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Falkirk, an excellent example of a
Queen Anne Victorian, was originally built in 1888 in
San Rafael by Ella Nichols Park, a wealthy and reclusive young widow.
In October 1886, Ms. Park purchased the 11-acre estate from railroad magnate
James D. Walker and had his house removed and in February 1888 she commissioned E. F. Chisholm to build her home, designed by architect
Clinton Day. By August of that year, this elegant country home was completed for a cost of $30,000.
After Ella’s death in 1905, Captain
Robert Dollar
purchased the estate in 1906. Dollar was born in 1844 in Falkirk,
Scotland and became very wealthy, first through the timber industry and
later in the shipping business. He founded the
Dollar Steamship Company, established trade with the
Orient,
and began the first regularly scheduled round-the-world
passenger/freight line. Captain Dollar is often credited with founding
the
Merchant Marine. An active member of civic life in
San Rafael
and one of the drafters of the City Charter, Dollar donated much of the
city’s adjacent open space on San Rafael Hill. He also gave lavishly to
his hometown of
Falkirk,
Scotland, where he is remembered today and in October 1988 San Rafael and Falkirk became sister cities.
The Falkirk center houses a contemporary art gallery where the exhibition
Counter Point is currently showing (
link below)
and an educational center for cultural arts and provides subsidized
space for other organizations including the Marin Poetry Center.
Falkirk Cultural Center
1408 Mission Avenue at E Street
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 485-3328
Viewfinder link:
Net links:
Falkirk Cultural Center
Falkirk History
