Tudor Lights and Neighborhood Spirit

B'game is composed of a fantastic variety of neighborhoods with a wide variety of architectural styles -- or at least the original homes in the neighborhoods have compatible styles.  The Daily Journal is shining some light on the tiny Willborough neighborhood with this piece on Christmas and Hanukkah lights.  Here is an excerpt but do click through for the full B'game holiday spirit

More houses in the neighborhood formed by Willborough Road, Willborough Place and Neuchatel Avenue between Oak Grove Avenue and Palm Drive glow with more holiday lights than ever before, stopping and slowing cars passing through the narrow streets.

John Ward has lived in the neighborhood since 1975, and has decorated his house for as long as he can remember. His house was once the only source of light on the street during December, drawing the eyes of passersby with a glowing Santa, sleigh and reindeer in the middle of his front lawn.

This year, Ward has adorned his traditional, English-style Tudor house with white icicle lights hanging from the roof’s edges and colorful globe lights brightening the trees on his front lawn. Ward has placed his famous Santa sleigh and reindeer, as well as a bright star, on the roof of his house. They shine over the glistening Christmas tree that fills his front window.

But this year, Ward’s house is joined by several other houses whose residents have chosen to celebrate the holidays in similar fashion.

Ron Leavy bought his starter home in the neighborhood 40 years ago and never left. Initially drawn to the area by its proximity to downtown, Caltrain and freeways, he found it difficult to leave the close-knit community he found there.  “We watch out for each other,” he said.

Leavy is Jewish, and chose to decorate the trunk of the large evergreen outside his home with blue and white lights in celebration of Hanukkah. He also embellished the roofline and bushes outside his home with bright white lights. Leavy credits the neighborhood’s friendly attitude with the proliferation of decorations this year.

 

The Voice wishes you all a peaceful holiday and a Happy New Year.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Well, I have to throw in a little history here-

The area around Oak Grove and California Drive was full of bungalows shortly after the turn of the 20th century. Real estate listings from Neuchatel show that there were already two homes constructed on the small street by 1920.

During the depression, builders George Williams and Frank Burrows conceived of a quaint new neighborhood that would be nestled between Palm Drive, Oak Grove, and California Dr.

They hired an english architect named William Charles Frederic Gillam who wanted to recreate an english village of modest homes on small lots built close together to enhance their charm. Gillam lived in Burlingame (including at 1404 Palm Drive) from 1922-1962, when he died., and is locally best known as the architect of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, on El Camino Real, though there are numerous citations for his architecture and design work, elsewhere.

The english style development was built on the site of a former nursery: “Peterson & Haywood Nursery”, and a property parcel was cleared on Palm and incorporated into a road and entrance to the new subdivision.

Gillam also designed the tudor revival home at 1125 Palm Drive, adjacent to the nursery property, a few years earlier. The new development was named Willborough Place, combining the names of the two developers, Williams and Burrows, who would go on to develop two similar projects in San Mateo.

Though constructed during the depression, the designs relied heavily on extensive wood trim, both inside and out. An advertisement published on July 3, 1931 reads:

“22 Homes for Sale, Five and Six room English Homes, Close to transportation, schools and churches. In Willborough Place, a small restricted tract where quality and attractiveness will prevail, prices are in keeping with the times. These are the largest "dollar value" ever offered in Burlingame Home Construction.

5 rm. homes $5,950-$6,150
6 rm. homes $6,300-$6,500

These homes are now under construction, to be complete in every detail-- Select yours now!”

[hillsider]

Very nice. Thank you. Where are the neighborhoods in San Mateo located?

[Jennifer]

Chesterton Place, off of El Camino Real, adjacent to Monte Diablo Avenue. These are a different style of home, but built on similarly small parcels; very village-like. I think there are some nice (brick?) entrance pillars there, too.

[Joanne]

Thank you for the history lesson Jennifer as I have always wondered about that quaint little neighborhood. That is exactly where I was thinking (Chesterton Place) when reading your first post.