Cow Palace refuses to die

Funded in large measure with taxpayers’ dollars, it opened in 1941. Its stated purpose was to function as a showcase hub for the state’s farm and ranch offerings. Livestock expositions were front and center. Some critics cautioned that the place was a white elephant, a mistake.

But, in the years following the end of World War II and into the early 1960s, the Cow Palace’s main building became a prime venue for all manner of big events.

Those attractions included championship boxing matches, basketball title games, professional wrestling exhibitions, ice hockey, tennis, concerts, the circus, roller derby, major conventions of all kinds and, of course, the Grand National Rodeo & Junior Livestock Show, a staple that continues to be held at the site.

Over time, though, the Cow Palace lost its luster. New regional arenas came online in Oakland, San Jose and, finally, in San Francisco and the huge Daly City barn began to look out of date, care-worn and, frankly, rather irrelevant in too many ways.

The years have not been kind to the Cow Palace, which is under the control of the state of California. Its menu of attractions has been reduced significantly. With its best days and nights seemingly behind it, calls to develop much of the sprawling property on Geneva Avenue have persisted. But, somehow, it has managed to survive such challenges.

A San Mateo County move to improve it so it can be used as a multipurpose regional shelter in case of a major emergency is underway. So the Cow Palace, in spite of significant tests to its relevance, not to mention its very existence, in the 21st century, continues to function, albeit in reduced fashion.

A new exhibit that chronicles its history here on the Peninsula will be unveiled March 2 at the San Mateo County History Museum in downtown Redwood City.

A TALE OF THREE GYMNASIUMS: Remaining on the subject of local multipurpose facilities for just a moment, here is an update on three gymnasium projects that are in varying stages of construction (or lack of same):

• San Mateo High School — Foundation work has commenced in earnest ahead of expected wet winter weather.

• Burlingame High School — Preliminary site/foundation work is expected to begin very soon, weather permitting.

• Mercy High School (Burlingame) — A figure of $4.6 million is still needed to break ground, according to the school’s latest published report.

For San Mateo, the new gym will become its third on campus. A main sports building on North Delaware Street is shared with the city of San Mateo as well as the school. A small practice gym is also available. It is not suitable for spectators.

Burlingame’s former athletic building was razed last summer. Construction on a new gym/fitness center has been delayed for nearly five months by technical issues emanating from state authorities.

Mercy’s plans are under review by the city of Burlingame as fundraising for the project continues. The all-female school has never had a building devoted to indoor athletics on its hillside campus.

METER READER COMING SOON: A dusty, well-worn heap parked in downtown San Mateo featured a sign taped to a soiled window.

The rather inscrutable message read: “Jesus is coming for the Rapture.” Maybe he will and maybe he won’t. No one knows for sure. It’s a mystery.

But there was pretty firm certainty about one thing. The car had been parked too long in its metered spot. Time had expired.

So a meter enforcement authority, certainly not Jesus, was no doubt coming. And soon. Rapture or not.

You can contact John Horgan by email at johnhorganmedia@gmail.com. His book, “Cradle of Champions — A Selected History of San Mateo County Sports,” is available via historysmc.org/online-store.