HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-26-1973 City Council correspondanceMay 7, 1973
Reverend William N. Aboloo
John The Baptist
11150 Son :. W 6 Avenue
El Cerrito, California 94530
Sr Rever loe
Your letter, dated April 26, 1973„ was considered by the Saratoga City Council
at its meeting on May 2, 1973. The Council appreciated receiving your letter
and the interest that you expressed in preserving the McWilliams Homo.
The City is currently working with a citizen's committee In determining how
the home might be saved. looks inevitable that the home will not k :. able
to remain : t in its present •' i and our largest problem has been P trying
to f..d a suitable place so that it might be 4 - prominent R !
in the Village.
The City Council has indicated its support w contribute approximately
me-half
b cost of relocating the building PM1a; k funds can be received from f
Thank you for your letter and the valuable, suggestions mentioned it It.
Very truly your*,
Robert F. Beyer
City manager
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,,e,- al.#" &4r,-el
11150 SAN PABLO AVENUE
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA 94530
26 April 1973
The Honorable
Mayor and City Councilmen
City of Saratoga
Saratoga, Calif. 95070
Gentlemen:
D
APR 2 7 1973
CITY CLERKS OFFICE
SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA
It has been called to my attention that the fate of the old McWilliams house at
14407 Big Basin 'Jay is in doubt. As an historian of California landmarks, and a
former resident of Saratoga for 18 years, may I remind you of the significance of
this building to the City of Saratoga and urge you to take every measure for its
preservation.
Now that the old Haun house has been destroyed by fire, the McWilliams house is
quite probably the oldest standing building in Saratoga. It would seem to be the
only remaining structure built in the 1850's, during the first decade of Saratoga's
existence, and the only remnant of the days when Saratoga was Down as 11cCartysville.
May I refer you to page 458 of historic Spots in California, (3d edition, 1966),
originally authored by Hoover and Rensch and revised by your correspondent, which
is considered the definitive work on the subject. I note Badly that three other
fine old homes (Ilaun, Maclay and Marsh) described on the same page have disappeared
in the short seven years since the book's publication.
I am convinced that the registration in 1950 of Saratoga as State historical Landmark
No. 435, in which I was instrumental, and the subsequent placing of a bronze plaque
and enameled entrance signs, are responsible in great measure for the present distinctive
character of Saratoga. The historical consciousness which developed from that time
has attracted specialty businesses and has encouraged local residents to preserve
and enhance the decor of their homes and shops. The valuable intangible asset of
Saratoga's past should not be compromised by the wanton destruction of such irreplaceable
landmarks as the McWilliams house.
The old structure should be preserved on its present site at an important gateway
to Saratoga, if at all possible. Continued occupancy as a residence would be preferable
to conversion to commercial or museum purposes. Removal to another site would be
undesirable but certainly preferable to destruction. Your city attorney can advise
you of the Act of the California Legislature which enables municipalities such as
Saratoga to enact historic preservation ordinances. Such a law would ensure preser-
vation of the McWilliams house and other such structures, or even of an entire historic
distridt. The City of Saratoga -vrould do well to look into this matter. Many other
California cities have adopted, or are in the process of adopting, such ordinances.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the editor of the Saratoga 1tye .
cc: Mr. Miller, Editor, Saratoga News
Sincerely yours,
(Rev.) William N. Abeloe
DECLARATION OF GIFT
We, HUGH M. PURCELL and VENDLA S. PURCELL, make this declara-
tion of gift as follows:
1. We are the owners of real property situated in Saratoga,
Santa Clara County, California, commonly known as 14411 and
14407 Big Basin Way.
2. By this instrument, we give, transfer and donate to the
CITY OF SARATOGA that certain building, a frame dwelling, situ-
ated at 14407 Big Basin Way, Saratoga, California, known as the
James McWilliams House.
3. This is a gift for charitable
by the donors and the donee that the
;I
as well as intrinsic value, and that
i
donee for public educational and /or
4. In making this.gift, we grant
purposes, it being understood
said structure is of historical
it will be utilized by the
cultural purposes.
to the CITY OF SARATOGA and
its agents license to enter upon the premises described above for
the purpose of performing only those acts that are necessary to
accomplish the removal of the said James McWilliams House from the
premises, leaving the said premises in that condition which is
customary in the trade upon the removal of structures from the
land, without further and additional preparation of the site.
EXECUTED AT SARATOGA, CALIFORNIA, THIS Zs;�DIAY OF , --,Z-,--
1973.
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"-/ HUGH M. PURCELL
VENDLA S. PURCELL