The Historical Society has a lot of older newspapers. Never archived at in any of the local libraries. Foster City used to have a newspaper called the Foster City Progress. Here is the front page story on the San Mateo Draeger’s opening in June 1997. Today the Draeger’s is set to close soon. However, it was once new, some 26 years ago, in 1997.
Foster City in 2022 is in the process of updating our housing element for RHNA Cycle 6 (2021-29). What did people think in 2002 vs 2022? Let’s find out! These documents were found in the Foster City Historical Society Archives. The ABAG handout for the Cycle 4 housing element, an advertisement for the General Plan Update for the housing element and a Council Corner from Councilmember Russ Harter. All written in 2002. Foster City Islander 1/16/2002 Foster City Council Corner…
Bayside Towers. Located at 4000 and 4100 E. Third Avenue, Foster City. This article concerns another historic development in our city. And while Bayside Towers may not have the long history of some of the other developments, it still represents a novel one and is associated with some interesting history of the area and our city. The area itself, a small northeastern segment of Foster City, close to the San Mateo Bridge, interestingly enough, was referred to as Guano Island,…
Back in 1976 miss Foster City Kelli McKenney won San Mateo County Dream Girl Pageant. Dennis Wilson, an American singer, and songwriter presided over the jury. Denis co-founded The Beach Boys, that began as a garageband and became one of the most influential acts of the rock era. https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39038035
Happy to share with the community another gem of landscaping Foster City. This item was found in a garage and we believe it to be original. It is the Foster City Home Owners’ Landscape Planting and Maintenance Guide and it goes through some of the original planting guidelines in Foster City. The documents are not dated but due to the thick high quality paper, typeface and oxidation on the pages we suspect his is from the 1960’s.
Today we are happy to share with the community the 1993 Foster City Recreation Center Feasibility Study. As Foster City launches into a new $40+ Million Dollar Recreation Center project plan it is informative to show the last major change to the recreation center. (William Walker Recreation Center) This is a 50+ page report with many details. It may be informative to current projects to understand where Foster City came from and how the recreation center has evolved over many decades.
This is the Foster City Tree Inventory from 2000. Foster City has seen many trees die recently. Why? Many trees are non native and they haven’t thrived. Also many trees have slowly failed. Did you know Foster City’s salt water table is only a few feet deep? So trees that have deep roots don’t thrive in Foster City due to the salt water. YET, trees with shallow roots infiltrate pipes, homes, and do damage to streets and crosswalks. It is a careful balance.
Foster City Erkenbrack Beach 1966
Recently the Foster City Council started an ad hoc subcommittee called Community Beautification. Vice Mayor (2022) Froomin & Councilmember Sullivan sit on the committee. This committee is tasked with improving old signage in town and improving the user experience when people come into and navigate Foster City. “The Community Beautification Ad Hoc Subcommittee helps identify ways to improve the City’s physical image and appearance (including but not limited to the City’s entry landmarks/monuments, signs, etc.).” Councilmember Sullivan directed us to…
A professor from Ohio State has asked for help to find anyone who was around for the 1975 Congressional Hearing. This was a hearing on how the US Corps of Engineers and US Fish and Wildlife operated with the newly formed City of Foster City back in the early 1970’s. If anyone has information or ideas on who might still be around from these events please reach out to the historical society and also reach out to Christopher M. Rea…