2515 Q Street's first residents were newlyweds Tullis S. and Letha Menefee (Voorhees)

The bungalow, built on the East 1/2 of Lot 7 in the block bound by P and Q, 25th and 26th. Building  started in the Spring of 1907, and was certainly finished by May, 1908. Wright & Kimbrough had built 12 bungalows on the block by this time, 11 of which stand today, looking much the same as they did in 1908. The Menefee's had purchased the home by May, 1908 and moved in by November, 1908.

Back to the story of the clinker brick beauty at 2515 Q Street.

​The Menefees- Tullis Stephen and Letha Menefee (Voorhees) were the first couple to call the house a home.

Tullis Stephen Menefee was a decorator who owned a papering, tinting, frescoing, and picture framing business with his brother, Joseph J. Menefee. 

In 1905, Tullis had recently purchased a home in Highland Park (now Curtis Park), located at  2331 Bonita Avenue (present-day 2nd avenue). He lived there with his wife Nellie (Maud), and three children, Eva, Stephen & Myrtle. Things were not going well for Tullis and Nellie, who had wed in 1893, about a month before Nellie's 18th birthday. Just over a decade into their marriage, it seemed that Nellie had lost interest in home life. We do wonder about Nellie's side of the story (she was married at 17 and had her first child at 18), but Tullis filed for divorce in December, 1905, on the grounds of cruelty and desertion.  Nellie reportedly was going out with other men to saloons, leaving the children to their own devices. She sold the household furniture for a pittance, and when confronted by Mr. Menefee, she said she would "do as she damn pleased" and she "hated him".  

Whatever the back story of Nellie's revolt was, the divorce wasn't finalized until nearly a year later. In the meantime, I'm sure the split was tough for the children. Still, the broken home didn't stop Eva Queen Menefee, their eldest, from winning a beautiful French doll as a prize for her rendering of "Sleep, My Dolly, Sleep" at a  "doll music" recital she performed at in June, 1906.

Tullis was also keeping himself busy, with a new companion, Miss Letha Voorhees. She worked as an operator for the Sacramento Telephone Company. By February, 1906, Tullis was spending Sundays with Letha in her hometown of Woodland. 

Tullis didn't waste any time marrying Letha when his divorce was finalized. The decree of final divorce was issued on December 31, 1906 and the couple wed on January 1, 1907. (It never takes long)

Sometime after their wedding in January 1907, and prior to November 1908, the Menefee's moved into the newly built Bungalow at 2515 Q Street. They could have possibly moved in as it was being finished, since he was a decorator. 

Nellie Maud Menefee, the ex-wife of Tullis, did not even have time to assume her maiden name again before she died in a drowning accident, at the age of 31, in March 1907. 

Tullis and Letha lived at 2515 Q until 1911, when they sold the home to the Hauser family. 

In October, 1911, Catherine & Valentine Hauser, a rancher and meat merchant, purchased the bungalow at 2515 Q from The Menefee's. The Hauser family had previously resided in Broderick, present-day West Sacramento. Valentine and Catherine (Kate) Hauser  had a son, Fred A. Hauser, and a daughter, Gertrude Regina Hauser, who were grown. Fred was 25 years old, employed as a machinist and Gertrude was 23 years old, working in a millinery shop.  Valentine was already slowing down by the time they purchased Q Street, and had finalized his will in 1910. He passed away in 1918, but the Hauser family continued to live there for many years.

​Valentine's Will stipulated that $2,000 should go to Gertrude and $500 to Fred. In modern day spending power, that's about $54,000 for Gertrude and $13,000 for Fred. The rest was left to his wife, Catherine (Katie).

In June, 1912, Valentine's daughter, Gertrude was married to Charles Y. Brown at the home on Q Street, with over 50 guests attending. The newlywed Browns lived with the Hausers.  Valentine, Catherine, Fred, Charles, and Gertrude all lived together in the bungalow for a time.

   Meanwhile, Uncle Fred's namesake, Fred Hauser, Gertrude's brother, had moved back to Broderick and was farming grain in Yolo County. He became a  partner in the Yolo Meat Packing Company, then the Washington Water and Light Company. ​

Catherine Hauser passed away in 1931.

Uncle Fred Kast, Catherine's brother, passed away in 1938, at the age of 79.

Gertrude and Charles Y. Brown continued to live in the home. In 1941, Gertrude gave her opinion on SPAM for $2. It makes sense that the Hormel Girls would knock on her door, and that she would have both SPAM and Chili on hand, since she was from such a meaty family. ​

Gertrude passed away on March 8, 1944, well before both her husband, Charles and her brother, Fred.

