The Martinez Historical Society was created in 1973 to save this 1890 cottage and its site from becoming another parking lot in downtown Martinez. Convinced that our city's history deserved a repository where papers, documents, photographs and artifacts could be housed, we prevailed upon the City of Martinez to join with us in acquiring use of the "Borland House" for our purpose. A lease was obtained from the Contra Costa College District, and we took possession in February, 1974.