West and Hellman-Ehrman Families Return to their Ancestral Homes
Photo caption: West Family visit Vikingsholm Castle, Emerald Bay State Park.
Harvey West and Esther Ehrman Lazard were pivotal local historical figures who shaped the landscape we know today. Both individuals shared the vision to hand over the historic estates to the California State Parks system to ensure the land stays available for the public to access long into the future.
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It’s more commonly known that Vikingsholm Castle was a dream Lora Josephine Knight, a California philanthropist, brought to life. The finest example of Scandinavian architecture and summer home was built in one summer in 1929. It was enjoyed by her and her guests for 15 glorious Tahoe summers until she passed in 1945.
The estate was eventually sold to Harvey West, a lumberman from Placerville, California and a noted philanthropist. In 1953, he negotiated with the State of California and said he would donate half of the land's appraised value and the Vikingsholm outright if the State would pay him the other half of the land value ($125,000). These terms were agreed upon, and in 1953 the house and property were acquired the the state. Today, SSPF operates tours of the historic house museum.
On May 25, 2024, descendants of Harvey West returned to Emerald Bay for a family reunion! In the photo above, they are standing in front of the plaque in the castle’s courtyard; the plaque honors the generosity and vision of West so that this property remains available for the public to enjoy. One family member shares, “It was great to connect, including with the newest generation of the West family which included a young Harvey West, while touring the castle."
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Isaias Wolf (IW) Hellman was an immigrant who built a legacy: American banker (President of Wells Fargo Nevada National Bank), philanthropist, and founding father of the University of Southern California. In 1897, San Francisco businessman IW Hellman began buying property at Sugar Pine Point and by 1913 had acquired nearly 2000 acres. His grand but informal summer home, called Pine Lodge, was completed in 1903 and was considered to be one of the finest in the high Sierra. In 1965 the house and 1,975 acres of the estate were acquired by the California State Park System and SSPF operates historic tours of the house museum.
On June 29, 2024, descendants of IW had a family reunion at their ancestral home. The family name may also be familiar to bluegrass or music-loving folks; they are responsible for the annual free and noncommercial San Franciscan bluegrass concert Hardly Strictly Bluegrass - carrying on the legacy of Warren Hellman. They also sponsor and support the BIG BLUEgrass Benefit Concert put on by SSPF every first Friday of August at Sugar Pine Point State Park, right in front of the Hellman-Ehrman Mansion!
Photo caption: Descendants of IW Hellman visit Pine Lodge, Sugar Pine Point State Park. From left to right: Laurel Hellman, Marco Hellman, Richard Gibbs, Tricia Hellman Gibbs and Frances Dinkelspiel (author of Towers of Gold: How One Jewish Immigrant Named Isaias Hellman Created California which is sold in SSPF visitor centers!)
