The Burlingame Voice

Roundabout Round-up

By popular demand, here is a new post on the California Dr. roundabout that is now under construction.  We discussed it 15 months ago here, but a new post is in order since the project is "in the dirt".  Here is the link to the City website for the project description, bid documents including the winning bid from Redgwick Construction that beat out the other four bidders.  If it comes in on budget this will be a $3 million dollar investment ($3,014,305 to be exact), but alas it does not have a cannon to replace the one that sat there until it was reportedly melted down during WWII.  That would have been a nice touch around Memorial Day so if any B'gamers have an extra cannon or know where we can find one, this is the place to let us know!

Just in time for Memorial Day, here is a photo of the cannon that has been provided by the B'game Historical Society.  It was apparently used as part of a promotion for the move Treasure Island showing at the Peninsula Theatre in 1934.

Oasis Amidst Sterility

One in a while the Voice ventures outside of B'game when the occasion merits a trip.  Last night was one of those nights as it very well might have been the last night for the Oasis in Menlo Park--home of burgers, beer, Stanford memorabilia and a few great memories for me and Cathy.  We ventured down for a last burger and an Anchor Steam.  The people's love for the place was palpable and the food line stretched out the door.  It has a long history, both from the building's owners (the Beltramos family whose grandfather built the booths and paneling that bear the carvings of generations of patrons) and the current business owners- the Tougas family.  The Merc has most of the story here.

We went with a sense of sadness not just for the "O" but for the mid-Peninsula in general.  On a weekly basis it feels like the Peninsula is becoming a sterile, glass-encased, boxy expanse of boredom.  I realize it may take awhile, but it feels like death by a thousand cuts.  Voice readers might be slightly interested to learn that I am retiring tomorrow after a 30 year run as a technology industry analyst and leader of analysts.  That is a story for another time, but it will allow me to build a list of the places in the Bay Area that are not sterile, have history and have meaning.  Then we get to go to them either as a visit to a long time friend--as in The Van's, the Dutch Goose or the Swinging Door (formerly the Prince of Wales, but still cool) or as newbies in search a new treasure.  Suggestions welcome!  In the meantime, here is a shot of the guy we had a nice chat with carving his initials into the booth one last time.

I'll figure out why the photo is sideways later!

Wurlitzer Fountain Returns

There is a small ray of hope that not all of Olde Burlingame will be lost in the rush to overdevelop our downtown and residential neighborhoods.  The Winter edition of the B'game Historical Society newsletter verifies early rumors that the Three Dancing Maidens water fountain that has been "out for repair" will actually return and be placed behind Malouf's.  If you aren't a Historical Society member, you should be.  I won't try to repeat the lengthy history of the fountain that Joanne Garrison wrote for the newsletter, but I will repeat the credits she mentioned.  Fred Shifferle of the Wurlitzer Trust and local realtor Greg Terry and Sam and Gloria Malouf were key to getting this bit of Olde B'game back in one piece.  Here is the photo from the newsletter.

Snoopy Says "Merry Christmas, B'game"

You will recall the Christmas classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas" has part of it's roots right here in B'game.  You can read up on some of the history from an Historical Society presentation by Lee Mendelson here.  So Merry Christmas from me, the Voice and Snoopy to you all.

Endangered Burlingame Species

The writing is probably on the wall for every close-in Burlingame bungalow given the economics of tearing down a single-family home and going to condos near the core.  It's really quite sad.  With the monster growing on California Ave. and the number of already-approved projects plus what is in the works, we are on the precipice of a major change in the face of B'game.  That won't come as a surprise to any regular Voice reader, but knowing it's coming and seeing the scraped lot are two different things in my experience.

I was saddened to see this little gem of a very close-in bungalow that, like many others, had been carved into apartments over the years get the death sentence a few weeks back.  It's seriously cute, looks to be fairly well-maintained, and will be replaced by a big box.  I'm too much of a realist to think much can be done about the trend, but I can say I will miss it when it's gone.

Adios 21 Park Ave.  You are about a century old, if not more, and many people have crossed your threshold for the walk downtown and back.  You will be missed.

The location is in the Washington School zone so add the increased density to the Bayswater Ave. proposed project.  I'm not sure where all those kids are going to end up.

Nov 30 Update

An Lo and Behold, driving down Oak Grove yesterday morning I see the remains of two more bungalows.  When I saw the prices of the luxury condos two doors down from here (across from McKinley) a year ago, I knew these two were history--just did not know when.  Now I know....now

Local Gem: PEZ Museum

The San Francisco Chronicle made a rare foray down to lil ole B'game to visit our friend Gary Doss and his PEZ Museum and wrote up a lovely review of the local gem

“I’m good, thanks,” said Doss, when asked by a museum visitor if he would like a raspberry-flavored Pez candy to chew over while he pondered exactly what he had gotten himself into 24 years ago when he opened the Burlingame Museum of Pez Memorabilia at 214 California Drive, a few blocks from the Caltrain station.

