Where in San Mateo County?

Sometimes we think all the history has been erased from San Mateo County and put on a shelf in the museum.  But it's there if you know where to look.  Can you identify these sites pertaining to SM history?  Answers below.

Answers:

1.  Remnant of Western entrance gate to Flood Park, designated as "of historical interest".  Flood County Park originally opened in the early 1930s, and existing adobe structures on-site were constructed during that era as Works Progress Administration (WPA) projects. These adobe structures include an administrative office, a ranger residence, maintenance and electrical buildings, restrooms, and remaining fragments of an adobe wall adjacent to Bay Road.

https://parks.smcgov.org/sites/parks.smcgov.org/files/press-release/files/Flood%20Park%20Revised%20Public%20Draft%20EIR%20complete.pdf

2.  The sign, of course.

Redwood City's slogan, emblazoned on arches across Broadway at the east and west entrances to downtown, is "Climate Best By Government Test." This is based on a climatological survey conducted by the United States and German governments prior to World War I. The area centered on Redwood City tied for the world's best climate with the Canary Islands and North Africa's Mediterranean Coast. The local paper had a contest for a city slogan to attract new residents and Wilbur Doxsee entered “By Government Test, Our Climate is Best” which won the $10 prize money in 1925.

1.  "Matters Historical: The great climate debate of 1920s Redwood City". January 18, 2017.
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20090311070840/http://www.redwoodcity.org/about/local_history/exhibits/climate_best/climate_best.html

3.  Former site of Ohlone village, corner of Main and Pennsylvania, RWC.

https://webapps.redwoodcity.org/files/manager/main/Ohlone-History-Blog.pdf

4.  John Offerman house, c. 1857.  "Built circa 1857 and remodeled and enlarged in the 1870s, the John Offerman House is the oldest building remaining in downtown Redwood City."  

https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/15000682.pdf

5,  Pilarcitos Cemetery, Half Moon Bay.  "The Pilarcitos Cemetery in Half Moon Bay, San Mateo County, is currently overgrown with weeds and bushes. The gravesites, with cracked tombstones and mining markers, are in disrepair. The abandoned cemetery was also the site of the Church of Nuestra Senora del Pilar. The cemetery, in use from 1820 to 1923, was established by priests from Mission Dolores." https://www.nps.gov/parkhistory/online_books/5views/5views5h69.htm

6.  Union Cemetery, Woodside Road. Est. c. 1859

http://www.historicunioncemetery.com/History.shtml

7.  Diller's Island.  Named after John V. Diller, who ran a store in downtown RWC.  If you're standing in front of the library (formerly the fire department) you're on an island.  Don't get your feet wet crossing Main Street.  "From 1864 until 1895, Redwood City school children followed "Schoolhouse Lane" and crossed footbridges to reach the "Island" school. "

http://www.harker.com/History/PDF/Booklets/Century67RedwoodCityHistoricalTrail-stdres.pdf

All photos by author

m.melaney 2020