Frederick Drake

With the coming of the railroad, three attempts were made to develop a town. First, in 1888, the San Carlos Land Company tried to subdivide and sell lots on the lands once owned by T.G. Phelps. In 1907, the San Carlos Park Syndicate used an elaborate sales campaign to try to make San Carlos a second Hillborough, calling the area Oak Park. Mr. Frederick Drake, of the Mercantile Trust arrived in 1917, taking over the San Carlos Park Syndicate. He was more successful in developing San Carlos. He improved the water supply and piped water to the lots; he installed gas and electricity, and paved the streets.
Then came the first school, where 20 pupils met in a house. By 1918, a new two-room schoolhouse accommodated eight grades.
Mr. Drake is known as "The Father of San Carlos". The Spanish-style cottages seen in the flat area south of San Carlos Avenue (on the tree named streets) reflect the typical architecture popular in the 1920's.