8/14/2019 John Hudson Thomas: Letter from friend of the family

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A letter to BAHA

April 7, 1974 to:

Berkeley Architectural Heritage CommitteeP.O. Box 766 Landscape StationBerkeley, California

I knew John Hudson Thomas during his active years inarchitecture and Berkeley.

He was the son-in-law of Professor Wixon of the Department of Horticulture at U.C. Berkeley, later to become editor of the Pacific

Rural Press of San Francisco.

Prof. Wixon lived in a large house on the northeast corner of College Avenue and Bancroft Way, surrounded by a large gardenand fruit trees. During the years 1913, 1914, and 1915 JohnHudson Thomas designed and supervised the construction of several homes in various parts of Berkeley. He emphasized theuse of redwood beams exposed on the interior and exterior, largefeatures influenced by the Gothic in a style that is distinctly hisown.

His office was in the First National Bank building on the corner of Shattuck Avenue and Center Street.

One notable example of the architecture of Jonathan Thomas isthe residence of the late Mr. and Mrs. Duncan at 41 Oak Ave.,Claremont Park, Berkeley in which Thomas was given a free handto express his art. This building stands in the north fork of Temescal Creek which winds completely under the house.

Yours trul,

Edmund Matignon50 Hazel Rd.Berkeley 94705

(handwritten note on Xerox: “died 1976”)