By Khalida Sarwari
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of its clubhouse, the Saratoga Foothill Club is sponsoring a walking tour of eight historic homes and three gardens on Oct. 4. Some examples include the Julia Morgan-designed home at 14474 Oak Place, the Luther Cunningham Stone House at 14280 Saratoga Ave. and the 1912 Mediterranean-style home at 20330 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road.
Morgan, who would become famous for designing Hearst Castle, designed and supervised the construction of the clubhouse. It was completed in 1916, and the members of the Foothill Club finally had dedicated space to hold gatherings, lectures, dance classes, weddings, film screenings and other events.
Today, the Craftsman-style building at 20399 Park Place houses the oldest social organization in Saratoga, with a membership of more than 200 that includes the daughters and granddaughters of original and founding members.
Only a few changes have been made to the original design–most notably the addition of restrooms, a kitchen and a new roof–but the building hasn’t undergone any major renovations since its construction almost 100 years ago.
The home tour starts at 10 a.m. and costs $35. Tickets can be purchased on the day of the event at the Foothill Club, where participants can pick up a packet, goody bag and snacks and refreshments before starting the self-guided tour. All the homes are within walking distance from the Foothill Club, and there will be balloons denoting the homes on the tour.
The event coincides with the Saratoga Village Development Council’s Heritage Day, an annual event that celebrates the city’s more than 150-year history. Heritage Day takes place at the Saratoga History Museum and Big Basin Way from noon to 4 p.m.
For more information about the home tour, contact Marlene Duffin at marlduffin@aol.comor 408.997.7528.
