Local Owners Saying Goodbye To ‘Parthenon’ House

 

It’s the all-time, most-asked-about home in all of Merced.

Countless people who have driven down N. Bear Creek Drive, or wandered down W Street, have seen glimpses of those distinct, harmonious and stately columns that evoke images of something historical — some ancient, architectural marvel, in some faraway land. Somewhere like Athens, Greece.

But amazingly, it’s right over here, just along the creek, behind those towering cypress trees.

Man, that looks like the Parthenon!

“Yes we have received a lot of attention over the years,” says John Brockman. “We’ve had professional photographers ask if they can use our place to take pictures of models. We even had tour busses stop so people could take pictures. Some people have come around not knowing it’s a private residence — thinking it was a library or some other public building. One time, I was driving home, and this little old lady was walking up our driveway. I said, ‘Can I help you?’ And she asked: ‘Is this the Presbyterian Church?’ … I wanted to say, ‘Ma’am, this is the farthest thing you will get from a church,’ but I explained to her that she had to go farther east, straight down 20th Street.’ … So after all that, we put up gates near the street entrance.”

Brockman and Joseph Silva — both retired local educators — have lived in the home as a married couple for nearly 40 years. It’s been their custom-designed dream home located at 2021 W Street. However, today, they are both age 75, and spend more time relaxing in Carmel on the Pacific Coast than they do in the Central Valley. It’s time to say goodbye to their iconic home. The property will soon be listed on the local real estate market and will surely draw a lot of interest.

The home does have historical significance dating back to 1952 when it was originally built by a man named Miller Parker. He was not only a successful businessman, but also a community leader who found time to serve on the city and county commissions. Back then, the home featured a multi-level flat top roof design, and looked nothing like it does today. However, it was considered a grand home, and Parker was known for having lavish get-togethers and events on the property. Parker died in an automobile accident in 1988 at the age of 74. After his death, Brockman and Silva purchased the home with big renovation plans.

“It was mostly my idea, and Joe went along with it,” Brockman explains. “I was looking at a magazine, and saw these Greek temples, and I thought, ‘Well, you know what? That would be perfect’ — because the Italian cypress trees (most of them are about 70 years old) and cypress trees go very well with Greek architecture.”

The idea started an initial three-year remodeling project that Brockman describes as a “harrowing process” to find draftsmen and contractors to do the specialized work to the couple’s desired specifications. They needed to get the exterior columns designed in the correct spacing, size and other proportions. They also had decorative triglyphs planned for above the columns. In addition to the custom work, Brockman said they encountered resistance from locals who did not want to see the old Miller Parker house changed so dramatically.

Undaunted, the couple reached out to experts far and wide, including noted architects in San Francisco and St. Louis. They fortunately found an expert for the columns, triglyphs and reliefs from well-known Bay Area sculptor Spero Anargyros who had worked on the remodeling project of the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco in the 1960s. When the overall project finally went out to bid, they chose a builder closer to home, in Atwater, by the name of William Mountz.

The Greek columns are made of glass-reinforced concrete and treated with color to get that look the owners wanted. They can’t quite name the exterior color, but they describe it as “gorgeous.” They went with pitched roofing above, and below they included breathtaking patio areas and spectacular walkways surrounded by those amazing columns. Some retaining walls were also constructed to add depth and diversity.

Meanwhile, inside the home, ceilings were raised and the square footage increased slightly. The home features amazing tile flooring and exposed wood framing, with many features left from the original 1950s structure.

About John & Joe

John Brockman is native of Louisville, Kentucky. He grew up an Air Force brat, the son of an airman who traveled from base to base, across America and overseas, for most of John’s childhood. After high school in Illinois, they landed in Monterey, California, where his father retired. John Brockman went to college and became a speech pathologist, and as fate would have it, his first job was with the Merced City School District.

He ended up working in the position for 40 years, though he did do some private practice on the side. He retired in 2012.

Due to his name, Joe Silva is not surprisingly full-blooded Portuguese. He was born on the island of Terceira in the Azores, and his family later emigrated to Southern California in the 1960s, and moved to Merced in the early 1970s to pursue dairy farming. Silva also pursued a career in education as a teacher, and eventually landed a job in town for the Merced City School District — and that’s where he met John Brockman.

Silva would go on to teach for about 32 years before retiring as well.

Now that they are both 75 — their birthdays are just 20 days apart — they are both tired of the drive between Merced and Carmel. They have a family cottage in Carmel, not to mention landing pads in Europe as well.

“Joe was born on an island,” Brockman says. “He loves to see the ocean. He loves it in Carmel. Second of all, the year-round weather over there is much more pleasant.”

 

For those seeking the zenith of classical Greek temple architecture in a modern home setting with a creekside view in the Central Valley of California, the “Parthenon house” is expected to be listed soon on the local real estate market. 

Inquiries can be made to Realtor Patty Sykes, No. 01169818, of Home Smart, PV and Associates. Call (209) 230-4501. Or contact Monica Franks at (209) 345-3836.