Articles of Interest
The Swinging Sixties
In the early 1960’s, Bremerton builders and brothers Louis and Joseph Mentor had a dream of developing a neighborhood of modern design homes on a forested ridge with sweeping views of Puget Sound’s Dyes Inlet and the Cascade Mountain range beyond.By Mark Lowder
In the early 1960’s, Bremerton builders and brothers Louis and Joseph Mentor had a dream of developing a neighborhood of modern design homes on a forested ridge with sweeping views of Puget Sound’s Dyes Inlet and the Cascade Mountain range beyond. This dream became a reality in 1965 with development of the quintessentially 60’s named community of “Eldorado Hills”. The crown jewel of this community is the home that Louis built for his wife Paulette, and is the subject of this article.Sited on the largest and most private lot in the development, Louis employed his appreciation of modern architecture and a discriminating eye for detail to build a home of breathtaking beauty and design integrity. With forward looking features such as quarter inch thick blued steel plate flooring throughout the main entry and living areas, enormous Columbia River basalt fireplace with double cylindrical steel smoke stacks, and expansive floor to ceiling windows framing the spectacular views, this home embodies the optimism and willingness to depart from the ordinary that typifies the architecture of the mid twentieth century.
Upon entering the home, a walk up the floating staircase will take you into the huge gourmet kitchen and beyond to the living room with access to 1,000 square feet of outdoor decking. Adjacent to this space is the formal dining area and reading room with a classic Wendell Lovett designed freestanding fire-hood fireplace. Moving toward the north end of the home will take you to the bedroom wing and the luxurious master suite. Ample in size with its own private deck facing views to the east, the master bath features a sunken tub & shower with period custom tile work. This bath adjoins a private outdoor sitting area and accesses via a short boardwalk the hot tub / spa nestled in the woods. Continuing on this path takes you to an oasis of forested privacy, the pool and cabana area featuring his and hers dressing rooms, a covered custom built brick and steel Bar-B-Q and of course the ultimate home amenity of the era, a shimmering turquoise built in pool.
Retracing your steps back to the entry, a trip downstairs will take you to the recreation room with full vintage 60’s wet bar, a basalt stone fireplace with copper hood, and a vintage pool table. The bar area adjoins another 1,000 square feet of deck and more sweeping views to the east for sophisticated outdoor entertaining. A little further and you are at the heart of the home in a huge bonus room that could easily be set up as a first class media center and home theater. A two car attached garage, complete privacy, over 5,000 square feet of living area, 4 bedrooms plus bonus room, and 4 baths round out the features on this one of a kind home.
The Mentor’s went on to become major forces in their community. Joseph built many custom homes locally and on Bainbridge Island while also developing the nearby Silverdale Mall. Louis was elected Mayor of Bremerton in the 1990’s, laying the groundwork for the major rejuvenation that is now transforming the downtown Bremerton core into a model of progressive urban planning. Recently Paulette Mentor has moved back east to open an art gallery. Mrs. Mentor’s artistic influence is still felt locally as her work is being regularly displayed at local galleries.
As you sip a chilled Martini by the pool on a warm summer evening and look over the bay and east to the Cascades, you are surrounded by a spirit of optimism as the voices of a previous generation’s movers and shakers can almost be heard as they gathered in this home and laid out the plans for the cultural and economic future of their city. Perhaps living here will inspire you to follow your dreams as well.
