Florence E. Wells

Florence E. Chapman (September 24, 1864 – April 28, 1966), also known as Florence E. Wells, or Aunt Florence to her friends, was an  pioneering property owner who made significant contributions to the real estate industry in Oakland, California and the Monterey Peninsula. After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she played a pivotal role in establishing the Carmel-by-the-Sea, California area as an appealing destination for city dwellers seeking a tranquil escape. In 1908, her cousin and architect George W. Reamer built the first house on Carmel Point for Florence, which she named Driftwood Cottage. The cottage was later the residence of actress Jean Arthur.

Early life 

Florence was born on September 24, 1864, in Chebanse, Illinois. She was the daughter of Reynolds C. Chapman (1820-1884) of Connecticut and Susan Mckee (1842-1929) of Ireland. Florence and her family moved from Illinois to Oakland, California in 1880. By 1882, they had settled at 29th and Grove Streets where Florence made her home. Her father built another home at 19th and Grove Street. At age 24, she married an older Frederick E. Wells of Wisconsin, (1846-1894), age 41, on October 8, 1888 in Oakland. He was an American Civil War veteran who survived the hardship of Confederate Libby Prison to take part in Sherman's March to the Sea. Fred Wells was previously married to Mary Chaplin Perkins (1857-1883), on December 13, 1875, who died on April 20, 1883 in Wisconsin. 

Florence and Frederick had no children, but she helped raise her niece, Fay McKee (1887-1971), wife of attorney David Duncan Oliphant (1886-1968), of Berkeley, who lived with her up to the time of her death in Oakland. In June 1911, Florence hosted the wedding for her nice that included more than 200 guests, at her residence on Montecito Avenue.

Florence was a member of the First Methodist Church in Oakland, Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Oakland, and the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was the great granddaughter of Sgt. Constant Chapman (1761-1847) of the Revolutioinary Army.

A US passport to travel abroad for two years was issued on October 9, 1906, when Florence was 42 years old. It listed her as  with dark hair and dark complexion. At a birthday dinner party for her mother, Susan Chapman, Florence exhibited traditional dresses from various countries that she had collected during her travels abroad.

Florence continued to be active in the real estate industry well into her later years. A centenary celebration was held in September 1965 in honor of her 100th birthday, hosted by her nieces, nephews, and friends from Oakland and Southern California.

Driftwood Cottage

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake, left many people homeless including a group of writers and artists who relocated to Carmel-by-the-Sea along with poet George Sterling. This included Florence and her cousin Sara E. Reamer (1842-1910), who purchased property in 1906. Sara Reamer was the mother of architect George W. Reamer (1864-1938), who they called “Nannu.”  George Reamer built a house for Florence, as a summer cottage from a sketch she drew on brown paper. It was the first house to go up on Carmel Point at the southwest corner of Scenic Drive and Ocean View Avenue. The property fronted the Carmel River lagoon at a time when the Point was without trees and any other homes. She traveled regularly between her home in Oakland and her residence on Carmel Point.

On June 7, 1911, The Salinas Californian, reported a real estate transaction between the Carmel Development Company and Florence for four lots, 25, 26, 27, 28, and a strip  wide off the south-side lots 23 and 24, block B14, addition 7 for $10 (). The lot numbers match the Monterey County legal description for the Driftwood 26398 Ocean View address.

In 1923, Florence later purchased six acres of the beachfront below her house between Scenic Road and the ocean. Two years later the Carmel Sanitary District Board filed a condemnation suit in the Superior Court for  of Well's property on Carmel Point, to establish a right of way from the septic tank, across the beach to the rocks in front of the Florence Wells house that would go into the water. The Sanitary District later dropped the suit. In March 1953, Florence sold  of her beach front to the State Park of California under the Beach Acquisition Program.

In 1925, the only homes on Carmel Point were the homes of Col. Fletcher Dutton, poet Robinson Jeffers and his wife Una, Playwright Charles King Van Riper, musician and attorney Edward G. Kuster, George W. Reamer, and Florence Wells.

The Carmel Pine Cone was tracking Florence Wells comings and goings and on July 12, 1929, reported that Wells was visiting her cottage, Driftwood, out on the Point, and that she would be there several weeks. Then, on December 12, 1929, the Pine Cone reported that Florence had returned to her home in Oakland after spending a few weeks at her cottage Driftwood on Carmel Point.

Driftwood Cottage became the first Carmel home of actress Jean Arthur (1900–1991) and her mother Johanna Greene. She first rented the house from Florence in 1937, and then bought it after World War II.

Death
Florence Wells died on April 28, 1966, at the age of 101, at her home at 8 Strathmor Drive in Oakland. Funeral services were held in Oakland's Gothic Chapel, and she was buried at the Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland.

Gallery

See also
 List of Historic Homes in Carmel Point
 Timeline of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

References

External links

 Carmel Point Walking Tour

1864 births
1966 deaths
People from Illinois
People from Carmel-by-the-Sea, California