Charles stayed on at 2515 Q Street for years, and became very active in the Sacramento Kennel Club, serving as President, showing, and breeding dogs. He was also remarried in 1947, to a widow named Maud Weule. I think 3 years is a more acceptable turnaround time for a new wife, but the Browns did not have any children to care for at home, so Charles had the leisure of taking his time. Did he really take his time, though? Maude Weule was listed in the Sacramento City Directory, residing at 2515 Q Street, in 1945. Perhaps she rented rooms from Charles prior to their marriage?  Hmmmm 

Sometime in 1954-1955, Charles and Maude purchased a nearly new (built in 1953) home at 1411 Carrousel Lane, in the elite South Land Park Estates neighborhood, built by Ruben Weber as his own home in an area that he built up. We will have to take a detour to Land Park and check out these Weber homes soon. 

​

    Elizabeth passed away in 1989, at the age of 83. The home on Q Street was listed for sale in 1974, when Elizabeth was retiring, and likely downsizing or moving in with others. She moved into a duplex in the South City Farms Neighborhood of Sacramento.

  Maude Brown, Charles Y. Brown's widow, had passed away in 1971. When Charles Y. Brown passed in 1964, I presume that the home at 2515 Q Street was part of the "other real estate" holdings that were all passed on to Maude. Or, the home could have been seperately owned by the family. Perhaps the home was sold in 1974 as a part of Maude's estate liquidation, or perhaps Elizabeth or another family member owned it by the time. Either way, the home stayed in the family for over 60 years, which is pretty amazing. Valentine Hauser's late life purchase of this pretty, clinker brick bungalow on Q Street paid off in dividends, as his family grew and thrived there for many years after his passing. 

​​This 1974 Ad is the first known advertisement for sale of the home since it was built, between 1907-1908. The Hauser family owned and lived in the home for over 60 years. 

In the Spring of 1907, the real estate development company of Wright & Kimbrough was busy building "modern, artistic homes" on the block bound by P and Q, 25th and 26th. This bungalow, located at 2511 Q Street, was built on the West 1/2 of Lot 7. We know that the neighbor's home on the East 1/2 of Lot 7, was started in the Spring of 1907, around the same time as many other homes in the row. 

Many of the new homes on the block were finished by the Fall of 1907.
​
The future residents of the bungalow at 2511 Q Street were meanwhile residing in Oklahoma.

Milton James Ferguson had graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1906, and was serving as the librarian of the University of Oklahoma when he was offered an exciting opportunity to come  West and serve as the Assistant State Librarian for the State of California. 

When Milton and his wife, Rose, first arrived in Sacramento, the pair were welcomed warmly by Lauren Ripley, the President of the California Library Association and Librarian of the Sacramento City Library, and his wife. The Fergusons continued to socialize with the Ripleys during their time in Sacramento, so I suppose those librarians are a tight crew. The Fergusons resided at 10th and F street until they moved to the home at 2511 Q, sometime before November, 1908. Perhaps they were involved in putting the finishing touches and personal additions on the cottage that had been started the prior Spring. I do remember reading somewhere that the home was "built for" Milton Ferguson, but it was certainly started well before he came to town, based on the permit activity.

In November, 1908, Ferguson was one of the many residents of the bungalow block who opposed the placing of railroad yards and sheds  on the block bound by Q and R, 25th and 26th. The petition was published in The Sacramento Bee along with the names of the residents who opposed or did not oppose the railroad yards and sheds. This article has been a very useful tool for me in establishing the pre-1910 census residency in the block. In fact, between finding that article and deciphering the lot numbers used to delineate the block, I am very close to putting together a timeline of the entire block being developed, but you will have to keep watching for that one! 

In 1917, Milton Ferguson was appointed State Librarian, as a successor to James L. Gillis, who had passed away. Rember how I mentioned that these librarians were a tight crew? Milton's pal Lauren Ripley was also in consideration for the position, but withdrew in Milton's favor, and he was appointed unamimously. 

Milton celebrated by building himself a garage in 1918, as cars were becoming THE THING. He listed the house at 2511 Q Street for sale in 1919. He bought a new Paige Touring Automobile in 1920. 

The September 1919 Advertisment in the Sacramento Bee reads:

The need for a larger home has decided the owner of this handsome bungalow at No. 2511 "Q" to sell at a very attractive price.

