Fred Ruhl

Fred Ruhl (August 27, 1876 – October 25, 1961), was an American building contractor in Monterey County, California. He had an influence on the character and architecture of Pebble Beach, California, and Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, during his career. Ruhl built the mansion, Outlands in the Eighty Acres, for real estate developer Paul Aiken Flanders. He also worked with architect Robert Stanton to build the historic Normandy Inn on Ocean Avenue in Carmel.[1]

Fred Ruhl
Born
Jesse Frederic Ruhl

(1876-08-27)August 27, 1876
Topeka, Illinois, US
Died25 October 1961(1961-10-25) (aged 85)
Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, US
OccupationBuilder
Spouse
Alma Merle Warren
​
(m. 1923)​
Children3

Early life

Ruhl was born on August 27, 1876, on a farm in Topeka, Illinois. His parents, Jesse Franklin Ruhl (1839-1920) and Harriet Upp (1839-1887). His father possessed carpentry skills but chose to follow a farming path. Growing up immersed in the rural landscape, Ruhl received his education from local schools before embarking on a journey into carpentry.[1][2]

Career

In 1903, Ruhl moved to San Francisco, California, where he ventured into contracting with Frank Dowsett. He joined the firm Dowsett and Ruhl located at 77 O'Farrell Street.[3][4]

In 1916 he moved to the Monterey Peninsula where he became construction supervisor for the Pacific Improvement Company working on the original Hotel Del Monte in Pebble Beach, California.[5] Noteworthy among his projects were the McComber residence, the Pebble Beach lodge, the Malcom McNaughton household, and the McKensie House.[1][2][6]

Throughout the 1920s, Ruhl emerged as the key contractor for construction projects in Pebble Beach, significantly shaping its architectural landscape. He connected with architect Robert Stanton[2] and in 1925, Stanton's office building in downtown Carmel on Monte Verde Street and Ocean Avenue was constructed by Ruhl.[7][3]

Outlands in the Eighty Acres
Main article: Outlands in the Eighty Acres
Front of the Flanders Mansion

The Outlands in the Eighty Acres, also known as Flanders Mansion, in Hatton Fields, was built by Ruhl in 1924/1925 for real estate developer Paul Aiken Flanders. While "Outlands" was under construction in February of 1925, the Flanders family were displaced from their temporary accommodations within the Pebble Beach residence belonging to Ruhl, due to a fire incident.[8][9] Reduced to ashes, the structure was completely consumed by flames, resulting in an estimated loss of $22,000 (equivalent to $367,112 in 2022). The fire's origin was attributed to the overheating of an oil stove.[10]

The Flanders Mansion is an 8,000 square feet (740 m2) Tudor Revival house. It is significant as a work of architect Henry Higby Gutterson and for its innovative construction with light grey interlocking Precast concrete blocks. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 23, 1989.[11][2][3]: p68 

Ethel P. Young House

The Ethel P. Young House was designed by Stanton and built by Ruhl for Ethel Young, Stanton's mother-in-law, in 1926. It is located on Southwest corner of Carmelo St. and 8th Avenue. The one-story wood-framed house is an example of Spanish Eclectic-style architecture. The residence holds importance according to criterion 2 of the California Register of Historical Resources for being among Stanton's initial two residential designs. Additionally, it is of significance under criterion 3 for its role as an illustration of early speculative housing in Carmel.[2][12][3]: p68 

Normandy Inn
The Normandy Inn, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

In 1925, Stanton erected his one-and-one half story wood-framed office in the heart of Carmel's downtown area on the west side of Monte Verde Street. Then, in 1936, he embarked on the construction of the Normandy Inn, an example of Tudor Revival architecture, situated beside his office. The construction was overseen by Ruhl.[3][13][14] The Inn holds significance in accordance with criterion 3 of the California Register of Historical Resources, particularly in the realm of architecture. It stands out as the finest representation of Tudor Revival architecture in Carmel and remains as the premier surviving illustration of Robert Stanton's early architectural design endeavors.[2][7]

Works

Personal life

Ruhl married Alma Merle Warren (1894-1981) on August 18, 1923, in Pebble Beach, California.[22]

Ruhl played a role in the establishment of the Monterey County Builder's Exchange in 1928.[2] He was involved in the Masonic order and as a Noble Grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.[1]

Death

Ruhl died on October 25, 1961. He was buried at the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.[23]

See also

References
  1. Watkins, Rolin G. (1925). History of Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, California: Biographical. Illinois: S.J. Clarke. p. 34. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  2. "DPR 523 Forms Volume I A-69" (PDF). Department of Parks and recreation. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. October 14, 2001. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  3. Dramov, Alissandra; Momboisse, Lynn A. (2016). Historic Homes and Inns of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 9781467115971. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  4. "Building Contracts, ETC". The Recorder. San Francisco, California. July 20, 1921. p. 8. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  5. Neal Hotelling (June 2013). "Early Days at Pebble Beach" (PDF). Forest News. Pebble beach, California. p. 1. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  6. Grimes, Teresa; Heumann, Leslie. "Historic Context Statement Carmel-by-the-Sea" (PDF). Leslie Heumann and Associates1994. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  7. Seavey, Kent (2007). Carmel A History in Architecture. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 84–85. ISBN 9780738547053. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  8. "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form". National Park Service. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. February 21, 1989. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  9. "The Flanders Mansion Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS)" (PDF). City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. March 2014. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  10. "Film Stars Are Cast In Roles Of Firemen". The Californian. Salinas, California. February 5, 1925. p. 4. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  11. Seavey, Kent L. (August 1988). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Outlands in the Eighty Acres". National Park Service. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  12. "Carmel Inventory Of Historic Resources Database" (PDF). The City of Carmel. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
  13. Dramov, Alissandra (2019). Historic Buildings of Downtown Carmel-by-the-Sea. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California: Arcadia Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 9781467103039. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
  14. Hale, Sharron Lee (1980). A Tribute to Yesterday: The History of Carmel, Carmel Valley, Big Sur, Point Lobos, Carmelite Monastery, and Los Burros. Santa Cruz, California: Valley Publishers. pp. 96–97. ISBN 9780913548738. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  15. "Building Contracts, Etc". The Recorder. San Francisco, California. July 23, 1923. p. 8. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  16. "New Club Under Way". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. October 11, 1924. p. 13. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  17. "Big Progrm On In Rio Del Mar". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. April 10, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  18. "Building Contracts, Etc". The Recorder. San Francisco, California. May 22, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  19. "F.A. Hill Plans Home". The San Francisco Examiner. San Francisco, California. May 29, 1926. p. 11. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  20. "Building Contracts, Etc". The Recorder. San Francisco, California. October 14, 1927. p. 10. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  21. "Builders Exchange". Carmel Pine Cone. Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. December 12, 1927. p. 5. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  22. "San Jose Vital Statistics". Oakland Tribune. Oakland, California. August 20, 1923. p. 9. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  23. "California, U.S., Death Index 1940-1997". Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics. Sacramento, California. Retrieved August 20, 2023.
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