THE JAPANESE AMERICAN Museum of San Jose is teaming up with preservation advocates to avoid wasting a farmhouse as soon as house to a World Warfare II internment camp survivor.
A 1,472-apartment improvement on Seely Avenue threatened the North San Jose farmhouse as soon as owned by Eiichi “Ed” Sakauye with demolition earlier than residents stepped in to foyer for preserving the house. They succeeded and builders The Hanover Firm gave them an preliminary fundraising deadline of Nov. 15, which was later prolonged to early subsequent 12 months. Advocates mentioned they’ve sufficient pledged donations to maneuver the Sakauye Home to Historical past Park by subsequent summer season. The park is positioned on the south finish of Kelley Park on the intersection of Senter Street and Phelan Avenue.
The venture will value $1 million, double the preliminary estimates — $750,000 wanted for relocation and $250,000 for restoration. The Hanover Firm dedicated $100,000 towards the efforts as preservation advocates fundraise to fill within the gaps.
“This move reflects our confidence for a successful fundraising campaign by History San Jose, and we look forward to the final relocation of the house to History Park,” Scott Youdall, Hanover regional improvement companion, mentioned in an announcement.
Preservation specialists say Sakauye, a late Japanese farmer and group chief, was capable of return to his house and farmland due to a neighbor after his household was compelled into internment throughout World Warfare II — giving historic significance to the property.
“This will help us fulfill our mission in the educational aspect of having another space to really tell the story and narrative of Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley.”
Vanessa Hatakeyama, appearing director of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose
Collaborations with The Hanover Firm, Historical past San Jose and Preservation Motion Council of San Jose made saving the historic farmhouse potential, Vanessa Hatakeyama, appearing director of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, mentioned.
“We’re entering a partnership with History San Jose to operate the home as a museum space,” she informed San José Highlight. “This will help us fulfill our mission in the educational aspect of having another space to really tell the story and narrative of Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley.”
Rehousing historical past
The farmhouse might be moved to momentary staging grounds in February earlier than reaching its remaining vacation spot at Historical past Park. Preservation advocates mentioned they should finalize relocation and restoration plans to verify the Sakauye Home might be offered as an academic useful resource and enduring testomony to Japanese American contributions.
Ben Leech, government director of the Preservation Motion Council of San Jose, mentioned he would have favored for the home to stay on the property within the spirit of whole preservation, however saving the house itself remains to be a constructive.
“It’s rare when a preservation issue brings so many stakeholders to the table,” he informed San José Highlight. “I would see the benefits of keeping this in place, designing around it, incorporating it into the development and making it a better development with more of a rich sense of place.”
Historical past Park in San Jose, proven in an undated Google Maps picture, might turn out to be the endlessly house of the farmhouse as soon as owned by Eiichi “Ed” Sakauye, a survivor of the notorious Japanese American internment camps throughout World Warfare II. (Google picture)
North San Jose Councilmember David Cohen described the Sakauye Home as an important piece of the town’s cultural heritage. He mentioned it grew to become clear extra time was wanted for advocates to safe the funding, resulting in the deadline extension.
“Hanover Company, the developer of the site, has agreed to use their funding commitment to move the house and temporarily stage it on the corner of the site. This will provide the time for the move to be done right,” Cohen informed San José Highlight. “I look forward to visiting the Sakauye House at its new home in History Park, where it will be part of a larger exhibit about Eiichi Sakauye and his farming legacy in North San Jose.”
Hatakeyama mentioned the trouble to avoid wasting the farmhouse proves the facility of group solidarity.
“It really would not have happened if we didn’t have the support of all the groups, the Sakauye family, community organizations and then also the city of San Jose. Hanover was also really willing to come to the table,” she informed San José Highlight. “We’re really relieved that it all came together.”
This story initially appeared in San Jose Highlight.
