Victorian Days and the Old West Victorian Days and the Old West (August 25, 2004)

It's back to "Victorian Days and the Old West" at the old Redwood City courthouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 28. The courthouse is located at 777 Hamilton St. in downtown Redwood City.

The event, sponsored by the San Mateo County History Museum, will include a re-created Western town on a closed-off section of Hamilton Street in front of the history museum.

There will be live music by the California Cowboys and the Sibling Brothers. Other highlights include pony rides, a petting zoo, cow milking, square dancing with a professional caller, and bungee bull riding.

Horse-drawn carriages will take visitors on a ride through downtown Redwood City. Other "fun features" include a dunk tank, watermelon and pie eating contests, and a bucket brigade. Food will be available for sale.

Victorian Days activities will be held in the courthouse. Kids will be able to build toy steamships, design stained glass windows, create old-time hats, and take part in many other period crafts. A vintage fashion show will be held.

The Benjamin Lathrop house, built in 1863, also will be open on August 28. There will be docent-led tours with people in period costumes. The house is located at 627 Hamilton Ave., Redwood City.

Strange case

In one of the courtrooms there will be a re-enactment of "The strange case of Constance Flood," a 1931 inheritance case involving Menlo Park's Flood family. It was one of Judge George Buck's most famous cases.

During the 1890s, a child named Constance lived with millionaire James Flood and his first wife, Rose. After Rose died, James married her younger sister and Constance disappeared.

Society did not hear from her again until after Mr. Flood's death in 1926 when she came forward to claim a daughter's share of his $18 million estate. Lawyers argued as to whether Constance was James Flood's daughter or a charity case.

Quentin Kopp, judge of the Superior Court, will portray Judge George Buck during re-enactments at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Admittance will be free for museum members and their friends.

Admittance to the San Mateo County History Museum is free during the Victorian Days and Old West event. For more information, call Jeri Joseph, 299-0104.

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