William Heath Davis’s older brother, Robert, was three years William’s senior. Robert was educated in private schools in the eastern United States and became the scholar that William was not. Robert’s life and career were centered in the Sandwich Islands, and he became a driving force in the intellectual, judicial and political community of Honolulu. […]
Wm. HEATH DAVIS’S ENIGMATIC MOTHER, HANNAH HOLMES Hannah Holmes Davis Jones was born in 1800 to former Bostonian Oliver Holmes and Mahikalanihooulumokuikekai (last name unknown), a Polynesian princess with whom he had six children. Hannah, Holmes’ eldest daughter, married William Heath Davis, Sr. in 1817 and became a widow just five years later. Hannah’s father […]
Take our newly updated Self-Guided tour: The Davis-Horton House, Haunting Stories! Just in time for Halloween. Visitor and staff encounters with the paranormal abound both day and night; lights are known to turn on after hours, electronics batteries drain faster within its walls, footsteps creak in empty rooms, and rocking chairs are used […]
A Little History of the Purse! After a most successful afternoon of e-shopping for purses and handbags, a history of these necessities, and in some cases, obsessions, seems appropriate. Believe it or not, the real reason for needing a purse early on wasn’t for shopping, but for socializing. As calling on friends in the afternoon […]
The Woolworth Building (1922) 945 Fifth Avenue Architectural Style: Roman Neo-Classic Architect: Cass Gilbert of New York City Building Contractors: Allan Macdonald & Felix Kahn Gone are the days when one could get something of value for five or ten cents, but many of us remember roaming up and down the brightly lighted aisles of […]
The days are definitely getting warmer, the kids are out of school and its’s that time of year eagerly anticipated by many – the summer movie season! This year there’s something for everyone – dinosaurs, toons, high flying top guns and a new era of Downton Abbey – absolute bliss! Our Victorian ancestors were no […]
The Dalton Building (1911) 939 5th Avenue Architectural Style :Commercial/Art Noveau Architect : F.W. Stevenson (1930) Contractor: Schaniel Brothers & E.F. Byers (1930) The original three-story, reinforced concrete with brick facade structure built in 1911 was a far cry from the well preserved art nouveau edifice now gracing 5th Avenue. It was built as a […]
The Simmons Hotel (1906) The New York Hotel (1906) 520 – 544 6th Avenue Architectural Stye: Early 20th Century Commercial Architect: Edwin Blachman Principle Contractor: Mortz-Trepte During the early 20th century, many small hotels sprang into construction in answer to the foreseeable need for accommodations for tourists coming to the proposed Panama-California Exposition. The exposition […]
Sterling Hardware Building 1887 & 1924 534 6th Avenue Architectural Style: Victorian Commercial/ Commercial Architect: Unknown Contractor (1924) – W.E. Kier From the first sale in 1867 of Lot I on Block 083/96, from Alonzo Horton to Jacob Lehr for $150, this modest property has been a whirlwind of activity. To say that numerous and […]
Join us at the museum on Wednesday, May 18 at 7 pm for our next “History Talks” Lecture featuring the California Surf Museum.