Sourisseau News: The Valley’s Love Affair with the Bicycle

While biking is extremely popular in San Jose today, and we are one of the most bike-friendly cities in the US, our love for bicycles goes all the way back to the 1880's. To learn more, check out the two minute Sourisseau News video below.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.


Sourisseau News: The Valley's Love Affair With the Bicycle - March 2017 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Women Cannery Workers

The San Jose Fruit Packing company was once the largest cannery in the world and by the 1930s, Santa Clara Valley's 38 canneries were the largest employers of women in California.To learn more about the important role of women keeping these these canneries afloat, watch the latest episode of Sourisseau News below.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News August 2017 Women Cannery Workers from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Hotel Vendome

On First Street, just north of Downtown, there once stood the Hotel Vendome. The 150-room hotel was only around between 1889 and 1930, but featured several interesting amenities like a bowling alley. Eventually increased competition and damage from fires led it to shut down and the land was subdivided and sold off. It would have been nice to preserve this gem near Japantown, much like we were able to do for Hayes Mansion, the Hotel Montgomery, and the Hotel DeAnza.

Watch the two-minute video more to learn about this hotel and see some amazing historic photos.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News: Hotel Vendome - April 2017 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Ice Cream

In this fascinating two-minute video, learn about the history of ice cream in San Jose. I wish I could travel back in time to experience some of the locations in the video like O'Brien's Candy Store!

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Ice Cream January 2017 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Wetting your Whistle

It looks like I missed quite a few Sourisseau News videos from earlier this year so I will be playing catch-up for the next few weeks. The two minute video below highlights many of San Jose's famous watering holes from the past century. 50 years from now, I wonder if San Joseans will be watching similar videos about the top bars of the 2010s.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Wetting your Whistle November 2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Let’s Shop!

If you want to learn more about the history of shopping in San Jose, look no further than the latest two-minute Sourisseau News video below. It begins with HART's department store in Downtown San Jose and then provides a glimpse into the history of what we now know as Valley Fair mall. Can you guess which department store is in the photo below? (Hint: I had never heard of it before watching the video).

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News June 2017 Let's Shop! from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: From Willows to Glen

Did you ever wonder how Willow Glen got its name? How long was Willow Glen an independent city before being annexed into San Jose? Watch the latest two-minute Sourisseau News video below to find out, along with all sorts of other interesting tidbits.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.

Sourisseau News Willow Glen December from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: The German Community in San Jose

Did you know the oldest social organization in San Jose was created for German immigrants? The site still exists today and partially houses one of the hottest new restaurants Downtown, Ludwigs German Table. The two-minute video below provides a great overview of German contributions to early San Jose.

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.


Sourisseau News: The German Community in San Jose October 2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

2nd Annual San Jose Mini Maker Faire takes place September 4th

The second Maker Faire festival is coming to San Jose's History Park on Sunday, September 4th from 10am to 6pm. This family-friendly event is being run by History San Jose and will showcase makers, inventors, tinkerers, artists, builders, and crafters. It should be a great event to celebrate the creativity in Silicon Valley!

Tickets start at $12 for adults if you purchase your ticket in advance over here. There are discounts for children and History San Jose members. Prices at the door are 25% more expensive.

San Jose photo contest

History San Jose and Content Magazine are teaming up for the "This IS San Jose 2016" photo contest. The goal is to promote our uniqueness, diversity, and support our art community. Winners will have their photos displayed in the City Hall Routunda, win prizes, and will be featured in a future issues of Content Magazine.

Below you can see instructions for entry. For additional details (and a district map for tagging your photos), head over to the "This IS San JOSE" website over here.

Help Capture the Uniqueness and Diversity that IS San Jose!

Continuing the annual tradition, History San José will be accepting submissions for the 2016 Photo Competition, This IS San Jose.  There are several benefits to this contest including:

• Promotes the uniqueness and diversity that is San Jose 
• Supports the photographic arts and artists 
• Helps contest winners build their photographic portfolio and resume
• Documents each of the ten (10) districts with recent photographs for preservation for future generations

There are many ways for artists to participate - through our Kick-off Instagram Contest and then using any camera format the General Photo Contest.

Instagram Kick-Off Contest - Starts May 20 Thru July 1, 2016
Instagram contest begins May 20, 2016. Use @thisissanjose and the district number where the photo was taken (e.g., for District 1, use #district1; for District 10, use #district10, etc.) with your mobile device. District map can be found at San Jose Council Districts. 1, 2, 3. Honorable Mention winners will be automatically entered in the General Photo Contest.

General Photo Contest - Starts July 1 thru September 23, 2016
Primary photo contest begins June 20th and is open to all types of cameras and levels of ability (professional, non-professional or student under 18). Submissions for the primary contest need to be made before September 9th at contest@thisissanjose.com. Include your name, category (professional [earn over 50% from photography], non-professional or student under age 18), district taken, and your photograph in jpg document format.

All winning entries form all districts will be displayed in the San Jose City Hall Rotunda from October through December 2016. We are planning an awards reception in October with prizes. Winners will also be included in an upcoming issue of Content Magazine.

Sponsors
Presented by History San José
Media Sponsor Content Magazine

Upcoming PAC*SJ Events

The Preservation Action Council of San Jose (PAC*SJ) has several great events over the next couple months including a Lincoln Avenue Walking Tour in a few hours. For information and tickets, head over to the PAC*SJ Facebook page over here.

"Lincoln Avenue Walking Tour"
May 14th at 10am, Intersection of Lincoln and Minnesota

We'll be strolling Lincoln Avenue looking at the design of the commercial buildings and hearing stories about the town of Willow Glen and some of the colorful characters who lived and worked there.

