Meek Mansion
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Meek Mansion and Carriage House
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Meek Mansion in 2008, photographed from the south end of Meek Park
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| Location | 240 Hampton Rd., Hayward, California |
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| Coordinates | 37°41′6″N 122°6′45″W / 37.68500°N 122.11250°WCoordinates: 37°41′6″N 122°6′45″W / 37.68500°N 122.11250°W |
| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Second Empire, Italian Villa |
| NRHP Reference # | 73000393 |
| Added to NRHP | June 04, 1973 |
The Meek Mansion is a historic mansion in unincorporated Cherryland, California, just north of Hayward. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located on nearly 10 acres, the Victorian house was built in 1869 by William Meek.
William Meek came to the West Coast in 1846, carrying seeds and grafted trees, via the Oregon Trail. He first settled in the Willamette Valley in Oregon, later moving in 1859 to Alameda County, where he spent the rest of his life.
By the time his mansion was built, Meek owned everything from Mission Boulevard to Hesperian Boulevard, and from Lewelling Boulevard to slightly past Winton Avenue, totaling around 3,000 acres (12 km2). The grounds were primarily filled with cherry, apricot, plum, and almond orchards. One source claims that the area became known as Cherryland because of the abundance of cherry trees planted by Meek. Meek became a prominent citizen during the remainder of his life, including being a trustee of Mills College and a County Supervisor for Alameda County. After his death in 1880, at the age of 63, Meek left his estate to his sons and it remained in the Meek family until 1940.
The Milton Ream family owned the last 10 acres of the original 3000, and in 1964 the home was purchased for $270,000 by the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD). In 1965, the home was opened to the public and was used for weddings, tours, workshops, and even plays recreating local history. The mansion became a California Point of Historical Interest in 1972 and placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1973. However, the mansion was closed in 1982 due to wear and tear because of overuse. In 1991, HARD began to work with The Hayward Area Historical Society (HAHS) to upgrade and reopen the home.
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