This Day in History: 1926-07-15

The trustees of the McMillan Estate sold the former Crocker mansion and over 1200 acres to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Newark as a site for a seminary. The price was estimated to have been about $500,000. Immaculate Conception Seminary was to relocate on the site and by the move to be able to accept more candidates for the priesthood. Extensive alterations were contemplated to existing buildings and several new structures were built before the transfer of the school, expected to take place in January or February, 1927. The estate had originally belonged to A. B. Darling. George Crocker, the California millionaire bought it from the Darling estate. It passed to Emerson McMillan on Crocker’s death. After McMillan’s death a syndicate attempted to turn the property into a luxury country club and golf course. They had gone bankrupt and the great mansion and lands reverted to the McMillan estate. It was estimated that over $2,000,000 had been spent on the estate through the years. (Bristow)