Landmark Victorian Mansion Restoration Projects
1450, 1454 8th Street, West Oakland, CA

We are currently involved in the process of landmarking and seeking funding for the restoration of the landmark mansion in West Oakland, known by the name of The Samm/Dalton/Cooper mansion and corner-store. This landmark mansion is located at 1450, 1454 8th Street, in West Oakland, CA.

The Samm Dalton mansion was built in 1877-78 by Jacob Samm the proprietor of the Bay City Roller Flouring Mills. The two-story house was built in the then-current and popular Italinate Town House style of the 1870's with Italianate front portico, large elaborately carved double doors with glazed windows, an arched glass transom, bay windows upon front and both sides, and arched round cornered windows. The large house was appropriate for a successful Oakland businessman. Jacob Samm resided at 1454 8th St. until it was sold in about 1895 to prominent California native son, industrialist and politician, Henry P. Dalton.

Henry P. Dalton being a successful industrialist and country assessor of Alameda County, immediately upon purchasing his home from Jacob Samm, had it extensively remodeled in the then current style, "The Queen Anne", both the exterior and interior.

Elaborate Queen Anne details were added to the exterior such as ginger bread details, Queen Anne gables over the bays with fish-scale shingles, pendants, and attic windows.

After exploring the house inside and out, Oakland historical architect Bill Colburn concurs with us that the tall Queen Anne third story was an 1896 addition, probably added for servants quarters. Additionally, the fully developed basement with grand staircase, 8ft plus ceilings, and ample windows was also constructed in 1895/96 to provide a room for entertaining, and servant work areas for the mansion.

The Samm/Dalton Mansion appears in "Representative Oakland Residences" at the turn of the century in its modernized current Italinate / Queen Anne form.

The house appears today, in 2003, roughly in its turn-of-the-century form. Most of it's beautiful Italinate and Queen Anne details remain. It could easily be returned to it's 1896 appearance by removing an ugly 1950's fire escape which destroys the appearance of its front façade, and a third story door added at the same time for egress to the fire escape.The portico banister / balcony needs to be reconstructed and restored, and the curving grand front stairs need to be rebuilt following the design shown in the turn of the century photo.

The corner store was added to the property in 1948, and is in a dilapidated condition and needs to be restored and refurbished so that it does not deteriorate from the grandness of the Samm/Dalton house. If it were restored it would speak eloquently to a later colorful period of Oakland Point history and demonstrate contrast to the mansion.

Current Status
The Samms/Dalton/Cooper House has passed through several rungs of the legal process to become a city landmark of Oakland. It has been recommended to become a city landmark by Oakland City Planning Dept. It is now awaiting a hearing before the board of supervisors of the city of Oakland. It is highly likely that the board will accept the receommendation of the planning department, and approve the Samms/Dalton/Cooper House designation as a city landmark.

Click here to see the landmark application to the city of Oakland.