Mountain View in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

The Spirit of the Times

Wild Marshes, Handy Scows & Mr. Henry Rengstorff

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

1. The Spirit of the Times Marker

Captions: The Wild Marshes of Mountain View
When Captain Rivira first looked upon San Francisco Bay in 1769, he saw great expanses of hundreds of miles of rich, abundant salt marshes. Stories tell of flocks of ducks and geese so thick that the sky was blacked for days during migrations. The wetlands on the edge of the bay are still some of the richest places on earth, and here on the edge is where Henry Rengstorff focused his family and business life. (upper left).

The Mounain View
Length – 61.0’ Breadth – 24.2’ Depth – 4.5’ Gross Tonnage – 4348 Built – 1867
The handy scow schooner of San Francisco Bay possessed a combination of desirable qualities: she was easy to work, handled well under different conditions of wind and water, tacked to windward smartly, and maneuvered well in close quarters. (upper right).

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The Spirit of the Times. Wild Marshes, Handy Scows and Mr. Henry Rengstorff. The Victorian Beauty . The 16 room house that Henry Rengstorff built in 1867 is a fine example of the Bay Area’s late Victorian Italianate architecture. The facade of the house is symmetrical, with the central entrance defined by a pillared portico and large pediments. It is flanked by bay windows decorated with balustrades, which are echoed by those on the second flour (sic) and on the “widow’s walk” on the roof. One of the most magnificent houses in Mountain View, it was called home by many generations of the Rengstorff family and their relatives, until sold in 1959. , Originally on 164 acres on the bay east of today’s Shoreline Business Park, this enchanting house was built of virgin Redwood and Douglas Fir trees from nearby Woodside. The oldest known building in Mountain View, the house hosted weddings, parties, community gatherings and events for Henry’s increasingly important transportation business near his Landing on the bay. After falling into ruin in the 1950’s, the house eventually made its way to the Register of Historical Places in 1978. Today, the Rengstorff House has been returned to its former glory. Now used for both business and pleasure activities, this “Victorian Beauty” once more reigns over the marshlands of the south San Francisco Bay. , Four Raucous Landings. In the 1800’s the Santa Clara Valley’s rich farmlands produced hay, grain, and produce ready for shipment to markets in San Francisco and other west coast ports. Over the years four landings were built near here, each at the end of an “embarcadero” that connected to a slough deep enough for ships to reach the bay. Passenger travel on the bay was popular in the winter when the muddy El Camino Real made travel by coach miserable. , Rengstorff’s and Guth’s landings were built at the end of Stierlin Road (now Shoreline Boulevard), Jagel’s at the end of Whisman Road and Chief Ynigo’s Landing was east of Alviso Road. Heavily loaded scow schooners sailed the bay. The smells of hay and produce mixed with the braying mules, the yells of workers and the slap of bay water against the docks make the landings bustling headquarters of movement along the bay. By the late 1800’s, orchards had largely replaced grain fields, and with no cold storage at the dock warehouses, the economics of bay shipping changed activities there. The final blow to the landings came when the transcontinental railroad linked farms in Santa Clara Valley with the large eastern markets. By 1908, barge shipping was a thing of the past and the landings were closed down. , A Man Named Henry. Braving the dangerous journey around Cape Horn, 21 year old Henry Rengstorff arrived to make his fortune in California’s gold fields with only $4 in his pocket. He started his career as a landowner by earning “squatter’s” rights to 290 acres of farmland. Over the years, the 290 acres grew to more than 2,000 acres on six farms where Henry raised grain, hay, lumber, cattle and orchards, as well as his family. , Marriage to Christine Hassler, also from Germany brought a busy family life of seven children to the edge of the bay. Henry’s interest further expanded when he built a transport landing near the end of the present Shoreline Boulevard. The bustle of wagons bringing hay and other goods to ship to San Francisco provided the background for the children’s youth, as they rode their ponies and played games in the surrounding marshlands. , Henry Rengstorff was one of the foremost businessmen and philanthropists of his day. At the time of his death at 77, he was also one of the wealthiest and most respected citizens in this young and thriving community. Henry’s presence endures today in his generosity to the community and in the restored beauty of his home. , Timeline of Events. Pre-1700’s Area home to the Ohlone Indians 1777 Spanish founded Mission Santa Clara de Assis 1821 Mexico declared indpendence 1829 Henry Rengstorff born in Hanover, Germany 1833 Mission Santa Clara secularized; 7 Ohlones out of 1800 became landowners including Chief Ynigo 1842 Francisco Estrada applied for land grant including present-day Mountain View and Sunnyvale 1849 California ceded to the United States; Gold Rush On! 1850 Mountain View growing along road from San Francisco to Santa Clara: Rengstorff emigrated to San Francisco for gold rush 1853 Rengstorff granted squatter’s rights on 290 acres near bay 1857 Henry Rengstorff married Christine Hassler 1867 Rengstorff built house on bay shore in Mountain View 1906 Henry Rengstorff died at 77, father of 7 children 1919 Christine Rengstorff died; daughter Elise inherits family house 1959 Rengstorff House sold to land company 1980 City moved Rengstorff House to Shoreline 1986 Rengstorff House moved to permanent site: renovation started 1991 Rengstorff House opens for public use

The Victorian Beauty
The 16 room house that Henry Rengstorff built in 1867 is a fine example of the Bay Area’s late Victorian Italianate architecture. The facade of the house is symmetrical, with the central entrance defined by a pillared portico and large pediments. It is flanked by bay windows decorated with balustrades, which are echoed by those on the second flour (sic) and on the “widow’s walk” on the roof. One of the most magnificent houses in Mountain View, it was called home by many generations of the Rengstorff family and their relatives, until sold in 1959.

