Tag Archives: aborn

Quimby Road – History

September 7, 2016Concept, Historical Researchaborn, casalegno, Chaboya, evergreen, family, generations, kettmann, mayor, mirassou, pellier, Quimby, quimby road, Renaud, san jose, street nameevergreen

Quimby Road, from its 1860’s creation, has been an artery into the town of Evergreen, intersecting with historic White Road and King Road for over 150 years now. We’ve discussed previously in Evergreen Mural Walk’s blog Evergreen’s Own Mayor Quimby. John Alonzo Quimby, San Jose Mayor, is indeed the roadway’s namesake, whose second home outside of downtown was here in Evergreen in the 1860’s. Quimby Road on our Best Drives List, however, is host to many powerful stories and breathtaking vistas.

We’re looking at Quimby Road from the familiar now 1899 map, which I found at Evergreen Valley College’s library in the Heritage Room, curated by Colleen Cortese. Let’s talk about what these parcels are now.

You can see White Road further left. Left is west and a pinch south. White Road runs North and South and Norwood Avenue, running off the map here, ought to point directly East. The right of the adjacent Chaboya properties, belonging Ramon Chaboya, is the Evergreen School District Office and Quimby Oak Middle School. This is Ramon, or Raymond, Chaboya to the left here. The western border of the western, or left, Renaud property is Ruby Avenue which later builds through to the Mirassau or Mirassou property on Chew Lane, which became Aborn Road. This is a particularly interesting tid bit because of the Pellier lineage

.The roadway was named for the one time Mayor, long time civil servant and Evergreen rancher. Strangely enough though, the Quimby Family property, in the family as shown above, isn’t located on Quimby Road in 1899. It appears to have been downsized and passed down to the Quimby’s daughter, then Mrs. Wright, lived on Chaboya Road. Can I be honest with you? This M. Wright parcel feels more like the corner of the Pellier Ranch. The straightened portion becomes Murillo Avenue and the offshoot of Chaboya Road is there. This is where the Sikh Gurdawa is today. It would’ve outline the neighboring Pellier Ranch in 1876 and become the driveway by 1899.

We’re going to look back at Quimby Road again, but this time in 1876. I’m going to tell you that this zoom out is very deceiving. The properties will appear to be the same size, but that is not the case. They’re much larger and fewer. They’ll just be bigger. Check the acre size on the Ramon Chaboya and the McClay/Chaboya parcel to be sure. Ramon Chaboya’s are both 39 acres. The McClay/Chaboya parcel on Quimby Road is 36+ acres.

As stated above, Quimby Road connected Evergreen to downtown at its Northern end as Evergreen and Chew Lane did on the South side. The portion of Tully Road where Quimby Road first appears was also known as Quimby Road. This section was soon after renamed for the prominent businessman and landowner, John Tully, Lake Cunningham were developed. You can see Cunningham on the Wallace & Tully parcel in yellow. Tully Road would divide this property in half.

Along the dotted line, Norwood Avenue would’ve been built and Tully Road would border the Wallace Tully property to the North. This is considered the boundary of Evergreen itself.

During the 1870’s, the Chaboya’s would spread out along Quimby Road with large ranches and a driveway that would later become Murillo and Chaboya. Into the 1890’s the family would downsize and swap parcels with neighbors like the McClays, who would also downsize over the years as it passed down to later generations. The Kettmann’s were upsizing, purchasing Mt. Hamilton land for goat herding, and surely used Quimby Road and Mt. Hamilton to get there. The widowed Mrs. Tully was buying up property. Also seemingly moving out of the Evergreen area is the Pellier Family, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

As we discussed before in RIP Louis Pellier, detailing a gravestone mix up, the Pierre Pellier family lost their budding male heir at the age of 16. This was a huge blow for Mr. & Mrs. Pellier and their daughters , soon after the death of Pierre’s brother . There wasn’t another son. Uncle Louis and his wife would have no children. Uncle Jean would have children. He is the only one who would carry on the family name. But the Pellier daughters would step up, marry well and pass on their family lineage and French heritage.

Mrs. Pellier’s distant family members, the Renaud’s, would move in near the French immigrants and begin planting vineyards on Quimby Road. One Pellier daughter would marry into the Renaud Family, third cousins or further removed. Elise Pellier would marry Alfred Leon Renaud and have eight children in 17 years on a Quimby Road Estate. In fact, Alfred Renaud would’ve passed away before Rose knew she was pregnant with their last child in 1901. I think a Renaud property is across from Evergreen Valley High School, but the larger E. L. Renaud property may stand for Elise Leon Renaud. In fact, there are still grapes grown here. The homestead may have been across Evergreen Valley High School while the grapevines grew up the street.

