Silvergate — tract homes in Dublin (1962)
Nestled among the rolling hills of west Dublin, Silvergate is more than just another mid-century subdivision. Built between 1962 and 1968, this landmark neighborhood played a major role in shaping modern Dublin, California—and helped revive the city’s very name.
Developed by Tom Gentry during a period of explosive Tri-Valley growth, Silvergate introduced hundreds of ranch-style homes, sweeping valley views, modern conveniences, and a stronger local identity at a time when much of the region was still being marketed under the San Ramon name.
Today, Silvergate remains one of Dublin’s most historically significant and recognizable mid-century neighborhoods.
 |
| From an August 1964 Oakland Tribune ad—the sun had never been so excited to see the name "Dublin" used in print. |
Where is Silvergate in Dublin?
Silvergate is located in west Dublin, California, tucked into the hills west of San Ramon Village and near the Interstate 580 corridor.
 |
| Annotated aerial map of the Silvergate neighborhood in Dublin, California. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
Before Dublin had a name
Long before Silvergate was built, the region was part of Rancho San Ramón, a massive Mexican land grant awarded to José María Amador in 1834. For decades, this expanse of open hills and grassland stretched across what would eventually become parts of two counties—Contra Costa and Alameda.
After California gained statehood, Contra Costa County was formed and originally included the territory of today’s Alameda County. In 1852, Amador sold 10,000 acres of his rancho to Leo Norris in what would become Contra Costa County. Around the same time, he also sold a large portion to James Witt Dougherty—land that spanned both sides of the soon-to-be-drawn county line. Just one year later, in 1853, Alameda County was carved out, and the new boundary cut straight through Rancho San Ramón. The result? A cartographic tangle that left the region with three different San Ramons: one in Amador’s original rancho, a second in Contra Costa (Norris’s land), and a third—eventually known as Dublin—on the Dougherty portion in Alameda County.
Meanwhile, to the south of the Rancho, a small crossroads community was emerging near a church, a cemetery, and a post office. Though technically part of Rancho Santa Rita, this little settlement became casually known as Dublin, thanks to its Irish settlers. Still, official maps labeled the area by the surrounding valley names—San Ramon and Amador—and for decades, Dublin remained unofficial, unlabeled, and nearly forgotten.
By the late 1950s, developers like Volk-McLain were actively promoting nearby subdivisions under the San Ramon name, further pushing Dublin into obscurity.
 |
| Annotated historic map from 1904 showing the village of Dublin just outside old Rancho San Ramon. |
Tom Gentry and the return of the Dublin name
That changed in 1962 when developer Tom Gentry purchased approximately 250 acres of farmland west of San Ramon Village.
Unlike many builders of the era, Gentry wanted his project to stand apart from neighboring developments. Rather than continuing to market the area as part of San Ramon, he revived the historic Dublin name and used it prominently in advertising for his new subdivision: Silvergate.
At the time, this was a surprisingly bold marketing decision.
The San Ramon identity had already become deeply associated with suburban growth in the Tri-Valley, but Gentry believed Dublin deserved recognition as its own distinct community. Through Silvergate’s newspaper ads, maps, and promotional campaigns, the Dublin name slowly re-entered public consciousness.
In many ways, Silvergate helped put modern Dublin back on the map.
 |
| Late 1960s annotated map of Dublin and San Ramon. |
Selling the tract
Construction on Silvergate began in 1962, originally under the spelling “Silver Gate.”
Over the next six years, approximately 400 homes were built across gently winding hillside streets designed to follow the natural contours of the land.
The homes reflected classic California mid-century suburban design, featuring:
- Open floor plans
- Attached two-car garages
- Large picture windows
- Spacious backyards
- Indoor-outdoor living spaces
- Ranch-style architecture
- Valley and hillside views
Some homes even included in-ground swimming pools, reflecting the growing Southern California influence on suburban living during the 1960s.
Silvergate homes were priced above nearby developments such as San Ramon Village, but buyers were drawn to the neighborhood’s elevated setting, architectural quality, and stronger sense of identity.
 |
| From a December 1963 Oakland Tribune ad—she’s lost in the moment—and possibly the floor plan. With her hair as high as the beamed ceilings and a staircase to nowhere behind her, she arranges flowers like the Cold War isn’t happening. |
 |
| From an August 1967 Daily Review ad—encouraging you to indulge a whim or two, this joint ad for Silvergate and Oak Creek advertises lush wall-to-wall carpeting as a feature included at no extra cost. |
Silvergate and the arrival of cable television
Silvergate also became one of the first neighborhoods in the region to fully embrace cable television technology.
