Name/Title
Print, PhotographicEntry/Object ID
2007.046.0541Scope and Content
Color Photograph
1344 West K Street Benicia CA
Parcel Number: 86-085-22 Block 69
Greek Revival - known as the Olaf Hansen House
This small rectangular Greek Revival cottage is believed to have been built by Olaf Hansen in circa 1889. The broken pediment gable ends of the roof are at the sides and the eaves plain boxed with a narrow freize.The exterior is horozontal rustic shiplap with plain vertical end boards at the corners. The main entrance is off-set with a small portico with slanted roof. Narrow wood frame two-over-two double hung windows flank a conical shaped exterior chimney of red bick, common bond coursing. The building is located on the carquinez strait on a small sand stone point. Only a few pilings remain of the dock where Hansen kept his boat. The property is adjacent to the western side of the original Matthew Turner Shipyard site.
Note: The Benicia Fire Department burned the Hansen, Olaf house as an exercise for the department in 1998.
Olaf Hansen and his four brothers immigrated to California from Homstrand, Norway prior to 1879. He had his Master's papers in sail and mate's papers in steam. His wife, Betsy Marie (Halverson), was a nurse and midwife. Their first child Alice was born in 1879 at San Francisco and their youngest Berta was born at Benicia in this house in 1893. Olaf worked at the Matthew Turner shipyard (in operation 1883-1903) as a derrick operator. Even though he eventually moved to Oakland, the family returned summers to Benicia. Berta (Mrs. Raymond McIntosh) lives in the family cottage. Her late husband was a vice president for King & Merrit Co.
Jack London mentions the Hansen family in one of his stories. Mrs. McIntosh recalls that London visited them by boat, anchoring just in front of the house. Apparantly London had a great liking for Mrs. Hansen's home baked bread.Collection
Benicia Architectural Study - 1989