HISTORIC HENNESSEY RANCH SELLS
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IT IS WORTH NOTING, THAT JUST RECENTLY, A HISTORIC
LOCAL PROPERTY CHANGED HANDS. This property had been held by the family for nearly
100 years. But today it has new owners.
Much of this land was first homesteaded in the early
1900s by George Herman under the Homestead Act of 1862. The property is indeed beautiful and is described as
being the place where Bucksnort Creek joins Putah Creek
Unfortunately, George was killed in a horseback
riding accident in April 1911 and his patent came through in 1912.
Sometime after this tragedy, the patent owned by
George was acquired by Edwin R. Hennessey, of Napa, who was Vice President of
the Napa branch of the Bank of America, and the transformation began. Mr.
Hennessey built the main lodge in 1928. Mr. Hennessey was more than willing to share what
his property had to offer. and it offered plenty of sleeping quarters for
guests either in the main house or the bunkhouse, so that could happen.
Plenty of folks took advantage of Mr. Hennessey’s
generosity and spent time at the Hennessey Ranch hunting deer and quail, fishing,
enjoying the water, hiking or just socializing. There was constant activity
through the 30s & 40s.
However, tragedy struck on Nov 4, 1952 when Mr. Hennessey
had a fatal heart attack while fishing at his ranch in Lake county. (It has always been said that Mr. Hennessey was
fishing at Lower Bohn lake on Guenoc Ranch, his neighbor.) Name Changes To Noyes Ranch Frank G Noyes Owner of Noyes Lumber Co. in Napa, also, builder of
the Noyes Mansion in that city, was a close
personal friend of Ed Hennessey. Frank spent lots of time at the Hennessey
Ranch with Ed and their respective wives. The two of them were very active
civically and both served on the Board of the Country Club. Frank’s wife passed October 9th, 1946.
News Napa's illustrated
weekly, Volume 95, Number 47, 2 December 1951 NAPANS INJURED IN AUTO
CRASH Frank Noyes and Mrs. E. R. Hennessey, both of Napa, received minor
injuries in an automobile accident near San Rafael early this week.
The Hennessey Ranch becomes the Noyes Ranch
Frank G Noyes Dies 8 August 1973
Marjorie M. Hennessey Noyes was born Marjorie Muriel
Bunce the daughter of Harry and Adelia Bunce November 25, 1900.
Marjorie M. Hennessey Noyes Dies property becomes
Bunce Ranch 24382 Grange Rd, MIDDLETOWN, CA 95461 Year Built: 1928 Bedrooms: 4 Baths: 2.00 Owner: Bunce, Donald R. (nephew) & Mary Joan
(co-trustee) Description from real estate listing. “This property is steeped in rich history, owned by
the same family since the late 1920's, Bunce Ranch was a place for
family and friends to live their country dreams, with many uses and
amenities, from hunting, farming, horseback riding, and rural living with all
the Americana character of the gold rush.” Donald Richard Bunce, 84, beloved husband, father,
grandfather and great-grandfather entered his final rest at home surrounded
by his family on February 13th, 2020. Donald is survived by his wife Joan. PS: Bio note on Edwin R Hennessey He was the son of Dr. E. Z. Hennessey of Napa. In the spring of 1895 Buck English and his cohort held up a stagecoach near Troutdale Creek at the Napa-Lake county line. A posse pursued them and caught up with them the next day at Berryessa Grade, while riding the stage to Napa. In the gunfight that followed the stage driver was shot in the leg with buckshot. Upon arriving in Napa, those with gunshot wounds were attended to. One of those Drs. attending was E. Z. Hennessey who attended to Johnny Gardner, the stage driver. Dr. Hennessey said Gardner was hit by 6 buckshot, two went through and he removed the others. MORE LOCAL HISTORY |
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