Marin history: An ever-changing Fairfax estate

Marin County has numerous examples of many estates built in grand style that would go on to be repurposed, and one such estate was the Bird’s Nest Glen in Fairfax. Originally part of the Rancho Cañada de Herrera land grant, it was passed from Domingo Sais to Dr. A. W. Taliaferro in 1849. A few years later, he gave the land to fellow Virginian and friend Lord Charles Snowden Fairfax as a wedding gift.

Fairfax was originally from Scotland and lured West during the gold rush. He and his wife, Ada, built their grand estate, Bird’s Nest Glen, and were considered a social and civic-minded couple. It was no surprise that the town was named after Fairfax, who was later elected a Marin county supervisor in 1865. It should be noted that the last political duel happened here in 1861. Charles W. Piercy and Daniel Snowalter were friends of Fairfax and members of rival political factions. They decided to settle their dispute with a duel. Since San Francisco would not allow it, the duel took place on the grounds of Bird’s Nest Glen. Although Fairfax tried to stop them, he couldn’t and, in the end, served a decadent lunch and the large crowd watched the duel on the grassy meadow. Snowalter killed Piercy and the grand jury indicted him for murder. He fled California to Mazatlán, Mexico, and was said to have died in a barroom brawl.

Unfortunately, after traveling east in 1869, Fairfax died suddenly. His wife headed back east and died in 1888. Charles and Adele Pastori purchased the property for $15,000 in 1905. Adele Pastori was a former stage performer and Charles Pastori a set designer and builder, along with being known as excellent chefs. Pastori started a restaurant called Fairfax Villa and the San Francisco elite and famous folks from all over came for “Chianti, pasta and fine service.” The villa’s name was changed to Pastori’s, and with its own train stop, traveling was convenient from San Francisco. Guests enjoyed dining in the open-air country atmosphere and took advantage of the added lodging for overnight and extended visits.

They had four children, who grew up on the property, with the family’s residence being on the second floor of the villa. The Pastoris were also civic-minded and helped establish the first schoolhouse in Fairfax, where Charles Pastori served as trustee. Sadly, tragedy struck in 1911 when Charles Pastori died of heart failure at age 58. Six months later, the villa burned down. Adele Pastori had the home and restaurant rebuilt in grander style with more cottages and rooms for guests, and a maple dance floor for events. She also built a platform in one of the large oak trees near the dining room, where it is said Irving Berlin once played a piano to serenade dining guests.

In 1925, Adele Pastori and her children sold the property due to declining business and Prohibition. The San Francisco-based Emporium-Capwell Department Store bought the property as a resort for their employees. In 1943, Max Friedman purchased the property for $175,000. He opened up the Marin Town and Country Club resort the next year to a crowd of 1,500 guests on the first day. The 40 acres had seven swimming pools, tennis courts and 45 apartments for summer and winter rental. The resort closed in 1972 and was mostly unused. In 2002, Michael Mackintosh purchased 28 acres. In 2022, the property was put back on the market for sale — awaiting its next reincarnation.

History Watch is written by Lane Dooling, marketing and social media coordinator at the Marin History Museum, marinhistory.org. Images included in History Watch are available for purchase by calling 415-382-1182 or by email at info@marinhistory.org