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Welcome to the San Mateo Digital Time Capsule! Help us preserve our community’s history by sharing:

Photos of significant places, events, or moments in San Mateo

Stories and memories of community life

Historical documents or artifacts

Personal reflections about our city

Press the + in the bottom right corner to add your post!

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By Joseph Sherman

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1985 Victorian Day in the Park by Joseph Sherman.JPG

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By Joseph Sherman

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1983 3rd Avenue at ECR and San Mateo Dr by Joseph Sherman.JPG

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3955 South El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA

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Michael Art and Craft

K Mart please return these title companies back to SMTO. 94402

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300 East Santa Inez Avenue, San Mateo, CA 94401

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November 5, 2021, Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Congregational Building, 300 E. Santa Inez Ave. (southeasterly corner of N. Ellsworth St.).  Displayed is the Progress Pride flag, with 11 representational colors, as created in 2018 by Oregon-based designer Daniel Quasar.  Also displayed is the "Black Lives Matter - Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo" banner.

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Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Sanctuary (Constructed 1905)

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Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo Sanctuary (Constructed 1905)

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The Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo (UU San Mateo or UUSM) have met in the historic Sanctuary of the former Methodist Church campus at 300 E. Santa Inez Ave. (corner of N. Ellsworth) since 1952.

Constructed in 1905, the Sanctuary building withstood the 1906 Earthquake - intact, and, as of September 2025, is the longest continuously-serving place of worship in the City of San Mateo.

Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo is "A religious community of open hearts and open minds, working together to transform ourselves and the world." - Source: uusanmateo.org website, September 2025.

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2825 Alameda de las Pulgas, San Mateo, CA

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The history of Noah Ark built by the US Army 1944-1945 the memories are held at Golden Gate National Cemetary

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Pictured on the San Mateo Drive frontage of the historic home and retail shop next door (occupied by Nouvelle Vogue Bridal Boutique), the members of the walking group from the Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo pose mid-walking-tour, October 23, 2022.

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29 N. San Mateo Drive, Corner of St. Andrews Dr., and 27 N. San Mateo Dr.

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29 N. San Mateo Drive, Corner of St. Andrews Dr., and 27 N. San Mateo Dr.

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Starting in 2020, during the Pandemic, many of the congregational members of Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo (and their friends) joined together for walks - many of which originated at our Sanctuary at 300 E. Santa Inez Ave., just north of the historic Downtown of San Mateo.

The Unitarian Universalists of San Mateo (UU San Mateo or UUSM) have met in the historic Sanctuary on the former Methodist Church campus at 300 E. Santa Inez Ave. (corner of N. Ellsworth) since 1952.

Constructed in 1905, the Sanctuary at 300 E. Santa Inez withstood the 1906 Earthquake.

As of September 2025, the UUSM Sanctuary is the longest continuously-hosting place of worship in the City of San Mateo.

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1975 downtown walking tour pamphlet shows original "town" lines

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1975 downtown walking tour pamphlet shows original "town" lines

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The Feely family in their rental on 900 Fourth Ave., later changed to Grant Street. They moved there in 1940 and rent was $50 a month.

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1st Avenue and B Street - Courtesy of Hasuko Yamanouchi Watanuki Collection

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1st Avenue and B Street - Courtesy of Hasuko Yamanouchi Watanuki Collection

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In 1908, Tetsuo Yamanouchi opened the Imperial Laundry at 218 - 1st Avenue San Mateo.  The space was rented from the Wisnoms a pioneer San Mateo family.  In addition to the family of five children, the laundry also employed as many as seven other people.  The Yamanouchi home was at the corner of 1st Ave and Ellsworth Street.  Tetsuo Yamanouchi had been educated and trained as a Zen Buddhist priest in Japan, and he became the spiritual leader in 1909.  The living room of the home was the beginning of the San Mateo Buddhist Church.  His wife Yoshiko organized the Buddhist Sunday School, the Buddhist Women’s Association, and the Young Buddhist Association.  When the small congregation outgrew the living room, an adjacent storefront on 1st Avenue was rented for $40 a month by Tetsuo Yamanouchi.  When Tetsuo Yamanouchi died in 1936, his wife Yoshiko took over the laundry business and successfully operated it until the family returned to San Mateo at the end of World War II.  It was unusual in those times for the wife to take over a business, but Yoshiko was determined the business would go on.

In 1940, the business was moved from its original location to a new facility at 46 B Street.

During World War II, the family was incarcerated in Topaz, Utah.  The business was leased by friends during the war.  Hasuko and Masashi Max Watanuki, the daughter and son-in-law took over the management of the business after the war and the name of the business was changed to Blu-White Laundry because the connotation of the word “imperial” may have been perceived as a negative. The name likely came from the appearance of the building which was white with blue trim.  The new building was designed by William H Rowe and built by Hugh H. MacDonald.

Yoshiko Yamanouchi remained active in the San Mateo Buddhist Temple and in her Buddhist and Civic life.

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Imperial Laundry in 1909 - Courtesy of Hasuko Yamanouchi Watanuki Collection

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Imperial Laundry in 1909 - Courtesy of Hasuko Yamanouchi Watanuki Collection

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See 1st Avenue and B Street post

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Yoshiko Yamanouchi House - Historic District - Katsura Walkway

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Yoshiko Yamanouchi House - Historic District - Katsura Walkway

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In December 2023, the Yoshiko Yamanouchi House at 1007 East 5th Avenue San Mateo was listed on the National Register of Historic Places at the local level of significance under Criteria A & B in the areas of Ethnic Heritage/Asian/Japanese and social History/Woman’s History for its association with a prominent member the Issei generation in San Mateo’s Japanese American Community, from early 20th century to today.

The picture below is the Yoshiko Yamanouchi House Historic District which has nine contributors:   The Entrance Gate, House, Katsura Building, Katsura Garden, Katsura Walk-way, Storage Room and Pump House, Patio and Swimming Pool, West Side Garden. The Japanese style Hill and Pond and Garden was completed in 1958 by landscape designer Nagao Sakurai.  The second structure and garden on this site was completed in 1968, by architect and designer Kodo Matsubara, scholar of Japanese sukiya-styled architecture.  The Yoshiko Yamanouchi House is one of only three properties nationwide spotlighted in the recent National Register publication “Best Practices Review.”

An added note:   After the completion of the Japanese Hill and Pond Garden at the Yoshiko Yamanouchi House, Nagao Sakurai assisted the Japanese gardeners who built the Japanese Tea Garden in Central Park in San Mateo.