Again, a Pierre and Henrietta Pellier daughter would marry a French transplant moving to the Santa Clara County to engage in agriculture. Pierre Mirassou would marry Henrietta Pellier, the eldest daughter, and a wine dynasty would be born from their union.

Pellier Daughter Josephine would marry Mr. Michael Casalegno, an Italian immigrant, and have six children on the Pellier Ranch. I got to see their house, which has been moved and preserved within Evergreen. This would’ve been the Pellier’s home at one point. The largest ranch in Evergreen would again break up and become many of the largest ranches in Evergreen. The awesome ending to this Evergreen story is that it doesn’t end and they continue to raise new generations in Evergreen today. Rad.

I also need to confirm another historic Quimby Road lead that one of the Rinella daughters, a large Sicilian, Italian family, would marry into the LaMantia Family. Mr. LaMantia would maintain orchards of his own and the vineyards for the Evergreen Cribari Winery.

Back to Quimby Road in the late 1800’s, though. It would’ve been paved fairly early as an alternative route to James Lick Observatory. Alum Rock Road’s construction would have to be innovative and swift so the Observatory could begin its construction. Evergreen’s awesome drives and almost unchanged roadways have a lot to do with East San Jose and the Observatory’s development in Santa Clara County. Suddenly Evergreen’s thousands of residents were receiving a little more love from its Department of Transportation.

Let’s see if Quimby Road has changed much. Here it is today.

And the side by side. Can’t find it earlier than 1876.

The Evergreen artery, Quimby Road, has had some updates. I think there’s been two path changes in Quimby’s 150 year history. The first is the part of Quimby Road that now runs through to Mt. Hamilton Road. In 1876, it merely ran through Evergreen or up to “the Summit”. That was the boundary for Rancho Yerba Buena and is the color change at the end of each Quimby Road. This area simply didn’t exist before. Mt. Hamilton Road’s path too has been softened over time.

The second place updated is where I’m thinking is where I found evidence of it in a bridge. Quimby Road crosses creeks many times and therefore would’ve been washed out if unpaved or poorly maintained. This update would’ve taken place adding a second and steeper hump between the J. A. Quimby and A. Chaboya in the 1876 map. This was cleary updated in 1935. I’ll have to find out when Quimby reached Highway 130 and see if they happened at the same time.

The State of Public Arts

August 22, 2016Concept, Historical Research, Project launchaborn, aborn road, art portfolio, arts, arts commission, city of san jose, Discoveries, downtown, ear, evergreen, glider, John J. Montgomery, Larry Kirkland, library, montgomery, mouth, park, plane, public art, review, san felipe road, san jose, San Jose Public Library, SJPL, state of the arts, stones, the Evergreen Glider, Willow Glen, wing, yerba buena roadevergreen

Needless to say, I’m letting my nerd flag fly with every blog post for the Evergreen Mural Walk. If you think I enjoy Evergreen, consider how much I love Public Arts. As a San Jose Native and based Artist, how could anything be more personal or provocative to me as San Jose’s Public Arts’ Scene. I’m going to narrow my review to the Visual Arts’ for the most part because it’s my expertise and experience. I still don’t get out often enough to be a critic of our performing arts or festivals, which San Jose has a ton of! Well done, us. There is constantly something happening in San Jose and a holistic approach to the public spaces being highly considered makes those more engaging. City Hall is somewhere I find inspiration and a lot of support.

Since coming up with this crazy Evergreen idea a year ago, I’ve been to every City of San Jose Arts Commission and Public Art meeting open to the public. San Jose’s art portfolio is vast with a wide variety of investments and installations. Overall beautiful and well considered, I cannot help but to notice lots of funding going to out of state artists for their unique concepts. There’s been two pieces that people hate in Downtown. The Arts Commission funds programs like the Ballet, Symphony and other performing Arts. Illuminating Downtown appears to be a success with more projects on the way, a series of light Public Arts Installations to Downtown’s Underpasses. Brand new pieces have been installed on Lincoln Avenue in Willow Glen.