Originally on 164 acres on the bay east of today’s Shoreline Business Park, this enchanting house was built of virgin Redwood and Douglas Fir trees from nearby Woodside. The oldest known building in Mountain View, the house hosted weddings, parties, community gatherings and events for Henry’s increasingly important transportation business near his Landing on the bay. After falling into ruin in the 1950’s, the house eventually made its way to the Register of Historical Places in 1978. Today, the Rengstorff House has been returned to its former glory. Now used for both business and pleasure activities, this “Victorian Beauty” once more reigns over the marshlands of the south San Francisco Bay.

Four
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Raucous Landings In the 1800’s the Santa Clara Valley’s rich farmlands produced hay, grain, and produce ready for shipment to markets in San Francisco and other west coast ports. Over the years four landings were built near here, each at the end of an “embarcadero” that connected to a slough deep enough for ships to reach the bay. Passenger travel on the bay was popular in the winter when the muddy El Camino Real made travel by coach miserable.

Rengstorff’s and Guth’s landings were built at the end of Stierlin Road (now Shoreline Boulevard), Jagel’s at the end of Whisman Road and Chief Ynigo’s Landing was east of Alviso Road. Heavily loaded scow schooners sailed the bay. The smells of hay and produce mixed with the braying mules, the yells of workers and the slap of bay water against the docks make the landings bustling headquarters of movement along the bay. By the late 1800’s, orchards had largely replaced grain fields, and with no cold storage at the dock warehouses, the economics of bay shipping changed activities there. The final blow to the landings came when the transcontinental railroad linked farms in Santa Clara Valley with the large eastern markets. By 1908, barge shipping was a thing of the past and the landings were closed down.

A Man Named Henry Braving the dangerous journey around Cape Horn,

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

2. The Spirit of the Times Marker

21 year old Henry Rengstorff arrived to make his fortune in California’s gold fields with only $4 in his pocket. He started his career as a landowner by earning “squatter’s” rights to 290 acres of farmland. Over the years, the 290 acres grew to more than 2,000 acres on six farms where Henry raised grain, hay, lumber, cattle and orchards, as well as his family.

Marriage to Christine Hassler, also from Germany brought a busy family life of seven children to the edge of the bay. Henry’s interest further expanded when he built a transport landing near the end of the present Shoreline Boulevard. The bustle of wagons bringing hay and other goods to ship to San Francisco provided the background for the children’s youth, as they rode their ponies and played games in the surrounding marshlands.

Henry Rengstorff was one of the foremost businessmen and philanthropists of his day. At the time of his death at 77, he was also one of the wealthiest and most respected citizens in this young and thriving community. Henry’s presence endures today in his generosity to the community and in the restored beauty of his home.

Timeline of Events Pre-1700’s Area home to the Ohlone Indians
1777 Spanish founded Mission Santa Clara de Assis
1821 Mexico declared indpendence
1829 Henry Rengstorff born in Hanover, Germany
1833

Rengstorff House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

3. Rengstorff House

Mission Santa Clara secularized;
7 Ohlones out of 1800 became landowners including Chief Ynigo
1842 Francisco Estrada applied for land grant including present-day Mountain View and Sunnyvale
1849 California ceded to the United States; Gold Rush On!
1850 Mountain View growing along road from San Francisco to Santa Clara: Rengstorff emigrated to San Francisco for gold rush
1853 Rengstorff granted squatter’s rights on 290 acres near bay
1857 Henry Rengstorff married Christine Hassler
1867 Rengstorff built house on bay shore in Mountain View
1906 Henry Rengstorff died at 77, father of 7 children
1919 Christine Rengstorff died; daughter Elise inherits family house
1959 Rengstorff House sold to land company
1980 City moved Rengstorff House to Shoreline
1986 Rengstorff House moved to permanent site: renovation started
1991 Rengstorff House opens for public use

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1867.

Location. 37° 25.9′ N, 122° 5.213′ W. Marker is in Mountain View, California, in Santa Clara County. Marker is on North Shoreline Boulevard, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3070 North Shoreline Boulevard, Mountain View CA 94043, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers.

Watertower House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

4. Watertower House

At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rengstorff House (within shouting distance of this marker); First Commercially Practicable Integrated Circuit (approx. 1.1 miles away); Semiconductor Planar Process and Integrated Circuit (approx. 1.1 miles away); Star Steel Windmill (approx. 1.3 miles away); Computer History Museum (approx. 1.3 miles away); Moore’s Law (approx. 1.3 miles away); DIALOG Online Search System (approx. 1.3 miles away); The Floating Gate EEPROM (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain View.

Also see . . .
1. Rengstorff House - Historic Victorian House. The Italianate design is evident in a hip roof with a central gable crowned by a widow's walk, the front portico and symmetrical room layout. (Submitted on October 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Rengstorff, A Pioneer Family. Henry Rengstorff grew up in Germany, where his father owned and operated a country tavern near Bremen. Like so many others of his generation, young Henry was lured to California by stories of the Gold Rush. (Submitted on October 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Windmill and Watertower House image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

5. Windmill and Watertower House

National Register of Historic Places marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 28, 2013

6. National Register of Historic Places marker

This Property
has been listed in the
National Register of
Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Rengstorff House
Circa 1867
Restored 1991

Credits. This page was last revised on January 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 617 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 8, 2013, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.