Rare Opportunity To Own 2 Historic Petaluma Homes For $2.49M

PETALUMA, CA— A rarely available dual-home estate is offered for sale in Petaluma for $2.49 million.

For the price, buyers will get eight bedrooms, 10 baths and 6,164 square feet of living space on a 10, 426-square-foot lot in downtown Petaluma.

The larger of the two is a stately 1902 Georgian Revival mansion at 10 Keller St. designed by renowned architect Brainerd Jones, the visionary behind some of Petaluma's most iconic landmarks including the Petaluma Carnegie Library, Mystic Theater and the McNear Building addition—all visible from the property.

The towering, three-story mansion was one of Brainerd's earliest commissions. The 4,125-square-foot home has five bedrooms, each with an ensuite, contributing to a total of seven bathrooms.

The second is a charming, well-preserved 1912 Craftsman cottage with a shingled roof at 8 Keller St. The two-story, three-bedroom, three-bath home is 2,040 square feet.

Founding Family

The estate in Petaluma's A Street Historic District was the residence of the influential Cavanagh family headed by John W. Cavanagh, the founder of Cavanagh Lumber. He was one of Petaluma's earliest pioneers and held a key role in supplying materials for many of Sonoma County's earliest construction projects.

Cavanagh held many positions in Petaluma including city marshal, city recorder and justice of the peace. He was active in several Petaluma fraternal organizations, including the Masons, Knights Templar and the Mutual Relief Association.

During the Civil War, Cavanagh organized Petaluma's Union militia alongside Capt. Thomas Baylis. The group comprised of citizens of Irish descent was known as the Emmett Rifles. In early 1862, the group was mustered into the National Guard of California, with Bayliss serving as captain and Cavanagh as lieutenant.

Cavanagh and his wife, Delia, had seven children. Local historians believe either Delia or their son John E. Cavanagh oversaw the construction of the mansion at 8 Keller St.

Following Delia’s death in 1908, her daughters Mary (aka Jennie), Margaret (aka Ella) and Emma continued living at the house for the remainder of their lives. All three sisters died at 10 Keller St.—Margaret in 1940, Mary in 1943 and Emma in 1963.

For several years, Margaret Cavanagh was considered a leading teacher in the Petaluma school system and was a member of the Sonoma County Board of Education.

Mary Cavanagh was involved with the Catholic Ladies' Aid Society and employed at the family lumber business established by her father in the 1860s.

According to Emma Cavanagh's obituary, she taught school in the Lakeville District for many years. She, too, was active in the Ladies Aid Society.

Mary and Margaret were affiliated with the Petaluma Woman’s Club and, along with their siblings, were partners in the Cavanagh Lumber Company.

Ownership Through The Years

In 1968, 10 Keller St. was owned by Don and Barbara Confer, who used the front half of the house for a shop that specialized in imported Asian antiques and folk art. Don Confer was, at one time, the president of Heritage Homes and a partner in the Wickersham Building Limited which rehabilitated the Wickersham Building at 168 Petaluma Blvd. North in 1982.

Billie D. Erkel owned 10 Keller St. when she applied for a conditional use permit in 1987 to establish a bed and breakfast there. A year later, the two houses at 8-10 Keller St. were on a Heritage Homes Tour. In 1990, Erkel applied for an amended use permit to include 8 Keller St. in the establishment.

By 1997, Ray and Jeanne Farris had purchased 8 and 10 Keller St. and continued to manage the property as the beloved Cavanagh Inn bed and breakfast until 2003, when they sold the two houses to Colleen Mahoney.

The home is listed by Rob Sullivan, an agent with Coldwell Banker Realty. See the full listing.