Entries from July 2009 ↓

Neighborhood War Garden. Photograph by Al Lasser, History San José Collection

Victory Gardens were one of the most successful programs during World War II. People at home were encouraged to grow their own fruits and vegetables, as commercially grown produce was needed to feed the military and allies overseas. In 1943, the Department of Agriculture challenged the nation to grow at least 18 million gardens. The challenge was well received; in San José a “Neighborhood War Garden” was developed near Taylor and Stockton Streets. You can learn more about the Santa Clara Valley during World War II at the Home Front exhibit in the Pacific Hotel Gallery at History Park.

Come to History Park on Saturday, August 8th to experience the Spirit of ’45 at the Third Annual Day of Remembrance at History Park. It will be a day full of memories, living historians, music, and dancing.

———————————————————-

Melissa Johnson
Curator of Interactive Media

Rancho Santa Teresa, Bernal Land Grant, c. 1860, Leonard McKay Collection

In 1834 José Joaquin Bernal received a grant of 9,647 acres from the Mexican government.

To learn more about Spanish and Mexican era in San José joing us for the Founders’ Day Fandango on July 26, 2009.

Portrait of Three Unnamed Mexican Men, History San José Collection

This is an early (1870 – 1880) tintype from the History San José’s collection.  We don’t know the names of the men in the photograph but is it an excellent example of a portraits from the late 19th century.

On Sunday, July 26th you are invited to join History San José to celebrate the founding of El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe at the Founders’ Day Fandango at the Peralta Adobe – Fallon House Historic Site.  The free Founders’ Day Fandango will feature live music and dancing, children’s activities, and tours of the Peralta Adobe and Fallon House.

———————————————-
Melissa Johnson
Curator of Interactive Media

History San José members and their friends had the best seats in town for Fourth of July fireworks this year, put on by the San José Giants from their ballpark across from Kelley Park.

History Park – at the South end of Kelley Park – is a perfect viewing spot, and more than 300 History San José members took advantage of their opportunity to enjoy the display from its gated confines.

Even before the fireworks, groups of family and friends gathered for a good old fashioned celebration, with potluck picnics, decorated tables, and traditional barbeque on the communal pits.

After appetites were satisfied and as the sun went down, kids and adults alike strolled through the old fashioned streets of History Park, rode the historic trolley, played games, drew chalk art on the sidewalks, and generally enjoyed each others’ company.  Street lights and the Light Tower were illuminated.

By 9:30, hundreds of lawn chairs and blankets were facing west in anticipation of the fireworks display, and picnickers were bundled up and listening for the first tell-tale boom signaling the start of the show.

After a few false alarms, the spectacular fireworks were underway, punctuated by loud cheers and applause.  For 30 minutes we were in the midst of color, and sparkle, and flash – ending in a dazzling burst of flash and noise.

What a memorable way to enjoy this summer holiday – in the company of friends and members of History San José who value our community’s history and traditions all year-round!

If you have photos from the evening, we would love to post them!  Just send them to webmaster@historysanjose.org.

———————————————
Linda Spencer
Director of Development

A new addition to the History San José collection is the iconic pets.com puppet.  In the late 1990’s whenever you turned on your television, you were likely to encounter a commercial for pets.com. The company’s mascot was a sock puppet of a dog with a wristwatch for a collar, holding a microphone embossed with the corporate logo.

Jim Reed, Curator of Library & Archives with the pets.com sock puppet. Photo by David Hartwick

For the general public, pets.com came to symbolize the Internet “bubble” of the late 1990’s. The company, founded in 1998, abruptly ceased operation in November 2000, having burned through more than $300 million in investment capital.

The sock puppet, however, captured the public imagination. It appeared in the 1999 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and was interviewed by People magazine and by Good Morning America.

The pets.com sock puppet remains an important symbol of the nation’s exuberance about the marketing potential of the World Wide Web.

———————————————————–

Jim Reed
Curator of Library & Archives