The striking victorian home on the Shrine campus was originally known as the Rutherglen Terrace and designed by Santa Cruz architect Edward L. Van Cleeck for James and Louise McNeil. McNeil was principal owner and president of Santa Cruz Electric Light and Power Works. According to the newspaper, Santa Cruz Surf, reporting on June 17, 1893, just shortly after the house was built: "the homelike colonial mansion with its delicate cream color, its broad veranda, its rounded corners and tower, and its steep hipped roof harmonizes admirably with the scene." Monograms of Rutherglen Terrace, enclosed in a wreath of Scottish thistles, are engraved on the sidelights of the front door.
On January 6, 1933, the religious congregation of the Oblates of St. Joseph, in the persons of the late Rev. Emil Boccalatte, OSJ & Rev. Silvio Masante, OSJ, purchased the house and the 1.5 acres of property for $9,000.00. The last owner of the house before being purchased by the Oblates of St. Joseph was the famous actress, Lillian Blake. Various changes and upgrades were made to the house over these past 85 years but the breathtaking scene of Monterey Bay never chnages. The residence is used by the religious congregation serves as the administrative office of the USA provincial superior as well as guest quarters for private guests and available for meetings with a limited number of people.
Built in 1912, this Prairie-Mediterranean style Davis house was designed by architect Chester Miller of Oakland, CA. Francis H. Davis and his brother, Frederick, were respectively, the plant manager and superintendent of the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company plant at Davenport, just 10 miles north of Santa Cruz. At the time, Miller was the company's architect. The brackets supporting the entry canopy are missing..
The residence was purchased by the Oblates of St. Joseph in the early 1940's and has served the religious community for a multitude of priests and brothers throughout the decades. The house went through a major renovation from August 2014 - February 2015 under the direction of Fr. Paul McDonnell, OSJ, provincial superior & shrine rector from 2013-19; and, Larry Favor General Contractor.
This Campus structure is located behind the Victorian home, and currently serves as a storage area for the Shrine campus; as well as a small meeting room. Originally, it served as an extended residence to the Victorian when it was first constructed near the end of the 19th century.
When the property was purchased by the Oblates of St. Joseph it was eventually transformed into a dormitory for the novices and seminarians. By the mid-1960s the decision was made to move the novitiate house from Santa Cruz to Mount St. Joseph in Loomis (Diocese of Sacramento), where religious novices continue to reside today.