At a time when over-the-air television reception in the Tri-Valley was notoriously unreliable, Tom Gentry arranged for a master antenna system that delivered cable television service directly into Silvergate homes.
This was marketed as a major technological luxury during the mid-1960s.
For many residents, Silvergate represented not only architectural modernity, but technological modernity as well—a neighborhood literally wired for the future.
Pricing history of Silvergate homes
- 1962: $18,800 +
- 1963: $19,000 - $23,000
- 1964: $19,995 +
- 1965: $20,250 - $26,500
- 1966: $21,950 - $27,500
- 1967: $23,950 +
- 1968: $24,950 - $28,950
The homes of Silvergate (1962–1965)
When Silvergate opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of Tom Gentry model homes showcasing the neighborhood’s mix of architecture, indoor-outdoor living, and family-oriented floor plans. Though individual elevations varied, these original models helped define much of the neighborhood’s visual identity.
Although six homes designs were available, only five models opened in late 1962 on San Sabana Court. Designed by architect Norm Dyer, AIA, the homes were sold in Units 1 through 5 of the development.
 |
| Annotated aerial map of the 1962 Silvergate model home complex on San Sabana Court. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Original Silvergate model homes
1. The Castilian - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,760 sq. ft.
2. The Plan 2 - 4 or 5 bedrooms, 2 or 2.5 bathrooms, 1,927 to 1,951 sq. ft.
3. The Casa Camino - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,035 sq. ft. Added in 1963, The Casa Camino became notable for introducing one of the region’s first Monterey Colonial-style elevations.
4. The Plan 4 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,416 sq. ft.
5. The Plan 5 - 3-bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,348 sq. ft.
 |
| Original 1962 Castilian model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Casa Camino model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 4 model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 5 model today (with addition) via Google Street View. |
The “New Silvergate” expansion (1965–1968)
Following the success of the original phases, Tom Gentry launched a second generation of homes in late 1965 known as “The New Silvergate.”
These newer homes embraced increasingly upscale suburban trends, featuring:
- Beamed ceilings
- Hardwood flooring
- Pecan wood breakfast bars
- Enhanced landscaping
- Built-in fencing
- Coaxial television cable
- Larger living areas
The second model complex initially opened with four homes and eventually expanded to seven models by the project’s completion in 1968.
 |
| Vintage June 1966 ad for Silvergate in Dublin, promoting luxury "in the rolling foothills of Dublin.” These homes came fully featured with Pecan wood breakfast bars, Golden Oak hardwood floors, beamed ceilings, landscaped front lawns, fencing, and built-in coaxial TV cable—highlighting Tom Gentry's attention to modern comfort and suburban appeal. |
The homes of Silvergate (1965–1968)
The second model complex opened at Castilian Road and Silvergate Drive, with a grand opening held in January 1966.
 |
| Annotated aerial map of the 1965 Silvergate model home complex on Castilian Road. Base imagery from Apple Maps. |
Second-phase Silvergate model homes
1. The Plan 1 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,432 sq. ft.
2. The Plan 2 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,477 sq. ft.
3. The Plan 3 - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,522 sq. ft.
4. The Castilian - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,760 sq. ft.
5. The Casa Camino - 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 2,035 sq. ft.
6. The San Antonio - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,623 sq. ft. Added in November 1967.
7. The Plan 7 - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,499 sq. ft. Added in 1967.
 |
| Original 1965 Plan 1 model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 2 model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 3 model today (with addition) via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Castilian model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Casa Camino model today (with addition) via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original San Antonio model today via Google Street View. |
 |
| Original Plan 7 model today via Google Street View. |
Legacy of Silvergate
Tom Gentry’s time in Dublin was relatively brief, but his influence proved lasting.
By the time Silvergate was completed in 1968, other developers had begun adopting the Dublin name in their own projects and marketing materials. What had once been an overlooked historic label was rapidly becoming the identity of an emerging city.
Silvergate helped make that possible.
More than just another subdivision, Silvergate marked a turning point in Dublin history—a place where suburban development, local identity, and mid-century optimism came together in the hills above the valley floor.
Today, the neighborhood stands as both a living archive of 1960s suburban design and a reminder of the moment Dublin reclaimed its name.
Further readings
- Dublin Historical Society
- Ghosts of Dublin - Maps showing our relationship with the land
Comments
Post a Comment