Fall 2024

The charming and whimsical Comstock cot- tages are some of the most asked about struc- tures in Carmel by both visitors and residents. Following his service in WWI, Hugh Comstock fell in love with Mayotta Browne, a dollmaker who created “Otsy-Totsy” dolls in the 1920s. After marrying her months later, Comstock, with no prior experience, built them a cottage on a Carmel bluff and soon after, a tiny sto- rybook home for his new bride to display her dolls. Now known as Hansel and Gretel, the buildings were immediate- ly popular, and Comstock was inundated with requests to create more “storybook” homes in Carmel. One serves as The Tuck Box tea room on Dolores Street today. “The handcrafted designs were sought after by everyone who wanted to share in the delight of life in a fairy-tale setting: a cottage in the woods,” Hood explains. “Today, Comstock’s work draws international visitors who gaze at the picturesque garden settings, open gates and sneak around trying to get a better look at these fanciful little buildings.To own a Comstock is to own a piece of playful art that belongs to the public when viewed from the street.” With a mission to “preserve and promote the cultural heritage of Carmel,” the Carmel Heritage Society operates the historic First Murphy House in Carmel, located on the cor- ner of Lincoln Street and Sixth Avenue, as a wel- come center with exhibition space that also serves as the first stop for a self-guided historic walking tour. In 1902, at only 17 years old, Michael J. Murphy built the house after being invited by town fathers James Franklin Devendorf and Frank H. Powers to contribute to the careful development of Carmel. Also included in the walking tour are Harrison Memorial Library (built by Murphy), the Pine Inn, the Cottage of Sweets and the Court of the Golden Bough, City Hall, the Church of the Wayfarer, Cypress Inn, and many more charming stops until finishing at the Carmel Art Association Gallery. The Heritage Society also holds other events, such as an Inns of Distinction Tour held each December. Much more than just an information gather- ing nonprofit, Hood points out that the Heritage Society has influenced public sentiment towards historic structures since its creation over 30 years ago, leading and encouraging City Hall to engage a professional historian to complete exhaustive field surveys and historic reports. Buildings like the First Murphy House have been saved from demolition and some, including the First Murphy House, have been moved to new locations.The Village Corner Restaurant, a prior gathering place for some of the town’s most noted writers, was also preserved due to influ- ence from the society. As our culture becomes more modernized, protecting the past allows us to acknowledge its impact on our daily lives. Hood explains that Carmel has always been a destination for cre- ative action: painting, dance, music, literature, architecture, theater, sculpture and photography. One can see the influence of those artists every day through their architecture: a stroll around Scenic Road allows walkers to view poet Robinson Jeffers’ hand-built Tor House on Carmel Point (and go inside) as well as marvel at famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Della Walker house overlooking Carmel Beach. Photo: Nancy Comstock/Comstock Family Collection The charming and whimsical Comstock cottages are some of the most asked about structures in Carmel by both visitors and residents. Gretel was built by Hugh Comstock in 1924 after he married Mayotta. The one-room house with half bath was the first structure he created. 118 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • F A L L 2 0 2 4