"Stepping into 2800 Pacific Ave. is like taking a trip back in time, arriving in San Francisco's Gilded Age, when architects like Ernest Coxhead were creating opulent mansions to enshrine the city's elite. In this Georgian abode, we are presented with a carefully preserved example of Coxhead's work, as well as a particularly rich slice of local history. And though 2800 Pacific Ave. has been called SF's "most iconic" mansion by Chronicle columnist Herb Caen,"
"In 1899, when this home broke ground, women were not allowed to own property within the city limits of San Francisco. But Sarah Spooner found a loophole in this prohibition: Women could own property in San FranciscoCounty. At the time, "Divisadero was the dividing line between the city and the county," Lawton said. Spooner purchased three lots and hired the renowned Ernest Coxhead to build her home."
"FoundSF wrote that Spooner was "a wealthy art collector who had arrived recently from Philadelphia." She quickly became a big name in San Francisco's art world: Pieces from her collection were even displayed at the Palace of Fine Arts during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915. Eventually, Spooner donated many of her works to the de Young Museum. Coxhead was the perfect choice for Spooner, as he was an artist himself."
2800 Pacific Ave. is a Georgian mansion in San Francisco's Gilded Age, designed and built by Ernest Coxhead. The home was commissioned by Sarah Spooner, who used a county ownership loophole because women could not own property within the San Francisco city limits in 1899. Spooner purchased three lots and engaged Coxhead to construct the house. Spooner was a prominent art collector whose works were shown at the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition and later donated to the de Young Museum. The mansion, described as iconic, endured market challenges including price cuts and de-listing before entering contract.
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