Tragedies and Calamities, Stop One

Transcription

1 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop One The first stop on this walking tour is St. Patrick s Church, at 389 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA Post-Quake Proclamation At 5:12 on the morning of April 18, a powerful earthquake struck San Francisco. The temblor was so strong that it was felt as far north as southern Oregon, and south beyond Los Angeles. The citizens of San Jose had to contend with fire, destruction, and looting on the day of the quake. By afternoon, San Jose Mayor George Worswick had this flyer printed and posted all over town, hoping to retore some order to the chaos. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library see next page for other image descriptionss

2 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop One 2 Saint Patrick s Church, 1906 This is Saint Patrick s Roman Catholic Church, which stood on the northwest corner of Santa Clara and Ninth Streets - devastated by the Great Quake of Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 3 Saint Patrick s Church, 1906 Although reduced to rubble in a matter of seconds, its undaunted parishioners set about rebuilding on the same site. The new church served its parish for the next sixty years. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 4 Saint Patrick s Church rebuilt Less than a year following the quake, this new structure was completed. They used bricks from the devastated building for the foundation. It served the parish until 1967, when a more modern structure replaced it. Image courtesy of Edith C. Smith Collection, Souriseau Academy, San Jose State University.

3 Directions to Stop Two From St. Patrick s Church, walk up Santa Clara Street toward San Jose City Hall. Turn left on South 7th Street and follow it until you run into the San Jose State University campus.

4 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Two San Jose High, c In 1898 this spacious school was built, the first in San Jose for high school students only. Designed by local architect Jacob Lenzen and built at a cost of $100,000, it was a local showplace proudly displayed to visitors. Unfortunately, this lovely building was completely destroyed after only eight years, when the Great Quake of 1906 struck. Please view the other images to get an idea of the damage. The last image shows the rebuilt high school. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University see next page for other image descriptionss

5 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Two 2 San Jose High: Earthquake The new high school had been in place less than eight years when the 1906 quake struck. The roof and walls collapsed, leaving the building in ruins. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 3 San Jose High: Earthquake If the quake had hit later in the day when school was in session, the loss of life could have been catastrophic. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 4 San Jose High: After the Quake Six months after the quake, a $175,000 bond measure was passed to build a new high school on the same site. The new five-building campus was dedicated in September 1908 with a student enrollment of 786. Image courtesy of Souriseau Academy, San Jose State University.

6 Directions to Stop Three The next stop on the tour is at the corner of South Second and San Fernando Streets, so from here walk east on San Fernando Street to the entrance to Safeway at Second Street. Then look diagonally across the street to the 2-story gray building.

7 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Three The Louise Building Of all the areas in San Jose, the west side of South Second Street between San Fernando and Santa Clara was the most devastated by the 1906 quake because a fire erupted there as well. This image is the lovely Louise Building about 1894, which stood on the northwest corner of San Fernando and South Second Streets. Souvenir of San Jose, and vicinity. Compiled from recent negatives by Crockwell & Williams. San Francisco: Crockwell & Williams, see next page for other image descriptions

8 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Three South Second and San Fernando Streets, 1906 This is the same corner on the morning of the quake. The damage from the temblor was significant, but it was the subsequent fire that did the greatest damage. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. South Second Street looking South This southward view shows that South Second Street looked like a war zone following the quake and fire. The five-story Dougherty Building in the middle of the block had no insurance, and was a $100,000 loss - a sizeable sum in Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 4 5 South Second Street looking South Here we see fire hoses snaking down the street, as men work to at least keep the fire from spreading. The devastated Dougherty Building included offices that held not only historic weather records for San Jose, but 24,000 glass negatives - the life s work of artist and photographer Andrew P. Hill. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. South Second Street at San Fernando, after the fire The total cost of the damage in San Jose from the 1906 quake and subsequent fire was millions of dollars, and much of it was due to the destruction on this block alone. Less than 15 years earlier, South Second between Santa Clara and San Fernando also suffered great loss in the fire of How unlucky can one block be? Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library.

9 Directions to Stop Four From here, return to San Fernando Street and walk west one block to South 1st Street. Turn right, walk half way down the block to the corner of Post Street and advance to the next stop on th tour.

