De Sabla, Eugene J., Jr., Teahouse and Tea Garden
Why it's listed
On a one-acre lot in San Mateo, a Japanese-style teahouse and tea garden survive from the El Cerrito estate of industrialist Eugene de Sabla Jr., a co-founder of Pacific Gas and Electric. The garden, laid out around 1906-1907, follows a published hill-garden plan and is attributed to Makota Hagiwara, chief gardener of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park. It has waterfalls, stone lanterns, a stone Buddha, a bridge, and a bamboo fence with a roofed gate. The shingle-roofed teahouse, built between 1907 and 1909, has a tokonoma and veranda. Additions in 1947 turned it into a residence while keeping its character. The nomination presents the property as the only surviving private Hagiwara garden and the only private Japanese tea garden left from the many on San Mateo and Hillsborough estates. It also links the property to the early influence of Japanese design on California Arts and Crafts architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is an early example of Japanese influence on California design in the early twentieth century. The garden is attributed to Makota Hagiwara, chief gardener of the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park, and is described as his only surviving private garden and the only remaining private Japanese tea garden from the San Mateo/Hillsborough estates.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 92000965, listed July 30, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 70 De Sabla Ave., San Mateo |
|---|---|
| County | San Mateo County |
| Listed | July 30, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000965 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1907-1909 |
| Architect / builder | Hagiwara, Makota |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals; Other: Japanese |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Asian |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition overall; the teahouse was altered by sympathetic 1947 additions that made it a residence, and the garden is still cared for and in use. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 37.56513, -122.33133 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 92000965.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q107176530
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.