Why did 2,500 people stand in the rain to watch a house move through Belmont?
Last week, we told the story of the Emmett-O’Neill Store, once located at the corner of Ralston Avenue and Old County Road, now the site of the more recently renovated 76 gas staion.
One thing surprised us afterward: a number of readers wanted to know more about Walter Alfred Emmett himself—particularly why he was considered such an influential figure in Belmont’s early history. It’s a good question, and the story of the house he built and lived in helps answer it.
The house stood just a short distance from his store, at 843 Ralston Avenue, for more than 120 years. It began as a modest one-story cottage, later grew along with the Emmett family—and eventually became so important to Belmont that when redevelopment threatened it, the city didn’t tear it down.
Belmont moved the entire house.
And on a rainy day in January 2008, approximately 2,500 people came out to watch.
It Started as a Little Cottage
The Emmett House began life in 1885 as a single-story cottage on Ralston Avenue.
It was the home of Walter Emmett and his family, at a time when Belmont looked nothing like the city we know today. The commercial center of town was clustered around Old County Road and the railroad, and Ralston Avenue was a far cry from the busy thoroughfare it is today.
As the Emmett family—and Belmont—grew, so did the house.
In 1899, a second story was added, creating much of the familiar two-story structure that survives today.
But what makes the house historically important isn’t simply its age.
It’s the man who lived there.
So, Who Was Walter Alfred Emmett?
Calling Walter Emmett a Belmont merchant doesn’t really do him justice.
Yes, he operated the Emmett Store at Ralston Avenue and Old County Road from the late 1870s into the 1920s. In early Belmont, however, the local storekeeper could occupy a much larger role in community life than we might imagine today.
Emmett also served as Belmont’s postmaster, making his store and his work part of the communication lifeline connecting local residents with the rest of the world.
But perhaps the best description comes from Belmont historian Denny Lawhern, who sadly passed in 2022, called Emmett a “one man Chamber of Commerce.”
That’s a wonderful description of what he seems to have meant to early Belmont.
Emmett encouraged businesses to establish themselves here. He advocated for the growing community and supported its development. At a time before Belmont had the governmental and business organizations we take for granted today, people like Emmett were often the ones pushing a young town forward.
His store was a business.
His home was where he lived.
But his real legacy was helping build a community around them.
More Than 100 Years Later, the House Was in the Way
By the beginning of the 21st century, downtown Belmont was changing again.
Redevelopment placed the historic Emmett House in jeopardy. After standing on Ralston Avenue for more than a century, its future suddenly became uncertain.
There were essentially two choices:
Lose it—or move it.
The Belmont City Council, Belmont Historical Society and members of the community rallied around preservation. Eventually, an extraordinary decision was made.
They would move the entire house.
Not dismantle it and reconstruct it somewhere else.
Move it.
January 22, 2008: The Emmett House Takes a Ride
And this is where the story gets really good.
On January 22, 2008, the Emmett House left the property on Ralston Avenue where it had stood for approximately 123 years.
Naturally, it was raining.
But that didn’t stop Belmont from turning out to watch.
According to the historical account provided by Denny Lawhern, about 2,500 people lined Ralston Avenue and Sixth Avenue as the enormous old house slowly made its way through town toward its new home.
Imagine that scene.
A two-story house is creeping down Ralston Avenue in a rainstorm. Streets are closed. Utility and moving crews are carefully guiding it along. And thousands of Belmont residents are standing along the route watching a piece of their city’s history literally roll past them.
Here’s a YouTube video link of the house on the move (before hi res iPhones)
For anyone who knows Belmont today, watching an entire house travel along Ralston Avenue is pretty remarkable.
But the crowd may be the most telling part of the story.
People didn’t come out in the rain simply because moving a house is something unusual to watch.
They came because this particular house meant something to Belmont.
A New Home on O’Neill Street
The Emmett House eventually reached its new location at 1000 O’Neill Street, near Sixth Avenue. Ironically, as our previous article illustrated, they were in business together at the corner of Old County Road and Ralston Avenue, where the recently renovated 76 gas station now stands.
Then came the painstaking work of restoring it.
The entire preservation effort—from the earliest discussions about what should be done with the threatened house through relocation and restoration—took approximately 11 years.
In March 2011, the restored Emmett House was formally dedicated.
And there it remains today, though the city has recently decided to sell the historical home. As of this writing, it is currently listed for sale for $2,595,000.
If you’ve driven or walked past it, you may have thought it was simply another attractive old Belmont home.
Now you know differently.
That house began as a one-story cottage in 1885.
It grew along with the family who lived there.
It survived more than a century on Ralston Avenue.
And when redevelopment threatened to erase it, Belmont decided that some pieces of its past were worth going to extraordinary lengths to preserve.
So they moved the house instead.
And perhaps that’s the best part of this story.
Walter Emmett spent much of his life encouraging Belmont to grow and move forward.
More than a century later, when progress threatened the home he left behind, Belmont found a way to move forward without leaving its history.
We hope you are enjoying our centential series on the Street oif Belmont in honor of Belmont’s 100 year anniversry on this October, 29, 2026
LINK TO MORE ON BELMONT’S HISTORICAL WEB SITE
As always, thanks for reading along!
Drew and Christine Morgan are experienced REALTORS® and longtime Mid-Peninsula real estate professionals based in Belmont, California, where they own and operate MORGANHOMES, Inc. They help buyers and sellers navigate important real estate decisions with experienced guidance, thoughtful strategy, and highly personalized service. Their achievements include RE/MAX’s prestigious Diamond Club Award, recognition among the Top 50 RE/MAX agents nationwide, and ranking among the Top 3 in Northern California.
To speak directly with Drew or Christine, call (650) 508-1441 or emailinfo@morganhomes.com.
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This article provides educational information and is intended for informational purposes only. It should not be considered real estate, tax, insurance, or legal advice; it cannot replace advice tailored to your situation. It’s always best to seek guidance from a professional familiar with your scenario.
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