History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 51

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches > Part 51

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Security Warehouse and Cold Storage Company

The spacious mansion occupied first by Mrs. Sarah L. Knox-Goodrich and afterwards by Capt. C. H. Maddox and family on First Street, opposite the Southern Pacific depot. has been removed and now the grounds cover- ing nearly an aere and extending from First to Second Streets, holds the large and costly concrete buildings of the Security Warehouse and Cold Storage Company. The improve- ments were started in the spring of 1920.

The enterprise is the result of a determin- ation on the part of local business men who decided that the time had come when the San- ta Clara Valley would support such a plant. They organized a $500,000 corporation, all local capital, secured the desired site and started operation. The building is of con- crete, except a small portion of the roof over some dry storage rooms, and is the most mod- ern in every particular that the directors could find in visits to like plants throughout the country. There are in reality four distinet buildings, each accessible to the other and sep- arated by double fireproof doors. Floors are all of concrete as are the supports in all the main parts.

The location of the plant is ideal, facing both First and Second Streets, and adjoining the main line of the Southern Pacific. There are two side tracks at the railroad site with a storage capacity of twelve cars for either load- ing or unloading. The fourth side is a very wide drive for the use of teams and unloading auto trucks.

The building is 145x275 feet, of two-story and basement design, and is equipped with an elevator of great capacity for the purpose of getting goods to the upper story and to the basement, all goods being unloaded on the main floor, to which the platform from either drive or railroad give direct access. Also there is a driveway for trucks or teams leading

275

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

onto this floor that full loads intended for storage above or below may be placed directly on the elevator without trucking.

There are three distin storage system be- ing installed to care for the different classes of goods expected to be handled : Direct cool air for the care of fresh fruit; a brine storage system for egg-keeping; and a direct expan- sion of ammonia system for the freezing of fresh fruits and meats. By the latter means it is said fruit may be frozen and kept for a period of several years, coming out with all the appearance and taste as if freshly picked.

The fresh fruit storage will be invaluable to growers and canners of this valley in case of an abundance of fruit ripening at once or in case of railroad trouble in shipping, as it can be placed here and kept until conditions for its use are right.

The company is also installing an ice-mak- ing plant and already has contracted for a part of the capacity of the plant to local con- cerns. This plant will be equipped with the latest apparatus for purifying the water be- fore it is frozen and for the sanitary handling of the product.

The whole plant has a capacity of about 10,000 tons of storage besides the room being given up to storage of heavy vehicles, such as autos, tractors, and the like, of which there are many already in the building. This latter space is easily convertible into the other var- ieties if it is found there is demand enough to warrant such an alteration. E. E. Chase is president of the company, and J. Q. Patton is secretary.

Garden City Manufactory

This concern, started in 1919 at the corner of Willard and San Carlos Streets, specializes in women's and children's garments. Thirty competent women are employed and great bolts of muslin, percale, gingham, crepe, flan- nellette, satin and silk dominate the shop. housed in a large, modern cement building. The electric cutting machcine cuts 600 gar- ments at once and there has been a rush of orders ever since the opening. S. C. Kimball is the proprietor.

Tile Company

The S. & S. Tile Company, located at Fourth and Lewis Streets, began operations in 1920. The claim is made that it is the only place in the United States where tiles are made by hand. The company's specialty is the manufacture of mosaics and the tiles of the ancient Moors, reproduction of the work done by the hands of skillful potters. A. L. Solon is the president of the company.

Spray Manufacturing Company

A new enterprise entailing the investment of $50,000 in perfecting the fruit spray was removed to San Jose from Hood River, and started in 1921 with a fine factory at Stockton and Emery Streets. The name is the San Jose Spray Manufacturing Company. J. C. But- cher, head of the firm known as the Butcher Company of Hood River, is the director of the research department, and D. L. Currier. entomologist, is the director of field work. At all times throughout the year the service de- partment will be open for advice and consul- tation.

Artificial Leather Factory

In the winter of 1921-22 a company, con- sisting of local men, was organized to take up the manufacture of certain chemical products, the principal one to be that of artificial leather, of which the coast uses upwards of 200,000 lineal yards per month for automobile tops and upholstery, furniture upholstery. book binding and novelties. This product will be followed by an exceptionally beautiful silk manufactured under a patented process owned by the company. Other products will include non-inflammable moving picture films, lac- quers, enamels and celluloid materials. An ideal factory site has already been secured just north of San Jose. The officers are: Pre- sident, D. J. Conant; Zeno Ostenberg, vice- president and chief chemist: secretary-treas- urer, J. A. Naismith ; auditor, J. G. Shaw.

