G. FIVE BROOKS (Pinkerton and Benevenga residences) 

 (Golden Gate National Recreation Area) 



1. Description 



Two houses sit between the State Highway and Olema Creek at Five 

 Brooks, the Pinkerton and Benevenga residences. Both were associated with 

 the historic Parsons (Lupton) Ranch, one as the original Parsons (and possibly 

 Olds) residence combined with the old Winans house; the other was the 

 schoolhouse at Five Brooks. The properties were divided from the ranch in the 

 1930s and 1964, and were under separate private ownership at the time of 

 federal purchase. 



The Pinkerton residence consists of two historic houses joined together: 

 the original, gabled Parsons house, built in 1865 or earlier, and what was 

 probably the original home of James Winans, moved here some time after 1870. 

 The house has improvements dating from the late 1960s; four old sheds stand 

 to the rear of the house. The house has been well kept by its owner-occupant, 

 William Pinkerton, retaining its historic flavor and integrity. The house is 

 painted red and is in good condition. 



The Benevenga house, once the Olema and Five Brooks School, was 

 moved from its original location across the highway about 1937 and remodeled 

 into a residence. The original structure is partly intact, but significant 

 alterations have impacted the building's historic integrity. The home is painted 

 a soft yellow and is in good condition. 



An old orchard, no doubt the Parsons family orchard, exists between and 

 around the two houses. Some trees appear to be well over 100 years old. 



2. History 



Daniel Olds, Jr. occupied what may be the north section of the Pinkerton 

 residence in 1858. Olds sold the property in 1865 to Charles Parsons, who 

 either moved into Olds' house or built a new one soon after the purchase. 

 Parsons' daughter Ella was born in the house in 1867, and she resided there 

 until her death in 1938. At the time the house was called "Minerva Lodge," 

 after Ella's mother, Minerva Wittenberg Parsons. Some time after a neighbor 



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