Bernardo Fernandez House

The Bernardo Fernandez House is located at 100 Tenant Ave in Pinole, California Bernardo Fernandez, who died at his home in Pinole yesterday after an illness of several weeks, was one of the oldest pioneer residents of Contra Costa county, having come to California in 1853 and settled in Pinole soon afterward. He was born in Portugal on November 15, 1828, and remained in his native land until 13 years old, when he went to Brazil, where he lived until 1850. Fernandez on going to Pinole engaged in the mercantile business, later becoming interested in real estate. At the time of his death he was a large holder of Contra Costa realty. He married Charlotte Cuarda, daughter of a pioneer family of Marin county, in 1859. Six children. Miss Mary Fernandez, Mrs. C W. Sinclair, Dr. M. L. Fernandez and Thomas B. Fernandez of Pinole. Mrs. W. K. Cole of San Francisco and Bernardo Fernandez Jr., who died in 188S, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Fernandez.Fernandez was one of the oldest members of Martinez lodge, F. & A. M.. having belonged to the order for 47 years. He acquired his first land at the waterfront from the Rafaela Martinez Tennent estate and by 1882, he owned 4 large warehouses, and 5 acres of water front property. By 1894 he owned more than 3000 acres, eventually expanding his real estate holdings to over more than 20,000 acres throughout Pinole, Oakland & San Francisco. This 22-room mansion was the third home of the Fernandez family and is an excellent example of Second Empire French, a rare style in the area. The wood frame building has a central projecting pavilion and arched dormer windows. Stick trim panels grace the main structure, with tall 2 over 2 first floor windows that have brackets supporting window hoods and eaves. To the left side is a full height slanted bay with a pedimented gable roof. The home is listed on the Contra Costa Inventory of Historic Places & the National Register of Historic Places.