Just select "Archived newsletters" on the welcome page. You will find our newsletter publications from 2010-2017; they contain a variety of interesting articles and research accomplished by our association.

Opening of the Burlingame Community Center 1949 The San Mateo County Historical Association and the Burlingame Historical Society are pleased to announce an incredible historical contribution from locally renowned photographer, Norton Pearl. This significant donation will be made official on December 9, 2014 at 2pm with an official press release from the San Mateo County History Museum. Pearl, who grew up in Burlingame, has been a professional photographer since the 1940s. His body of work has included Peninsula people, famous personalities, organizations, businesses, homes and buildings, community events, landscapes aerials, bridges and highways. In December 2014, Pearl will announce his donation of approximately 250,000 negatives to the SM County History Museum in Redwood City. http://abc7news.com/news/photographer-donates-treasure-trove-to-san-mateo-historical-association/394795/ The Burlingame Historical Society intends to be an active partner in this endeavor and is extremely grateful to Mr. Pearl for generously donating his body of work that will benefit all lovers of San Mateo County history, well into the future. Michelle Durand's piece from the December 10th SM Daily Journal: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2014-12-10/photographer-donates-trove-to-museum-250000-images-provide-snapshot-into-countys-past/1776425134762.html

Caltrans has released its Draft Environmental Impact Report signally its intention to build out left-turn channels at Floribunda and El Camino Real. The $3.6 project, that in effect widens the highway to 5 lanes over 500 ft., is intended to improve safety of broadside incidents at that intersection. The report indicates the plan will result in the removal of 14-15 trees, four of them historic eucalyptus. There is no room for tree replacements in that area. For more information, Please view the Draft EIR document. Comments should be sent to: Yolanda Rivas, Environmental Branch Chief ATTN: Sam Fielding, Dept. of Transportation, Office of Environmental Analysis MS 8 B 111 Grand Ave. Oakland, CA 94612 Yolanda.Rivas@dot.ca.gov Caltrans is holding a public Open House on Thurs. Nov. 13th, 2014, at the Burlingame Recreation Center, from 6:30-8:30. The public is asked to comment on the proposal before November 30th, 2014.EA-1G020K_DEIR-EA_Final 1G020_FinalVIA_090814 NOVEMBER 19th SAN MATEO DAILY JOURNAL report by Angela Swartz: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/lnews/2014-11-19/city-seeking-incremental-ecr-changes-burlingame-says-widening-street-removing-trees-should-be-a-last-resort/1776425133597.html

Several years ago, the Burlingame Public Library donated the original Burlingame Public library chandelier to the Historical Society. During the 1990s library remodel, the spanish revival style chandelier (c. 1930) that had adorned the E. L. Norberg designed foyer for over half a century was replaced with modern fixtures. The original fixture was stored away. When it was rediscovered in storage years later, the iron had become heavily rusted from moisture and all the lamp globes were broken. Our Board recently approved funding to completely restore and rewire the beautiful chandelier for the lighting of our History Museum in the railroad station. A portion of the funding was received through the Burlingame Community Grant program. We were fortunate enough through the library to locate an old photograph of the chandelier in the original foyer to aid in its restoration. This splendid antique fixture has just been installed in the Mission Revival style station after permission was granted to us by those entities charged as stewards to the historic, National Register listed building. The chandelier replaces a non-historic, industrial fixture that emitted little light. Please come by and look in the window, or visit us. We are thrilled with the result and know you will be, too!  

A visit to our history museum will reveal some exciting changes. During the past three months, we’ve been very hard at work, installing a new “screening” area for digital-based exhibits. The modern red naugahyde seating may look familiar to you; it was rescued from the now defunct “Shoe Clinic” establishment on Primrose Rd. Beginning this fall, we are presenting an extensive, ‘Then and Now’ slideshow production featuring 200 images of our city, from the 1890s to the present. Collecting and assembling the images turned out to be quite a revelation. Residents in the early days after incorporation lived in mostly modest dwellings, as compared with the prevailing neighborhood trends over the past several years. We discovered that while parts of Burlingame have undergone significant physical change, other parts, particularly those where significant heritage trees are visible in the background still reinforce our sense of place regardless of era and distinguish us from other cities. There have been no fewer than four generations of street lampposts downtown, including the brand new ones on Burlingame Avenue. We also noticed remarkable differences in the types of businesses once booming in our downtowns, as well as the disappearance of others. Establishments that are seldom seen [...]

Next Quarterly presentation: Lane Room of the Burlingame Public Library, October 30th 2014 with John Parkin, Bill Reilly, and special guests! Free and open to the public.

Thank you photographers Rob Adams, Jim Kelly, Tim Behrens, and James Shypertt! A lovely event, and a good time was had, by all!    

E-SCRIP! Several local merchants, like Trags, Mollie Stone’s, Piazzas, Lunardi’s and Draegers Markets will donate a percentage of your total monthly purchases to the Burlingame Historical Society through their Community Card Program. It’s easy to sign up --just inquire at the cashier or online! Our Group ID# is 500045347 (or you can write in, “Burlingame Historical Society”). Please check the following website for other participating merchants: http://www.escrip.com/merchants/search/results.jsp?pager.offset=10

Don't miss the opportunity to participate in FREE historical walking tours, coordinated by the San Mateo County Historical Association. Each tour will highlight the history of various cities, including Burlingame's! BURLINGAME WALKING TOUR- Sat. August 2nd, 11am at station. No need to pre-register. Just show up ready to walk. Tours last approx. 45 minutes long in the downtown area of Burlingame. For all tours, view PDF-Victorian Days Walking Tours 2014 revised For Victorian festivities at the County Museum, Please note the following info:Victorian Days 2014 Flyer