HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02051985 - 1.44 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: Anthony A. Dehaes us Contra
Director of Planning Costa
DATE: January 24, 1985 County
SUBJECT: Tassajara School House
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
We recommend that the Board of Supervisors support the nomination of the Tassajara School
House to the National Register.
BACKGROUND:
Charles M. Phinny of the Tassajara Fire Protection District Schoolhouse Committee has
prepared a form which would nominate the Tassajara School House to the National Register
of Historic Places .
This nomination will be considered by the State Historical Resources Commission.
For a property to qualify for the National Register, it should retain the integrity of
location, design, setting, materials , workmanship and:
1 ) Be associated with events that have made a significant contribution to the broad
patterns of our history; or
2) Be associated with the lives of persons significant in our past; or
3) Embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of con-
struction, or represent the work of a master, or possess high artistic values ,
or represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack
individual distinction; or
4) Have yielded, or be likely to yield, information important in history.
While properties need not be unique, they should be significant and worthy of preserva-
tion. Properties of local , state or national signficance are equally eligible.
The nomination process to the National Register involves several steps. Applications
for properties are considered by the State Historical Resources Commission at a public
hearing. Applications which are recommended by the Commission are sent to the State
Historic Preservation Officer for his review and approval . The State Historic Preser-
vation Officer then forwards nominations to the U.S. Department of Interior for inclusion
on the National Register. National Register properties can qualify for financial benefits
such as grants-in-aid.
Attached is a copy of the Nomination Form as prepared by Mr. Phinny. he subject pro-
perty is owned by the County of Contra Costa on behalf of C ty Ser' ce Area F-2.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CO EN ATIOF OARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON Feb Mary 5 - 1995 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED p_ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT --- ) i HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: County Administrator ATTESTED February 5 , 1985
Planning PHIL BATCHELOR. CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382l7-83 BY DEPUTY 1
l o F 'A
�iFM�-an (11-78)
United States Department of the Interior •.,y,
Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service & 4
National Register of Historic Places
Inventory—Nomination (Form
See Instructions in How to Complete Natlonal Register Forms
Type all entries—complete applicable sections
1 . Name
historic Tassajara School House
and/orcommon Tassajara School House
2. Location
street& number Corner of Finley and Old School House Rd. —not for publication
city,town Pleasanton —vicinity of congressional district 7th
fstate Ca. 94566 code 06 county Contra Costa code
3. Classification
Category Ownership Status Present Use
—district X public _X_ occupied _X..agriculture _.museum
x building(s) ,private __-_unoccupied commercial _park
...x structure _both _work in progress educational _private residence
Y site Public Acquisition Accessible _entertainment _religious
object _in process yes:restricted .__Y._government _scientific
_being considered x yes:unrestricted —industrial _transportation
no _military X other: 4-H
4■ Owner of Property *Viewed from a oubl is thorough fare.
name Tassajara Fire Protection District (Formerly - Eastern Contra Costa Fire Department)
street&number 6100 Camino Tass jara 'Rd.
city,town Pleasantonvicinityofstate Ca. 94566
S. Location of Legal Description
courthouse,registry of deeds,etc. Contra Costa County
street&number
city,town tart i nP7 `` state Ca ggrc,:1
6. Representation in Existing Surveys
title has this property been determined elegible? _yes _ no
date —federal —state —county — local
depository for survey records
city,town state
7. Description
Condition Check one Check one
excellent —deteriorated .—unaltered _original site
_—good —ruins - _altered Y moved date 1888
X fair —unexposed
Describe the present and original (it known) physical appearance
A one story frame school house (one room) with original
out buildings used to hitch horses and store supplies.
As shown in enclosed photographs, the building has .a
porch on the front and an active belfry.
The building, in effort to preserve it, had a new foundation
in approximately 1977 together with new front doors and porch
both requiring replacement for safety and security - provided
through local citizen donations. Doors and porch are re-production
of the originals.