The Art Box program finds itself empowering charming pieces in already charming, walking Communities. To engage this program, you must have an artistically or culturally valid concept and private sponsorship. Its this programs’ intent to create opportunities for professional artists, though the stipend is low. I think this is why there are some done to a lesser quality than others. It takes a larger commitment of time from the artist than the program pays. This program adds to San Jose’s rich culture by creating exposure for artists. The location is chosen by the Arts Commissioner in charge and the private donor, so the pay off is in the location. Because of these elements, the Art Boxes have not been employed in Evergreen, or other graffiti ravaged Communities, though this Public Arts approach could help the safety and walkability of Evergreen. You’ll find Art Boxes in Willow Glen, Downtown, and the Alameda.

There is such a lack of color in San Jose, it’s known as Tan Jose to those in the Arts Community. People lament the boredom of San Jose’s Airport, knowing the Cultural hotspot that waits for them outside. San Jose State University trains brilliant, competent artists, but we outsource the Artistic Identity of San Jose to others. Those like Erin Salazar, with the Exhibition District, finds private funding and public walls to empower San Jose’s Arts Community to have a hand in its Individuality. Sadly, the Exhibition District focuses Downtown. Not in Evergreen. Cherri Lakey, too, with Two Fish Designs, brings Artists Opportunities forth in her successful galleries and SOFA events. SOFA, however, still isn’t Evergreen. Love seeing strong women creating business opportunities and cohesion for the Arts in San Jose. That connectivity to opportunities and empowering artists is crucial to San Jose’s Artistic Identity.

What has Public Art done for Evergreen lately? Does Evergreen have Public Art?

It’s gotta be asked because it’s not widely known or appreciated. It’s often teased for its curious shape. This first of these is a contribute to John J. Montgomery, the pioneer aviator who lost his life flying in our Evergreen hills. This is a recreation of a wing from his Evergreen glider. This stands at the park on the corner of Yerba Buena Road and San Felipe Road, within a mile of where the glider crashed on the Ramonda Ranch.

The importance of this shape is it is the modern shape of wing. John Montgomery flew before the Wrights Brothers and had the guidance systems in mind in advance. The East Coast bias goes back before National Sports leagues. Publication and their Printers were in high volume along the East Coast while the West Coast enjoyed the last standing Old West and settling. Circulation to local outlets would’ve been easy, but getting publications of Montgomery’s early flights back East were a feet. The Wrights Brothers have the public’s opinion on Flight’s First, however it was Montgomery and he simply did it better than others until his unfortunate landing.

Have you heard of these delights to the left and right? Evergreen Library has beautiful pieces of Public Art, but I had to hear about it in a Public Art Meeting. That would lead me to believe perhaps you’ve not seen Larry Kirkland’s “Discoveries” either. The Washington DC based artist here uses the senses and scale to engage his audience in an association with nature. Mr. Kirkland’s work can be seen in airports around the world, and here at the remodeled Evergreen Library off Aborn Road. Though little known, it think this is a wonderful addition to San Jose’s and Evergreen’s Artistic Identity. I think I’ll take a selfie with the giant ear. I love the honest qualities to the rock with the smooth contours of the skin. It’s a powerful textural contrast that leads us to opinions of our relationship with nature.

Enough La-Ti-Da. We’re done. That’s it in San Jose’s District 8. The largest Rancho in Santa Clara County has 2 pieces of Public Art. We’ve recognized and tried to bring relevance to the Montgomery piece in our proposed artwork. There’s splendorous fountains and decorations in new home and retail areas, but we have an artwork portfolio of two and no non-profits receiving operational grants in Evergreen, though I’m sure we have some budding ballerinas and musicians from Evergreen in our Arts Organizations. Andrew Bales of the SV Symphony discusses the 90% decrease in philanthropy over the last decade, which the Arts has endured. There are funds set away from every new development that goes towards things like Public Art. This too gets trimmed away by other needed services like homeless housing. What’s odd to me is that Evergreen is continuously development the rolling hillside but the 1% for the Arts doesn’t come back here in proportion. If Corporate Giving and governing agencies cannot fund the Arts, it’s going to go away unless someone gets creative.

Evergreen sees epidemic graffiti in public spaces and on historic grounds. Graffiti is a broken window to the factory that is the Evergreen Community. I can’t help but to think Public Art and bringing charm and romanticism to Evergreen could improve safety and tensions.

Tensions will naturally occur where you have a socio-economic contrast like ours and residents don’t feel like they have any options to improve their own situations. I maintain this Community is colorful, not unsafe. Those committing this vandalism are our target volunteer from our high school crowd. Their ownership and individuality brought to the project bring it success and authenticity. This was a wildly walkable Community when I was a little girl on my red bike. Before that, farmers freely roamed through the shortest path through their neighbors’ orchards on horseback. This project seeks to find that walkability and boost in tourism in Evergreen’s third piece to the Public Art Portfolio.

