Arts, culture and architecture show San Jose’s history extends beyond technology

Tech and innovation may represent San Jose s present and its future but long before the microchip reshaped the city s identity it amassed a treasure chest of cultural and historical gems from more lighthearted inventions like fruit cocktail and Eggo Waffles to iconic moments in the civil rights movement that preservationists continue to fight to keep hold of Related Articles Stanford Theatre celebrating th birthday in classic fashion In contemporary times in History May Brooklyn Bridge opens to traffic New book examines what inspired the hippie movement Summer of Love Disneyland re-creates Walt Disney with majority lifelike animatronic ever Currently in History May outlaws Bonnie and Clyde killed in police ambush Dana Peak a historic preservation officer at the city commented numerous people do not think San Jose has any history or that there is something to preserve But while it may not be an East Coast city founded by the pilgrims she commented San Jose has its own unique history worth telling May marks Historic Preservation Month and the theme is the power of place signifying how history can move people expand how they see the world and build a sense of belonging Peak declared I think it s really crucial that we are stewards for the next generation and making sure the physical embodiment of all the stories is uplifted and preserved Peak declared A lot of preservation is not going towards the federal cabinet but towards more inclusivity and who gets to tell the story whose story it is and uplifting more than one story where there are a lot of layers and different points of view From literature and music to thought-provoking architectural components planning executives revealed San Jose has a broad and diverse history beyond its designation as the capital of Silicon Valley including being a city of a large number of firsts that have nothing to do with apparatus For example before Del Monte marketed fruit cocktail in Herbert Gray created the product at the Barron-Gray Packing Co on South Fifth and Martha Streets in Frank Dorsa also created the Eggo Waffle in San Jose and its factory at Eggo Way was once proposed to be added to the historic information inventory San Jose is home to the Century Theater at Olsen Drive the iconic domed structure built in that was a first-of-its-kind As a local landmark listed on the California Register of Historical Places Peak disclosed it was the last domed cinema in the Bay Area The city also has a rich arts and society history Low Rider Magazine s headquarters sat at Willow St after Sonny Madrid Larry Gonzalez and David Nunez founded the publication in centered around Chicano custom including cars music fashion and political issues Other notable locations around the city include S th St the craftsman-style house that Tom Johnston the founder and lead vocalist of the rock group The Doobie Brothers rented while attending San Jose State University and studying graphic design The Cassady House on Santa Clara Street was known as a hangout for the Beat Generation including Allen Ginsberg and Jack Kerouac A home lived in by Tommie Smith a member of San Jose State s vaunted Speed City track and field project and Olympian who gained notoriety for his Black Power salute at the Olympic Games also has city landmark status Although Smith and his teammate John Carlos initially received criticism for the gesture they later became civil rights icons for their stand Peak mentioned that the City Council Historic Commission or property owner can initiate landmark designation which requires a historical support consultant to document and evaluate the property based on eight specific criteria Historic buildings provide a way for us to learn about our cities history and history that is different from San Francisco Oakland and Berkeley Peak revealed We have our own history and it s the way to connect with our district and give ourselves roots The city has in recent weeks completed historic surveys and interactive story maps for the areas of Alviso Martha Gardens and Five Wounds In the past year the City Council has approved several notable historic designations including Grace Baptist Church which is renowned for its decades-long history of inclusivity and willingness to help all races genders and denominations The church also contains the only surviving pipe organ from the Liberty Theater What is new becomes old church moderator Jeanne Wardrip reported last year It doesn t mean we throw it out After a more than -year wait the Schiele Avenue Alameda Park District became the sixth neighborhood to receive landmark status after Hensley Lakehouse Reed River Street and St James Square The district with Queen Anne Tudor Craftsman and Spanish Revival homes from the late s was the first historic district designation granted since However in the process it raised a debate that preservationists have come to often hear about whether holding onto history comes at the expense of future progress We see historic preservation as not an either-or choice Preservation Action Council San Jose Executive Director Ben Leech revealed It s often framed as Why we need to save for the past or build for the future That s a false choice because there is room to do both While he acknowledged that San Jose requirements housing Leech was largely pleased with the city s and developers efforts to recognize that historic buildings can contribute to future necessities He pointed to the Gateway Tower project a mixed-use affordable housing evolution approved this year at S Domain St that pays homage to Charles Doc Herrold a pioneer of broadcast radio Herrold s KQW station later became known as KCBS Cities are inherently more stimulating and vibrant when there are layers of history Leech announced Leech hopes San Jose leaders will continue making it easier for historic buildings to be preserved and see the benefits of reusing buildings While Leech has pushed the city to offer adaptive reuse incentives he revealed he has seen developers realize the benefits of existing historic buildings and that preservationists are not just asking them to save the structure for history s sake I think we are seeing that get through with Jay Paul looking at the Cityview project Leech reported There s a clear recognition that buildings have a functional life and use even if they are not architecturally stellar