S. Significance
Period Areas of Significance—Check and justify below
_prehistoric —archeology-prehistoric —community planning _landscape architecture_religion
1400-1499 —archeology-historic _conservation _law science
—1500-1599 X.agriculture _economics —literature —sculpture
1600-1699 X—architecture —education _military X.social/
—1700-1799 —art —englneering _music humanitarian
X 1800-1899 —commerce —exploration/settlement_philosophy _theater
_1900- —communications _Industry _politics/government _transportation
—invention _other(specify)
Specific dates Builder/Architect
Statement of Significance (in one paragraph)
THE TASSAJARA SCHOOL HOUSE
PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA
IT IS KNOWN AS TASSAJARA, A PICTURESQUE RURAL VALLEY TUCKED AWAY UNDER
THE SHADOW OF MT. DIABLO ABOUT THIRTY MILES EAST OF SAN FRANCISCO.
IT BEGAN AS A SPANISH LAND GRANT AND ITS NAME DEVOLVED FROM THE DIGGER
INDIANS IN THE EARLY 1800s. THE DIGGERS ROAMED THE VALLEY HUNTING FOR SUR-
VIVAL RATHER THAN FARMING - AN ENDEAVOR IN WHICH THEY DISPLAYED LITTLE
INTEREST, AND THE VALLEY BECAME "TASSAJARA" - WHICH MEANS DRIED MEAT, WHERE
MANY STRINGS OF BEEF AND VENISON WERE SEEN DRYING IN THE SUN.
EARLY SETTLERS INCLUDED THE ANDERSONS, FINLEYS, JOHNSTONS, COATS, PODVA
AND OTHERS WHO GRAZED CATTLE ON THE SUN DRENCHED, GOLDEN BROWN ROLLING HILLS.
IT IS SAID THE SLAVERY UNDERGROUND MOVEMENT FLOWED THROUGH THE VALLEY
AND THAT SLAVES WERE BURIED ON THE HILL OFF FINLEY ROAD JUST NORTH OF CAMINO
TASSAJARA - AN AREA WHICH WAS THE FOCAL POINT OF ACTIVITY AS THE COMMUNITY
GREW.
WITH DEVELOPMENT AND AN ON-GOING INFUSION OF SETTLERS, EDUCATION BECAME
A PRIME CONCERN. THE RANCHERS CONSTRUCTED A "ONE ROOM" SCHOOL HOUSE ABOUT
1868 ON THE JOHNSTON RANCH ON THE WEST SIDE OF FINLEY ROAD AND ONE-HALF MILE
NORTH OF THE FINLEY/CAMINO TASSAJARA INTERSECTION. IN 1886 THE BUILDING WAS ,
MOVED TO THE AZEVEDO RANCH AT THE END OF OLD SCHOOL ROAD AND CONVERTED TO .A
RESIDENCE.
SHORTLY THEREAFTER, THE ANDERSONS, OWNERS OF 1000 ACRES NOW KNOWN AS THE
FOLEY RANCH, SOLD ONE ACRE AT THE CORNER OF OLD SCHOOL AND FINLEY ROADS AND THE
COMMUNITY ERECTED A "NEW" SCHOOL IN 1888 WITH TWO OUT-BUILDINGS WITH STALLS
FOR HORSES AND CARTS.
A FAMILIAR AND CHARMING SIGHT WAS THE CHILDREN WALKING, RIDING HORSES OR BUGGIES
8. SIGNIFICANCE,PAGE 2
TO SCHOOL FROM DISTANT POINTS IN THE SPAWLING FOOTHILLS. THE BLACK WALNUT
TREES IN THE YARD WERE PLANTED BY THE STUDENTS IN THE LATE 1800s.
