South San Jose in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Dr. Louis H. and Anna M. (Grandma) Bascom

Early California Pioneers

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2016

1. Dr. Louis H. and Anna M. (Grandma) Bascom Marker

Inscription. The Bascoms arrived in San Jose in 1849. Their residence and boarding house, Slapjack Hall, was a center of activity and grandma sewed the famous blue tent used as both a school and first protestant church. Dr. Bascom practiced medicine but preferred farming. Grandma took as boarders members of the first state legislature. Her wonderful record of early life in San Jose appeared in a national publication in 1887, "The Overland Monthly." They relocated to their farm at Somerville Lodge in Santa Clara where Bascom Avenue is today.

Erected by By Their Descendants.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 37° 17.952′ N, 121° 51.474′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in South San Jose. Marker can be reached from Curtner Avenue near Monterey Highway (California Route 82), on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 300 Curtner Avenue, San Jose CA 95125, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Montgomery Maze (within shouting distance of this marker); William Henry Eddy (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jean Jacques Vioget (about 300 feet away); Margaret Caldwell Fox

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(about 500 feet away); Dr. John Townsend (about 600 feet away); George Donner, Jr. (about 700 feet away); Charles Henry McKiernan (approx. ¼ mile away); History of Vieira Park (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

More about this marker. This marker is located at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Section K, bounded by San Jose and Observatory Avenues.

Regarding Dr. Louis H. and Anna M. (Grandma) Bascom. "For many Santa Clara Valley slaveholders, slavery was an institution of both convenience and socioeconomic power. Common was the example of the Bascom family, who came to San Jose from Kentucky in December 1849. Upon Dr. Louis H. Bascom's arrival, he paid $800 for a black cook. In spite of California's antislavery law, the cook remained with the family for four years because in San Jose the ordinance was not enforced until the mid- 1850s." -- Uninvited Neighbors: African Americans in Silicon Valley, 1769-1990 -- Herbert G. Ruffin. Google Books, https://books.google.com/books?id=X001AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA28&lpg=PA28&dq=dr.+louis+h.+bascom&source=bl&ots=D-YOorQPbJ&sig=4AZ87aNkdbOXl9DfXc_XZqVUbwk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjV__qw85XLAhVY6WMKHTx5Ae0Q6AEIJTAC#v=onepage&q=dr.%20louis%20h.%20bascom&f=false

Dr. Louis H. and Anna M. (Grandma) Bascom Grave and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, February 25, 2016

2. Dr. Louis H. and Anna M. (Grandma) Bascom Grave and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 860 times since then and 107 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 26, 2016, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.