Bachelder, Thomas Foxwell, Barn
1011 Kilkare Rd., Sunol, CAThe Thomas Foxwell Bachelder Barn appears eligible for the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under Criterion C, architecture, in the context of the development of Suzol, 1850-1920. It is one of the five most important buildings left from Sunol's period of development, the others being the Water Temple, Elliston, the church, and the person House. Built in 1888, the barn is one of only two stone structures in the area, and it is the most significant agricultural building ever constructed in the area. It is an example of the bank barn type (which is a hillside bank giving access to the second floor), which is rare in California except for gravity-fed wineries. It is the only surviving building connected with Thomas Foxwell Bachelder, a weekend resident o Sunol whose contributions to the town included the donation of land for the church, Construction of its best hotel (Hazel Gien, which burned down in 1910), construction of Kalkare Road to just beyond this property, and an 1884 subdivision of his large acreage so that others could develop the town. The bara is intact in location, setting, feeling, association, and the most visible materials and workmanship.
Local significance of the building:Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.