IT WAS NATURAL THE SCHOOL WOULD FOSTER NEARBY DEVELOPMENT, AND IN THE
LATE 1800s AND EARLY 1900s, RESIDENTS ESTABLISHED THE TOWN OF TASSAJARA AT
THE OFT MENTIONED CORNER OF CAMINO TASSAJARA AND FINLEY ROADS. THE VILLAGE
BOASTED A BLACKSMITH, A HOME, A DANCE HALL, AND A POST OFFICE - HEADQUARTERS
FOR THE PURCHASE OF CANDY AND TOBACCO!
THE FOLKS OF THE NEW TASSAJARA, CONCERNED ABOUT- THE ON-GOING IMPORTANCE
OF EDUCATION, FORMED THE TASSAJARA SCHOOL DISTRICT IN 1914 AND APPOINTED
JOHN C. RASMUSSEN ITS CLERK OF THE BOARD WHO SERVED FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
AS TIME PASSED, THE BETTENCOURTS, HANSENS, JOINED THE BOARD AND A NUM-
BER OF TEACHERS PROVIDED EDUCATION FOR APPROXIMATELY TIN TO TWENTY STUDENTS
IN 'GRADES ONE THROUGH EIGHT. mISS CORBERT, THE DISTRICTS FIRST FORMAL TEACHER,
CAME FROM OAKLAND AND TAUGHT FOR SIX MONTHS IN 1919 FOLLOWING TWELVE PREVIOUS
TEACHERS.
MRS. ARENDT WAS TASSAJARA'S LAST TEACHER AND MUCH A PART OF THE COMM-
UNITY AND THE "MOLDING" OF ITS CHILDREN.
IN 1939, ED RASMUSSEN, LONG TIME VALLEY RESIDENT AND MEMBER OF THE SAN
RAMON HIGH SCHOOL BOARD WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN FORMING THE TASSAJARA HIGHLAND
FIRE PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION TO ENHANCE EDUCATION AND PROVIDE
COMMUNITY SERVICES.
THE ASSOCIATION, A UNIQUE GROUP TRANSFERRED THE SCHOOL CONTROL TO THE
SAN RAMON SCHOOL DISTRICT AND ITS MEMBERS WHO INCLUDED THE RASMUSSENS, BET
TENCOURTS, HANSENS, ,SMITHS, REINSTEINS, NUNES, TURNED THEIR ATTENTION TO
FIRE PROTECTION, THEN UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE EASTERN CONTRA COSTA
COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT. THE AREA WAS SO VAST (42 SQUARE MILES) THAT
THE E.C.C.F.P.C. ,FOUNDED IN 1946, COULD NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION
AND T.H.F.P.& I.A. ORGANIZED THE TASSAJARA VOLUNTEER FIR DISTRICT IN 1949. THE
YEAR THE SCHOOL HOUSE WAS CLOSED.
9.' Major Bibliographical References
See Attached
10. Geographical Data
Acreage of nominated property P rox. .5 Acre
Quadrangle name Quadrangle scale
UMT References
Al I Ll1 1 1 1 1 1 I I B L1JI I I I I I I
Zone Easting Northing Zone Easting Northing
CW I L I I i I I I I I l l D L1 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
E W I I I ► L I I I 1=
G1iI I1IIL- HW II I II I
Verbal boundary description and justification
See Attached Grant Deed
List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries
state code county code
state code' . county code
11 . Form Prepared By
name/title Charles M. Phinny
Tassajara Fire Protection '
organization District Schoo l hoUse Committee date 11-1-84
street&number 6100 Camino Tassaiara Rd. telephone t 5- 3�
city or town Pleasanton state Ca. 94566
12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification
The evaluated significance of this property within the state is:
_natlonal —state —local
As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966(Public Law 89-
66S).I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in.the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated
according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service.
