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About Ralston Hall

Ralston Hall is a historic mansion located on the campus of Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont, California. Built in 1868 by William Chapman Ralston, a prominent entrepreneur and founder of the Bank of California, the mansion is a prime example of Italianate and Steamboat Gothic architecture. The mansion was Ralston's summer home and was part of his larger estate, which he called "Belmont," after which the surrounding city was eventually named.

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Ralston used his impressive mansion to entertain prominent guests, including Vice President Schyler Colfax, Admiral David Farragut, and Leland Stanford, and it became a symbol of the extravagance of California's Silver Age. After Ralston's death, the mansion passed through several hands and served as a girls' school and sanitarium before being purchased by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1922.

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Today, Ralston Hall is a designated California Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has served as a venue for community events and educational forums, but was closed in 2012 for renovations due to seismic concerns. Plans are underway to restore the mansion to its former glory and make it once again accessible to the public.

Historical Timeline

A chronological history of Ralston Hall, a 55,360-square-foot mansion with 80 rooms on four floors located in Belmont, California, is presented below.

In 1854, William Chapman Ralston, a prominent entrepreneur from Ohio, settled in San Francisco and established the Bank of California, which made him one of the most influential businessmen in the West.

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Ten years later, in 1864, Ralston purchased a country estate owned by the Italian nobleman Count Leonetto Cipriani and started building a grand summer home in Belmont.

By 1868, Ralston Hall was completed. The architecture was an Italianate villa on the exterior while the interior incorporated elements of the 19th century Steamboat Gothic style.

After Ralston's death in 1875, his estate was inherited by U.S. Sen. William Sharon, who owned the property for ten years.

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From 1895 to 1898, the mansion served as a girls' finishing school known as Radcliffe Hall.

Between 1901 and 1921, Ralston Hall was converted into the Gardner Sanitarium.

In 1922, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, a religious order that founded the College of Notre Dame in San Jose in 1851, purchased Ralston's estate and relocated their school to Belmont. For the next 90 years, Ralston Hall functioned as a university building that housed classrooms and administrative offices, as well as a venue for special public and private events.

In 1963, Ralston Hall was designated a historical landmark by the Native Sons of the Golden West.

Five years later, in 1968, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

In 1972, Ralston Hall was declared a California Historical Landmark.

In 2012, the mansion closed for renovations.

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Background of the Ralston Hall Closure

The Ralston Hall Closure: Understanding the Situation

Constructed in 1868, Ralston Hall had been standing for over 140 years when it was assessed by an engineering firm in late 2011. The building had survived two major earthquakes in its lifetime, including the infamous San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989. At the time of the assessment, the university was using Ralston Hall as administrative and faculty offices, as well as for a range of events, including weddings, concerts, recitals, and meetings.

The engineering firm concluded that, in the event of an earthquake on the San Andreas Fault, the safety of Ralston Hall's occupants could not be guaranteed. Therefore, the university began the process of relocating employees out of the building, which was completed by April 2012. The engineering firm then conducted a more thorough inspection and estimated that a minimum of $12 million would be required to make the building safe again.

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The repairs necessary for Ralston Hall are extensive and will involve replacing or retrofitting the entire masonry foundation, seismic work on the upper floors, reroofing, removing and replacing existing siding, and localized replacement of the flooring. The timetable for the project is uncertain, as funds will need to be raised from external sources to complete the restoration. The university has already begun talking to local historical associations, groups, and foundations that may be interested in contributing to the preservation of this national historical landmark. Additionally, the university plans to seek support from individuals, civic groups, and businesses who previously expressed interest in helping to save Ralston Hall when its closure was announced.

Memories of Ralston Hall Mansion

The Ralston Hall Mansion holds fond memories for many individuals who have attended or lived on the property.

Katherine Barbieri Williamson reminisces about playing on the property as a child and attending Notre Dame grammar school with her brothers, where they had the privilege of knowing the nuns personally. She recounts how her father, Gus Barbieri, worked for the nuns until his death in 1956, and the entire school attended his funeral.

Dini Browne Widmann recalls attending Notre Dame grammar school as well and making her first Holy Communion in the ballroom, which was once the chapel. She also shares her excitement when she returned to the mansion to see the mirrors in the ballroom freed from their paper wrappings.

Natty Mahase expresses her gratitude for the beautiful venue where she attended a wedding and hopes to have her own wedding there with her fiancé. Isabella Vials shares how her wedding at Ralston Hall Mansion was the cherry on top of the cake in her marriage to Tom.

Sharon Jose was a recent guest at a wedding and describes the enchanting location that left her feeling like a celebrity. She and her fiancé are now considering the venue for their own wedding.

Zara Best got married at the mansion and loved the experience so much that she is recommending it to her friends, including Rose Meigh, who attended her wedding and is now engaged and hoping to get married at the mansion in two years.

Finally, Donna Thompson, who attended CND in the 1940s, describes the grandeur of the mansion and her daily routine, including attending mass in the ballroom and dining elegantly in the crystal-chandeliered dining room. She also recalls the aroma of butter and refried beans coming from the tiny kitchen, which was a reminder of home for the South American students who attended the college.