Founded 1959 Vol. 35, No. 2 THE LANDMARK Summer 2007 A quarterly publication of the Landmarks Society Corinthian Island Celebrates a Centennial May Day was a winner for the Landmarks Society and residents of Corinthian Island, several of whom graciously opened their homes to members of the society and their guests in celebration of the neighborhood’s 100th PHOTO BY DIANE SMITH anniversary. The Corinthian The bell tower at Old St. Island Centennial Tour drew Hilary’s was built at the same time as the church in 1888. The original bell 200 guests, who got an inside was transferred to the new St. Hilary’s Church look at what a century’s worth when the old building was deconsecrated. The of diversity brings in 11 homes old Belvedere School bell was installed, but it ranging from cottage to was too small, so a used bell from San Francisco contemporary. was put in its place in LOOKING DOWN BERNHEIM PHOTO BY DIANE STAIRWAY, SMITH the early ‘90s, and the school bell was taken to Among the homes was the Kasanin family’s shingled house with its wrap-around porch, which the Art & Garden Center. has maintained its original appearance even though it is almost 100 years old. Cameron and Kate Baker’s home, which was on the tour, is from the same era and combines several styles. At the other end of the scale, the Chong house is a post-and-beam constructed house with decidedly modern lines. The Ellison house, also a contemporary design, is a two-story, flat-topped rectangle cantilevered over Ark Row. Proving that small is beautiful, especially when it is located on Corinthian Island, the home of Marden Plant and Tom Davis is a Carpenter-style cottage, tucked into a hillside with spectacular views. Inside: The Landmarks Society extends its thanks to the Corinthian Island homeowners for generously sharing their places in paradise for a unique and lovely tour. Our gratitude goes to the Kasanin Making History family, Cameron and Kate Baker, Barbara and George Gnoss, Ron and Shahla Cowan, Hakan and Mona Bille, Robert and Susan Bernheim, Richard and Sallie Griffith, Cherie Baird, Marden Music Rings Out at Old St. Hilary’s Plant and Tom Davis, Brian Chong and Chris Ellison. Ghosts of Belvedere & Tiburon, a SS China Cabin was a busy place on the afternoon of May 1, as tour goers checked in before either Musical heading out on foot to Bellevue Avenue or, if climbing the hill was an obstacle, took the shuttle car that RAB Motors kindly provided. After trekking around the island, they were able to return to SS China Cabin for tea and cookies to complete the tour. Got an IRA? A big thank you to all the volunteers and docents, as well as the homeowners, for making the Corinthian Island Tour possible. We couldn’t have done it without you. President’s Corner Thank You RAB! By Dave Gotz, President The Landmarks Society extends its thanks to RAB Motors for providing The premature, yet beautiful summer a shuttle car for the Corinthian Island House Tour on May 1. we’ve had, has been a time for the Landmarks Society to reach out to RAB generously provided a car and an people from our community and expert driver, Hap McGill, allowing beyond with an astonishing variety of patrons needing assistance to get to events. the top of the hill to start the tour. When Piper Berger saw the name on In the first three days of April, we had his badge, she recognized him as an a wildflower walk at Old St. Hilary’s early Corinthian Island resident and Landmark, hosted Bay Area travel has made contact with him to do an PHOTO DIANE BY SMITH writers on a tour of two sites and oral history. Hap McGill driving the RAB shuttle a guided walk down historic Main Street and Ark Row and presented should prove to be a terrific night with the beautiful voices of Musae a thoroughly entertaining history of of music and mirth. On the closing already confirmed for December 19th. night, a black tie fund-raiser will Corinthian Island. In addition to all these wonderful hopefully generate the much-needed events, I always like to remind May Day brought the tour of homes funds to complete all the major everyone that on Wednesdays and on this year’s centennial island, exhibits at the Railroad-Ferry Depot Sundays there are four great places to drawing 200 enthusiastic walkers on a Museum. spectacular day. And in one night, we go and learn about the history of our hosted a terrific classical jazz and jazz With the overwhelming success of the area and to enjoy some of the best classics concert at Old St. Hilary’s and history lectures at the library, we are views that this peninsula can offer. So a sprightly 95 year-old at the library hoping to