It is a bungalow of unsual beauty and home charm, one that will awaken you to a full appreciation of the convenience and completeness of the bungalow type of dwelling.

And it is in a fitting setting for its attractiveness, the entire block being built up with bungalows of very pleasing appearance. 

There are five rooms--the front living room, about 14x30 feet, will win your instant admiration with its clinker brink fireplace, built-in bookcases, tapestry wall paper, casement windows, side wall and beam lights--and from there on you will voice your approval of every detail in this splendid home.

A special feature of the bungalow is the large number of bearing fruit and nut trees in the back yard, worth hundreds of dollars. The harvest each year would easily pay the taxes on the property. The lot is a 40x160 with splendid cement-floored garage on the alley.

Inspect this bungalow Sunday any time between 2 and 5 p.m. You'll want it if you want a fine modern home of your own. Easy terms.

No. 2511 "Q" -- See it Sunday, betwen 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. 

The Carmichael Co.
1005 8th Street                                                                                                                                                               

Ferguson was making quite a career for himself, and both his wife, Rose and daughter, Ruth were  enjoying Sacramento society. He had his sights set on a bigger home, as evidenced by the listing and advertising of his home for sale in 1919. I'm sure that the house on Q Street being burglarized in 1921 did not help matters.

    By 1922, that opportunity to own a larger home finally presented itself in Wright & Kimbrough's Tract 24. ​Wright & Kimbrough had been marketing their new development, located in present-day East Sacramento, to families like Ferguson's, who were looking to move to a new suburb, a bit more removed from the indelicacies of city life. The three happy faces in the below ad might as well have  been Milton, Rosa, and Ruth Ferguson. This ad ran in March, 1921. In November, 1921, the Fergusons purchased a lot in Tract 24. In January, 1922, the Milton's sold the home at Q Street to their neighbors, William L. & Ethel B. Brodie. The Brodie's had previously resided just around the corner, in another of the Wright & Kimbrough Bungalows of Bungalow Row, at 1616 25th Street. Unfortunately, William passed away shortly after the couple moved to Q Street, but Ethel lived at the home until 1928, when she remarried. The Fergusons began construction of their new home, at 1430 40th Street in Wright & Kimbrough's Tract 24, in February 1922.

    Weeks and Day, the architects of the Ferguson's new home on 40th street, were in town for another large project- the plan to build two buildings as part of the State Capitol Extension. One building woild house the state library, the other would be for state offices. How interesting that the architects of Milton J. Ferguson's home were also the architects of his new office, the state library extension building at the Capitol.
     WIth the erection of their new home in Sacramento's prestigious new suburb, the Fergusons had truly arrived. In 1922, Milton was part of a committe responsible for organizing a "Day's of '49" celebration, celebrating Sacramento's mining history. He put out a public call for mining artifacts to be donated for preservation. From the sounds of it, the event was similar to the "Gold Rush Days" events that Sacramento has put on more recently. The goal was to re-create the atmosphere of Sacramento as a mining town in 1849. Tents were pitched and costumes were donned. Some nicely preserved photos of Milton wearing his costume are held in the California History Room Collection

  In 1923, Ruth Ferguson went away to college at Berkeley, and the Fergusons would visit her there often. She also brought friends home to Sacramento for Thanksgiving, to visit her parent's lovely home on 40th street.
    In 1928, another opportunity called both Milton and Rosa to South Africa, where Milton would team with a librarian from Scotland, to make a survey and recommendations for the foundation of a library system in South Africa. The study was funded by the Carnegie Corporation. While Milton was in Africa, Mabel Gillis, the daughter of his predecessor, James Gillis, would serve as State Librarian. 

When Milton returned from Africa, in May 1929, he was reappointed as State Librarian, with Mabel Gillis returning to the role of Assistant State Librarian. Mabel didn't have to wait long for her turn to step up again, as Milton was snapped up for a position that would take him to Brooklyn, New York in 1930.

​ 

The Ferguson's home in East Sacramento went on the market in May, 1930

The Sacramento Community mourned the loss of Milton J. Ferguson, and he made himself even more lovable with his parting words, a warning against the invasion of personal rights, and explicitly against prohibition (swoon!)

