The House That Captain Cook...

As business thrived, so did our Capt. Cook and sometime in the 1870's, he and his wife built a magnificent home on the northeast corner of Second and State Sts. (then called Fort St.). The home still stands, barely different today and easily recognizable as the home erected 130 years ago. Several years later Mrs. Cook passed away (1898) and Capt. Cook then sold the home to a Dr. George Freeman who owned a successful hardware business on the spot where Eddie's Market was located years ago and where Clukey's Auto Parts is today. Cook then sold his businesses, moved back to San Francisco to again pursue his old business of diving. He was 40. Diving proved to be less than successful and eventually he moved to Florida where he spent many years.



The "House That Capt. Cook Built" was remodeled by Dr. Freeman in the very late 1890's and the early part of the 1900's and a little was added. Later, the house passed onto Nellie Freeman Perry, the daughter of Dr. Freeman and wife of Arthur Perry. Arthur Perry's brother, Nathan, would subsequently build the home directly across the street on the southeast corner of Third and State Sts.. It, too, still stands. The house would be occupied by the Perry family, Arthur and son, George, until 1949 when Harold and Duska Glidden purchased the property from George Perry. George and Mary Perry would raise two children, Doris (Andrews) and Arthur (Art). The Gliddens would raise 3 children: Melody, Bill and Tami. Tami and her mother, Duska, still occupy the property which has been in their family for 53 years. It must be noted here that Doris Perry Andrews, wife of Bob (Andy), still lives on the intersection on which she grew up, just diagonally across the street in the old Cobby Downing home, now Dr. Tompkins' office.

At this point I must backtrack for I have not included some very important and pertinent historical information: Sidney and Hattie had one son, Nathan Perry Cook. Nathan, too. would become a success in his own right, establishing in the late 1893 a successful boots, shoes and rubbers store on the west side of Main St.. He married Eudora McGuire in 1902 and together raised 3 children: Sidney, Harriett and Charles N..Sid is the one most of us remember....he and his wife, Edna (Guiou) established and operated Cook's Florist for many years. After his death in the mid 1960's, His widow and daughter, Margaret (Mimi), operated the florist shop. It is now run by daughter, Karen.

Capt. Sidney Cook died at his son's (Nathan) residence on Third St. in 1919, leaving a legacy which few could have orchestrated and one, I'm sure, he dared not dream.

The photo which accompanies this article was taken only a few days ago. It's truly amazing that after all the years, how little the house has changed and how well the home has been maintained........a tribute to a well-chosen few who have occupied the property since the 1870's.