Aerial view of the Dunne property. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.

This article was written by BenitoLink intern Suzanne Soares. Lea este artículo en español aquí.

Walls festooned with portraits, photo albums and an old shoe box inside of an extraordinary Colonial estate in north San Benito County showcase the legacy of the distinguished Dunne family.

Family photos in the hallway outside the kitchen. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

Built in 1864, the Dunne Ranch, located between San Benito and Santa Clara counties, is currently up for sale—a piece of local history available to the highest bidder.  

The Dunne family name is everywhere in these parts, from Dunne Park in Hollister, to Dunne Avenue, a major roadway near Morgan Hill, and the intersection of San Felipe Road and Shore Road known as “Dunne Corner” in a community called Dunneville. 

The Dunne property, located at 610 San Felipe Road in Gilroy, has an asking price of $4.4 million. 

The estate of James and Katherine Dunne. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
Side view of the Dunne estate. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

According to the 1977 book, “East of the Gabilans,” by Marjorie Pierce, the property was purchased in four square leagues, the equivalent of more than 25,000 acres, from the Mexican land grant El Rancho Ausaymas y San Felipe, for $20,000 by James Dunne Sr., Peter Dunne and Gustave Touchard in 1857 from Francisco Pacheco. Dunne Sr. named his property the San Felipe Ranch. 

In 1874, Dunne Sr. died and his son would inherit the entire ranch.

Viola Katherine Lowery Dunne and James Francis Dunne on their front porch. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

The new owners of the property were James “Jimmy” Francis Dunne Jr. and Viola Katherine Lowery Dunne, who wed in 1883. 

A small fire broke out at the home and was repaired in 1907. It was nonetheless said to be the finest home south of San Jose and was featured in the 1907 issue of the Gilroy Advocate. 

This home is designed in classical colonial style with detailed carvings, intricate moldings and stained glass windows. 

The original wraparound porch in the front of the home oversees beautiful gardens, which feature both the original gazebo and original greenhouse built in 1909. 

Inside the home are numerous photographs of the Dunne family taken during their travels and time at home. 

In 1925, Jimmy Dunne passed away at San Felipe Ranch following an illness from a European trip. He is buried in San Jose. 

Viola Katherine Lowery Dunne and her dog in front of the Dunne home. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

After Jimmy Dunne’s death, Katherine published an advertisement seeking to sell the ranch. A portion of the ad read, “Most beautiful ranch in the state” and “ready to step in June 1, 1925.” 

Katherine Dunne died April 22, 1930, before the ranch was sold. 

In 1936, Franklin O’Connell, who worked for Katherine Dunne, purchased 17,000 acres of the property including the Dunne estate for $550,000, from Jimmy Dunne’s sister, Catherine Dunne Hersey. It was the largest cash sale at the time in San Benito County. 

The O’Connells have kept many of the home’s features from when it was occupied by the Dunne family. 

Multiple rooms, including the living room, oriental room, sun room, basement, and formal and informal dining rooms, have been kept in their original state. 

Various elements of the home, such as the front entrance, porches, doors, stained glass windows, wooden floors and light fixtures, along with most of the furniture and personal items including paintings, photographs, and books, remain in their original condition dating back to 1865. 

There were also some significant changes made in the home by the O’Connells. 

In 1962, the second story of the house was removed. 

Franklin O’Connell’s great-granddaughter Kathy O’Connell said she was told that “it was too much house. Too big and wasn’t ever used.” 

The wood used to build the second floor was later used to build the garage. 

In 1964, three bedrooms and one bathroom were added to the home. A laundry room, master bedroom and bathroom were also added.  

A sign hanging in the basement. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

Now, after nearly 90 years of ownership, the O’Connell family has placed the property on the market. The family plans to move out of California and the passing of Kathy and Pat O’Connell’s father, James W. O’Connell Jr., were factors that led to the sale. 

“It is a legacy that hurts the heart to see it go,” Kathy O’Connell said. 

Asked what they would like to see for the future of the home, O’Connell said, “I would love to see it preserved. If not, turned into a beautiful venue that could keep most of the cherished antique vintage look.” 

She added that “everyone says it looks like a museum, but it was lived in with a lot of love and laughter.” 

According to the Intero Real Estate Services listing by Karey Grimsley, the livable area of the home is 3,592 square feet, sitting on 10 acres of land. There are five bedrooms and three bathrooms in the home. 

The property also includes a three-bedroom, one-bathroom guest cottage, said Grimsley. In addition, there is a six-stall barn with a tack room and hay storage for ranching or equestrian pursuits. 

As stated in the listing, “More than just a home, this is a living legacy, an opportunity to own a historic estate that has stood the test of time for over a century.”

For more information or to schedule a private showing of the property, click here. 

  • Front porch of the Dunne home. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Inside look of the foyer of the Dunne estate. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.
  • The Oriental room off the foyer. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • View from the living room window. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • A tray of old photographs made for viewing in an antique stereoscope. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Fireplace in the living room area. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Formal dining room includes a chandelier that was gifted to the O’Connell family in 1960. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.
  • The kitchen was remodeled in 2000. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.
  • An antique lamp and pistol are among the items placed on small table outside the kitchen. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Sunroom den also known as Katherine Dunne’s plant room and a playroom for the O’Connell children. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.
  • An office desk from the late 1800’s. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Vintage telephone atop a dresser in a bedroom. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Cattle brand bar in the basement. Photo courtesy of Intero Real Estate Services.
  • Specious garden in front of the Dunne home. Photo by Suzanne Soares.
  • Inside the 1909 greenhouse, also called the hot house. Photo by Suzanne Soares.

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