Inside the museum are 1,100 dispensers — at least one of every model made by the Austrian candy company since it began cranking them out in 1950.  The museum is one of those places that, if it cost more than $3 to go in, nobody would. A magazine named it one of America’s top 50 roadside attractions, along with the beer-can house of Texas, the shoe tree of Nevada and similar places that most parents have made a habit of driving past on road trips without stopping.

Fortunately, three bucks buys not only an admission ticket but a personal guided tour from Doss, a former computer salesman and metal worker who got hooked on Pez a quarter century ago at an antique show. He tossed the computers from the Burlingame storefront to make room for the Pez dispensers and has never looked back, even when — as on Thursday morning — only three people showed up.

Way to go, Gary.  As the giant new building rises across the street, let's hope over sized, glass-faced beasts don't consume everything quirky and quaint in town. 

Historic on Drake

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.

 

Memorial Day - 2017

You may recall last year's Memorial Day post about the B-24 flying over B'game, my lack of a camera to catch it and veterans in general and my Dad in particular.  With everything that has gone on since last Memorial Day, I decided this was the year to not just view the WWII planes at Moffett Field, but go for a ride in one.  The Collings Foundation was more than happy to accommodate me with a B-17 flight yesterday and I was thrilled to see an Army Air Corps pilot show up in full uniform.  He was at least 90 years old and the uni still fit.  Impressive.  Here's the Flying Fortress and the view out of the bombardier's seat in the nose.

From the Collings website:

Over Sixty years ago they flew from bases far from home, over occupied and enemy territory in an attempt to weaken the forces of evil so that freedom could once again return to the people who it was stolen from. Their endurance was tested on missions of ten or more hours, day after day; their strength was proven as they returned countless crews safely back to their bases. Crews counted on them and a bond was made between man and machine…

Indeed.  Please take some time to remember what Memorial Day is all about.

Art Deco in B'game and Beyond

The Burlingame Historical Society meeting drew about 75 people to the library last night.  They came to hear local architect and Planning Commissioner Richard Terrones talk about the history and characteristics of the Art Deco style.  Richard delivered a solid hour on the origins of the style punctuated with a zillion photos of buildings' exteriors and interiors, posters, furniture and planes, trains and automobiles!  I found the differentiation between "Hard Deco" and "Soft Deco" particularly enlightening.

As always the Burlingame-specific examples drew a lot of interest.  The Wells Fargo building on the Avenue, Sterling Cleaners, Adeline Market, and early views of Washington School got the crowd fired up about Moderne.  Using his professional knowledge, Richard took Q&A on a variety of related topics like the current "Dwell" movement, Eichlers, the old Post Office and Deco buildings elsewhere in the Bay Area.  If you aren't a member of the Historical Society, getting the newsletter and attending the quarterly meetings, you are missing out.

Apple Wakes Up Too Late

This story in yesterday's SF Chronicle made me really, really sad;

Steve Jobs made Apple into a top American retailer by designing crisp, modern stores with features reminiscent of the company’s products. Glass boxes and aluminum panels abounded.  But as Apple moves to turn its stores into experiences — places for concerts, art exhibitions and photography classes — the tech giant has begun to pursue distinctive yet familiar buildings that its customers might admire as well. 

In Washington, Apple has set its sights squarely on the Carnegie Library in Mount Vernon Square. One of thousands of libraries built nationwide with funds donated by steel tycoon and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, it opened in 1903 as the first desegregated public building in the city.  Apple officials say they plan to restore the building to its original grandeur and outfit Carnegie as a place to hold free concerts, art exhibitions, workshops for teachers and coding classes for children.

Finding historic buildings with stories rooted in their communities are part and parcel to the experience Apple is trying to create, Siegel said. The company has opened stores in a former restaurant bay in New York’s Grand Central Terminal, in a Depression-era brick storefront in Brooklyn, and in a 130-year-old former bank in Paris.

Rather than plastering the buildings with the familiar logo, Apple’s designers say they will focus on restoring the building’s historic character. It can take a little work to find the store’s signs and logo — which is the point.

Gee.  Some of us tried to get Apple to just that in B'game.  We had a gorgeous, original Bank of Italy -- later BoA-- building and Apple insisted on tearing it down for a glass and stone box even though they had some of the right instincts elsewhere like South Pasadena where the council probably stuck to its guns more.  One might say "better late than never" but in poor Burlingame's case it's not better late than never.  Unless the plan is to recreate the Bank of Italy building.  Don't bet on it happening behind the wall.

Will we learn anything from this to apply to the old Post Office?