HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-16-2014 C4 WalkerSteve and Kathie Walker
1269 Fredericks Street
San Luis Obispo, CA 93405
December 16, 2014
DEC 16 2014
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COUNCIL MEETING: t�- -� b —tuty
ITEM NO.:. Garr
RE: Consent Agenda Item C4:
Request to add 1267 Fredericks Street to the City's list of Contributing Historical Resources
Dear Council Members:
We live next door to the house at 1267 Fredericks Street and hope it will be added to the City's list of
Historical Resources. Although the Staff Report outlines the beauty and integrity of the house, it fails to
mention the significance of the original owners, James and Louise A. Hill Piper, who occupied the house
from 1928 to 1973. The Pipers were early settlers who helped frame the foundation and significantly
contributed to the history of San Luis Obispo, as we will describe in this letter.
A few years ago the house was purchased by Sanjay Ganpule of Templeton, a prolific developer who has
purchased over twenty properties near Cal Poly and develops them into rentals through Stalworks, Inc. He
proposed to demolish the "Piper House" and construct a two - story, 7- bedroom house with a floor plan
that resembles a dorm. We were notified that the house was being reviewed by the Cultural Heritage
Committee (CHC) and did some preliminary research on the house to prepare for the meeting. It was
through that research that we realized the house is a treasure should likely be included on the City's
Master List of Historical Resources. Since the CHC meeting we have learned more about the Pipers and
there is even more left to discover through the archives at Cal Poly.
The original owners, James and Louise A. Hill Piper had eight children. We located their youngest and
only surviving child, Eugene "Gene" Piper who is now 93 years old and lives on High Street in San Luis
Obispo. He grew up in the house and shared some history of his family and the house where his parents
lived until their death. His mother passed away in the 1973.
The house was originally located at 986 Marsh Street, on the northwest corner of Osos and Marsh. James
and Louise Piper purchased the house to save it from demolition as the downtown was developed. In July
1928, the house was moved to land they owned located on Fredericks Street. By then the Pipers had
already carved out a name for themselves in San Luis Obispo.
James Piper settled in San Luis Obispo in the 1890's from Canada. Louise A. Hill immigrated from
England with her parents, along with her brother, Leonard W. Hill. The Tribune announcement of the
wedding of James Piper and Louisa A. Hill states they were married on March 4, 1896, at the residence of
the bride's parents. One year later, March 14, 1897, their first child was born. Seven more would follow
with the youngest, Euguene, born in 1921.
James Piper was an accomplished concrete contractor with his own business, Piper Concrete. He owned
the first mechanized concrete mixer in San Luis Obispo and poured the sidewalks in downtown which are
stamped with his name "Piper Co." According to Gene Piper, the top step at Old San Luis Obispo High
School also bears his name
The Tribune ran the following story for the week of December 13 through December 19, 1898:
corner of Osos and Marsh. Mr. Sinsheimer's son, Otto Sinsheimer, designed the garage to be constructed
with iron and wood. At this time, Louis Sinsheimer, (Aron's son) was Mayor of San Luis Obispo and
James Piper served on the City Council.
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The Cal Poly Library has thousands of documents and photographs from the Sinsheimer family, which
chronicle their daily lives throughout this time. We have not yet had the opportunity to go through the
archives but believe they will further illustrate the relationship between James Piper and the Sinsheimer
family.
James Piper also had a close relationship with his brother -in -law, Leonard Hill, founder of Hill's Bazaar
which would later become known as Hill's Stationary in downtown San Luis Obispo. James Piper is
mentioned in a report about Leonard Hill prepared by local historian Besty Bertrando. It states that in
1904, Mr. Hill became dismayed at the lack of Christmas decorations and spirit in downtown businesses
and that he resolved to remedy the situation. James Piper played Santa while he drove around in a cart
passing out candies to children. Notably, the Leonard W. Hill Residence is on the Master List of
Historical Resources located at 1144 Buchon Street.
Finally, we urge you to ensure the garage on the property at 1267 Fredericks Street is included in the
listing of Historical Resources. Although the house was moved to the current location at 1267 Fredericks
Street, the garage was built on site by the Pipers. As illustrated earlier, Mr. Piper's building expertise
went beyond concrete and he built a garage for Aron Z. Sinsheimer in 1915. These historical treasures tell
a story and should be preserved.
We are sad to imagine that the current owner has no regard for the house and proposed to demolish it,
despite its beauty, structural integrity and rich history. We do not own the house but have grown to love it
through our research. Thank you for preserving the history of our city.
Sincerely,
Steve and Kathie Walker