James Franklin Devendorf

James Franklin Devendorf (April 6, 1856 – October 9, 1934), was a pioneer  real estate developer and philanthropist. Devendorf and attorney Frank Hubbard Powers (1864-1921), founded the Carmel Development Company in 1902. He became the "Father" of an artists and writers' colony that became Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, which included the Carmel Highlands, California. Devendorf spent the next 30 years of his life developing Carmel and the Carmel Highlands into a special community of painters, writers, and musicians.[1][2]

Early life


1915 Photo of James Franklin Devendorf and family members.

Devendorf was born in Lowell, Michigan, on April 6, 1856. He was one of the three children of Thomas Jefferson Devendorf and Grace Congdon. His father was a merchant and died when Devendorf was three years old. His mother remarried to a Methodist minister, A. W. Gray. Devendorf attended public school at Lowell.[3][2]

Professional background


Carmel's Ocean Avenue in 1908. The Monterey pines in the middle of the street were planted by Devendorf.

In 1874, the family moved to California where he became interested in business and land development. He got a job as a clerk at Hale Bros. Department Store in San Jose, California. On February 19, 1879, in San Jose, he married Lilliana Augusta "Lillie" Potter (1859-1940), a music teacher at the  College of the Pacific in Santa Clara, California. They had five children.[4][2]

In 1901, Devendorf had property in San Jose, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, and Stockton. He decided to trade some of his land holdings for land in Carmel.[5]

Carmel Development Company

Main article: Carmel Development Company


Carmel Development Company Building on Ocean Avenue and San Carlos Street (1903).

In 1902, Devendorf purchased land in Carmel from developer and real estate agent Santiago J. Duckworth, who, in 1889, wanted to build a Catholic summer resort.[6] San Francisco attorney Frank Hubbard Powers (1864-1920) became his partner and they formed the Carmel Development Company on November 25, 1902.

On November 25, 1902, Devendorf became partners with Powers and formed the Carmel Development Company to operate at the Carmel Development Company Building in the town of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Powers provided the capital and did the legal work of the corporation. Devendorf was general manager and oversaw subdividing and developing the land.[7]

Devendorf hired engineer Henry Fisher to layout the village of Carmel. A new subdivision map of the town was filed with the County Recorder in 1902. Under Devendorf's direction, Carmel became a colony of artists and writers and was established as a city in 1903.[8]: p112 [4][1]: p24  By 1904, there were 75 permanent residents, several stores, a restaurant, school, and Carmel City's first hotel, Hotel Carmelo. In the spirit of planting Monterey pines down the center of Ocean Avenue, Devendorf renamed the hotel the Pine Inn.[7]

By 1905, Devendorf used the Carmel Development Company to donate lots for the construction of a community church and school.[5] Devendorf was one of the founders of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club to support artistic works. In 1927, the club was replaced with the Carmel Art Association. He donated the site that would become the Carmel Forest Theater; and gave land for the Devendorf Park.[2][9][10][11]

Once universally known by the loving name of "Devy." In days past, that good old past, he was village government, legislative, executive and police. Not that the village needed much governing in those days but some of us had troubles. We went to Frank Devendorf with them. If he couldn't fix up our troubles he was ready to help us bear them. Never has he held an official position in Carmel as so defined by law, but always had he been known as an "authority." Most of us know and cherish the light of his quiet smile and twinkling eyes.

— Carmel Pine Cone[12]

In 1906, Devendorf, through the Carmel Development Company, purchased land from local ranchers five miles south of Carmel where he developed the Carmel Highlands. In 1915, he developed the Highlands Inn in the Carmel Highlands, which was a resort hotel. His friend, marine artist William Frederic Ritschel helped Devendorf design the Highlands Inn. He sold the Highlands Inn in 1922.[8][7]

After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, more lots were sold because of relocated residents. By 1909, the Carmel Development Company was advertising "Carmel-By-The-Sea" round trip railroad rates to get people to come down to the town. A row of pine trees was planted down the middle of Ocean Avenue because of Devendorf's love for trees and the beautiful environment of the Monterey Peninsula.[3][8]: p106  By 1913, there were 550 residents in Carmel with thousands of summer visitors.[4] The Carmel Realty Company publish a map and brochure of Carmel in 1913, advertising a "A town in a Pine Forest." The town included a post office, Wells Fargo Express office, public school, and free library.[9]: p40 

Death

In May 1934, Devendorf visited the Wildcat Canyon area of the Carmel Highlands on horseback searching for water for the Highlands. There was a storm and Devendorf got ill and never recovered. He had a heart attack soon after this trip. Devendorf died on October 9, 1934, at the age of 78, at his home in Oakland, California.[8] His funeral was at his family home in Oakland.[11][3]

Legacy


James Franklin Devendorf

Devendorf's daughter, Edwina Dupre Devendorf (1881-1954), became a painter and sculptor. In 1949, she made a bronze bust of her father that was dedicated at the Devendorf Park, which was named in his honor. The park is located on Ocean Avenue at the entrance to town. The plague says:

J. Frank Devendorf
1856 - 1934
Pioneer-Builder-Friend
Remembered As
"Father" Of Carmel-By-The-Sea
Founded 1900
"Creation Is A Combination Of Vision And Will - Vision Gives The Plan, But Will Is The Human Energy That Builds To Completion."
Erected 1949, Edwina Devendorf, Sculptor[1]

The mountain behind the city of Carmel was named after him.[2]

References

  1.  Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Arcadia. p. 26. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved 2022-03-03. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  2.  White, James Terry (1893). "Devendorf, James Franklin". The National Cyclopædia of American biography: Being the History of the United States as Illustrated in the Lives of the Founders, Builders, and Defenders of the Republic, and of the men and women who are doing the work and moulding the thought of the present time. New York. p. 154. Retrieved 2022-03-06. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  3.  "James Franklin Devendorf". Adventures Of A Home Town Tourist. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  4.  Grimes, Teresa; Heumann, Leslie. "Historic Context Statement Carmel-by-the-Sea" (PDF). Leslie Heumann and Associates1994. p. 16. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  5.  Hale, Sharron Lee (1941). A Tribute to Yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, Calif.: Valley Publishers. p. 8. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  6.  "Carmel City. Great Enterprise of a Montereyan". Monterey Cypress. Monterey, California. 14 Dec 1889. p. 7. Retrieved 2022-03-07.
  7.  Gilliam, Harold; Gilliam, Ann (1992). Creating Carmel: The Enduring Vision. Salt Lake City. p. 14. ISBN 9780879053970. Retrieved 2022-03-10.{{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  8.  Dramov, Alissandra (2013). Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Early Years (1903-1913). Bloomington, IN. pp. 98–100, 208, 221. ISBN 9781491824146. Retrieved 2022-01-19. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  9.  Seavey, Kent (2007). Carmel, A History in Architecture. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. pp. 7, 34–39, 45. ISBN 9780738547053. Retrieved 2022-01-16. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10.  Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A tribute to yesterday: The history of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. p. 20. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  11.  "Devendorf, Art Patron, Realty Dealer, Dead". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. 10 Oct 1934. p. 17. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  12.  "Who's Who-and Here". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. 1928-12-14. pp. 9–15. Retrieved 2022-10-17.

External links

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