Captain Charles M. Weber Residence

Captain Charles M. Weber Residence. . , Main Marker: , This site marks the location of the original residence of Captain Charles M. Weber, the founding father of the City of Stockton. From this prominent point overlooking the waterfront, he directed the first survey of the city in 1849, leading to a master plan that dedicated space for numerous parks, churches, schools, cemeteries, and civic buildings, that still exist today. Stockton was the first planned community in California., The original Weber home, constructed of wood and adobe, was completed in 1850. Bricks for the chimney, doors and windows were shipped “around the horn” for installation in the structure. Captain Weber and his bride, Helen Murphy, resided together in this home until his death in 1881. Their three children were born and reared here., The Weber home was surrounded by glorious gardens, considered the finest in the city until the great flood of 1862 (which confined Helen Murphy Weber and her children to the second story house) Captain Weber personally tended the plants in the gardens and even installed a system to pump water from the channel to irrigate the grounds., In 1892, a second wood frame house was built adjacent to the original Weber home. The family lived in this newer structure until 1900 when it was moved to Weber’s West Lane Property on the Calaveras River. Captain and Mrs. Weber’s daughter, Julia, named this property “Helen’s Oaks” for her mother. Their granddaughter, Helen Weber Kennedy lived in the house until her death in 1983. The house was relocated once more in 2001 to its current site at Micke Grove Park., The original dwelling on Weber Point was destroyed by fire in June 1917. In 1999, prior to construction of the Weber Point Events Center, the foundation of the original Weber home was discovered during an archeological excavation. This monument denotes the exact location of the building where the Weber family lived for over four decades., Marker 2: , Feb. 16, 1814 , Charles David Maria Weber was born in Steinwenden, Germany., Marker 3: , Nov. 20, 1836 , Charles Weber arrived in New Orleans. During the Texas War of Independence he served under Sam Houston., Marker 4: , May 18, 1841 , Near St. Louis, Charles Weber joined the Bidwell-Bartelson Party, the first overland party to reach California., Marker 5: , Charles Weber described the sea breezes “coming fresh up the channel” and loved the view to the west from this location. A cupola at the top of the house gave him a commanding view and he followed with great interest the arrival of every ship entering Stockton Channel. He wrote of “the sun sinking west of the coast range, throwing a glorious golden illumination over the clouds hanging above the Sierra Nevada”, Marker 6: , Nov. 4, 1841 , Charles Weber arrived at John Marsh’s ranch near Mt. Diablo. He settled in San Jose and became a successful businessman., Marker 7: , April 3, 1845 , Charles Weber purchased El Campo de los Franceses (The French Camp), a Mexican Land Grant of eleven leagues (48.747 acres), Marker 8: , The house was “part wood and part adobe, and has four large wings… Upon the top is a cupola large enough for all ordinary persons as a dwelling house, and from the top of this is displayed our national flag. The grounds are laid out as one immense flower garden with pretty summer houses, artificial fountains, and substantive walks, and they exhibit great care in their design and formation… everything displayed the upmost extravagance and beauty.” , ~John McCraken, November, 1851, Marker 9: , August 1847 , Charles Weber permanently settled on Weber’s Point and built an adobe and redwood dwelling on this site in 1850., Marker 10: , Nov. 29, 1850 , Charles Weber married Helen Murphy, who had traveled overland from Missouri in 1844. With the Murphy-Stephens-Townsend Party. The first to bring wagons to California., Marker 11: , Three Weber children were born in the house: Charles Martin (1851), Julia Helen (1853), and Thomas Jefferson (1855) , Charles Weber died May 4, 1881 . This historical marker is in Stockton in San Joaquin County California