A Historic Home in Cow Hollow
Offers Glamour, Intrigue, Royalty and Grace:
The “Pink Palace” Returns to its Former Glory

When the visitor steps into the inlaid marble floored reception hall of this elegant Italianate-style mansion, the eye is immediately drawn to its gorgeous architectural details: the carved and painted ceiling, the elaborate wrought iron railings surrounding the majestic staircase, above which arches a multi-colored Tiffany skylight, and the intricately tiled fountain. It is surprising to discover that several hundred people have lived here at various times. Of course, every house has a story, but this house seems to have more than its share of legend and mystery, including a connection to European royalty.

The history of this grand home began in 1905, when Eugene and Olive Grace purchased the lot and commissioned James A. McCullough to design and build one of the first houses on this steep block of Scott Street. The recorded contract notice gave the anticipated cost of building the home as $12,200. McCullough, who was a contractor with some architectural experience, had built several homes in Presidio Heights, close to where the Graces were living. We can imagine that they enjoyed their lovely new Cow Hollow home, with its expansive views of the Bay. The Graces had arrived in San Francisco by the 1890’s. Eugene Grace, described in the local newspaper as “a thoroughbred Southern gentleman,” worked in the wholesale food business, and Mrs. Grace was a member of the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy.

The Graves Family
In 1910, the house was owned briefly by Mortimer Fleishhacker, who then sold it to distinguished attorney Walker C. Graves and his wife, Maude, the only child of Gold Rush pioneer, cattle baron and San Francisco public servant Jefferson Gilbert James. Mr. Graves, born and educated in Kentucky, had worked as Prosecuting Attorney for the City of San Francisco and special District Attorney for the state of California, obtaining convictions of jury bribers and political offenders. By 1915, he was running the wholesale butcher, cattle and ranch business started by his late father-in-law, which included over 100,000 acres of grazing land in Fresno County.

In 1912, Walker and Maude Graves began remodeling their home by adding a garage. In 1914, they replaced the shingles on the outside of the home with plaster, exchanged the shingle roof for tar and gravel, added rooms in the attic, and expanded the south side of the building. It is very likely that the Graves’ 1914 renovations were made in anticipation of a visit to the house by then-Crown Princess Marie of Romania, who was to attend the Panama Pacific International Exposition, but was unable to do so due to the start of World War I. The visit would have been suggested by the wealthy and eccentric Alma Spreckels, who knew of the Princess through their mutual friend, Loie Fuller, an American modern dancer and patron of artist Auguste Rodin.

The 1915 Exposition was San Francisco’s celebration of both the opening of the Panama Canal and the resurrection of the City from the ashes of 1906. Its site, Harbor View, later became known as the Marina district, and its main entrance was at the foot of Scott Street, just a few blocks downhill.

Marie of Romania, granddaughter of both England’s Queen Victoria and Tsar Alexander II of Russia, was a beautiful and romantic figure. Marie was frequently pictured in the San Francisco newspapers, with stories of her picturesque and exotic country and of her heroic efforts to help her beleaguered subjects during World War I. She was extremely popular and received many invitations to visit America. She did so once, in 1926, but only got as far as Washington State to the Maryhill Museum.

Mrs. Graves also led a very fast paced and colorful life while living at the Scott Street house. She hosted wonderful parties and was frequently in the news, including in 1915 when she took delivery of a custom-made car that was painted magenta to match her favorite frock. Maude called it her American Beauty.

The Du Gands Move In
The house was sold in 1928 to the Du Gand family from Colombia. Banker and businessman Victor Du Gand and his wife Beatriz had arrived in San Francisco in 1925 with their eight children. Don Victor served as honorary vice consul of Colombia in San Francisco for several years. The Du Gands loved their beautiful, formally decorated home. Doña Beatriz enjoyed hosting elaborate dinners in the spacious dining room and open houses every Sunday, and especially relished making a “grand entrance” down the staircase to meet her guests. Their grandchildren recall today that the house always had a special place in the family’s warm memories of their happy time in San Francisco.

In 1938, the house was sold to Harold Schubert, a single man, who had the house remodeled for operation as a guest house, which he called the “Scott Street Residence Club.” In 1951, Olga and Walter Lindemood obtained the property, including furnishings, for $88,650.

The “Pink Palace”
The Lindemoods had been operating a guest house at 2201 Baker Street, later called “Baker Acres,” and they continued to offer furnished rooms and meals on Scott Street, which became known as the “Pink Palace.” The Lindemoods added a kitchen to the second floor and expanded the building, which eventually included 23 guest rooms, and also acquired the building to the north, which they called the Annex.

The Pink Palace was a popular residence in its heyday, the 1950’s and 1960’s. Boarding houses were respectable places to live in those days, and there were dozens of them in the City. The Pink Palace was one of the best, with its elegant location and fabulous views. Sons and daughters of wealthy San Francisco families and those new to the City found it a congenial and social temporary residence. Pink Palace alumni often returned for Olga’s famous Friday night cocktail parties, which continued for several decades.

A Complete Renovation
Olga’s daughter and son-in-law Edith and Claude Reboul worked in the business and continued to own it until 2005 when the property was sold to its present owners, the Paige family. The house has now been renovated completely, and is a single family home once again, updated for the twenty-first century.

The visitor departs through the arched portico, then turns to admire the wrought iron balconies, bracketed roof cornice and perfectly symmetrical façade of the stately mansion. Many residents may have come and gone, but its gracious dignity has endured for over a century. The palace may no longer be pink, but it remains most certainly fit for visiting royalty.