Manufactured Products

Figures received from the bureau of census by the local Chamber of Commerce in 1921 show San Jose to have produced in 1920 manu- factured products valued at $25.000.000. nearly a five-fold increase over the 1910 total. The average number of wage earners employed is shhown by the new census at 3,100, while in 1910 only about 1,340 were employed. The margin between raw material and finished products is placed at $10,628,000 over a total of $2,368,000 in 1910.

The canners do an annual business of $49,236,750; gross annual payroll. $4,837.102. In San Jose there are 73 purely industrial concerns.

Wholesale Grocers

The Walsh-Col Company is the pioneer wholesale grocery firm in San Jose. In 1898 P. M. Walsh and P. E. Col formed a co- partnership and started the business in a small store at 20 North Market Street. Business rapidly increased, and in 1901 the Walsh-Col Company was incorporated. In 1906 the pre- sent large and commodious building on North Market Street, near the Southern Pacific de-

276

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

pot, was erected. It covers 400,000 square feet of ground. The building is of brick and concrete with entrances on Market and San Pedro Streets. The company deals in staple groceries, spices, extracts, and tea and coffee and the business extends from South San Francisco on the north to Paso Robles on the south. Forty persons are on the pay roll in San Jose and eight traveling salesmen are em- ployed every month in the year. The capital stock is $100,000. P. M. Walsh died in 1912. The present officers of the company are P. J. Foley, president ; P. E. Col, vice-president ; J. J. Shaw, secretary.

The Keystone Company of San Jose was or- ganized by E. H. Renzel in September, 1905. It occupied a small building and did a small business until August 19, 1909, when it was reorganized by W. G. Alexander. Today the buildings occupy 178 feet on North Market Street, running back to San Pedro Street. They are of concrete with all the modern ap- pliances and equipment. The company keeps on hand as assorted stock of staple groceries, teas, spices, and extracts, and has recently added a coffee roasting apparatus for the pre- paration of the popular Keystone Coffee. The business extends from San Jose to Los An- geles on the south and to Portland, Oregon, on the north. W. G. Alexander is president. E. H. Renzel is vice-president, and P. D. Dur- ling is secretary. The other directors are D. B. Moody, S. M. Vandervoort, W. H. Ledyard, Mrs. W. G. Alexander, J. E. Alexander and Merle Elliott. Proof that San Jose is the natural distributing center of Central Califor- nia is given in the rapid growth and large volume of business of the Keystone Company. Pride is taken in the organization; there is cheerful cooperation and good fellowship among employes and officers, and every one labors heartily and efficiently for the success of the organization. The business done in 1919 approximated $2,000,000.

The Oliver Company

One of the comparatively new interests of San Jose and one which gives great promise of becoming a large factor in the fruit in- dustry is that of oil burning equipment for heating of houses and for prune dipping and evaporating of other fruits. The Oliver Oil Gas Burning & Machine Company has located its western branch in San Jose, the work being carried on from the plant of the State Foun- dry & Pattern Works on the Alameda where patterns are made and the castings for the burners turned out. An oil-burning prune dip- per has been on the market for some time. but in 1919 the Oliver Company placed a number of these machines throughout the val-

ley, all giving satisfaction. While the com- pany is at present installing the prune dippers, the evaporating business is receiving a large share of attention. These evaporators have burners which are claimed to be superior to those burning either coal or wood. The com- pany is also making a variety of cook stoves, heating stoves and other house heating burn- ers. They have burners in this line up to a capacity of a fifteen horsepower boiler. The main factory is located in St. Louis, Mo., and the San Jose factory is expected to develop into a large concern.

National Axle Corporation

The National Axle Corporation was organ- ized in 1920. It purchased twelve acres on the Berryessa Road, in what was formerly known as Luna Park, and proceeded to erect a large one-story building at a cost of $68,000. The cost of the equipment was $110,000. Fifteen mechanics are now employed, but the expecta- tion is that in the near future the force will reach the one hundred mark. In 1921, a new corporation obtained control of the plant. S. C. Kyle is president, and Earl C. Fancher and. H. W. Smith are vice-presidents. Smith is the manager of the works. Axles form the main output, though the factory is prepared to do all kinds of contract work. The building is 360 feet long by 90 feet wide. One hundred feet east of the National Axle building is lo- cated a branch of the Smith Manufacturing Company. The building is 75x60 feet in size and here is manufactured everything in the line of boilers and sheet metal work.