Evergreen’s Best Drives – Road Reviews

August 22, 2016Concept, Historical Researchaborn, alum rock, alum rock avenue, Chaboya, conditions, curvy, driving, haunted, highway 130, indegenous, james lick, nature, Norwood Avenue, observatory, paved roads, paving, phantom, quimby road, reviews, road, road review, roads, roadways, san felipe, silver creek, street name, wilderness, wildlife, windy, yerba buenaevergreen

Evergreen’s rolling, green hills and stunning vistas do not only provide its suburban gold a splendorous backdrop. These beautiful hillsides and over a hundred year old paths are endless entertainment for motorists, experienced and not, since their creation. As a teen, I never had a mischievous side but rather an intense curiosity. I would drive until I had to turn around in every direction. I could get to San Francisco without hitting a single freeway, and only later did I find out I had taken a 200 year old path by California’s settlers. I practiced on Quimby Road before driving over Highway 17 to Santa Cruz. I’d rather be close to home and stuck than far away and stuck. Today and throughout this research, I use these Evergreen roadways as pallet cleansers for the creativity and for a sense of what Evergreen is and was. I review from a place of experience.

Until the 1880’s, these roadways were unpaved horse carriage and cattle driving passages. King Road, Quimby Road, White Road, San Felipe Road, Chew Lane, Evergreen Road, Fowler Road, Cadwallader Avenue, Norwood Avenue and Silver Creek Road were the major roadways. King Road would’ve taken you into Downtown San Jose. Tully Road would’ve gotten you to Monterey Highway and either Downtown, Gilroy, San Francisco, or Oakland. Norwood Avenue, Fowler Road and Quimby Road would’ve snaked into the hillside and provided passage for farmers. When these weren’t direct enough, farmers were friendly enough to let others walk through their properties or boundary roads.

James Lick Observatory’s necessary roadway through one of the most complicated stretches of mountain terrain made paving Evergreen’s rolling hills were no longer insurmountable tasks. James Lick, philanthropist and business mogul, dedicated a Trust with the funds for the Observatory and Telescope in 1874. The trip was made by horseback in 1875 to the summit of Mt. Hamilton, though no previous trail had been blazed, and won out against several Bay Area mountain peak options. Alum Rock’s original roadway to the Observatory’s construction site was completed in 1876 for $70,000.00. That was fairly astronomical in 1870’s dollars. By 1879, the engineers and scientists worked the numbers and construction was underway. The James Lick Observatory with its Alum Rock Avenue access was completed in 1881. The early 1900’s saw plenty of paving of Evergreen roads, but it’s these roads which have not been altered in route or direction that make the best driving today.

Since we’re talking about it and it’s so close to Evergreen, Alum Rock Avenue is not for the car sick. Do not blindfold your best friend and try to bring her closer to the stars. Do not be surprised if one or both of the following happen if you do this – she vomits in your car or she gets really upset with you and convinces herself that you’re not her friend and this isn’t fun. Alum Rock Avenue connects San Jose to Mount Hamilton most directly through the curvaceous mountainside. The Mt. Diablo Mountain Range, for which Evergreen is a foothill, is aptly named and deviously windy. Now also known as Highway 130, this roadway leads over the summit and into Livermore eventually, this little time to have a good time. It’s conditions for driving aren’t always great. There’s sometimes snow on the summit and black ice making it dangerous. On a good day, the constant turning roadway isn’t one of the ones I remember super fondly. You worked to get to the Observatory, where views are spectacular. Heavily wooded areas make photos along the way difficult, but if you can look back towards San Jose, it can be stunning. Sunsets are beautiful.

San Felipe Road has the keys to my heart and its been well documented. Sunsets over oak trees and grazing land are spectacular. Reports of haunting and phantom hand prints are reported at night on the windy drive. Do not, I report, do not do anything silly on this roadway. Just watch it on youtube and laugh. This stretch of road is a photographer’s dream complete with indigenous wildlife and awesome sunsets. The curves, speed limits and turn offs are clearly marked making it a driver’s heartthrob eventually turning into Metcalf Road. The turns and inconsistencies of elevation and scenery make it a delight for the casual driver, but think about your ambitious bikers along the way. Deer also frequently cross. Be careful, but enjoy.

