Fountain Grove
Encyclopedia
Fountain Grove was a utopian colony founded near Santa Rosa, California
by Thomas Lake Harris
in 1875. Most of its settlers were followers of Harris's Brotherhood of the New Life and moved with Harris from their previous colony at Brocton, New York
.
Nagasawa Kanaye (1852-1934) was Harris's California lieutenant who acted as developer and manager of the community's 2000 acres (8 km²) of vineyards near Santa Rosa. He also succeeded Harris and acted as leader of the brotherhood until 1934.
The main structure was a two-story mansion originally occupied by Harris, his wife, and a handful of utopians; it was also used for important guest lodging and common meals. It was called "Aestivossa" by Harris but commonly referred to as the manor house. Luxuriously furnished, it was in the center of a ring of eucalyptus trees and little gardens and a lily pond. The manor house was demolished in 1970.
Harris's community left a significant stamp on the history of Santa Rosa, and today that part of town is still called Fountaingrove. The round barn
that was part of the winery still dominates the area, and a street, Thomas Lake Harris Drive, is named for Harris.
Santa Rosa, California
Santa Rosa is the county seat of Sonoma County, California, United States. The 2010 census reported a population of 167,815. Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and fifth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area, after San Jose, San Francisco, Oakland, and Fremont and 26th...
by Thomas Lake Harris
Thomas Lake Harris
Thomas Lake Harris was an American mystic, spiritualistic prophet and poet.-Early life:Harris was born at Fenny Stratford in Buckinghamshire, England. His parents were Calvinistic Baptists, and very poor. They settled at Utica, New York, when Harris was five years old...
in 1875. Most of its settlers were followers of Harris's Brotherhood of the New Life and moved with Harris from their previous colony at Brocton, New York
Brocton, New York
Brocton is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States.The name was derived by combining the names "Brockway" and "Minton," two prominent local families...
.
Nagasawa Kanaye (1852-1934) was Harris's California lieutenant who acted as developer and manager of the community's 2000 acres (8 km²) of vineyards near Santa Rosa. He also succeeded Harris and acted as leader of the brotherhood until 1934.
The main structure was a two-story mansion originally occupied by Harris, his wife, and a handful of utopians; it was also used for important guest lodging and common meals. It was called "Aestivossa" by Harris but commonly referred to as the manor house. Luxuriously furnished, it was in the center of a ring of eucalyptus trees and little gardens and a lily pond. The manor house was demolished in 1970.
Harris's community left a significant stamp on the history of Santa Rosa, and today that part of town is still called Fountaingrove. The round barn
Round barn
A round barn is a historic barn design that could be octagonal, polygonal, or circular in plan. Though round barns were not as popular as some other barn designs, their unique shape makes them noticeable. The years from 1880–1920 represent the height of round barn construction. Round barn...
that was part of the winery still dominates the area, and a street, Thomas Lake Harris Drive, is named for Harris.