Plow Factories

H. G. Knapp & Son, in business in San Jose since 1900, have two large plants, one on South First Street, opposite Willow, the other at the corner of Fourth and Margaret Streets. Their products go to Honolulu, the Philip- pines, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Utah, and all parts of the state. They manufacture plows, tractors, side hill plows, whip saws, subsoilers, and gopher plows. A specialty is made of the Knapp tractor disc plow and the Knapp power lift. During the business seas- on, the company employs forty-five men.

In 1919 the California Plow Company lo- cated in San Jose, having secured a four-acre tract on the old Polhemus estate, with close shipping facilities. C. B. and E. R. Polhemus comprise the company. A number of imple- ments, including plows for tractors, horse- drawn tools and several kinds of harrows, are made. Besides the main shop, which is al- ready equipped with the latest drill presses, lathes, punches and slicing machines, the com- pany has started a casting foundry, operating on a small scale.

277

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

The Farmers' Union

The Farmers' Union was organized by Val- ley farmers on May 11, 1874, for the purpose of buying and selling groceries, produce, hardware-everything, in fact, save clothing- and maintaining stores. Besides the large store on Santa Clara Street, corner of San Pedro, it operates a store in Central Market and another at the town of Campbell. The capital stock when the company was organ- ized was $100,000. It has since been increas- ed to $200,000. The value of the stock on hand amounts to about the same figure. The first president was William Erkson. In 1878 he was succeeded by C. T. Settle, who contin- ued in office until his death in 1900. W. C. Andrews was then chosen for the position, and he has held it ever since. He is also the manager of the store and his assistant is A. O. Matthews. Dr. W. C. Bailey is the secre- tary of the organization.

Granite and Marble Works

Schuh & Vertin have the only granite and marble works within the limits of the city of San Jose. Their establishment is at the corner of Santa Clara and Vine Streets, and like the other works on the outside they do all kinds of marble and granite work, special designing, etc. Near the city are located three other es-

tablishments, the Oak Hill Granite & Marble Yard, on the edge of the Cemetery, Monterey Road; the San Jose Granite and Marble Works, corner of First and Alameda Streets, and the Western Granite & Marble Com- pany's works on Stockton Avenue.

The marble business was established in San Jose in 1870 by J. W. Combs, and in 1378 W. W. Blanchard and Timothy O'Neill open- ed the first granite works. In 1883 a partner- ship between the three men was formed and the two interests were combined under the firm name of Combs, Blanchard & O'Neill. The name was afterwards changed to the Western Marble and Granite Company, and for many years business was done on First Street near the Southern Pacific railway tracks. At last, being cramped for space, the establishment was removed to Stockton Avenue.

Other industries are potteries, brick yards, machine shops, broom factories, box factories, refineries, book binderies, creameries, dairies, feed yards, sheet metal, wagon, mattress, shingle and pump factories, lumber yards and planing mills, rug works, macaroni factories, violin makers, well works, welding works, paste makers and coffee and spice mills. This does not include the dozens of garages, auto supply companies and auto repair shops.

CHAPTER XXXI.

The Romantic History of the Town of Santa Clara-Home of One of the Early Missions-The Story of the Santa Clara University-The Planting of the Mission Cross.

As far as is known, William Clark was the first American to locate in Santa Clara. He is the man who first reduced the ore from the mines at New Almaden. In 1846 came the Harlands, Van Gordon, Samuel Young, Tabor, Allen, Jones, Dickinson and Bennett. In 1848 there arrived J. Alex. Forbes, Jonathan and Charles Parr, William Booth, Fielding Lard, Riley Montrey, Cobeb Rand, Geo. W. Bel- lamy, Dr. H. H. Warburton, Mr. Bazard, Wil- liam Mccutchen, William Haun, Washington Moody, John Whisman, William Campbell, Thomas Hudson, James Linns, Austin Angel and others.