Milton J. Ferguson made a deep impression upon the City of Sacramento and the State of California during his two decades here. California obviously made an impression on him, as well. When he returned to Sacramento in 1939 for a visit, the Rotary Club recreated the atmosphere of 1921-1922 in his honor. According to the June 16, 1939 edition of The Sacramento Bee, Milton spoke and  praised the city thusly,

"It looks like someone is doing a good job of civic house-cleaning, to see everything so spick and span and so many flowers blooming everywhere. I am sorry to say many of our eastern cities do not look like that. I had forgotten until I returned that there are so many beautiful trees in Sacramento. You certainly ought be proud of them and should guard them" -Milton J. Ferguson

Yes, Milton, we are and we should. I'm not sure why they changed our water tower to no longer proclaim that we are the "City of Trees", but there are lots of folks here in Sacramento who still care about the trees. I'm sure that you would be proud of the work that the Sacramento Tree Foundation
is doing to steward our urban forest. 
​

The May 1908 ad reads

​The Last Bungalow
On "Q" Street, Between 25th and 26th Sts.
                                                          $400
                                                              Gives You The Deed

                          You pay this much yearly for rent and only have a bunch of Rent Receipts to show for it. Won't buy you a thing. 
                      Pay the rent to yourself; enjoy the feeling of posession. Settle down in your own home, one that you actually own. 
___________

                There is but one block of Bungalows in all of California north of Los Angeles, and this is the last one remaining unsold in the block.
Five beautiful rooms; quaint panels and plate rail; open fireplace; built-in sideboard; splendid kitchen; porcelain tub and patent toilet; hot-water connection; gas and electricity; beamed ceilings; walls and ceilings tinted. Everything a home should be. Shades and fixtures go with the house. All ready to move in. Large lot, well graded and filled. House 30 feet back from walk. No front fences. Cement walks. Sewer in alley, all connected. Two car lines within a block and a half. Good property all around.

The price is low. The terms are generous and easy, and this is absolutley the LAST ONE out of the 12.
The opportunity for a modern home in block where everything is new--where the owners are proud of their possesions, and where you CAN be in yours now.
By ringing up Main 96 one of our salesmen will call on you. Will surprise you at the moderate price asked, show you through the property, and for your own good try and break you from the rent-paying habit. Our number is Main 96
___________________________
Wright & Kimbrough
607 J Street                       Main 96

The October 1907 ad reads

Another Los Angeles Bungalow Ready

$400 Cash Makes it Yours
EACH BUNGALOW WE BUILD HAS IT'S OWN CHARACTERISTICS. WE NEVER DUPLICATE.
​
It's a little beauty-- even case-hardened, super-critical salesmen say that, and every nook and corner in it spells comfort. Its location is on Q Street, between 25th and 26th, on a 40 x 80 high-graded lot, with cement sidewalk down, not only in front, but all around the house.

From the broad, generous, sunlit porch you enter a combined reception hall and parlor with a quaint window seat and paneled walls. This in turn opens into the dining-room, whose massive pillars, open, clinker brick fireplace, old-fashioned beam ceiling, high panels, and plate rack suggest infinite comfort and good taste. Here, too, is another wide window, with deep window seats fitted with lockers, and also a combination china closet and sideboard cut through into the pantry behind.

There are two splendidly light and airy bedrooms, with a snow white bathroom between, containing porcelain tub, washstand and medicine cabinet, and ample closet room has been provided.

The back porch has patent toilet and stationary tubs. Gas is piped for cooking and electric light is all through the house.

Then there is- but, no, the ad man has taken too much space already, and a whole page in The Bee would fail to do it justice. It must be seen to be appreciated.

The keys, the price (which is absurdly low) and a host of interesting details can be obtained in our office, where you are cordially invited to come and see us about it. Come quickly, though, for be it ever remembered that a unique little home like this will go like winking, and it's "First come, first served."

Wright & Kimbrough
Sacramento's Specialists in Real Estate
607 J Street​​​​​

Architectural Features: Low-pitched, end gable roof with overhanging eaves, four-over two sash windows in the front, eight-over two sash windows and a craftsman style oriel on the West side of the house to accomodate the window seat inside. Sunny, open porch.

