Every once in awhile things do work out well for those of us who care about recognizing and preserving B'game's history, especially its historic homes. Finally, after a lot of effort by the homeowners, B'game has it first National Historic Registered residence. The Daily Journal has this piece along with some nice interior photos that were not in the print edition, noting
The only person architect William Whifler intended to impress when he designed the unique and stylish home tucked away at the end of a quiet Burlingame street was his mother. But through the tireless efforts of his son Graeme Whifler, the family’s property on Drake Avenue received widespread recognition after recently being added to the National Register of Historic Places.
William Whifler, who designed homes across the Peninsula between 1950 and 1970, was honored by the federal agency for his creative approach to the mid-century modern home template featuring expansive windows and ranging, open interiors. Despite his reluctance to seek attention, William Whifler’s work established a long legacy in his native community, as he designed Burlingame City Hall and co-founded the College of San Mateo’s department of architecture.
Many kudos to Graeme who noted that "his father deserved accolades similar to colleagues of his era such as developer Joseph Eichler, despite never seeking out such attention while working." My wife, Cathy Baylock, recalls speaking to Graeme's sister about how to go about getting started back in about 2013 while Cathy was advocating for historic preservation as a city councilwoman.
This so gratifying to see and a great addition to Kohl Mansion's status. I have now added a photo taken from the sidewalk. My guess is the plaque is the Historic Landmark marker, but didn't want to just walk in to look. Very serene setting at the end of the street.
The house photo has now been added. What a great honor for Whifler, his desendants, and the city of B'game!
Posted by: Joe | September 03, 2017 at 02:30 PM