Local scribe John Horgan reminds us in his Mercury News column that the Carolands mansion in H'borough has just turned 100
As 2016 comes to a rapid close (some might say mercifully so), it’s worth pointing out a San Mateo County historical footnote. The opening of the Carolands Chateau, located on Remillard Drive in Hillsborough, occurred 100 years ago.
The massive structure’s centennial has passed without much fanfare. Comprising 98 rooms, the mansion remains one of the largest residential buildings in the western U.S., a classic example of a pre-Depression Era gilded age.
Decades ago, the magnificent dwelling on a prominent hilltop had fallen into serious disrepair. The brainchild of railroad heiress Harriett Pullman Carolan, the huge home, which towers just under five-floors-high, had become a neighborhood eyesore and an attractive nuisance.
John left out one of the gorier stories from the '70s when two girls sneaked into the rundown pile and were attacked inside. Only one survived. That led to calls to demolish it and that in turn led to several efforts to save the landmark with the Johnsons eventually being the ones to save it.
I had a chance to tour the house from top to bottom before the restoration started and it was amazing. I've also toured some of the great mansions of Newport, RI and the Carolands easily stands as a peer to them. For a good view, the San Mateo County Historical Museum published a coffee table book on the house by Michael Dwyer back in 2006. It shows the renovations done by the Johnsons and is well worth a read. If you go up the hill to see it, this is what you are looking for.
It was a great venue for one of the Rotary Club of Burlingame fundraisers...I just wanted to light a cigar, have a big band strike up, and invite an attractive woman to dance...with late night skeet shooting, poker and hot tubs to follow as the place was built to host...but, alas the place was sparsely populated by self-righteous, climber, blue hairs and mental midget realtors trying to wield machismo jabs in the place of intellectual conversations and witty statements. Frankly, that's why private clubs exist.
Posted by: The Spirit of The Carolands | December 18, 2016 at 05:59 PM
The assaults and murder happened in 1985.
Posted by: fred | December 22, 2016 at 10:22 AM
I'll take your word for it, Fred. My misteak in passing along a timeframe from hearsay. I recall the event, but not the year very well. Thank you, as always.
Posted by: Joe | December 22, 2016 at 07:55 PM
Maybe not the most appropriate item before Christmas but it's a pretty complete article: http://www.mercurynews.com/2014/09/16/carolands-mansion-murder-survivor-laurie-mckenna-speaks-20-years-later/
Posted by: fred | December 23, 2016 at 11:53 AM