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In 1997, Ruth Quayle Boone bequeathed the 16-acre Boone family farm known as Forest Home Farms to the City of San Ramon for use as a municipal historic park in memory of her husband, Travis Moore Boone.
After Ruth Boone's death in 1998 at the age of 94, the City expanded the memorial to include Ruth, in honor of her generosity to the people of San Ramon and in recognition of the contribution women made to agriculture in the San Ramon Valley.
The Glass House, a white Italianate Victorian home built in 1877, was moved to the Forest Home Farms park and will soon be a museum depicting life in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
In light of the recent widespread development of agricultural lands for residential subdivisions in Contra Costa County and the rise of land values, the gift was extraordinary. Frequently approached by developers who wished to purchase the farm for subdivision, Mrs. Boone chose instead to preserve Forest Home Farms in perpetuity and give this large parcel of land to the people of San Ramon so that they too could enjoy the beauty of the site. The City accepted the property with the vision and foresight to recognize its potential as regional open space that could provide recreational and educational opportunities in the rapidly changing landscape of Contra Costa County.
The 16-acre farm is located at the base of the hills on the west side of San Ramon. Oak Creek divides it in two almost equal parts. The northern portion of the site contains all of the structures built or used by the Boones, except for the cistern that sits atop a hill on the southwest corner. The structures include the Boone's home, a twenty-two room Dutch Colonial house and a number or barns and outbuildings.
The Boone House was remodeled several times since it was built in 1900. This home will eventually serve as a retreat and meeting center. The outbuildings vary significantly in date and size and include: a barn originally built in the period from 1850 to 1860, a 7000 square-foot farm equipment and tractor building, a walnut- processing plant that includes a three-story hulling and drying structure.
The southern portion of the property now holds the David Glass House, a Victorian Italianate style home built in 1877. This house was relocated from its near-by original site at Lora Nita Farm. The Glass House is a two-story, wood frame dwelling with a one-story rear wing, which may be older than the main body of the house. The adjoining tank house, somewhat modified from its historic condition, is a two-story wood-frame structure that is probably slightly later in date than the house. The Glass House exterior will soon be restored to its original beauty. Following restoration, the landscaping around the home will be recreated to resemble a 1890's photo of the house.
Forest Home Farms will be recruiting volunteer docents and gardeners. There are lots of ways to get involved in this project. For more information, call Kim Giuliano at (925)973-3284. You can also check out the Volunteer section of this website.
