On a serene, bucolic 1.24-acre lot in Marin County, Bernard Maybeck designed and built “Grayoaks.” It was one of Maybeck’s first commissions in the town of Ross and joins the rare examples of his work in Marin as a whole. Now, 120 years later, this historic chalet-style abode is for sale, asking $12.950 million.
In the early 1900s, Ross was a very different town than the one we know today. Marin County was established from the land grant system after the Mexican Revolution of 1821, and, “The Town of Ross itself was named in honor of James Ross, who purchased the land in 1857 for $50,000,” according to the town of Ross’ website.
James Ross built an estate at what today would be 30 Redwood Drive for himself and his wife, Annie Ross, and their three children (one of whom was also named Annie), but in 1862 — after only five years living in his home and at only 50 years of age — he died. His widow was then “forced to sell a portion” of his land, and “the 297 acres she had remaining make up part of the Town of Ross today,” the town’s website says.
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