10 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Four Phelan Building, c This is the Phelan building about James Duval Phelan was born in San Francisco in 1861, and eventually became both Mayor of SF and then a U.S. Senator. From his wealthy father he inherited several buildings in SF and San Jose, before building his dream home in Saratoga Villa Montalvo which he donated to Santa Clara County after his death in Be sure to check the other images on this stop for an idea of the damage the Great Quake caused. Souvenir of San Jose, and vicinity. Compiled from recent negatives by Crockwell & Williams. San Francisco: Crockwell & Williams, see next page for other image descriptions

11 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Four 2 Phelan Building, 1906 When the Great Quake hit, the Phelan Building was completely destroyed. It had held offices, apartments and T.W. Hobson\'s Clothiers. The men standing atop the rubble are trying to clear away debris, as several people who lived in the building were trapped below. One man died in the collapse. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library. 3 Phelan Building Devastation Here is another dramatic view of the devastated Phelan Building, which completely blocked the intersection of Post (at that time El Dorado) and First Streets. Mr. Phelan donated the enormous sum of a million dollars to the Red Cross following the quake. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library.

12 Directions to Stop Five Continue up Post Street to the corner of Post and Market Streets for the next stop on your tour of San Jose's "Tragedies and Calamities."

13 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Five Auzerais & Pomeroy, c The fancy building with the arched windows was just a couple of years old when this photo was taken in Edward Auzerais and A.E. Pomeroy owned this large mercantile store, selling groceries, hardware, crockery, and agricultural implements. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University see next page for other image descriptions

14 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Five 2 Home Union Store And here it is just after the quake in 1906, at this time owned by William Ginty. The quake peeled away the facade and dramatically exposed much of the upper floor. Fortunately neither of the original owners was still around to witness the destruction. Edward Auzerais had returned to France and passed away in 1896, and Pomeroy was gone, too. 3 Home Union Store A few more words on Edward Auzerais, who, along with his brother John, was a significant figure in downtown San Jose business history. The Auzerais brothers, natives of France, arrived here in the early 1850s and built several successful businesses, including the sumptuous Auzerais House, which hosted presidents and dignitaries for decades.

15 Directions to Stop Six Return once again to San Fernando Street, and continue west. Carefully cross busy Almaden Blvd and stop at the corner, then advance to the next stop and see a very different picture of this corner in 1911.

16 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Six Flood - Almaden Boulevard and San Fernando Street This neighborhood group found an amusing way of marking the occasion of the flood of March 7th,1911, near the intersection of what was then Vine and San Fernando Streets. Elsewhere, the flood had washed out the Alum Rock Park rail line, swept away bridges and inundated hundreds of acres of agricultural land across the valley. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. 1 2 see next page for other image descriptions

17 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Six Flood - Almaden Avenue In January 1911, San Jose had inches of rainfall matching our average seasonal total. The still saturated ground could not absorb the additional 2.62 inches that fell on March 7th, causing the Guadalupe River to flood. Here we see two men finding an inventive way of navigating the flooded street. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library.

18 Directions to Stop Seven From here, set your sights toward the Hotel de Anza at the north end of Almaden Blvd and turn left up Santa Clara Street. Walk under the highway to San Jose s Guadalupe River Park. Advance to the next stop for another image of the terrible flood of 1911.

19 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Seven Flood, River St. This is the Guadalupe River on March 7th, The domed Church of the Holy Family stood next to the river at the southwest corner of S. River Street and W. San Fernando Street. The valley had a total of five inches of rain in as many days, which the shallow Guadalupe River could not contain. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. 1

20 Directions to Stop Eight Now head back east up Santa Clara Street, past the Hotel De Anza again. Continue to 1st and Santa Clara Streets, and stop by the old Firato Ravioli sign. Advance to the next stop for photos of the Unique Theatre following the 1906 quake.

21 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Eight Unique Theatre, 1906 In 1903, 20-year old Sid Grauman opened the Unique Theatre with the idea of combining vaudeville acts with the new moving picture shows. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library see next page for other image descriptions

22 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Eight 2 Unique Theatre, 1906 When the earthquake wrecked his leased theater, Grauman moved to Southern California and opened a string of movie theatres, including the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. 3 Unique Theatre, 1906 In addition to Grauman, a couple of other men who had their start at the Unique Theatre would go on to achieve worldwide fame. Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle was the ticket taker and mop boy, and Al Jolson appeared on stage for $75 per week. Image courtesy of the California Room, San Jose Public Library.

