Historic Background - 1922 White Oaks Ave - 1995HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
FOR
1922 WHITE OAKS AVENUE
IN THE
CITY OF CAMPBELL
FOR
EMILY CHEN
10190 BRET AVENUE
CUPERTINO, CA 9014
BY
ARCHIVES AND ARCHITECTURE
353 SURBER DRIVE
SAN JOSE, CA 95123 (408) 227-2657
GLORY ANNE LAFFEY, HISTORIAN
JUNE 19, 1995
INTRODUCTION
Architectural and historical research for the residence at 1922 White Oaks Avenue (APN
424-40-006) was carried out in May 1995 by Archives & Architecture. Examination of the
structure and background history was requested by Ms. Emily Chen. The development
proposal calls for the demolition or removal of the building from the parcel.
The subject property is located at 1922 White Oaks Avenue between Woodward Road and
Browning Avenue in the City of Campbell (Maps 1 and 2). 1922 White Oaks Avenue is
listed in the City of Campbell's original Historic Resources Master List (1977).
The field work for the study was carried out by Glory Anne Laffey, principal of Archives
& Architecture. Mrs. Laffey has been conducting historical studies and cultural resource
evaluations in Santa Clara County since 1979. She has a MA in Social Science and has
been professionally certified by the California Committee for the Promotion of History.
This study included a survey of the property and a physical examination of the structures
on May 24, 1995, during which photographs of the buildings were taken. Archival
research was carried out between May 22 and June 3 at local repositories of historical
records which included the County Assessor's Office, Office of the County Surveyor, the
San Jose Historical Museum archives, the Campbell Historical Museum, the California
Room of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Public Library, the consultant's personal library, and
in the research files of Charlene Detlefs-Duval and William Wulf.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
The Campbell area of the Santa Clara Valley was origin~illy part of the range lands of Mis-
sion Santa Clara until secularization of the California missions in 1836. From 1791 when
Mission Santa Cruz was established by Father Lasuen, the road between Mission Santa
Clara and Mission Santa Cruz followed what became known as the Santa Clara-Santa Cruz
road or the Santa Clara-Los Gatos road. From the City of Santa Clara, the old mission
road followed what is now Winchester Boulevard south to Los Gatos Creek. Crossing the
creek, the road followed the east bank of the creek into the mountains.
In 1846 Juan C. Galindo, formerly the majordomo at the Mission Santa Clara, purchased
the former mission lands from Father Jose Maria del Real. Galindo paid $100 and 100
head of cattle for 3ffi5 acres (California Land Commission, Land case ND 347). The
location of Galindo's hacienda is not known; however, it is believed that Galindo
constructed a house on the bank of Los Gatos Creek on what later became the farm of
Hugh Leigh.
The late 1840s were a significant period in California's history and in the development of
the Santa Clara Valley. As American and European settlers drifted into Mexican California
during the 1830s and 1840s, many were attracted to the Pueblo of San Jose. With a popu-
lation of about five hundred, by the end of the decade San Jose was the largest town in
northern California, situated in a fertile undeveloped valley. In 1846 the United States de-
clared war on Mexico, sent troops to California, and in 1848 acquired the Mexican prov-
ince of California in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. Closely Following the acquisition of
California by the United States was the discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills, which pre-
cipitated asudden influx of population to the slate. This event served to accelerate Califor-
niastatehood, which was achieved in 1850, with San Jose serving as the first state capital.
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