State Historic Preservation Officer signature
title date
FOr HCRS
here�rti
:"Keeper of the N IR9gister
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HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
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INVENTORY-NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 10 PAGE
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;`.Thi County of Contra Costa, for orad oa Mhalt or tbii•
`. kbtAt m Contra Costs county Tiro Distriat top Talmo voted'
hereby grants to the County of Contra Oos6 for and onAltham w}t
#;pounty.urvic4 Area No,.7-2, the tollowing �ssaribod
'
a �Met_landf !''.`!•,y ..8�.. .I"'/ti\ f
DmLlCRIPTIOIIt n .. • Vii, 3 ` lye, ` fj�}4�4�
a4• - {Y_i(";�" �' That parcel or load In the~Cauttty Ot Contra
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of Calif*rnl& dasoribe'-'d:•as follou'ss"., r.,.y 1."�?: K.•'. -'r:�. ,`'�'�;.�};f.- :; .., , ,._.< . ,,,.<,, '7:- .:3ta' .,� �-•.. w - -cr rj:i:�-�'': 3•.,71:#+ :h�;
<-�; ^q • Portion of the Southe JA So ssb
oat o! the rthe
Section 33, Township 1 South, Range I Inst„ mount 'r a ,
Ease aro Meridian, QCntsining l caro# more 01! leai���
described as follovst',;' : �+ ,�l+..,7�a a_;� , s .,s , h•
<;. Heginaing on the south litre•o! the`11oas1: 1,/>< o!'. ;`.•.t, <
said Section 33, at the intersection thereof with the
cent4jrr litre of the County Road known as Tinley d, be
UK`
'Us denier ling of the 50 lest is width stripo!'!f,�anQ
;• c bed is the deed froa Iiarrison Finleyo 2be board of''M;
r•' Suu rvisore of Contra Costa Oaunty, dat*d Febtsiary 3;•1879..'. l*'
' recorded February T, 1879 in Volum 36 of Deeds, at'
-
tage 2221 thence from said point or begianirig
along said south line to the southeast eorsrr of the
east 1/4 of said Secti.xt 33: thence northerly along the :t,r.t';�; y.'r
east line of said Northeastof Section 3 191. teetm�:x.t�f
ttance westerly, at right ares, to said east ,5 line to
center line of said Finley Road] thence south 41. 30! Wast *..'•-,:'. ,
along said center line to the point o! bj1nn1ng_ 44
.•�.' '� :` � '•..., •.
StTBJECZ' to the right or the public over that portion at
the promises lying within the County road known as Tinley.", ``�
Road
The foregoing great decd L executed2'a ' .rD'Costa „• :
County, for and on behalf of the Eastern Contrata County
ma
District, by the Chairman or the Board or Sine sore of Contr%"-r ? •
Costa Couaty thereunto duly authorised by Resolution No 4361E ',�: :
adopted by the Hoard of Supervisors on September 14,_ 15►�5.::'. !>.;. ;; `
' XX 1fI'MW WMWF the grantor has executed this iruttrq� ? r
sent this 1?tn day Of t►eeoDer , 1965. =+ i ° '. I : ?,�� • ; �.:
c 'm or W1112;4 COSTIti
political subdivis 1'm
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PLEASANTON, CALIFORNIA
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VICINITY MAP
THE TASSAJARA SCHOOL HOUSE
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UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
HERITAGE CONSERVATION AND RECREATION SERVICE HCRS USE ONLY
RECEIVED
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES DATE ENTERED '
INVENTORY-- NOMINATION FORM
CONTINUATION SHEET ITEM NUMBER 9 PAGE
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MAJOR BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES
1 . Be it ever so humble. . . .
Virgie V. Jones
Morris Burt Press, 1983
2. Remembering Alamo. . . and other things along the way
Virgie V. Jones
Morris Burt Press, 1975
3. Historical Persons and Places. . . In San Ramon Valley
Virgie V. Jones
Volume II
Morris Burt Press, 1977
4. Interviews :
a. Mr. Ed Rasmussen
Pleasanton, CA 94566
b. Mr. Gordon Rasmussen
Pleasanton, CA 94566
c. Mrs. Vera Reinstein
Livermore, CA 94550
b-J