have at least one more this get out and see our great landmarks telling tales of life above the Railroad- year, and a full series of concerts at and meet our dedicated docents Ferry Depot. Old St. Hilary’s is developing quickly, — and bring your friends! Our wonderfully unique organization Landmarks Society 2007 Board of Directors provides the opportunity to bring history and entertainment to the David Gotz, President Jack Fiorito, Vice-President people of this peninsula and to our Jim Allen, Treasurer Jeanne Price, Secretary many visitors. But it would not be possible without the dedicated volunteer spirit found in our board, Board Members members and docents. Thanks to you Janice Anderson-Gram Beverly Bastian, all. Ida Mae Berg Anne Kasanin Helen Lindqvist Alan Perper Although not as busy as the first Judith Wilson half of the year, there are significant events coming this summer and fall. Andrew Allen, Legal Counsel We had planned a Corinthian Island Diane Smith, Landmark Editor/Publishing night for Friday Nights on Main on Judith Wilson, Landmark Editor/Content May 25th, but with that weekly party being reconfigured, we now hope to Staff mount the celebration on June 15th. Alan Brune, Executive Director Jill Harris, Office Manager The Centennial Raffle will be drawn Leslie Doyle, Executive Director Barbara Carlson, Rental Manager that night also, so please be sure to Piper Berger, Archivist buy some tickets — the 10 prizes are magnificent and the benefit to our Landmarks Message Center: 435-1853 Society is great. Archive Office: 435-5490 Our signature event for the year will E-mail: [email protected] be held at the Corinthian Yacht Club Web site www.landmarks-society.org on September 27th and 28th. “The Landmarks News www.telli.com Ghosts of Belvedere and Tiburon” (Type “Landmarks” into the blank, right, top box and click on “go.”) 2 New Members FEBRUARY TO MAY 2007 Making History Mogens Bach Jack Fiorito helps third-grade Susan C. Beech students from Bel Aire School raise Greg Breedlove the flag at the Michael Byrnes SS China Cabin during a field trip. David & Nancy Callaway Janet Coleman Geoffrey M. Collins James & Velda Demmert Susan & Bruce Edwards Gustavo Ezcurra Maureen Filmer PHOTO BY DIANE SMITH Cheryl & Michael Guheen Landmarks’ new season opened Center with her mother in April Andrea Johnson on April 1, a perfect day for and marveled at the views. As a Helen Muirhead’s wildflower result, Sunset Magazine did a photo Richard Kalish walk at the nature preserve at shoot, and an article will appear in Sandra Killmeyer-Kran Old St. Hilary’s. Helen’s water- the August issue. San Francisco’s Lisa Klairmont colors grace the Wildflower Guide 7X7 Magazine is doing a feature Art & Nicole Klionsky and Wildflower Poster that she on wedding sites and included Old generously produced and do- St. Hilary’s Landmark... A garden Helen Lange nated to the Landmarks Society. club from Ross visited in May. Suzanne M. Lewis Both are available at the Land- Robert P. Liburdy marks office and the History Barbara Gnoss, Jeanne Price and Collections on the Boardwalk. Dick Slottow entertained a full Pam Martori house at the library with tales of Carol Miller Bel Aire School’s third-graders the history of Corinthian Island visited SS China Cabin in April, in April. In May, Florence Bent Kathryn & Peter Niggeman and a group of travel writers also Palmer, whose father was the Robin L. Pryor took in the sights. Their first stop stationmaster at the Tiburon Gus A. Raney was the Railroad-Ferry Depot Mu- depot when she was a child, joined Sara & Dennis Sakai seum, where Phil Cassou shared Beverly Bastian and Mary Eklund some history, then they took an for a lecture titled “Upstairs at the Ernest Ware historic walk along Main Street Depot.” Katharine Whittaker with Jim Allen, Carolyn Oller and Dave Gotz. Jack Fiorito did double Dave Gotz, president of the Land- duty at the China Cabin, with marks Society and chairman of the spiels for the adults as well as the Tiburon Heritage & Arts Commis- little kids on the same day. sion unveiled his multimedia DVD Turning the Tide, chronicling Weather had taken its toll on the efforts to save Richardson Bay, at flagpole at the Railroad-Ferry Town Hall this spring. Depot Museum, so in March, Gary Lucas and Phil Cassou took Copies of the documentary are available for $20 each from either it down, and Hank Easom restored Leave Your Mark – Visit a it to shipshape condition. It’s back the Landmarks Society History up with new white paint and the Collections or office. Proceeds Landmark! gold finial ball shining. Thanks to benefit Landmarks, Richardson Old St.