for success.
Organizers have raised about $425,000 of the $500,000 needed to purchase the singlestory structure.
“Truth is, we are feeling confident about it,” said Kent Long, president of Friends of the Joaquin Moraga Adobe, the nonprofit working to create the museum. “We are now at the point where we are thinking, What comes next? What should go inside? What kind of furnishings?”
The goal is to open the museum in about three years, Long said.
The property at 24 Adobe Lane in Orinda sits on a knoll within 20 acres, near the Mor
aga Country Club, Del Rey Elementary School and Miramonte High School.
Branagh Development, which owns the adobe building, has mostly completed building a 13-house subdivision called J&J Ranch on the site. The developer has agreed to sell the house to Friends of the Joaquin Moraga Adobe.
The purchase terms for the house and about 2 surrounding acres require the nonprofit to pay $450,000 in installments and show that it has an extra $50,000 in reserves. The deadline to complete the transaction is September.
But Friends of the Joaquin Moraga Adobe, formed in 2010, also want to raise an additional $500,000 as an endowment to help pay for ongoing costs after the
museum opens.
As part of the fundraising, supporters are displaying lawn signs on their properties, seeking to raise awareness for the project. The Orinda Theatre also has been highlighting the cause on its marquee.
The old house was built by Don Joaquin Moraga, a descendant of Jose Joaquin Moraga, a leader of the de Anza expedition to colonize and explore what was then known as Alta California in the 1770s.
Jose Joaquin Moraga is credited with founding San Jose, as well as San Francisco’s Presidio.
The Contra Costa County town near the house was named after Don Joaquin Moraga. He and his cousin, Don Juan Bernal, received a 13,316-acre land grant from the Mexican government in 1835 that included what is now Moraga and portions of Lafayette and Orinda.
They called their property
Rancho Laguna De the rear and covering the Los Palos Colorados, or adobe walls with stucco. “Ranch of the Lake of the Those bedrooms are now Redwoods” in English. gone as part of the current
Moraga built the fiveroom restoration under Branagh adobe house in 1841. Development. Major roof
“It’s really a shame that it work also has been done. was not turned into a museum Future work will include years ago,” said Moraga’s installing redwood floors to descendant Lance Beeson replicate the original floors, of El Sobrante. removing the stucco and
Moraga is Beeson’s greatgreat-great-great-grandfather. replacing it with an adobe mud mixture that will resemble His great-greatgrandmother the exterior when was born in the house was first built. the house. The effort is being done
“It’s a venerable place in accordance with the U.S. and has a rich history,” said Interior Department’s Standards Beeson, whose family lost for the Treatment of ownership of the property Historic Properties, according in the 19th century. “More to the city. people deserve to see it. I The state recognized the am looking forward to that Moraga Adobe as a historical happening.” landmark in 1954.
Over the decades, the Orinda designated it a landmark house changed from what in 1995. It’s also listed it was originally under on the National Register of various ownership and as Historic Places. Contra Costa County was A family, not related to developed. The changes the Moragas, lived in the included the addition of house until about 15 years wood-framed bedrooms at ago. Afterward, it remained
vacant, fell into disrepair and became a target for vandalism and teenage parties.
“It’s gone through some rough times,” Beeson said.
To donate or to learn more about the Joaquin Moraga adobe, go to moragaadobe. org. The Orinda Historical Society will host a virtual
talk, “Our 1841 Adobe,” about the building’s history and the status of its renovation, from 7 to 8 p.m. March 31. To attend or for information, email TalkInfo@OrindaHistory.org.