Tully Road is not a great drive. Steep inclines make it awesome fireworks views and Santa Clara Valley vistas, but it doesn’t go on long enough for any decent ride. Recent development also delays scenic gratification for photographers searching antique views. These are great vantages of Downtown San Jose. Similar reviews can be had of Fowler Road, as its route has been so heavily revised and cut short. Oh, what those hills could say if we could them from up there.

Quimby Road is windy but enjoyable. This is the perfect casual drive with four wheel drive. Turns are sharp, but the vistas are spectacular. Farmers and Open Space still exist in Evergreen and this short vacation drive will prove it to you. A few miles from civilization, you’ll have to decide if you’re blood is pumping enough for one joy ride or if you’re ready to endure more. This road meets Mt. Hamilton Road and continues into Joseph Grant Park just outside of Evergreen. This is a place where you can appreciate the natural beauty of what was here before all of us were. There are also ghost stories of Joseph Grant Park and easily persuaded Park Rangers with a fascination for the macabre.

Those were long drives to sink your tires into. Little known and fun-sized rides through rustic glory can be taken in following Aborn Road to the end and Chaboya Road by the Sikh Gurdwara. These are awkward U-turns but worth the trouble. These nearby and awesome drives host fantastic, antique barns, spotted horses, and thunderous oak trees. Wildlife also make this a photographer’s haven. It’s seen deer, quail, owls, turkeys and bobcats on these drives. It’s superb.

I only have one truly negative driving review from Evergreen. Yerba Buena Road has luscious turns that drivers enjoy but it dissects the Silver Creek Community. Pedestrians, students, bikers and motorists alike share these windy inclines and declines. Sadly, fatal accidents occur on Yerba Buena Road due to reckless or careless driving. It’s happened to someone near to me. Don’t take this everyday Evergreen roadway lightly. There is nowhere to pull over and photograph until you pass the college. It’s reasonable scenery but nothing to write home about. These walls across from Silver Creek Linear Park and Fire Station may be a second project once the Evergreen Mural Walk become profitable.

The Man with a Hoe

June 16, 2016Historical Researchaborn, Chaboya, downtown evergreen, educator, Edwin Markham, evergreen, evergreen people, Evergreen School, farmers, farming, K.R. Smith, kettmann, literature, Markham, poet, poetry, schoolhouse, Smith Family, teacherevergreen

Charles Edward Anson

Markham (1852-1940) is characterized as a minor American poet. Since he has Evergreen roots, we’ll designate him a major Evergreen poet. Edwin Markham was a teacher at the Evergreen Schoolhouse from 1869-1889. During those twenty years, he would write from the East Foothills and inspire and educate students from the Chaboya family, Kettmann family, Smith Family, certainly one day principal and superintendent, Katie R. Smith, Aborn Family , Chew Family and others. He was so cherished by the community, a redwood tree would be planted in his honor.

Though not published until 1899, ten years after Edwin Markham left the employment of the Evergreen School, I like to speculate about his inspirations. The Oregon native wrote poetry about the working class life in the late 1800’s. He would’ve worked on the family farm as a child, like most children at the time, in the north bay area. He would finish his teaching credential at San Jose State, then known as the Normal School, and fall in love with Evergreen. From 1921-1931, Edwin Markham would be Poet Laureate of Oregon.

Edwin Markham incites emotion through his metaphors and that familiar sense of earning. It is often said that Markham’s “The Man with the Hoe” was inspired by Jean-Francios Millet’s painting of the same subject, shown here to the left. That may have been a contemporary pop culture influence, however, Markham would get to see this activity quite regularly during his twenty year teaching stint in the town of Evergreen.

I have specific details about the farm adjacent to the schoolhouse using hoes, pitchforks and sickles, archaic equipment the immigrant family would’ve used in the old country. The farmers in Evergreen during this time would have front row seats to the Industrial Revolution and watch their equipment mechanize before their own eyes. Poorer farmers would have to work by hand until Evergreen’s labor force combined and circulated large rigs to harvest everyone’s fields.

Markham’s poetry would very much parallel the hardworking farmer’s plight during this time in history. Evergreen was farm country, first appearing in the Altas in 1867. Markham would move into Evergreen in 1869, as one time squatters became legal land owners and brand new farms were being raised all over town. It would be harder to imagine Markham’s work not being inspired by his time in the little farming town 8 miles outside the City.

Here’s Markham’s poem. If you enjoy this, read on. His poetry is quite lovely.

