Historic Woodside stable may get on national registry Historic Woodside stable may get on national registry (January 07, 2004)

By Andrea Gemmet

Almanac Staff Writer

County officials agree that the century-old Folger Stable in Woodside is a historic gem worth saving -- but will the feds?

Supporters of the project to restore the once-opulent stable, located at Wunderlich Park, have submitted an application to the National Register of Historic Places and expect to find out in late spring if it's accepted, said Woodside resident Susan Lang.

Although the county-owned stable is still used for boarding horses, it and several associated buildings need an estimated $4 million in repair and rehabilitation work. Since the county can't afford to do it, a 12-member committee of the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks has pledged to raise the money privately, and has already footed the bill for about $130,000 in initial studies and stopgap repair work.

Mary Burns, the county park and recreation director, has called the stable "one of the most historic buildings in the county." Built for James Folger II, the son of the coffee magnate, the 20-stall redwood stable was designed by architect Arthur Brown Jr., and includes opulent features such as chandeliers, pink marble baseboards and fireplaces.

Last month, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution in support of the Folger Stable's nomination to the national register.

Winning a spot on the registry, besides being an honor, would make the property eligible for federal grants and tax breaks. It would also offer a measure of protection against any future efforts to demolish or substantially alter it.

Currently, there are 47 buildings in San Mateo County listed on the national register, including the Sanchez Adobe in Pacifica and the old county courthouse in Redwood City.

Ms. Lang, who is co-chair of the stable committee, said the group is hoping for an agreement on the project with county officials that will allow it to start fundraising efforts early this year.
INFORMATION

For information about the Folger Stable project or about joining the committee, call the Friends of Huddart and Wunderlich Parks at 851-2660, or committee co-chairs Susan Lang at 365-6477 and Jill Daly at 329-1610.

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