There were two stores, one kept by Robert Scott, and one by a Frenchman. The only hotel was che Bellamy house. The first frame building was built as a residence for Father Real, the priest in charge of the Mission, at

the southwest corner of Santa Clara and Al- viso Streets. The lumber was sawed with a whipsaw by Fielding Lard, in the Palgas red- woods. Immediately afterward buildings were erected by Lard, Scott and Haun. In 1850 a school house building was erected on Liberty Street. It was built by subscription and was long known as the "little brick schoolhouse." It was used as a place of worship by all de- nominations. In 1853 the first church was built by the Methodists. In the same year a female seminary was erected to the west of Main Street, between Liberty and Lexington. In 1850 Peleg Rush imported twenty-three houses from Boston and set them up in town. The Union Hotel was built in 1850. It was conducted by Appleton & Ainslie. In 1851 the Santa Clara College was established.

278

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

In 1850 the town site was surveyed by Wil- liam Campbell into lots a hundred yards square, and one lot was given to each citizen with the understanding that he was to build a house on it within three months; failing to do so the lot could be taken by another. There was no town government until 1852 when the following officers were chosen trustees: F. Lard, S. S. Johnson, A. D. Hight, F. Cooper, Riley Montrey ; clerk, C. W. Adams ; assessor, A. Madan; marshal, William Fosgate. In 1862 a regular charter, in accordance with state laws, was obtained and the following were chosen as trustees: J. R. Johnson, A. B. Caldwell. R. K. Ham, J. L. Guernsey, Henry Uhrbroock. The charter was amended in 1866 and again in 1872. The town, as then laid out, was two miles long and a mile and a half wide. Methodism in California was first planted in Santa Clara.

Santa Clara, called by admirers, "the pro- gressive city beautiful," has (1922) a popu- lation of 6,300. Its public school system is equal to any in the land. Children enjoy the best possible educational advantages under the best teachers available and are provided with beautiful, spacious and strictly modern buildings and playgrounds .. The latest and most approved laboratory equipment and ath- letic accessories are installed. Sanitary and health conditions are under the careful super- vision of a skilled physician. The grammar school course is supplemented by manual training, sewing, cooking and music. The high school prepares students for the Normal schools and universities, and gives a compre- hensive general course.

The Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce is located in the Bank of Italy building and is one of the live progressive institutions of the town. The officers are : Robert A. Fatjo, pres- ident; J. J. Jones, L. G. Fatjo, vice-presidents ; H. L. Warburton, treasurer ; and B. R. Sulli- van, secretary. Directors, Bernice Downing. Henry Eberhard, R. A. Fatjo, L. G. Fatjo, J. J. Jones, William Loos, E. McQuoid, A. W. Nuttman, Henry R. Roth, C. A. Thompson, F. J. Vargas, H. L. Warburton. The Chamber, composed of the leading men of the business community, is concerned with the promotion of the city's material interests and general wel- fare, and is engaged in publicity with the ob- ject of acquainting the outside world with the inviting and salutary local conditions and op- portunities.

Santa Clara stands preeminent among the cities and towns of California in the matter of municipal ownership of light and water, and is therefore immune from the restrictions usu- ally levied upon these necessities by corpo- rate control. Operating its own water, gas

and electric plants, it is enabled to offer par- ticular inducements to homeseekers in the reasonable expense of these utilities as well as in the low rate of taxation. Paved and graded streets and cement sidewalks are among the features that commend themselves to visitors. The town is surrounded with beautiful gar- dens, thrifty orchards and fields of vegetables, all of which add charm and makes this por- tion of the valley rank high as a place of abode.

Santa Clara's fruit and manufacturing con- cerns are the city's greatest asset. The Pratt- Low Preserving Company, the A. Block Pack- ing Company, the Rosenberg Bros. & Com- pany, the Eberhard Tanning Company, the Merrit Cement Company, the Homer Knowles Pottery, and the Pacific Manufacturing Com- pany, are the largest of their kind on the Coast. These institutions are the mainstay of the community and will, as they continue their rapid progress and development, result in the greater growth and prosperity of Santa Clara and surrounding territory.

The Pratt-Low Preserving Company is sit- uated a short distance south of the Southern Pacific Railway depot, and at its inception in 1905 three acres of ground were ample for its requirements. At the present time ten acres are devoted to this institution, which em- ployes from a minimum of four hundred to a maximum of one thousand people during the fruit harvesting season, extending from June first to the middle of November. During this period cherries, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, grapes, and tomatoes are handled in large quantities, over ten million cans being necessary for containers; the finished product is distributed throughout the United States and Canada, as well as England, France, Italy, and the Orient. The extreme fertility and productivity of the soil in the immediate vicin- ity of this plant has had much to do with its growth, and the sanitary conditions main- tained, together with the care exercised in the selection and handling of the fruit, account for the great demand for, and wide distribution of, its products.