 Early Residents of 2505 Q Street:

Newlyweds Clyde J. Tharp & Marie Edna Tharp (Belchee)

The groom, Clyde J. Tharp held a "responsible position" for the Standard Oil Company, and the bride, Miss Marie Edna Belchee was the youngest of 7 daughters. All of Marie's sisters were married already, so Marie's wedding was the last one, and all of the Belchee girls were married off. The couple were married at noon on Thanskgiving Day, 1908, at the residence of Marie's Sister, Mrs. Warren Myers (née Luella Belchee) at 616 3rd Street in Woodland, California. Marie was not the only one of Luella's sisters to be married at the noon hour at the pretty c. 1890 Victorian on Third Street. Many wedding were held there at sister Luella's house, which seems practical when there are 7 daughters to hold weddings for. Warren Myers, Luella's groom, was manager of a Woodland Creamery, built in 1895 and burnt to ashes in a fire in 1904. He oversaw the rebuild, modifying plans taken from a Modesto Creamery. The Myers were also later very active in Real Estate   
     The Tharp wedding in Thanksgiving, 1908 was quite the event, juding from the mentions in various news articles. After the wedding, the newlyweds departed by train to Sacramento, where the new Bungalow at 2505 Q Street was already prepared for their arrival.  The grooms parents, Mr & Mrs. E. J. Tharp (née Lulu Gray) gifted the newlyweds with "the complete and elegant furnishings of one room of their new home." Oh, how I wish I had photos, but in the meantime, the descriptions from a newspaper article, printed in the Woodland Daily Democrat, paint the picture. 
​

                                

Weddings of
       Thanksgiving


Clyde Tharp and Miss Belche Married in Woodland







A pretty Thanksgiving wedding was solmenized at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Warren Myers at the noon hour Thursday. 




The interior decorations of the Myers home were very artistic and attractive. The color scheme in every room was pink and green....pink ribbons radiated from the center chandeliers in all directions. 

















The bride wore a lovely gown of cream silk messaline, cut directoire style and trimmed in point lace. She carried an exquisite boquet of white carnations.

The bridesmand, Miss (Alta) Myers, was attired in a blue silk costume of pretty design and her bouquet was of pink carnations.

The pretty little ring-bearer (Roma Tharp) was dressed in white. 

wedding presents...consisted of silver, cut glass, pictures, linen, bric-a-brac, and a wide range of valuable articles, both useful and ornamental.

A complete silver set presented by the Sacramento employees of the Standard Oil Company was much admired.

The most valuable as well as the most useful remembrance was from the parents of the groom, the complete and elegant furnishings of one room of their new home.

...amid showers of rice and many good wishes, they left for Sacramento, where Mr. Tharp has prepared a pretty bungalow for the reception of his bride. The number is 2505 Q street. 

    The Tharps, while they resided in Sacramento, visited Woodland often, sometimes bringing along their new Q Street neighbors, and they tended to return to Woodland for a Thanksgiving celebration each year. Clyde went to work for the Bert McDowell Wholesale Grocery Company sometime around 1912, and worked there until he passed in September, 1936, at the age of 52. While the Tharps lived on Q Street, they were quite social with their neighbors. Marie played bridge and was active in the Busy Bee sewing club with many of the neighborhood ladies.                                                                                                     In June, 1927, the Tharps sold the bungalow at 2505 Q to Reverend I. W. Young, the pastor at the Church of the Nazarene located at 28th & S streets. At the same time, they bought a home in the new St. Francis Oaks subdivision (present day Curtis Park) from William Murcell. You may rememer architect and builder William Murcell from my post about the Judge Shields Home. By 1927, the Tharps had lived in the little bungalow on Q Street for nearly 20 years. Their daughter, Dorothy (Dorothea) was born in February 1913 and grew up on our bungalow block. The Tharps must have started outgrowing the home, with the new baby, and also the house guests from Woodland or Oakland that were often visiting. In 1920, 2505 Q was listed for sale, but it didn't sell. Instead, the Tharps had a Summer Home built up near Phillips resort, where they had rented cabins and traveled with their neighbors in prior seasons. I imagine that this Summer Home gave them the space that they were seeking while they waited to sell Q street and upgrade to a larger home. When Dorothea was married in 1933, her wedding reception was held at the Tharp's new home, 2161 Markham Way. William Murcell was the builder of this home, with a permit filed February 12, 1927 to construct the dwelling and garage at 2161 Markham Way at the cost of $2,800. In June 1927, the Tharps purchased the home for $8,600 and sold their Q Street bungalow for $4,000. They left the little bungalow in the hands of Reverend Young, and they moved out to the next layer of suburbs, as many of their contemporaries had.
     The Tharps were the first family to make 2505 Q Street their home, and were deeply entrenched in the neighborhood's social scene. These little bungalows were perfect for newlyweds, and for starting families, and a deeply connected community began to form around the bungalow block. Even those who left the block found themselves returning to visit the familiar row of bungalows and their friendly neighbors.