HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Resolution 21-062 Point of Interest Marker -McCartysvilleRESOLUTION NO: 21-062
RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SARATOGA AUTHORIZING THE INSTALLATION OF A POINT OF
INTEREST MARKER FOR THE "MCCARTYSVILLE"
WHEREAS, on February 1, 2017, the City Council of the City of Saratoga adopted
Resolution No. 17- 007 which authorized a process for establishing Point of Interest Markers to
increase knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the City's past by commemorating events
and places that are identified with the region that are no longer in existence, and
WHEREAS, the City Council determined on February 1, 2017, that a site marked as a Point
of Interest does not signify the site as a cultural or historical resource, is not identifying a heritage
site nor is it to be associated with the Saratoga's Heritage Resources Inventory, and
WHEREAS, Martin McCarty came to Saratoga in 1849. He was an ambitious young man
(1825-1864) moving to the US from Ireland. He was a wagon master during the Mexican -American
War. After completing service, he went to seek gold in California. He settled where Saratoga is
located today. He filed a claim for 230 acres of what he thought was government land outside the
Quito grant, and
WHEREAS, McCarty leased a sawmill from William Campbell. During the next two years,
he obtained a franchise to build a road through the town and up the canyon to the mill. A toll gate
was erected. This lasted about a year before the newly formed Santa Clara County took over the
road. He laid the town out and named it McCartysville in 1852. The name "Tollgate" stayed for
many years, and
WHEREAS, Martin McCarty married Hannah Barry in 1853. They lived in a single story
home on this site with their four children, and
WHEREAS, the Heritage Preservation Commission has recommended that a Point of
Interest Marker be installed on the exterior of the building at 14460 Big Basin Way to identify the
site of the McCarty house, and
WHEREAS, the text for the proposed marker was drafted, reviewed and edited by the
Heritage Preservation Commission and the Director of Community Development, and
WHEREAS, the Director of Public Works reviewed and recommended the marker location,
in consultation with the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Director of Community
Development, and
WHEREAS, placement of the marker on building at 14460 Big Basin Way has been
approved by the property owner,
WHEREAS, this action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act because
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there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment
(CEQA Guidelines Section 15061(b)(3)).
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Saratoga
hereby: 1) Authorizes the final text shown in Exhibit- F to the staff report for this resolution and
marker design described in the staff report for this resolution; 2) Authorizes the location to install
the Point of Interest Marker shown in Attachment H to the staff report for this resolution; and
3)Authorizes the Director of Community Development and the Director of Public Works to proceed
with contracting for the manufacturing and installation of the marker in cooperation with the property
owner.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Saratoga on this 215t day of July
2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Mayor Yan Zhao, Vice Mayor Tina Walia, Council Members Mary -Lynne Bernald,
Kookie Fitzsimmons, Rishi Kumar
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Attest:
Yan 7hao, Mayor
ebbie Bretschneider, City Clerk Date: %/2�
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MCCARTYSVILLE
1850'5-1864
MARTIN MCCARTY (1825-1864) CAME TO SARATOGA IN 1849. HE WAS AN AMBITIOUS
YOUNG MAN WHO MOVED TO THE US FROM IRELAND. DURING THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN
WAR, HE WORKED AS A WAGON MASTER. AFTER COMPLETING SERVICE, HE MOVED TO
CALIFORNIA IN SEARCH OF GOLD. MCCARTY SETTLED WHERE SARATOGA IS LOCATED
TODAY. HE FILED A CLAIM FOR 230 ACRES OF WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS GOVERNMENT
LAND OUTSIDE THE QUITO GRANT.
MCCARTY LEASED A SAWMILL FROM WILLIAM CAMPBELL. DURING THE NEXT TWO
YEARS, HE OBTAINED A FRANCHISE TO BUILD A ROAD THROUGH THE TOWN AND UP THE
CANYON TO THE MILL. A TOLL GATE WAS ERECTED WHICH LASTED ABOUT ONE YEAR
BEFORE THE NEWLY FORMED SANTA CLARA COUNTY TOOK OVER THE ROAD. MCCARTY
LAY OUT THE TOWN AND NAMED IT MCCARTYSVILLE IN 1852. THE NAME 'TOLLGATE",
HOWEVER STAYED FOR MANY YEARS.
IN 1853 HE MARRIED HANNAH BARRY (1834-1892). THEY LIVED IN A SINGLE- STORY HOME
ON THIS SITE WITH THEIR FOUR CHILDREN. MCCARTY DIED UNEXPECTEDLY IN 1864.
AFTER MCCARTY'S DEATH, HIS WIFE DISCOVERED THAT THE LAND PURCHASED WAS
PART OF A SPANISH CLAIM. SHE RE -PURCHASED 128 ACRES AND BECAME A VERY
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMAN. HANNAH MCCARTY WAS VERY CHARITABLE AND
DONATED LAND FOR A SCHOOL AND CHURCH.
LATER CHARLES MACLAY RENAMED THE TOWN BANK MILLS IN 1863. THE NAME LASTED
NINE MONTHS WHEN THE PEOPLE VOTED TO CALL THE TOWN SARATOGA IN 1864.