Thanks to everyone who came out for the Ice Cream Social and a special thanks to Mission City Creamery for supplying the DELICIOUS ice cream and the Harris Lass for hosting us!
Since we'll be eating ice cream in their yard next week, let's learn a bit about the Harris Lass House!
"The Harris Lass House Museum is named for the two families that lived there for over 125 years. Henry Harris purchase the property in 1864 and had the Italianate style house built a year after in 1865. He lived there with his wife, Mary, their son Albert and daughter Miriam. Albert inherited the house in 1886 and was responsible for the extensive additions and remodeling during the 1890s.
In 1906 the property was bought by Captain Christian Lass and nine family members, comprising of three generations, moved in. They were the Captain and his wife (Julia) along with one of their sons (Frederick), his wife (also a Julia) and their three daughters (Carolina, Julia and Johanna). An unmarried sister (Bertha) and brother (Adolph, known as Orie) of Frederick’s wife also took up residence.
Frederick inherited the property after the Captain died in 1920. Upon her mother’s death, the youngest daughter Johanna Lass Hayes inherited the estate. She lived here until 1985 when she sold the property to the City of Santa Clara.
This 11-room Italianate home is significant primarily as the last remaining large farmhouse in Santa Clara."
Source: Harris Lass Website
Thanks to everyone who came to the quarterly meeting last week. A big thanks to the Women's Club for hosting us and Linda Hylkema for an amazing presentation about the artifacts found right here in the Old Quad!
Luis Antonio Arguello II was born in 1830, the youngest of Luis Antonio Arguello I an Soleded (Ortega) Arguello. Sometime around 1868, Luis Antonio built a beautiful home in Santa Clara at Santa Clara and Main Streets, backing on the Town Plaza Park. It remains today in its original location. Luis is shown to the right with his cousin Ignacio Marlarin, who also lived on Santa Clara Street.
Source: Legendary Locals of Santa Clara (you can find a copy at City Lights)
Thanks to all the past and current firefighters in Santa Clara and around the world!
Below is a picture of the Tanner Hose Company, one of the first firehouses in Santa Clara.
In 1878 the employees of the Santa Clara Tannery organized the Tanner Hose Company. Jacob Eberhard bought a hose cart and 500 feet of hose. Tanner Hose was one of 5 companies that formed the volunteer fire department.
Source: "Images of America: Santa Clara"
Nicholas and Isabel Den
Isabel was born in 1855, the daughter of Jose Ramon and Isabel (Alviso) Arguello. She married Nicholas Den (born in 1848) at Mission Santa Barbara about 1878. Ramon was the son of Dr. Nicholas Den of Ireland. Along with Dr. H.H. Warburton, he was one of only three doctors practicing in Alta, California.
Source: Legendary Locals of Santa Clara (you can find a copy at City Lights)
It's a great time to get outside and enjoy the Old Quad for the wonderful place it is! Flowers are blooming and the birds are chirping...you never know what neighbors you might meet while on a nice stroll!
We are looking for volunteers for different projects in the area. Please let us know if you're interested and we can send you more information!
The walking group had a great time strolling and talking through the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery last Saturday. We even learned a bit about some of the people buried there. One person's stone that's pointed out on the map is Maria Soledad Ortega de Arguello.
"Granddaughter of Sergeant Jose Francisco de Ortega, the discoverer of the Santa Clara Valley, Dona Soledad was California's 'first lady' when her husband, Don Luis Arguello, was California's first governor under Mexican rule. The Arguello Family's vast Rancho de las Pulgas covered most of what is today's San Mateo area."
Source: Santa Clara Mission Cemetery Map
If you are interested in viewing our Financial Statement from 2014, you can download it here.
Bellomy Street
Since we're meeting on Bellomy Street for our Walking Group on March 7th, wouldn't you like to know how it got it's name?? George Washington Bellomy established the first tannery in Santa Clara and operated a saloon here in the gold rush era. His wife was a Bernal family member.
Source: City of Santa Clara Website
Thanks to those who came out to Mission City Creamery last night! We had a great time sharing stories over yummy handmade ice cream!
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