Riechel Informs: San Mateo County History Makers

The San Mateo County Historical Association is pleased to announce that the Wisnom Family will be its 2016 San Mateo County History Makers. Since 1873, this founding family has played a crucial role in the creation of the mid-Peninsula’s communities with ramifications that have had influence far past the borders of San Mateo County.

Each year the Association organizes its History Makers Dinner to recognize an individual or family who has made a significant impact on San Mateo County and whose actions have also signification affected development outside of the County, at least on a statewide basis. This history making might have importance in people’s lives economically, socially, or politically. It may inspire lifestyle, educational, environmental, or spiritual change.

Past honorees have been:

· 2003: T. Jack Foster Family, for creating a progressive community, modeled by many
· 2004: Gordon Moore, for founding Intel and his western philanthropic interests
· 2005: Ann Johnson, for restoring the Carolands Chateau
· 2006: Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, for medical advances and his winery
· 2007: Borel Family, for their many business and philanthropic works in California
· 2008: The Lane Family, for improving Sunset Magazine and establishing it in San Mateo County
· 2009: Roth Family, for the preservation of Filoli
· 2010: The Crocker Family, for this Hillsborough family’s influence in shaping the history of the West
· 2011: Keith Sorenson and Jim Fox, for exemplary work in bringing justice to San Mateo County over 57 years
· 2012: Willie Mays, for his activities as a concerned citizen of San Mateo County
· 2013: William K. Bowes, Jr., Reid W. Dennis, William H. Draper, and F.P. “Pitch” Johnson, for their groundbreaking work in venture capital which introduced services and products that changed the world
· 2014: Y.A. Tittle, for demonstrating outstanding citizenship as an NFL Hall of Fame quarterback
· 2015: Pete and Paula Uccelli, for conceiving an iconic San Mateo County business, Pete’s Harbor, and being effective community leaders for many decades.

The San Mateo County-Wisnom Family story begins with Robert Wisnom who arrived on the Peninsula in 1873. An Irish immigrant who knew how to build things, he was attracted by the opportunity to work on the beautiful Parrott Estate, “Baywood,” just west of the small village of San Mateo. He liked what he saw here, went back to Ireland, got himself a wife (Sarah Donnan) and made the mid-Peninsula his home and eventually the home of generations of Wisnoms that followed.

Robert built many commercial buildings and residential homes in San Mateo, some constructed so well they stand as historic sites today. He became involved in a variety of other businesses, including helping to establish the mid-Peninsula’s first bank, the Bank of San Mateo. He supported a variety of community and charitable causes. He was on the first San Mateo City Council. He watched as his San Mateo grew tenfold, with much of the progress made because of his hard work.

Later his five sons and two daughters also became important builders and leaders of the mid-Peninsula. John operated an important lumber company. Robert J. and William created the enduring Wisnom’s Hardware store. Samuel became a designer, contractor and builder of commercial buildings and some of the loveliest homes of San Mateo Park, Burlingame and Hillsborough. David was the banker of the family. He was major owner and manager of the National Bank of San Mateo. His son David Jr., later managed the bank which eventually merged with Crocker Bank. Daughters Jane and Anne were important to the development of the family’s holdings through the Wisnom Company and participated as leaders in the society life of old San Mateo County. Long after the second generation passed, subsequent Wisnom family members continued to shepherd economic growth with holdings that eventually stretched out to many other parts of California.

However, the great focus of the family has always been local. No wonder why, in 1946, Frank Stanger, the founder of the San Mateo County History Museum, wrote: “Can anyone imagine San Mateo [County] without the Wisnom Family?”

Today, the Wisnom Family remains very active in the business and charitable affairs of San Mateo County. They have chosen to participate in the History Makers Dinner and to support the San Mateo County Historical Association because of its work in preserving the Peninsula’s past, and providing hands-on learning experiences for nearly 20,000 school children every year.

All together the Association’s activities include:

· Operating its three museums: San Mateo County History Museum, Sanchez Adobe and Woodside Store (combined attendance is projected to be 60,000 in fiscal 2016).
· Conducting its school programs at the three museums plus Folger Stable.
· Providing public access to its archives through its research library.
· Caring for the 420,000 historic items in its collections.
· Organizing special monthly educational programs for adults and children.
· Continuing a creative schedule of changing exhibits at the History Museum.
· Publishing its journal, La Peninsula.
· Acting as a clearing house for matters of historic preservation throughout the County.

This special event honoring the Wisnoms will be held on September 21, 2016 at the Marriott Hotel in Burlingame. The evening will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a hosted cocktail reception, followed by dinner, a brief live auction, and film.

Reservations are required. Those interested in attending should call the Association at (650) 299-0104, or go to www.historysmc.org

Sarah Phelps
Development Associate
San Mateo County Historical Association
2200 Broadway, Redwood City, CA 94063
Ph: 650.299.0104, ext. 224 | Fax: 650.299.0141
sarah@historysmc.org | www.historysmc.org
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Robert Riechel
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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives
Source Credit: San Mateo County CA History Museum
Web Site: www.historysmc.org