People as part of the history of San Mateo

If I had a question about the second location of City Hall (Ellsworth Avenue, next to Fire Station 21) or where was the first telephone in the city (Morse’s Corners at Second Avenue and B Street), I knew he might have some photos or documentation. And he was always happy to help.

Keith died Jan. 21, at the age of 76, after a long battle with cancer.

People from places that have been around centuries may think the “history” of San Mateo is funny since it was incorporated in 1894 and the county was incorporated in 1856. But history has to start somewhere and it’s important to keep in mind where we were, so we know where we are going.

It’s also important to note that a history of a place is not merely its buildings, it’s the people who spend their days there. Understanding past uses of buildings marks the passage of time, but also our progress, and Keith was keenly aware of this. Keith himself is part of our San Mateo history, and his death marks the passage of time for people like me who knew him professionally and for others who knew him more personally. There are countless people in San Mateo I’ve encountered over the years, and each and every one of them made the city an interesting place to be.

I’ll borrow from his obituary to tell you a little bit more about him. A carpenter, he was director of Construction Services for The John Stewart Company, a well-known and reputable affordable housing developer.

He had a passion for historic preservation, and helped in 1993 to create the Downtown San Mateo Historic District, eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. He also developed and led historic walking tours to showcase the architecture, history and value of downtown San Mateo. 

He and his longtime wife Maxine Terner, a former planning commissioner, also pushed for the development of the Third Avenue/Highway 101 bicycle overpass, which allows safe travel down the center of the street so bicyclists and pedestrians can avoid cars merging off and on the highway.

San Mateo benefits from people like Keith, and Maxine, who care about their community and take action to make their ideas a reality. Priorities shift over time and a new generation is taking action to ensure their vision for the future takes hold. And while there are conflicts amongst us, the idea of community is always centered. That’s important to note.

For me, the importance of updating our inventory of the city’s oldest structures from the late 1800s to the early 1900s relates directly to Keith’s efforts downtown. Any effort must first focus on this area, and we can collectively discuss ways to protect property rights along the way.

The city grew from First Avenue and the railroad tracks and that had to prompt Keith and Maxine to take a role in ensuring North Central San Mateo, where the city’s oldest homes are, shifted from R5 to R2 zoning in the 1992 general plan.

Some may see that as a loss since R5 zoning means higher density, but it was a way to preserve the neighborhood for its people, many who are low income, and for its buildings, many of which are more than a century old — and tell the tale of our city’s founding.

The origin of San Mateo’s character is captured downtown but also in North Central San Mateo and San Mateo Heights east of El Camino Real — with their Queen Anne Victorians, steamboat Gothics, Italianates, even the early American craftsmans.

I am sure Keith took great pride in seeing a few of these structures being restored in the recent past, and many of the rules regarding their preservation can be tied to the efforts of so many who believed in that importance. It’s not about preserving in amber, but building in a way that respects and teaches us about our past.

But the largest lessons we can learn from someone like Keith is the importance of community engagement and effort, sharing passions with others, and working toward finding a common goal for the betterment of all of us. This is no small task, but it can be done with an open mind and hands extended in friendship — but also ready to put in the work.