Sonoma Developmental Center

Sonoma Developmental Center--Main Building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location:	15000 Arnold Drive Eldridge, California
Coordinates:	38°20′50″N 122°31′7″W
Area:	1,670 acres (7 km2)
NRHP Reference#:	00001180
Added to NRHP:	October 6, 2000

The Sonoma Developmental Center is a large, state-run facility in California, United States, serving the needs of people with developmental disabilities. It is located in Eldridge in Sonoma County. It opened at its current location on November 24, 1891, though it had existed at previous locations in Vallejo and Santa Clara since 1884.

The facility's current name dates from 1986. Former names include:

• California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble Minded Children (1883)
• Sonoma State Home (1909)
• Sonoma State Hospital (1953)

More than 5,000 patients were involuntarily sterilized at this facility during the period 1918 to 1949. The medical director at that time was Frederick Otis Butler, MD. In 2000, its main building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

See also

• [[National Register of Historic Places listings in

Sonoma County, California]] The Sonoma Developmental Center

The Main Building (the brick building at the west end of the main drive) was made a National Historical Landmark in August of this year (2000). The following is taken from the nomination form of application for that designation:

   The Sonoma Developmental Center (formerly known as the 

California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble Minded Children, Sonoma State Home, Sonoma State Hospital) was the first of its kind west of the Mississippi. Julia Judah and Frances Bentley were the driving forces behind the founding of the facility. Julia Judah was the wife of Henry Judah, a prominent railroad builder and Frances Bentley was the wife of a Methodist Minister. Both had Developmentally Delayed Children. Other early sponsors and directors included: Bishop Kip, (founder of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco), Leland Stanford, Henry Judah, Washington Bartlett, (then mayor of San Francisco and later Governor of California), Professor Warring Wilkinson, (Principal of the California School for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind), Col. William Harney, Oliver Eldridge and Mrs. Ariel Lathrop.

   The facility was founded as a private institution and was 

first opened at San Jose, later at Sulphur Springs at Vallejo. Soon, outgrowing that site and realizing greater funding was needed the institution was turned over to the State of California and temporarily moved to Alameda and from there to Santa Clara. Again it was evident that more acreage was needed as the population had grown from 20 in 1884 to 108 in 1889. In 1889 funds were appropriated by the state for the purchase of at least 500 acres for the institution. Captain Oliver Eldridge and George Gibbs began the search. They found a beautiful 1670 acre ranch just south of Glen Ellen. The land was owned by Ex Senator William McPherson Hill. The ranch was acquired for $51,000.

   Ground was broken for the first buildings and the corner stone 

laid in 1890. The original structure, (the west wing), consisted of a kitchen, client and employee dining rooms on the ground floor and an assembly hall and dormitory on the second floor. The building included a two story north wing with sleeping quarters for male residents and a two story south wing for female residents. The north/south frontage of the building was a total of 520 feet.

   The first residents occupied the building in 1891. 

By this time there were 148 clients. The move from Santa Clara occurred on November 24, 1891, in a special train provided by the Southern Pacific Railroad. During the first few months the residents had to vacate the building during the day so that workmen could finish the construction.

   During the earthquake of 1906 part of the building collapsed. 

Luckily no one was injured. Following the quake the second floor of the west wing was torn down. Two years later, in 1908, ground was broken for the Main Building. The new building housed administrative offices of the institution as the center grew around it.

   The north and south wings were torn down during the 1950's. 

Only a small portion of the south wing remains. The administrative offices were moved into the Porter Administration Building in 1956. The Main Building was then used as a Professional Education Center and included a professional library. Then in 1970 the building was abandoned.

   This remarkable building is the center piece of the 1670 acres 

making up the Development Center today. The grounds consist of wooded hills, with lakes and creeks running through it. It is the most beautiful setting for an institution in the state. The Center was, for many years, the largest employer in Sonoma County and at the present is still the third largest. The communities of Glen Ellen and Eldridge cherish the setting and this unique Main Building.

--Courtesy of the Glen Ellen Historical Society

References

• U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sonoma State Home