23 Directions to Stop Nine The next stop is sort of hard to get to, since the building was behind the courthouse in what is now a parking lot. Walk up North 1st Street toward St. James Park; just past the post office building you can peek back into the parking lot to see where the next stop is.

24 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Nine Tiburcio Vasquez portrait This is Tiburcio Vasquez ( ), a California bandit who denied any participation in the robberies and a murder of which he was accused. To this day he is considered a controversial figure, as he claimed to be a defender of Mexican-American rights. This was one of the last photos taken of him before he was executed by hanging at the Santa Clara County jail. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University see next page for other image descriptions

25 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Nine 2 Tiburcio Vasquez invitation This is the invitation to the execution of Tiburcio Vasquez, who was finally captured and eventually brought to trial here in San Jose after years of being wanted throughout the state of California. Many appeared at the jail unaware that they needed an invitation to be admitted to the hanging. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. 3 County Jail, c This is the Santa Clara County Jail about the time of Vasquez hanging.the execution took place in the courtyard of the building. Even after his conviction, many visited him in his cell, especially women. He signed autographs and posed for pictures, selling the photographs to pay for his legal defense. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University.

26 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Ten Santa Clara County Courthouse This is the Santa Clara County Courthouse not long after the county jail (visible behind it) was built in This large and ornate structure was built in 1868 with the veiled hope of luring the state legislature back to San Jose. No such luck. Note the stately dome which once graced the building, as well as the young trees planted in St. James Park. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University see next page for other image descriptions

27 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Ten County Courthouse, c The county government quickly outgrew the space, and by 1892 it was necessary to build the adjoining Hall of Records building. This southward view was taken around County Courthouse, 1931 fire On the afternoon of May 18, 1931, fire broke out in the attic space where the janitorial supplies were kept at the courthouse. Lacking proper ladders and water towers, the San Jose Fire Department was unable to fight the flames as they traveled downward, eventually spreading throughout the entire building. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. County Courthouse, 1931 fire Firemen scurried as the top cornice broke loose and came down. There were about 5000 people watching the fire from across the street in St. James Park. Many were put to work passing stacks of documents from the adjoining Hall of Records, which sustained considerable water damage. The Hotel St. James was saved, only to burn down 6 months later. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. County Courthouse, rebuilt In spite of extensive interior damage, the walls remained intact, so Depression-era and cash-strapped San Jose rebuilt the interior instead of starting from scratch. A third story was added, but the costly dome was never rebuilt. Irreplaceable records dating back to 1854 were lost. The San Jose Fire Department purchased new fire apparatus to ensure such a loss would never happen again. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University.

28 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Eleven Brooke Hart, Bellarmine Grad This is Alex Hart's son, Brooke, at the time that he graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory School in Brooke was a bright, handsome, and well-liked young man. He also graduated from Santa Clara University and was being groomed for management at Hart's in the fall of Unfortunately, he met a tragic end at the age of 22, when he was kidnapped and murdered. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University see next page for other image descriptions

29 Tragedies and Calamities, Stop Eleven Hart s Department Store Leopold Hart opened the "Corner Cash Store" here on the southeast corner of Market and Santa Clara Streets in It eventually grew into a department store, passed down to his son, Alex Hart, and then his son Alex Hart Jr., before moving to the suburbs in 1968 and eventually closing. Here is the store during a Christmas rush in the 1920s. McKay Photograph, Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. 4 5 Santa Clara County Jail Thomas Thurmond and John Holmes, who had kidnapped Brooke Hart as he left work on November 9, 1933, tried for several days to extort ransom from Alex Hart for the return of his son - whom they had already murdered. Thurmond was found within the week, implicated Holmes, and both were brought to the Santa Clara County Jail. Image courtesy of Edith C. Smith Collection, Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. Crowd storms the jail It was 17 days before authorities made the gruesome discovery of Brooke Hart's badly decomposed body in shallow water near the San Mateo - Hayward Bridge. Outrage quickly spread in San Jose upon hearing this, and a large crowd gathered to storm the jail that night. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University. Lynching Tree, St. James Park Finally breaking in and overpowering the sheriff and staff, men seized Thurmon and Holmes and dragged them to St.James Park. An enormous crowd of thousands cheered while they were stripped and strung up in two trees near the southwest corner of the park. It was the last public lynching to take place in California. Image courtesy of Sourisseau Academy, San Jose State University.