Tubbs Cordage Company

08/31/2026

Alfred Lovering Tubbs (1827–1896) was the original founder of Chateau Montelena and a prominent figure in 19th-century Bay Area business and Masonic networks.

Connection to Chateau Montelena
Founding the Estate: Tubbs made his initial fortune during the California Gold Rush by founding the Tubbs Cordage Company in San Francisco (supplying rope to gold miners and maritime shipping).

Building the Chateau: In 1882, he purchased 254 acres at the base of Mount Saint Helena in Calistoga to build his summer residence, naming it Hillcrest Estate. In 1888, he completed the iconic French Chateau-style stone winery building (originally known as A.L. Tubbs Winery).

Naming Chateau Montelena: Following Prohibition, his grandson Chapin Tubbs resumed winemaking on the property in 1934 and officially renamed the estate Chateau Montelena (a contraction of "Mount Saint Helena").

08/25/2026

Through a stroke of luck someone saw our page and had Tallant Tubbs personal scrap book from an antique/thrift store and reached out. We now have it and posting for all to see. Very cool history. Enjoy the time frame of 1928-1934!!

07/30/2026

The Tubbs Hotel in Oakland, CA at the turn of the 19th Century. This was at near East 12th and 14th Ave in Oakland. Hard to recognize the area now.

07/25/2026

A little bit of history from the Dogpatch!

Learn about the first and (at one time) largest Rope Manufacturer o...

07/25/2026

A bit of restoration history for the Tubbs Building that is maintained by the National Parks in San Francisco!

Treeline Construction restored and relocated the 1889 Tubb’s Cordage Building at San Francisco Maritime NHP, preserving historic materials and safeguarding the sensitive waterfront site through precise, environmentally controlled work.

07/25/2026

03/11/2026

Chapin Filkins Tubbs, 1908-1910 Yale Prep School. Middle, back row.

03/01/2026

State Senator Tallant Tubbs father was Austin Chapin Tubbs, and Grandson of Alfred S. Tubbs, the founder of Tubbs Cordage Company. His Mother was Anne Tallant Brodie, who became Anne Tallant Tubbs after marriage to Austin.

03/01/2026

The Tubbs Hotel sat on the city block bounded by 4th Ave and 5th Ave, between East 12th St and East 14th St in what was then Brooklyn/East Oakland.

On today’s map, East 14th St is now signed as International Blvd (renamed in 1996)

The hotel grounds were essentially the whole block between those two corners, up to International Blvd (former East 14th St)