The Man with the Hoe

Bowed by the weight of centuries he leans 
Upon his hoe and gazes on the ground, 
The emptiness of ages in his face, 
And on his back the burden of the world. 
Who made him dead to rapture and despair, 
A thing that grieves not and that never hopes. 
Stolid and stunned, a brother to the ox? 
Who loosened and let down this brutal jaw? 
Whose was the hand that slanted back this brow? 
Whose breath blew out the light within this brain? 
Is this the Thing the Lord God made and gave 
To have dominion over sea and land; 
To trace the stars and search the heavens for power; 
To feel the passion of Eternity? 
Is this the Dream He dreamed who shaped the suns 
And marked their ways upon the ancient deep? 
Down all the stretch of Hell to its last gulf 
There is no shape more terrible than this — 
More tongued with censure of the world’s blind greed — 
More filled with signs and portents for the soul — 
More fraught with menace to the universe. 
What gulfs between him and the seraphim! 
Slave of the wheel of labor, what to him 
Are Plato and the swing of Pleiades? 
What the long reaches of the peaks of song, 
The rift of dawn, the reddening of the rose? 
Through this dread shape the suffering ages look; 
Time’s tragedy is in the aching stoop; 
Through this dread shape humanity betrayed, 
Plundered, profaned, and disinherited, 
Cries protest to the Powers that made the world. 
A protest that is also a prophecy. 
O masters, lords and rulers in all lands, 
Is this the handiwork you give to God, 
This monstrous thing distorted and soul-quenched? 
How will you ever straighten up this shape; 
Touch it again with immortality; 
Give back the upward looking and the light; 
Rebuild in it the music and the dream, 
Make right the immemorial infamies, 
Perfidious wrongs, immedicable woes? 
O masters, lords and rulers in all lands 
How will the Future reckon with this Man? 
How answer his brute question in that hour 
When whirlwinds of rebellion shake all shores? 
How will it be with kingdoms and with kings — 
With those who shaped him to the thing he is — 
When this dumb Terror shall rise to judge the world. 
After the silence of the centuries?

Alfred Chew’s Residence

May 27, 2016Artwork, Historical Researchaborn, california, chew, chew family, civil service, downtown evergreen, evergreen, evergreen people, family, leadership, orchards, statehood, street name, Valley of heart's Delightevergreen

The people and places featured in books and publications back in the 1800’s were highly regarded as well as some of the only glimpses into other places at the time. Alfred Chew was made popular by the Thompson and West Altas published in 1876. Print was a limited medium, but made the exchange of information possible. Tales of the Western Frontier being tamed were becoming public knowledge as fruit, dried and canned, would reach the East Coast from Santa Clara Valley. The building of railroads brought many people to California through and after the Gold Rush, but also made the export of fruit and curiosity a real commodity.

Images of Santa Clara Valley were published for the whole world to delight in, along with our bountiful produce in the Valley of Heart’s Delight. This would’ve also served as a tourism guide of landmarks to see when visiting the area. Evergreen and Silver Creek were located in the Rancho Yerba Buena Survey, eventually becoming the whole of Evergreen. The associated map for the above photo is to the right, from Thompson and West’s 1876 Atlas with Alfred Chew’s residence featured. Fitting, the Survey of mention is in green.

As you can see from this 1890 map to the left, before the turn of the century, Aborn Road was known as Evergreen Road west of White Road and San Felipe Road. To the East of San Felipe Road, the heavily driven Evergreen artery Aborn Road was known as Chew Lane. The Chew property is also featured here in the 1890 map at the top right corner along Chew Lane. That got me chewing on who Alfred Chew was.

Mr. Alfred Chew (1834-1910) would do a little traveling from his Ohio home front before settling down. Young Alfred would come with his parents, Morris Rees Chew and Mathilda Crumley, to live in Illinois before traveling West on his own. In 1853, Alfred Chew would start his journey West with the Kirkpatrick Company, headed for Oregon and making the most out of getting lost at the Missouri River. Kirkpatrick didn’t immediately arrive in Oregon that time. Before becoming a farmer in Evergreen, Alfred would meander South into California. We know about Mr. Alfred Chew for his leadership in early California Statehood in different areas of the State. Alfred Chew would run cattle through Gilroy before he would suffer from typhoid fever. Before returning home to Illinois in 1860, Mr. Alfred Chew would pursue government posts, and surely a different type of occupation than he had before. He was the US Deputy Surveyor for San Luis Obispo County in the late 1850’s. Alfred Chew would return to Illinois and marry Margaret Kennedy, returning to Evergreen with his new bride.