The A. Block Fruit Company, located on the northwestern limits of Santa Clara, was established in 1873 by the late Abram Block, and is perhaps the largest deciduous fruit house in the world, packing in different years, according to the size and quality of the crop, from 500 to 900 carloads, all assorted and boxed by experienced hands and shipped to almost every corner of the globe-China, Eur- ope, South America, South Africa. The Blocks make a specialty of quality fruits, the bulk of which is grown in their own orchards. They pack nothing except the best, their brand liav-

279

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ing a reputation second to none wherever it is marketed. California's finest pack of pears and plums, grown on Santa Clara soil, is har- vested and packed by this local establishment.

The Pacific Manufacturing Company is one of the largest lumber concerns on the Pacific Coast. The plant covers over fifteen acres of ground and 500 men are constantly employed. The company was originally known as the En- terprise Mill & Lumber Company, but was re- organized and the name changed in Septem- ber, 1880. The present officers are: James H. Pierce, president ; John T. Kennedy, vice-presi- dent; R. T. Pierce, secretary and treasurer. The plant is valued at $300,000.

The Eberhard Tanning Company, formerly the Santa Clara Tannery, was started in 1849 by L. Wampach. He conducted it until 1854, when it was brought by Messing & Dixon, Shortly afterward F. C. Franck was admitted as a partner. Dixon soon sold out to Mr. Glein, and ultimately passed into the hands of Glein alone. In 1860 the firm became Glein & Albert, who kept up the business until 1864, when Glein again became sole possessor. In 1866 he sold out to Jacob Eberhard. In 1915 Jacob Eberhard died and the business has since been conducted by his sons and daugh- ters. The plant occupies eleven acres on Grant Street, and is one of the largest tan- neries in the world. A sale for the very superior leather turned out is found all over the world. Eighty-six men are employed the year round.

The present town officers are John J. Jones, William Loos, M. Silva, W. F. Hayward, P. Concannon, trustees ; W. Walsh, marshal, A. J. Cronin, clerk ; R. A. Fatjo, treasurer. School trustees-F. M. Harmon, C. E. Newton, Mrs. Lenora D. Emig, David Wallace and F. M. Merrill. There are two newspapers, the Jour- nal, published by B. & B. Downing, and the News, published by Lawrence Lockney.

The Santa Clara Valley Aero Club has er- ected a spacious club house and rest room on the edge of the field fronting the State High- way on the outskirts of Santa Clara, and has extended the landing area so as to make it one of the very best in the state. Among the remarkable advantages of the flying park is the absence of trees or shrubbery. The ground is level, carpeted with clover, and makes an ideal landing point.

There are Presbyterian, Methodist, Episco- pal and Catholic Churches in Santa Clara, and also the following societies, lodges, and clubs : Church Societies-Ladies' Improvement So- ciety, Presbyterian ; Ladies' Aid, Methodist ; St. Margaret's Guild, Episcopal; Santa Clara Relief Society, Catholic. Lodges and Clubs- Foresters of America ; I. O. of Red Men; Na-

tive Sons of the Golden West; Degree of Po- cahontas; Woodmen of the World; Union Club; Sodality Club, Woman's Club, Shake- speare Club, Parent-Teachers' Club, King's Daughters, Sew and So Circle, Monday After- . noon Bridge Club, W. C. T. U., C. H. & R. Club, Girls' Club, St. Claire's Altar Society, Baseball Club, Socieade de Espirito Santa, Su- preme Council, S. E. S.

University of Santa Clara

The leading educational institution of Santa Clara is the University of Santa Clara. for- merly called Santa Clara College. It is lo- cated on the site of the old Mission of Santa Clara. On January 12, 1777, two Franciscan Padres, de la Pena and Murguia, planted the Mission cross on the banks of a little stream, called from that time the Guadalupe, at a spot now forming a part of the Laurel Wood farm, near Agnew. Two years later, a flood de- stroyed both church and monastery, and the padres in consequence sought a site on higher ground near the present railway station of Santa Clara. There, on November 9, 1781. they laid the foundation of a large adobe church and mission buildings. Three years later, on May 15, 1784, the new church was dedicated, by the venerable Padre Serra, then padre presidente of all the Missions of Cali- fornia.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 51

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934