Fred Ruhl

Fred Ruhl (August 27, 1876 – October 25, 1961) was an American master builder in Monterey County, California. He is best known for his contributions to the architecture of Pebble Beach, and Carmel-by-the-Sea, most notably for building the Flanders Mansion, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He worked closely with architect Robert Stanton to build the Normandy Inn on Ocean Avenue in Carmel.

Early life
Ruhl was born on August 27, 1876, on a farm in Topeka, Illinois. His parents, Jesse Franklin Ruhl (1839-1920) and Harriet Upp (1839-1887). His father possessed carpentry skills but chose to follow a farming path. Growing up immersed in the rural landscape, Ruhl received his education from local schools before embarking on a journey into carpentry.

Career
In 1903, Ruhl moved to San Francisco, California, where he ventured into contracting with Frank Dowsett. He joined the firm Dowsett and Ruhl located at 77 O'Farrell Street.

In 1916 Ruhl moved to the Monterey Peninsula where in the 1920s, he became the primary contractor for construction projects in Pebble Beach. Noteworthy among his projects were the McComber residence, the Pebble Beach lodge, the Malcom McNaughton household, and the McKensie House. He became the building supervisor for the Pacific Improvement Company. In 1924, Samuel F.B. Morse hired Ruhl to build a quadrangle-style of stables with an open retangular interior courtyard in Pebbe Beach. The main purpose of this structure was to serve as a boarding stable for the horses owned by residents. The stables became the Pebble Beach Equestrian Center that sponsored riding lessons, horse shows, and team trials for the 1960 Summer Olympics.

In 1925, Ruhl collaborated with architect Robert Stanton to construct Stanton's office building in downtown Carmel, situated southwest on Monte Verde Street and Ocean Avenue. The office building is a one$1 1/2$-and-one-half story wood-framed French provincial-style commercial building.



The Outlands in the Eighty Acres, also known as Flanders Mansion, in Hatton Fields, was built by Ruhl in 1924/1925 for real estate developer Paul Aiken Flanders. The Flanders Mansion is an 8000 sqft Tudor Revival house. While "Outlands" was under construction in February 1925, the Flanders family were displaced from their temporary accommodations within the Pebble Beach residence belonging to Ruhl, due to a fire incident.

The Ethel P. Young House was designed by architect Robert Stanton and built by Ruhl for Ethel Young, Stanton's mother-in-law, in 1926. It is located on southwest corner of Carmelo Street and 8th Avenue. The one-story wood-framed house is an example of Spanish Eclectic-style architecture.

In 1936, Ruhl embarked on the construction of the Normandy Inn for Ethel P. Young, just west of Stanton's office. This two-story hotel has the French provincial-style and occupies the southwest side of Ocean Avenue, between Monte Verde and Casanova Streets. The Normandy Inn was designed in a "U" shape, surrounding a central courtyard. The exterior walls are brick and cement stucco with narrow bands of false half-timbering.

Works
• Niscori Residence (1921)

• W. Broderick House (1923)

• Belle Monti County Club (1924)

• Outlands in the Eighty Acres (1925)

• Homes in Rio del Mar (1926)

• Joseph Mora Moss House (1926)

• Ethel P. Young House (1926)

• F.A. Hill Apartment Building (1926)

• Crocker First National Bank Building (1927)

• Paul Veeder House (1927)

• J.W. Perry House (1927)

• Rufus M. Kingman House (1931)

• Normandy Inn (1937)

Personal life
Ruhl married Alma Merle Warren (1894-1981) on August 18, 1923, in Pebble Beach, California. Ruhl played a role in the establishment of the Monterey County Builder's Exchange in 1928. He was involved in the Masonic order and as a Noble Grand in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Death
Ruhl died on October 25, 1961. He was buried at the El Carmelo Cemetery in Pacific Grove, California.