Alfred Chew would come to Evergreen and begin farming in 1860 3 miles outside of Evergreen. Alfred Chew would take his year’s profits and purchase a portion of attorney William Matthew’s property near downtown Evergreen in 1861, which was granted to him in exchange for legal services from the Chaboya vs. Squatters battle in years prior. This 1896 map shows no road where Chew Lane and now Aborn Road exists. Evergreen literally grew up with and around the Chew Family homestead. This is a black and white close up of the 1876 Thompson and West Altas with Chew’s property under “SAN”, before the road in his name was created. He would’ve moved in right next door to Charles Smith and Genrio Chaboya as one of the first residents of Evergreen.

After his winfall year farming 200 acres 3 miles outside of Evergreen in 1859, Chew would buy 100 acres of his own and build his home in downtown Evergreen. He would raise 7 children with wife Margaret, Mamie. They would’ve gone to the Evergreen Schoolhouse. Mr. Alfred Chew would return to civil service, elected to the Board of County Supervisors in 1873. He would serve on the Board from 1874-1878. Chew would also serve in Santa Clara County’s Assessor’s Office into the early 1900’s. Both his wife, Mamie, and his daughter, Emily Ann or Emma, would teach at the Evergreen Schoolhouse down the street from his downtown Evergreen house. Emma would also marry into the well-known, well liked Hostetter Family, who found their way to Santa Clara County with the Evergreen Farnsworth family guardians. Over the 50 years Alfred lived in Evergreen, Chew’s neighbors would sell their large downtown Evergreen farms away to make room for subdivision housing. Evergreen would continue to grow in population. Chew’s farm had a very different fate.

Mr. Alfred Chew’s Obituary would read “PROMINENT SAN JOSE ORCHARDIST IS DEAD Alfred Chew,” County Treasury Watchdog Passes Away SAN JOSE, Calif. Jan. 2. — Alfred Chew, for 33 years the “watchdog of the county treasury” and one of the most prominent orchardists of the county, died late last evening; at his home near Evergreen at the age of 75 years. For nearly half a century he had served the community as supervisor and deputy assessor or deputy tax collector. He is survived by seven children… ”

The Chew children would continue to live in and work on the Evergreen farm on Chew Lane. Chew’s reputation and leadership in the early days of Evergreen was the reason its main artery was name after him over a hundred years ago. You can see it crossing the “A” in this 1902 map along the Hart Line.

As you can see from the 1911 map to the left, this was the time Evergreen Road and Chew Lane became one Aborn Road. John Aborn, another revered Evergreen character, was a local pioneer figure from before Alfred Chew’s time in Evergreen who fought for farmers with the Chaboya Family, making the town of Evergreen possible. I wonder how his family must’ve felt about the renaming. Regardless of how Alfred Chew would’ve felt about the change of the street’s name, he would never have witnessed the change of address. The Chew Estate would stay in the family for a short while longer, all married and established, and the Chew family would move out of Evergreen in the 1910’s with Mamie’s passing.

Shortly after the Chews’ death and Aborn Road’s creation, the original 100 acres purchased from William Matthews in 1861 would be sold to another famed Evergreen family, the Mirassous. Henriette Pellier would marry Mr. Mirassou, see her family carry on the tradition of winemaking and move the winery operations from Pellier Ranch off Quimby and Chaboya Road in 1911 to the Chew property off of Chew Lane. There, the Mirassou family would have its famed vineyards and historic tasting room on Aborn Road for almost 100 years.

Through this artwork we’re trying to explain the transition from Native wilderness, to Mexican cow pastures to American homesteads. The artwork that features Mr. Alfred Chew’s residence from 1876, though certainly built in the 1860’s, is a piece that tries to do just that. Farmers moving into Evergreen would breathe new life into the ever green hills. Leaders like Chew would shape a developing area and Evergreen’s identity to the rest of the Country. It’s important to know who Chew was in Evergreen’s narrative.

Road to Aborn

March 2, 2016Historical Researchaborn, downtown evergreen, evergreen, kettmann, street name, townshipevergreen

Aborn Road is one of our main arteries in and out of the Evergreen neighborhood – running east to west, intersecting with Ruby and Murillo Avenues, White and San Felipe Roads as well as Capitol Expressway. It’s very close to the project site. Just a stone’s throw away from our murals.

