April 8, 2004

STREET SCENEView Crest Court

Spectacular views, natural beauty, wildlife, and spaciousness abound on View Crest Court, located off View Crest Drive, filling the lives of those who live here with simple pleasures.

Gary Dillon has called View Crest Court home for 15 years, and with his wife Doris, raised their family here. The Dillon’s home is on the site of the first house on the hill, a ranch built by Russ Henwood in 1954, and is a part of the rich history of the neighborhood.

“A rancher by the name of Harry Denhart bought the entire hill, [and leased it to cattle ranchers], and it was called the ‘Lands of Denhart.’” recalls Dillon. Denhart lived on the property, and according to Denhart’s nephew, Dick Herbert, they decided that the best use for country living would be to divide the land into two-and-a-half-acre parcels. They were the first in the county to do so, and it soon became a standard. “The land was expensive,” notes Dillon, “and a lot of doctors were buying it, so it later became known as Pill Hill. Denhart lived nearby, and he was quite a character, and selective in who he sold to,” says Dillon, “but supposedly, if he liked you, even if you couldn’t quite afford it, he would help you to live here.”

Besides his beloved golden retriever, Chester, who is always by his side, a variety of animals keep Dillon company throughout the day. He awakens to the crowing of a neighbor’s rooster, whom he affectionately calls Pavarotti and starts his day watching the cottontail rabbits breakfast on the lawn beside the killdeer and quail who nest in the tall grass. He is serenaded to sleep at night by coyotes. Over the years, neighbors have also kept goats, sheep, and horses nearby, but that’s not all. “Peacocks would perch on the hood of my car and peck at their reflection in the window,” he recalls. “One morning, I woke up, and we had llamas here.”

Most challenging of all however, was the time he had to round up three steers from his property. “It was really funny, because I don’t know anything about steers, and these things are huge,” describes Dillon, “so I gave Doris some rope, and she was out there hooting and hollering at them, and we herded them up to the fence area, where I corralled them in with barbed wire.” He posted a sign that he had found cattle, and a day later a neighbor from up the hill came by to get them, but it took a week to convince them to leave. “We’ve had lots of fun with the property,” Dillon laughs.

Other neighborhood wildlife includes bobcats, foxes, gophers, ground squirrels, kestrels, and kingfishers. On one occasion, a neighbor was walking in his driveway and heard a horrendous noise. He looked up, and 40 wild turkeys flew overhead. “It was incredible,” he said. Another neighbor once found a mountain lion asleep on his pool’s diving board, said Dillon.

Dillon enjoys hearing the laughter of the children at Graystone Elementary School during recess. Many Almaden residents knew his wife, Doris, through her contributions to local schools. A longtime San Jose Unified school teacher and librarian, she also established the media centers at Williams and Graystone Elementary Schools, and brought the gift of reading to the students. Sadly, Doris passed away in 2001 of ALS. Both schools dedicated a memorial garden in her name, and her portrait graces Graystone’s library. She lives on in the thoughts and hearts of the Graystone community and their author visits continue in her honor.

Dillon is toying with the idea of relocating to Carmel Valley someday, but in the meantime loves developing his garden. In the process, he has hauled 20 truckloads of serpentine rock off his land. In his backyard, the rock changes, and becomes chert. “This ridge is an old earthquake fault, and marks where Almaden Valley slipped away,” he notes. Dillon plans to install a cactus garden, Japanese garden, and native garden, and would like to open up his front half acre as a community garden. Beneath a magnificent blue oak tree lies an Ohlone grinding stone Gary found on his property. In the shade of the tree, sit two inviting Adirondack chairs, and his grandson is hoping he might add an old tire swing to one of its limbs. “I’ve put a lot of love and care into this place,” Dillon reflects, surveying the fruit of his labors.

Jean and Wayne Suzuki have lived on View Crest for about 20 years. They appreciate the peacefulness and natural beauty of the area, as well as the sweeping landscape. “A friend previously owned the home, and when we saw it I thought, ‘how nice to have so much space!’” recalls Jean. Over the years, the Suzukis have watched the paved street and homes constructed along View Crest Court, up to the top of the hill. “There used to be more people with horses here,” notes Suzuki. “They used to ride through the properties all the way to Harry Road, before the fences were put in.” Suzuki also appreciates the neighborhood’s wildlife. “Nature’s close by,” she says. “We see redtail hawks, turkey vultures, deer and quail, and when we first moved in, jack rabbits hopped through our fields.”

Pediatrician Kjartan Armann was born and raised in the area, and attended Los Gatos High School. He and his family have lived on the court for about three years. “My wife and I love the openness, and living on the edge of the city,” says Armann. “Our children enjoy watching the wild animals. We often have 10 to 15 deer on the property, and the redtail hawks have permanent breeding nests in the oak trees in our backyard. This year, a bobcat had two kittens, not 30 yards from our front door, and the girls were able to watch them grow up.”

The Armann family has also seen coyotes come and go, and every Spring the wild turkeys return to roost in their oak trees. “Last year, we had 17 turkeys come,” Armann recalls. His family adores having nature at their doorstep. “That’s one of the neatest things about being here,” he says. “We love the rustic setting, and the views of the valley from our back porch are unbelievable. My children love to explore the back part of the property, and go down to the creek and on adventures.”

The Armanns plan to retain the natural setting on the majority of their property, and plant a garden and fruit trees closer to the house. On one side of their home, an oak forest flourishes, and on the other, Armann is contemplating planting an olive orchard. “For us, it is a great way to live in the city, but get away from everything,” he reflects. “It’s just lovely.”

—By Lorraine Gabbert