Historic Home
Built just after the Civil War, the house remains one of Bayview's most memorable Victorian residences.
Bayview, San Francisco
Sylvester House
Five families. One enduring stewardship.History
Built in 1865.
Cared for by five families, Sylvester House is a Victorian landmark on Revere Avenue in San Francisco. This archive gathers its history, rooms, photographs, records, and stories as new research comes to light.
Preservation
The restoration preserved marble fireplaces, carved woodwork, wallpaper, painted details, and the character of the rooms.
Room Archive
Room pages collect photographs and notes for the parlor, library, bedrooms, dining room, and other spaces.
Owners
Five families have carried the house through more than a century and a half.
1865 to 1901
1Sylvester family
Daniel and Maria (Donnelly) Sylvester raised eight children here; the house served as the family's cattle-ranch farmhouse after construction by Stephen L. Piper.1913 to 1954
2Faggione family
Boat builder GianBautista Faggione moved the house downhill, added the concrete ground floor for winemaking, and lived here with his four sons.1966 to 1977
3Third owner uncertain
The third owner is still unidentified. By 1966 the vacant house was bought for $10,000 and then suffered years of neglect.1978 to 2020s
4Blacketer and Dodt
Linda Blacketer and Dan Dodt began the long restoration in 1978, returning systems, finishes, furnishings, art, and neighborhood life to the house.2026 onward
5Fay and Friel family
Becka Fay and Aaron Friel begin the fifth-family chapter, preserving the house and keeping its records, rooms, and stories connected.Records
Maps, filings, photographs, and family records tell the larger story.
Street Planning Maps
Historic maps show how Revere Avenue, the surrounding blocks, and the Bayview shoreline changed around the house.
Landmark And City Files
City filings and landmark material help explain why the Sylvester House matters to the neighborhood.
Owner Records
Directories, deeds, portraits, and family notes trace who lived in the house and when.
Rooms
Each room preserves a different piece of the house's character.
Grand Living RoomAn original painting by Silvio Faggione, circa 1915, still adorns the wall alongside restored stencil work and the marble fireplace.Apricot RoomBradbury and Bradbury wallpaper, a marble fireplace, and 12.5-foot ceilings define this restored upstairs room.
Dining RoomEmilita's Frieze wallpaper by Bradbury and Bradbury, polychrome work by Peter Bridgeman, and a marble fireplace frame the room.Legacy Sites
Original site archives remain available.
sylvesterhouseonrevere.comSotheby's Listing ArchiveA preserved copy of the real estate listing, including the photo carousel, video, floor plan, gallery, and inquiry form.
sylvesterhouse1865.com1865 Historic House ArchiveA preserved copy of the earlier house website, including the room pages, history notes, contact page, and image galleries.