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The Westlake section of Daly City is the quintessential postwar suburban-modernist development, and it was the singular vision of Henry Doelger that made it so. Westlake was to the San Francisco Bay Area what Levittown was to New York after World War II, providing affordable housing for thousands of service veterans and war-industry personnel who remained in California after their tours of duty. The area abuts San Franciscos Sunset District, where Doelger built thousands of homes in the shifting sands before battling the dunes in northern San Mateo County in 1948. Doelger was lauded as the Bay Areas best-known builder of homes, apartments, and shopping centers. Daly City increased in size almost by half when Westlake was annexed in 1948.
About the author
Author Bunny Gillespie and her husband, Ken, are the official historians for the City of Daly City, and cofounders of the History Guild of Daly City/Colma. A former women's editor of the Westlake Times, Bunny's previous books include Images of America: Daly City (2003) and The Great Daly City Historical Trivia Book (1986/2002). In this collection of rare photographs, primarily from the Doelger estate, Gillespie traces the development of Westlake, from sand dunes to suburb.
