Los Gatos

Stephanie Ross Mathews

• Editorial: Arcadia Publishing
• Año: 2009
• ISBN:
  9781439638118
• Categoría: Historia
• Categoría: Historia de Norteamérica

The charming town of Los Gatos is nestled at the base of the Santa Cruz Mountains and is sometimes referred to as the Gem City of the Foothills. It has inspired hundreds of postcard images through the years, many reflecting the areas abundance of natural beauty. As the town and surrounding area grew and prospered through agriculture, logging, and commerce, the local architecture and landmarks became popular subjects. Glimpses of everyday lifechurches, schools, houses, and businessesfurther enhanced the pictorial history the postcards represent.

Four

RELIGION, EDUCATION, AND HEALTH

The First Baptist Church in Los Gatos was organized in 1883 by 16 people who had been members of the First Baptist Church in San Jose. Their first church building was erected on West Main Street and dedicated in May 1889. It had a seating capacity of 400 and the second pipe organ in Los Gatos.

In 1867, land was purchased for a $1 gold coin from the owner of Forbes Mill, and this Gothic structure, dedicated in December 1889, was built on the site of the original meeting room. In 1923, the group purchased the property across the street from the front of the church building for $10,500.

The first religious congregation in Los Gatos was the Methodist Episcopal, which was established in 1866. The Methodist church was the only church in Los Gatos for 15 years, and the first clergyman was a physician—not an ordained minister. In 1879, there were 32 members in the congregation.

The second church building, pictured here, was built in 1917 on the corner of College and East Main Streets. It was torn down in 1958 to make room for the Penthouse Apartments building. A new church was built on Farley Road and dedicated in March 1963.

The Christian church located on Lyndon Avenue and West Main Street was built by the Baptists in 1889. When the Baptists moved to their new location on Main Street and Wilcox Avenue in 1917, the impressive building was sold to the Christian church. The congregation thrived and grew rapidly and in 1956 realized it would have to move away from the downtown area.

Although mass was celebrated in Los Gatos before 1880, there was no Catholic church building until 1881. At that time, it was attended by Jesuits from the Sacred Heart Novitiate and remained a mission church until 1912. In 1913, St. Mary’s was moved two blocks and became part of a larger church complex. A new church was built in 1914, and the parish grounds were beautified with trees, flowers, and shrubs in the 1920s.

The original Episcopal church in town was a wooden structure located on University Avenue. It was destroyed by a major fire in 1901.The majority of funds to build a new church were raised by the parish of St. Luke’s in Germantown, Pennsylvania, and in appreciation, the 1902 mission-style replacement was named in their honor.

St. Luke’s was designed by San Francisco architect W. Dolhim, built by local contractor Hy Hooper, and painted by local resident Jack Sullivan. The church was situated next to the Carnegie Library from 1903 until 1953. When the library was condemned and subsequently torn down in 1954, St. Luke’s was able to expand its facilities.

In March 1909, the Christian Science Chapel and reading room were built on Broadway. It was also used for Sunday school. It had a seating capacity of 130 and every modern convenience, including Tungsten electric lights. The building cost $3,500, but by 1929, the growing congregation needed a larger space.

Designed by architect William Crim Jr., who also designed the original Los Gatos Town Hall, the First Church of Christ, Scientist is located on East Main Street. This impressive structure with its Corinthian influences was completed just after the stock market crash of 1929, and the first service was held in February 19...