The Location - Kenwood Depot

We felt that the location was an important decision in our planning. It sets the stage for the day and is the pivot point for all of the events. We wanted to select a place that felt balanced between the outside and inside. After looking at several locations, we decided that the Kenwood Depot was the perfect spot.


According to the Historical Marker on the building:

"Kenwood Depot, originally called South Los Guilucos, was constructed of locally quarried basalt in 1888 at a cost of $11,500. It was the only stone station in the 36.7 mile Northern Pacific Railway line which ran through the Sonoma Valley from Napa Junction to Santa Rosa. From here, great quantities of stone used for paving the Embarcadero and Market Street were shipped to San Francisco. The last train to Kenwood from the Bay Area ram in 1936. Because of little traffic and the pressure of war, the line was abandoned and the rails removed in 1942. The Depot was purchased in 1940 by the Kenwood Improvement Club.

Dedicated August 18, 1990
Sam Brannan Chapter #1004
E Clampus Vitus"

The building is a beautiful gray stone, and boasts a fantastic view of the vineyard right next to it. When you enter the building through the front door shown here, you are greeted by a wide expanse of a room. The floors area soft wood with a satin-like finish and a large brick fireplace graces one wall, washed with sunlight from the large arched window opposite. There were two kitchens making it easy to keep the cake and beverages separate from the rest of the food. The full sized kitchen also offered ample space to lay out a buffet line. Behind the building is a large open lawn flanked by blackberry briars and a large tree with a split trunk. It was the perfect location for the ceremony.