Willow Glen Resident

News

Photograph by Vicki Thompson

Rooted in Time: Pam Shukait, owner of a Bird Avenue home, wants to register the house as a historical landmark in San Jose. The property was owned by George and Charles Fleming, brothers who were part of the fruit-drying industry.

Fleming house part of fruit-drying days

By Mayra Flores De Marcotte

Over a century ago, two Willow Glen brothers helped revolutionize the fruit-drying industry.

According to the San Jose Planning Department's Historical Report, George and Charles Fleming experimented from their Bird Avenue farm, known as the Hop Ranch, with various ways to dry prunes and apricots. The success of the process enables fruit to be shipped cross-country under the brand label Black Diamond.

Willow Glen residents and the current owners of the Fleming brothers' home, Keith and Pamela Shukait, want to make sure the valley's rich history isn't lost. So the 120-year-old Fleming home is being considered for historic landmark status.

"It's important to understand the history of this valley," says homeowner Pamela Shukait. "There's just not enough understanding of our roots, of why we're here. It's heartbreaking."

The Shukaits are petitioning to have the house at1023 Bird Ave. entered in San Jose's historic landmark register.

There are about 150 historic homes and commercial buildings with historic landmark status in San Jose.

The Roberto-Sunol Adobe at 770 Lincoln Ave. is the only registered state and national landmark in Willow Glen, but one of six homes protected by historic landmark status in San Jose at the local level.

The Buffington House at 1224 and 1226 Lincoln Ave., the Cozzens House at 1195 Minnesota Ave., the Kirk-Farrington House at 1615 Dry Creek Road, the Maynard House at 1151 Minnesota Ave., and the Richards House at 1550 Hicks Ave. all are Santa Clara County-registered landmarks.

"I hate when history gets destroyed," says Keith Shukait.

He wants to save as much of the original structure as possible in the Queen Anne Victorian house, even though he knows the renovations will be costly. From the plaster to the moldings and ornate metal accents, he wants it all.

"There's a few things that we want to do to make it period-correct," he says.

The Shukaits would like to replace the door and a mantel for the fireplace, since neither is original and they reflect contemporary style that doesn't match the Victorian.

"We just want things that won't stick out," he says.

Pamela Shukait says their Victorian contributes more than just bricks and mortar to the neighborhoods.

"There's a sense of community that only older homes give," she says. "There needs to be a balance between preservation and development."

The couple's love for history and preservation began before they moved to Willow Glen.

As Cupertino residents, the couple tried saving a historic ranch that the city wanted to redevelop.

"We had the entire neighborhood behind us," she says.

But it wasn't enough.

All but a small barn was leveled and replaced by condominiums.

"At that point, we just wanted to move," Pam says. "We wanted something old, something historic."

The family searched such nearby cities as Campbell and Sunnyvale before they fell in love with Willow Glen.

"We drove here every weekend looking for the perfect place," she says.

One night, Keith Shukait was driving his boss home and decided to drive through Willow Glen.

"We were coming around the bend when I saw the sale sign," he says.

He called his wife, then the real estate agent, and the couple bought the old home.

Although the driving force behind the Shukaits' desire to register the historic property is to preserve the home's past, there are other reasons residents preserve and register older homes.

"There are many incentives to making a home a historic landmark," says former Preservation Action Council president Jim Zetterquist.

Some of these incentives are financial, including tax breaks on permits.

Historic landmark recognition also gives residents pride of ownership.

"Older homes are testaments to the efforts past generations underwent," Zetterquist says. "Preserving a home gives residents the feeling of contributing to their community."

Most of these homes have been passed down through families for generations.

"Making a home a historic landmark ensures it will remain as true to its original form and won't be so easily leveled," he says.

Older homes also give residents a sense of permanency, he says.

"There are very few things that last a lifetime, but homes are one of those," Zetterquist says.

Another reason to register a home is so the property can be appreciated by the community at large.

"Besides, it's not really owned by residents," Zetterquist says. "They are just temporary keepers."

Registering a home for historic landmark status also increases the value of the neighborhood.

"It is why Willow Glen is so desirable," Zetterquist says. "It has a past."

In order for a home to be considered a historic landmark, it needs to meet one of five criteria: an important architect built it; it exemplifies a particular style of architecture; it is of historic significance; the original owner of the home is historically important; or the house was part of an historic event.

"The architecture of a home tells the story of what was there before," Zetterquist says. "It's a historic document of the people and a way of life."