In the research and design phase of this project, I looked into all the street names around Evergreen. It’s a little lazy, but a decent starting place if there was an awesome story to go with it. The boundaries are consistent through the cartographical research.

It would be safe to assume Aborn was someone important, right? I combed physical and electronic records for signs of John Aborn.

Records of John Aborn’s journey to the United States date back to 1833 with some other notable European San Jose Pioneers from England by sea. He was also sited in the case Anotnio Chaboya brought to suit naming squatters and evicting them. His daughter Mattie married John M. Murphy, son of the Pioneer, and then notes for John Aborn dry up.

There’s a monument placed at the site of his ranch, where community rodeos were once held, but nothing further on this John Aborn. I don’t know if this portrait is supposed to be him. His ranch would become William Prusch’s, whose daughter, Emma, would donate and become the namesake of the farmstyle park in East San Jose. William would eventually turn it over to H. W. Golds for another farm. I looked for family members of Aborn’s ranch manager, but alas, no leads. The story Dead Ends, but he must’ve been a well-liked man for people to have remembered him in such a large way.

Most notably, Aborn Road had been home to Mirassou Vineyards, winery and tasting room on Aborn Road for many years. The vineyard property is now new home developments. Aborn begins in luscious hills and rural ranches. Aborn ends at highway 101. Today, it is home to shopping centers, the Aborn Village Square, hundreds of homes (which include some historic subdivisions), and the Evergreen Library Branch. It’s a major Gateway through Evergreen. I drive it nearly every day. As a kid, I would cross it at various points using bridges over creeks and stop signs.

This Evergreen roadway wasn’t always called Aborn Road, though. San Felipe Road kept its name but not its route along Dry Creek, later Thompson Creek. This made it difficult to place historical sites. White Road would remain true to its course and its name throughout time. Aborn Road has been a consistent gateway into downtown Evergreen. I reviewed over 20 maps preparing for this project. The same road shows in some form or another in all the resources, but has had different names through the years. Until I looked at them in chronological order, I thought I was going crazy. The maps weren’t lining up for me. It wasn’t making any sense at.

The Mirassou wine family would purchase 100 acres of real estate from farmer Alfred Chew in 1911. Before Aborn Road was called Aborn, it was Chew Lane.

Alfred Chew, Sr., was born in 1834 in Ohio, making his way out to California in 1859. Alfred would raise seven kids on his Evergreen Farm, one daughter becoming an Evergreen teacher. The Chew Family would reside in Evergreen for over 50 years. In 1860, Alfred Chew would buy his farm from William Matthews, an attorney of the Chaboyas. Alfred Chew would be elected to the County Board of Supervisors in 1873 and serve until 1878.

Honorable Judge Kettmann did the paperwork for the Chew family in the sale of their historic property, shown above, before his judgeship. The Kettmann’s, too, would live off Chew Lane for several generations as well. The Hassler property would reach Chew Lane at one point. The Tullys would own property here, east towards King Road and down White Road.

Before Alfred Chew moved into the Evergreen neighborhood, the path was simply known as Evergreen Road. This roadway was the main road in and out of Evergreen for over 150 years.

The first Evergreen School house would sit at the corner of San Felipe Road and Evergreen Road, where there’s now a gas station and shopping center. The series of walking bridges connecting the communities separated by lagunitas or creekbeds, were the connective tissue of Evergreen. The Saloon was at this corner, down the way a little. The general store was here. The postmaster was here at this intersection. The new school house was relocated on San Felipe Road. This quaint downtown at Evergreen Road would’ve been where neighbors ran into each other.

Evergreen Road was once a driveway that split the Smith Residences down the middle at San Felipe and White Roads. This was the original Plat of Evergreen to the right. Charles C. Smith would open the General Store. The Smith House still stands today on San Felipe Road. I’d love to see it turned into a museum or venue of some sort. Nearby, the Hinman Garage is the location of the Smith blacksmith shop.

Before that, it would simply be grazing land for Chaboya cattle. This was a portion of Rancho Yerba Buena that ownership was contested. Popular Evergreen Pioneers were involved in the suit, so I don’t want to go too far into it. In the end, the squatters won. The Chaboyas exhausted funds evicting and fighting for their land claims. The squatters won the right to buy the land at a fair rate. The Chaboyas maintained ownership of what they had left, but had to grant portions away to settle legal fees. Before that, it would be Ohlone wildnerness.

Although the trail for John Aborn fell cold, the story the street tells is entirely awesome. Evergreen is a place that transitions with the times. It’s an ever changing identity.