Own a piece of Santa Cruz history: 1904 historic Seabright mansion for sale

Visit this historic 1904 craftsman home perched above Twin Lakes, steps from the beach, the Pacific Ocean, and the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor centered in the heart of Live Oak.

This beauty is filled with ageless, tightly fitted tongue-and-groove Douglas fir doorways, ancient redwood planking, vintage fixtures, and the pièce de résistance: panoramic ocean views from the iconic cupola, which has inspired countless individuals since its inception. The walls say, “It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” Climb the stairs to see for yourself.

Long before our modern era, this home flaunts a distinguished history of residents who made their mark in local, regional, and national culture and arts.

First, it was the home of Frazier Lewis, who bought the house in 1917. It was one of the earliest craftsman-style homes and is now his namesake. Frazier famously crafted candy on site and invented the Victoria Cream which has become one of the great mysteries of the culinary world, as the original recipe was lost and nobody is quite sure what the super secret ingredient was that made them so good. Maybe it was the rum? In 1999, the Santa Cruz City Council named the alley at Soquel Ave. and Front St. “Candy Bar Lane” in honor of Lewis.

Living in the house with Frazier was his mother, Patty Reed Lewis, the last surviving member of the ill-fated Donner Party. She survived the treacherous journey as an 8-year old. Her rocking chair still resides in the attic, which was James D. Houston’s office, where he wrote “Snow Mountain Passage”, his historical fiction novel depicting the dramatic pioneer story.

James D. Houston and Jeanne Wakatski Houston moved into the home in 1963 and raised three children. The family thrived in the neighborhood, bringing Hawaiiana with them from their marriage in 1957 in front of Diamond Head on Waikiki Beach. They settled just steps from 12th Ave beach, more petite, but equally magnificent, with the beach bookended by Black Point and the Harbor.

If this private alley compound could talk, it would prefer to write a novel—perhaps even several on various topics. It might include an anthology or a collection of poems, or maybe Jeanne and James Houston’s’ cowritten non-fiction memoir “Farewell to Manzanar.” In its 50th year of publication, this is the story of the harsh realities that 7-year-old Jeanne and her family experienced during WWII when they were forced to relocate from their home in Ocean park, CA to a Japanese internment camp. But it is also juxtaposed with the joyful memories of later cheerleading at her high school in Long Beach, CA. After Jeanne’s passing, her family found her secretly beloved cheerleading uniform and has kept it in her bedroom as a tribute. For decades, the home was filled with writers, artists, potters, poets, musicians, and creatives alike.

This grand beauty is ready for its next chapter, flaunting great bones, a historic designation, legal duplex status, classic Craftsman wrap-around porches, and endless possibilities. The upstairs is full of vintage built-ins, long-lived fixtures, fathomless books, and ornate carvings still holding the memories of family, friends, celebrations, and laughter, while the first-floor rooms are skillfully arranged, like origami, ready to transform into a swan, a lotus flower, or a real-life crane, floating in the ocean and lake waters seen from the multitude of windows on every level.

While the salty air and ocean elements can be harsh on the peeling paint so near to the sea, don’t worry—this Majesty’s story is not over; it is just a new beginning.