The Building Site Preserved by a Vision

The first few years of the “Rural Health Retreat,” as the Sanitarium was first known, were difficult ones. William Pratt, who in 1878 had given the land for the institution, thought it would be helpful if a little Adventist community could be built up around it. He reasoned that by persuading some Adventist families in San Francisco and elsewhere to come and build their own homes, this could be accomplished. But perched as it was on the side of Howell Mountain, in close proximity to the bounteous Crystal Spring, there was not much room for homes.6BIO 139.2

He offered a half-acre of land to each Adventist who would come and build. Zack Thorp, a carpenter in San Francisco, accepted, and built a modest home on a beautiful site near the Retreat. So did Elder St. John. Then Pratt approached Ellen White, who was living near the college in Healdsburg. She told Pratt she wanted to think about it. The next day she told him that she could not accept his generous offer but that she wanted to buy ten acres adjacent to the institution, embodying the land he proposed to give for building sites.6BIO 139.3

“Why, no, Sister White,” he replied, “that will spoil my plan.”6BIO 140.1

“That is exactly what I want to do,” she answered, and added, “The time will come when the institution will need this land.”6BIO 140.2

Reluctantly Pratt agreed, but he hated to see his plan upset. He sold Ellen White eight and one-half acres to the southeast of the Retreat. And she did build on this tract, a three-story residence not far from the main building. She called it “Eliel,” and promised that it would be available when needed for sanitarium work.6BIO 140.3

Healdsburg College, thirty-five miles to the north and west, was just commencing its work and getting well under way. Sister Mary Scott had given $5,000 to this project and she wished to make her home near the school. But W. C. White, chairman of the board, was not eager for her to live in Healdsburg, for his experience had taught him that there was grave danger of a donor's feeling that he should have considerable say in the management of an institution that had been the recipient of large gifts. The anticipation of this good woman's mothering the college did not appeal to him, so he thought of a scheme.6BIO 140.4

“Sister Scott,” he said one day, “why don't you make your home at the Retreat? It is an excellent place; Mother owns a piece of land there and I am sure she will give you a site on which to build.”6BIO 140.5

This proposition appealed to her, and apparently the plan was working well. Some days later while at the Retreat, Sister Scott approached Elder White with the question: “Do you think your mother would sell me a bit of land here so I can build a home?”6BIO 140.6

Confident that his mother would gladly give her a building lot, he replied, “Most assuredly, Sister Scott. You select what you wish and then we will look it over.” Nothing was too good for this generous woman who had helped establish the new college.6BIO 140.7

The following day Elder White was informed that the selection had been made and it was suggested they bring Sister White so they might look over the site together. The trio walked to the southeast and halted on the hillside. Mrs. Scott spoke:6BIO 140.8

“If you will let me have a piece of land here, Sister White, I will build a home. Just look at that beautiful view.”6BIO 140.9

Elder White was startled and Mrs. Scott disappointed when Sister White, looking over the valley and then back at the hillside, said, “No, I can't let you have this piece, Sister Scott. I have been shown there will be other buildings here someday.”6BIO 141.1

Elder White, who was eager not to offend this good woman and who thought that there was plenty of room for all the buildings that would be needed, could hardly understand this. But the word was final, and Sister Scott built on another location, “Simonnetta,” overlooking the valley, to the north of and close to Sister White's “Eliel.”6BIO 141.2

The incident was forgotten. Twenty-four years passed by. “Eliel” was needed for the growing sanitarium work. Ellen White made it available, and at this writing it is still in use.—As told to the author by WCW. The time came also when the Sanitarium needed the 8 1/2 acres Ellen White held, and she sold it to the institution.6BIO 141.3