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Published on 10/13/1999 All articles from this issue

Morning Forum blooms with curator of Filoli

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Special to the Town Crier

The Morning Forum of Los Altos began its 49th season Sept. 21 by exploring the history of Filoli with Tom Rogers. Rogers has been curator of the historic Woodside estate since 1989.

Built in 1917 by gold baron William Bowers Bourne, Filoli is designated as a National Historic Trust site. It is a 640-acre estate with 16 acres of formal English gardens and a 43-room mansion designed by Willis Polk. The mansion has been featured on "America's Castles" and Bob Villa's "Historic Houses."

Filoli has been used as a location for films, such as "Heaven Can Wait," "The Joy Luck Club," and "Dying Young." It became internationally famous as the Carrington Mansion on the popular television drama "Dynasty," and is often used in the current series "Nash Bridges." Today, tours from Europe feature the estate for its large- and small-screen fame.

Bourne named the estate Filoli for his favorite motto, "Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, and live a good life." Shipping heiress Lurline Matson Roth, who bought the estate in 1937, objected to the word "fight" and substituted "fidelity" in the motto. Roth lived alone in the 36,000-square-foot home after the death of her husband and refused to sell the estate to anyone who would not promise to maintain the gardens. She bequeathed it to the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1975.

According to Rogers, "the National Trust was less than thrilled, thinking there was nothing historic in California, other than the Mission period." The estate was accepted by the Trust for its gardens, with the recommendation that the mansion be used "for fertilizer storage and temporary housing for gardeners." The contents of the house were auctioned off. When the house first opened to the public, it was temporarily furnished with loans from a San Francisco museum.

Years later, Melville Martin, an elderly collector from Los Angeles, presented himself unannounced to meet Rogers and tour the mansion. As they ascended the staircase, Martin proclaimed, "I'm in love. This is the place. If I could have built it, I would have." Upon his death, Martin bequeathed his collection of 18th century Anglo-Irish antiques, and 17th century art to Filoli.

Plans call for a new orchard consisting of endangered varieties of apples, pears and stone fruit. Filoli maintains a research library on horticulture and garden design.

Filoli has more than 1,000 active volunteers, which makes it the largest volunteer group at one site in the nation. The estate is open for tours Tuesdays through Saturdays from mid-February to early November.

Morning Forum is a members-only lecture series held at the United Methodist Church of Los Altos. Membership is closed for this year. To get on a waiting list for membership, write to: Morning Forum, P.O. Box 274, Los Altos 94023-0274.