Interesting piece of local history in Horgan's column in the SM Times:

IT'S all a bit murky, really. Last week's announcement that a San Mateo County lad had been named male high school athlete of the year in the state of California contained some fascinating details. Burlingame High School's Drew Shiller, a multi-sport whiz, received the 2004-05 honor courtesy of Cal-Hi Sports, a well-respected institution that has been diligently keeping track of such matters for many years. But it wasn't Shiller's name that created the curiosity. It was noted that Shiller was the first county individual to achieve the prestigious statewide mention since a young man named Locomotive Smith.

Locomotive Smith? Well, yes. Smith, apparently, received the award (from an outfit other than Cal-Hi Sports, of course) way back in 1897. According to the information provided by Cal-Hi Sports, Smith was feted for his achievements while competing for something called "The Hoitt School" in Burlingame. There is a problem with that, however. Burlingame, as a town, didn't actually exist in 1897. It wasn't incorporated until 1908. Furthermore, pinning down the whereabouts and particulars of "The Hoitt School" hasn't been a simple task.

Fortunately, the Burlingame Historical Society, with considerable help from Ed Arnold, has come to the rescue. Russ Cohen, president of the society, said research has shown that Ira Hoitt did, in fact, operate a boys' private school in the area late in the 19th century. Records indicate it was called Oak Grove Academy. Cohen said the school was located on 156 acres of land west of what was then a Southern Pacific Railroad stop at Oak Grove Avenue. Another source stated that the academy actually rested in what is now Hillsborough.

Arnold, who has lived in Burlingame since 1915 and recently observed his 95th birthday, reported that Hoitt, at one time, was instrumental in making sure that the fledgling community had its own post office. As for Locomotive Smith, alumni of the University of California have agreed that the fellow was a legendary football star at the Berkeley institution at around the turn of the century. Whether Smith attended Oak Grove Academy (or "The Hoitt School") has yet to be determined, however.

If you have more information about Smith, please give Mr. Horgan (and The Burlingame Historical Society – 340-9960) a call.

– Written by Fiona

I just compared the 2005-06 San Mateo Union High School District schedule with the 2005-06 Burlingame Elementary schedule and found that there are gaping differences in instructional and vacation time.

SMUHSD Burlingame Elementary
School Begins August 16 August 30
Winter Break December 22-Jan 10 December 17-Jan 2
Ski Week (end) February 17-20 February 18-26
Spring Break April 8-16 April 8-16
School Ends June 1 June 16

The only related common vacation time for the two districts is over Spring Break!. This is not rocket science. What is it going to take for these two districts to sit down and plan out a common schedule so that families will not be torn in multiple directions? The SMUHSD put the first schedule on the table and expected all other districts to follow. The elementary districts did not follow the lead and now the SMUHSD has really screwed things up. Thanks Sam Johnson, maybe next time you'll get more public input. Maybe the Burlingame High School Parents Group and the BCE could join forces on this one and "help" the district make better decisions.

– Written by JC