Community Corner
Relocation of Lathrop House - May 12 2019
The media and public are invited to view the ongoing preparations and move, including the final leg across Marshall Street on May 12.
Article Source: County of San Mateo CA
County’s Historic Lathrop House Ready for Big Move
Hydraulics, steady crews & patience will relocate landmark to SMC History Museum
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Redwood City— Why did the historic landmark cross the road? Why, to get to the other side.
Beginning today, crews will begin inching the 1860s-era Lathrop House in the center of Redwood City’s downtown area toward its new home just across the street outside the historic courthouse currently housing the San Mateo County History Museum. The two-story, 10-room house, which is being moved to make room for the construction of a new County office building, has been relocated twice before in its history.
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The media and public are invited to view the ongoing preparations and move, including the final leg across Marshall Street on May 12. Today, crews will start moving the house very slowly from its current Hamilton Street location across from County Center to the edge of the block bordered by Marshall Street. That stretch is estimated to last through Friday, May 10. After a break on Saturday, crews will begin anew on Sunday, May 12 for what they hope to be the final push across Marshall which will be closed to traffic. The move may continue into Monday, May 13.
“The Lathrop House is a jewel of San Mateo County’s history and will be a wonderful addition in its new location where hopefully even more people can visit,” said San Mateo County Board of Supervisors President Carole Groom. “Moving the house just down the block lets us remain connected to our past while making way for our future office space.”
While the move itself will seem slow to the observer — a mere 1 to 2 meters per hour— the County is capturing the entire process with time-lapse photography which will be published after the move is complete.
WHAT: Relocation of Lathrop House
WHEN: Move across Marshall Street begins 10 a.m. Sunday, May 12.
WHERE: 627 Hamilton Street. Media can observe and film from Marshall Street which will be blocked to traffic between Hamilton and Middlefield Road. Please park in designated stalls on adjacent streets or in nearby garages.
BACKGROUND: The Board of Supervisors allocated $1.5 million in general funds for the relocation which is being carried out by Truebeck Construction. Preparation for moving the 90-ton house has been underway for weeks as crews lifted it 5 feet to insert beams underneath. The house will be hydraulically pushed on industrial rollers to its new home where it will be re-established on a new, seismically stable foundation and connected to existing utilities at the History Museum.
The Lathrop House dates from January 1858 when Mary C. Lathrop bought the entire block of lots on which the present Fox Theater building stands from early landowners, the Arguello and Mezes families. In 1863, the home was ready for occupancy. In 1870, General Patrick Edward Connor bought the property and it remained in the family’s possession until 1894 when Redwood City public school trustees purchased and moved it to the rear of the block to make room for a grammar school. In 1905, the wife of Sheriff Joel Mansfield bought the home and it was moved to the present Hamilton Street location.
MEDIA CONTACT: Christa Bigue, San Mateo County Social Media Coordinator
cbigue@smcgov.org; (415) 404-8943
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Lathrop House Relocation
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is Lathrop House?
Lathrop House has 10 rooms. The first floor is 1,808 square feet and the second is 1,558 square feet, for a total of 3,393 square feet.
How much does the house weigh?
The house weights approximately 90 tons.
How did crews lift the house and how long did it take?
Crews placed the house on top of 35, 45, 50 and 80-foot beams using hydraulic lifts and lifted it 5 feet above ground which is the optimal height to move the house to its desired location. This process lasted approximately two weeks and required much coordination and manpower to transport such long beams in the crowded downtown Redwood City area.
How exactly will the house be moved?
The house will be hydraulically pushed on top of industrial rollers. These rollers will be placed on top of the traveling beams which will span across the parking lot from Wednesday, May 8 through Friday, May 10 and across Marshall Street Sunday, May 12 and, if needed, Monday, May 13.
At what speed will the house move?
The rate of speed will be about 1 to 2 meters per hour. To accommodate the slow process, the County allocated five days for the total move.
Are special precautions needed to protect the house during the move?
Yes. Crews are taping and bracing some of the windows and walls that might be strained or damaged during the move. Also, all furniture inside the Lathrop House was removed and stored in three 20-foot containers to protect objects and items from falling and damaging the integrity of the house.
Will there be any changes to the house in its new location?
The interior of the house and its utilities (water, electricity, bathrooms) will be identical as it was before with the exception of the kitchen which will be decommissioned. The Gift Shop area will be combined with the office room next door to allow more space for gifts and souvenirs.
What work was needed to prepare the new site?
Crews coordinated all the electrical, plumbing and sewage connections History Museum staff as the Lathrop House will share all utilities with the museum. Also, the County built a foundation to accommodate the Lathrop House in the parking lot behind the museum. The new foundation is very sound, seismically stable and is an obvious upgrade to the old foundation were the Lathrop House previously sat.
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
County Manager’s Office
400 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
650-363-4153 T
408-910-4724 M
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Robert Riechel
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E=Mail: SanBrunoPatch.Robert@Yahoo.com
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Photo Credit: San Bruno CA Patch Archives
Source Credit: Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
County Manager’s Office
400 County Center, 1st Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
Phone: 650-363-4153
Mdurand@smcgov.org www.smcgov.org
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