Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Kirsch Home

1200 S. Main St.

— Early 1870s —

Kirsch Home Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 6, 2016

1. Kirsch Home Marker

Inscription. Two giant date palms flanked the entrance to this stately home, owned by Michael Kirsch and his family. Kirsch owned a blacksmith and wheelwright shop next door to this house, at the corner of Main Street and Lafayette Road (now Mt. Diablo Boulevard.

Erected by Walnut Creek Historical Society. (Marker Number 113.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the California - Walnut Creek Heritage Walk series list.

Location. 37° 53.781′ N, 122° 3.593′ W. Marker is in Walnut Creek, California, in Contra Costa County. Marker is at the intersection of South Main Street and Olympic Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on South Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1199 South Main Street, Walnut Creek CA 94596, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Broadway Shopping Center (a few steps from this marker); St. Mary's Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street, 1910 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named St. Mary's Catholic Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Walnut Creek and Mt. Diablo Central Hotel

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(about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Flagpole (about 300 feet away); Downtown Traffic (about 400 feet away); a different marker also named Broadway Shopping Center (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Walnut Creek.

More about this marker. The site referred to by this marker was across the street. This marker is a part of the Walnut Creek Heritage Walk.

Regarding Kirsch Home. A Prussian immigrant, Michael Kirsch moved to Walnut Creek – then called “The Corners” -- in 1858. Before Walnut Creek, he ran a blacksmith shop in San Francisco.
On coming to Walnut Creek, Kirsch established a blacksmith and wheelwright shop that would operate for many years at the southeast corner of Main Street and Mt. Diablo Boulevard. His business offered a wide range of services -- from horseshoeing to making farm equipment. -- Walk Walnut Creek

Kirsch, his wife, Julia, and their four children lived in a stately white two-story home just south of his business on a site that today is an entrance to Broadway Plaza.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, April 6, 2016

2. Kirsch Home Marker

Photographed By Walk Walnut Creek

3. Kirsch Home

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 331 times since then and 58 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.