There's a lot of published Santa Cruz history available to researchers. Consequently, it can take a while (for a slowpoke like me) to work through all the available sources of information on a particular subject. That has been the case with the William Kerr house. I have also found, however, that there is considerable disagreement among the writers who mention the house. I guess that shouldn't be a surprise - my curiosity was first aroused by an incorrect photo caption. Here's a chronological history of my research to date:
1. SCPL historic photo gallery, photo #0151. The cryptic caption now reads, 'R. Billings House'. When I first saw it, it was 'R. Billings House, Pasatiempo'. Where is/was the house and who is R. Billings? Other sources refer to a local merchant named R. Billings, but he was NOT the owner of the mystery house (see below)
2. "Surf, sand & streetcars : a mobile history of Santa Cruz, California", by Charles S. McCaleb. This otherwise fine and interesting book contains the same photo, with the caption 'F. A. Hihn Mansion'. It didn't take too long to figure out that it's NOT the Hihn Mansion - there are too many other photos of the real Hihn Mansion.
3. "Old Soldiers: Santa Cruz County Civil War Veterans". This article on the SCPL website contains biographical sketches of many of the vets, including - Frederick William Billing. The bio states that, "In about 1889, Billing purchased the William Kerr Estate in Santa Cruz, which he renamed Wilhelmina Ranch (now Pasatiempo)." So maybe the name is Billing, not Billings? Was the house already there?
4. "The Sidewalk Companion to Santa Cruz Architecture" by John L. Chase. In "Appendix B – Supplementary List of Buildings", the William Kerr house is listed with other 1888 designs by Daniel A. Damkroeger. So, did Billing buy the Kerr property right after the house was built?
5. "The Pasatiempo Story", by Margaret Koch, includes the same photo of the house, with the caption, "The Billing's[sic] mansion, now the site of the Pasatiempo Inn". Koch, talking about Billing, states that "he built a large Victorian home". Did Billing build the house? Koch also states that the house burned "in later years" When?
6. "Santa Cruz Surf" articles. 10/01/1888 article lists current Damkroeger projects, including the “approaching completion” construction of the William Kerr house (this agrees with Chase and disagrees with Koch). 5/01/1889 article describes the now-complete William Kerr house. 6/29/1891 article briefly mentions the William Kerr house. Did Billing buy the ranch with completed house, sometime after 1891?
Obviously, more research is needed to establish any of these facts. Off I go!