If you don't order tickets in advance, arrive 10 minutes early to see if there are any spaces remaining. Tickets are $10 for PAC*SJ members and $15 for the general public. Package prices are available for the series of walks

"Renovation or Restoration - Making the Best of Your Old House."
June 28th at 7pm, The Firehouse at History Park San Jose

Preservationist, licensed house inspector, and DIY expert Ron Tanner will offer a slide show that illustrates several projects he and his wife undertook as they restored an 1897 Baltimore brownstone---condemned property, which was a wrecked former frat. house--and then restored an early Victorian farm house that hadn't been altered since 1959. Combining humor with history and his extensive knowledge of old houses, Ron will try to answer the question, Should you make your old house even "better" than it was originally?
Drive through the gate off Phelan Avenue to enter the park.
The event is free, but donations will be accepted to cover the refreshments.

"A Night in Old Havana"
July 14th at 6:30pm, San Jose Woman's Club (75 S. 11th St.)

Make your way through the palm trees to the San Jose Woman's Club –the scene of spicy and sultry Cuba-central, for a Night in Old Havana!

Enjoy a Cuba Libre, Mojito, or Rum Punch, or a Cuban Mocktail and nosh on Havana street food while listening to hot Cuban beats. Guys: Dust off your white fedora and don your guayabera shirt. Gals: 50s tropical cocktail or cuban whites are muy bonita! Yes, there will be a costume contest! Don't forget to snap a selfie in the Hot Havana Photo Booth.

At 8 p.m., John Pastier, formerly a Seattle design critic and the first architecture critic for the Los Angeles Times who now lives in Naglee Park, will present a slide show of Havana Architecture.
The evening is co-hosted by SJWC and Preservation Action Council * San Jose. Tickets $5 for SJWC and PAC* SJ members, $10 general. Suggested donation of $5 per cocktail to help cover event costs.

Sourisseau News: Local Residential Architecture

The latest edition of Sourisseau News discusses a polarizing topic--residential architecture. San Jose has had a wide variety of residential styles over the decades, most of which you can still find in or near Downtown San Jose. Check out the two minute video below for several examples of local architectural styles, most of which we would now consider "historic homes."

To see an archive of past videos, head over here.


Sourisseau News April 2016 Local Residential Architecture from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

2nd Annual Silicon Valley Bikes! Festival and Bike Show

From San Jose Bike Party:

Join San Josè Bike Party and the Valley’s racing, road, recreation, fixed gear, cruiser, vintage, lowrider, mountain biking and cool urban lifestyle cyclists and their families for a day of fun and community building on Sunday, May 15th, 11am to 5pm at Kelley Park’s History Park, 635 Phelan Avenue at Senter Road in San Josè.

Admission to the public is $5, kids two and under are free and $5 per show bike.

• Food Trucks
• Craft Beer
• Kids’ Space
• Bicycle Show
• Free Valet Bike Parking
• Expo
• Amazing Vendors
• Talks
• Music

Sourisseau News: Smokestacks

The latest edition of Sourisseau News is all about the smokestacks found in San Jose's early factories. Just be glad we have moved away from coal and we no longer have soot raining from the sky! Check out the two minute video below.

Oh, and a huge congratulations to WMS Media for winning a CreaTV award for their outstanding documentary on one of San Jose's most famous photographers, DelCarlo.


Sourisseau News March 2016 Smokestacks from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: February 2016

The latest edition of Sourisseau News discusses San Jose fires. In addition to some pretty spectacular photos, learn about early San Jose fire protection, firefighters, and fire houses. There is even a plug at the end for the San Jose Fire Museum that is coming soon to Downtown San Jose. It is only a two minute video and is well worth your time!


Sourisseau News February2016 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Andrew Hill

In the latest edition of Sourisseau News, we learn about the man Andrew Hill High School was named after. He was a painter and photographer known for several iconic photos of places like Mission Santa Clara, Stanford, and San Jose's Chinatown. He even climbed the San Jose Electric Light Tower to get an 8-photo panorama which you can see in the video below.

Andrew Hill had a studio in the Dougherty Building on South Second Street, which burnt down in the 1906 Earthquake. He ended up moving his studio to his home, which is currently on display at History San Jose. Check out the two minute video below for your monthly dose of San Jose history!


Sourisseau News December 2015 from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

San Jose Chinatown as photographed by Andrew Hill

Sourisseau News: Let's Go To The Movies!

In the latest installment of Sourisseau News, learn about the history of theaters in San Jose in under three minutes (embedded video below). It is unfortunate that many of these no longer exist today. SoFA used to be packed with theaters as you can see from the photo.


Sourisseau News November 2015 - Let's Go To The Movies! from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: Ice Cold Beer!

In the latest installment of Sourisseau News, learn about the history of beer in San Jose. The local beer scene is exploding today, but its history goes back over 150 years. Eagle Brewery was founded in 1853 by a German immigrant and was the first brewery in San Jose. The brewery itself was located the corner of Market and San Carlos, where the Westin San Jose (previously the Saint Claire) currently sits. For the rest of the story, you'll have to watch the two minute video below!


Ice Cold Beer! from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

Sourisseau News: The Home Front

The latest edition of Sourisseau News takes us to San Jose during World War II. There are some great photos in this latest video, including Moffett Field. Enjoy the two minute trip back in time right by clicking play on the video below.


Sourisseau News August 2015 The Home Front from WMS media Inc. on Vimeo.

1st Official San Jose Mini Maker Faire!

History San Jose has recently announced that they are launching San Jose's first Maker Faire event. The event will celebrate and showcase inventors, tinkerers, builders, crafters, and other creatives. Instead of trying to describe it in any more depth than that, I'll let the one minute video below do the work.

The inaugural San Jose Mini Maker Faire will take place on Sunday, September 6th from 10am-6pm at History San Jose. For more information (or to register as a "maker") head over here.