San Jose's Historic DowntownSan Jose is the "Capital of the Silicon Valley," the high-rise, economic engine of advanced technology. Yet it was once a verdant valley, inhabited by wildlife, waterfowl, and the native Ohlone people. The Spanish who founded California's first civilian settlement here in 1777 named it for Saint Joseph, the patron saint of the Spanish Expedition. Their farms fed the soldiers at the Monterey and San Francisco presidios, beginning an agricultural industry that thrived for nearly 200 years. Although serving briefly as California's first state capital, for many decades downtown was the somewhat sleepy commercial center of the Santa Clara Valley. A housing and population expansion that began in the 1950s exploded with San Jose's rebirth as a technological mecca. |
Contents
Acknowledgments | 6 |
Introduction | 7 |
Early Days | 9 |
Banks Businesses and Building Downtown | 19 |
The Seat of Government | 39 |
School Days | 51 |
Out and About Town | 65 |
Scandals Tragedies Disasters and Calamities | 79 |
Pleasures Pastimes and Hospitality | 93 |
Above Downtown | 107 |
A Sense of Community | 113 |
Other editions - View all
San Jose's Historic Downtown Lauren Miranda Gilbert,Bob Johnson,San Jose Public Library No preview available - 2004 |
Common terms and phrases
1906 earthquake Anza Hotel architect automobile Avenue Bank of Italy block built California Church City Hall City Plaza Clara County Courthouse clock Company construction corner of Market Courtesy of San demolished downtown San Jose early EDITH STOREY Edward McLaughlin fire Fourth Ward School Hale Brothers Horace Mann School Hotel Sainte Claire Interstate 280 Italy building Jose Public Library Jose State University Jose's Joseph's Lick Observatory located Market and Santa Market Street Montgomery moved Naglee Normal School North northwest corner opened Park Center Plaza Peralta Adobe photo was taken post office building renovation roof Rucker San Antonio Street San Carlos Street San Fernando Streets San Francisco San Jose City San Jose Public Santa Clara County Santa Clara Street Second and San Sourisseau Academy South First Street South Second Street Southern Pacific stood streetcar structure Sunset Theatre Third Street University Special Collections Valley West Santa Clara