In the spring of 1968, builder H.C. Elliott cracked open a new parcel of land north of East Jack London Boulevard and introduced Livermore to his second series of homes in the Town Square neighborhood.
At the heart of it all was the Somerset House, marketed as a “smart home” (back when that meant clever floor planning, not Wi-Fi). This flexible design came with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and plenty of room to grow. What some called an attic, Elliott called an unfinished second story—because the idea was simple: your home should grow with your family. The base model kept it modest, but for a bit more, you could finish that second floor with two extra bedrooms and a bathroom.
Over time, the series of homes within the Town Square neighborhood earned their own identity, and the name Somerset was born.
The public caught on quickly. Within 60 days of opening, Elliott sold 90 homes. The Somerset name stuck—not just for the model, but the neighborhood itself.
At first, Elliott planned to be finished by 1970. But builders, like homeowners, are easily tempted. When developer Jim Knuppe decided not to finish his Garden Homes project nearby, Elliott swooped in and picked up the remaining 135 lots—some nestled between Knuppe’s already-built homes. This new area, which stretched both sides of Murrieta Boulevard, became Somerset South.
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| From a May 1968 Oakland Tribune ad—the expandable home with unfinished second-story. Base price didn't include windows on the second story or a staircase to get there--those were extra. |
Selling the subdivision
In the Somerset homes, pantries were designed with practicality and convenience in mind—no more cluttered countertops or last-minute grocery hunts. These spacious, organized spaces became a staple, giving families the room to stock up on staples, snacks, and all those little extras that make a kitchen feel like home. From canned goods to cereals, the pantry was the quiet workhorse behind every meal and midnight snack.
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| From a September 1968 Oakland Tribune—snack mission in progress: She’s tucking away Rice-A-Roni, Cap’n Crunch, and Special K—because a smart pantry means never having to say, “We’re out of cereal!” |
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| From a August 1969 Oakland Tribune—Fear tactic alert! Because nothing says “buy now” like a little friendly panic over rising prices. |
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| September 1970 ad for Somerset Homes, featuring the Spacemaster model. Marketed with a fully stubbed but unfinished upstairs, the home gave buyers the option to add two more bedrooms and a bathroom—with free plans included. “Buy a home with big overhead—big overhead space, that is,” the ad teased. |
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| February 1970 ad for Somerset Homes, showcasing the Tamerlane model. Marketed at $25,950—below the estimated construction cost—the home came with a full-sized lot and a bonus upstairs room. |
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| January 1971 ad for Somerset Homes introducing the La Paz model as “the complete house” for just $19,500. The ad emphasizes simplicity and value, with only two optional upgrades: a fireplace and a dishwasher. |
Legacy of Somerset
By April 1971, every one of the 474 homes in Somerset and Somerset South had been sold. And here’s the kicker: through four years and two subdivisions, Elliott never raised the starting price of a home above $19,500.
Some people remember Somerset as a model. Others remember it as a place. But for the better part of a decade, it was a steady pulse in Livermore’s suburban heartbeat. With homes priced to start under $20,000, and flexible floor plans that grew with families, it was more than a subdivision. It was a strategy: build it smarter, sell it quickly, rename it later if needed.
And Elliott? He didn’t just ride the wave—he built the shoreline. One home at a time.
Exploring the original Somerset today
Although the sales office is long gone and the advertisements have faded, the original Somerset model homes remain part of the neighborhood. These homes gave prospective buyers their first glimpse of H. C. Elliott's vision for suburban living in 1968.
Today, they provide a tangible connection to Somerset's earliest days. The guide below documents the original model home complex, the homes themselves, and how they appear today.
The original prices
- 1968: $17,950 +
- 1969: $19,950 - $24,950
- 1970: $19,500 - $25,950
- 1971: $19,500 - $26,400
The original model home complex
When Somerset Homes opened, buyers toured a carefully staged collection of H. C. Elliott 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.
The six original models opened in May 1968 on Delaware Way. Over time, as models were added, retired, and renamed, up to 13 floor plans would be featured across Somerset, Somerset South, and Somerset West.
Although the model complex closed in 1971 when the Somerset Homes neighborhood sold out, it re-opened in 1972 to sell homes in the new Somerset West neighborhood. By September 1973, this model complex was closed and sold—because Elliott had opened a brand-new model complex in Somerset West.
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| Annotated aerial map of the Somerset Homes model home complex on Delaware Way. Base imagery from Google Maps. |
The original model homes
1. The Danbury - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,130 - 1,150 sq. ft.
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| Original Danbury model today via Google Street View. This home also housed the sales office. |
2. The Ridgewood - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,400 + sq. ft.
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| Original Ridgewood model today via Google Street View. |
3. The Monterey - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,427 sq. ft.
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| Original Monterey model today via Google Street View. |
4. The Sheffield - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,600 sq. ft. Retired in 1973.
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| Original Sheffield model today via Google Street View. |
5. The Somerset House - An expandable home with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, and an unfinished second story. Or finished with 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Came standard without stairs or second-floor windows—those were extra.
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| Original Somerset House model today via Google Street View. |
6. The Huntington - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,573 sq. ft. Briefly renamed the Sheffield in 1973.
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| Original Huntington model today via Google Street View. |
7. The Somerset House II/The Spacemaster - 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, 1,100 sq. ft. Added in 1969; retired in 1972. A revision of the original Somerset House for narrower lots. Included were blueprints for a 500 sq. ft. second story with 2 additional bedrooms and a bathroom. Windows on the second story and a staircase were extra, though. Owners had trouble figuring out placement of the windows, so in 1970, this model was rebranded as the Spacemaster and included windows on the second story--and a kit with pre-cut lumber to build a staircase.
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| Original Somerset House II model today, later called the Spacemaster, via Google Street View |
8. The Tamerlane - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,640 sq. ft. Added in 1969; retired in 1972.
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| Original Tamerlane model today via Google Street View. |
9. The Homestead - 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms. Added in 1970. This plan introduced cement slab foundations instead of traditional raised hardwood floors to lower construction costs.
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| Original Homestead model today via Google Street View. |
10. The La Paz - 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, 988 sq. ft. A lower-priced model added in 1971 with the San Juan; only 18 were built between the two models. Included were blueprints to add a master suite with bathroom, and a larger family room.
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| Original La Paz model today via Google Street View. |
11. The San Juan - 4 bedrooms or 3 bedrooms and a den, 2 bathrooms, 1,268 sq. ft. A lower-priced model added in 1971 with the La Paz; only 18 were built between the two models.
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| Original San Juan model today via Google Street View. |
12. The Scottsdale - 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,343 sq. ft. Added in 1973 to build in Somerset West.
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| Original Scottsdale model today via Google Street View. |
13. The Huntington - 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1,479 sq. ft. Added in 1973 to build in Somerset West. Featured the infamous "curvilinear kitchen." When introduced, it stole the Huntington name from a different model, which was then renamed the Sheffield.
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| Original Huntington model today via Google Street View. |
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