Slowing Down for a Look Back in Time

By Moryt Milo

Imagine the year is 1929. It's spring in Santa Clara Valley and air is spilling over with the colors and smells of a new season. In celebration of the valley's awakening the Ainsley family invites you to a gala costume party. You arrive adorned in outfit and mandatory mask. You step into the foyer and are immediately swept up into a world of charm and style.

This was the picture that flowed through my mind as Campbell Historical Museum Director Bob Pedretti took me on a tour of the Ainsley House's latest exhibit, "A Masquerade Ball at the Ainsley House," which runs through June 24. The exhibit hosts an exquisite display of costumes from Opera San Jose.

As I walked through the rooms, more than 20 costumes, including headwear and accessories, met me at every turn. There were vintage silk kimonos, between 50 to 70 years old, used in the opera, Madame Butterfly. Strategically displayed by a festive dining room table, the setting felt lively and I imagined laughter and champagne glasses clinking.

But it was walking into the guest bedroom and viewing the costume from the opera, Aida, that had me in awe. Here, as the afternoon light flowed onto a gold cloak and jeweled collar, I found myself absolutely dazzled by the costume. "Oh, my," I said to Pedretti.

Made with real gold thread the train looked like something worn by royalty. I gingerly ran my fingers along the edges. It was heavy. I imagined the performer, Irene Dalis, founder of Opera San Jose and for whom the costume was designed, walking on stage and receiving quite a reception. I mentioned to Pedretti that it must be hard wearing such heavy garments. He chuckled and replied it was his understanding that opera people loved to suffer.

Each room we walked into was another adventure, from the playful costumes of Hansel and Gretel in the children's room, to the extravagant red velvet grown from the Merry Widow in the master suite. As we passed a costume in the hall or a hat on the landing, I found myself envisioning a crowd of gentry, celebrating an evening when the world moved a lot slower and was a lot more innocent.

My mind wandered as I reached one of my favorite spots in the Ainsley House, the stairway landing, where I stopped to look out the window. From here I feel like a ghost glimpsing the future. It's also where changes catch my eye--like the new building going up on the corner of Central Avenue and Civic Center Drive.

I've been watching its construction for some time now. Sort of hard to miss when it takes up a whole corner. I concede that change is inevitable, but I am partial to low-level buildings. I like unobstructed views, sunlight and natural wind.

I see this building and other large structures being erected in downtown Campbell and it makes me wonder if shade will be eternal. Will man-made wind tunnels be created? Will I forever have to wear my jacket when passing by these edifices?

As with that ghost on Mrs. Ainsley's landing, I ponder what will be here years from today. Our streets, with new coffee shops, designer stores and upscale businesses, are all part of our town's redevelopment plans. But my concern is that, as we continue to change, we don't lose our sense of community.

Until now we have managed to hold on to what makes our community different and special. It's what gives Campbell its magic. So, I hope that as we prosper we preserve our unique identity and avoid becoming a cookie-cutter city.

Perhaps each of us should take some time and visit the Ainsley House. Become that ghost. Walk up the stairs and stop on the landing. Look out the window and recall our past. Let our town's roots creep back into our bones, as we consider allowing progress to slow down just a bit.

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Contact Moryt Milo via email at morytb@aol.com.

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