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

Sakauye Migrant Farm Worker Housing

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado

1. Sakauye Migrant Farm Worker Housing Marker

Inscription. Farm, orchard, and cannery work in the Santa Clara Valley was seasonal. When a crop was ready to be harvested or processed in one of the Valley's many canneries, employers often supplemented their permanent workforce with workers hired on a temporary basis. Waves of migrant workers came to Santa Clara Valley moving from place to place, following crops as they ripened. Among them were Chinese, Filipinos, Italians, Japanese, Mexicans and Portuguese. These workers helped create the "Valley of Heart's Delight."

Employers often provided basic housing, such as these 12' x 20' houses. These simple structures provided shelter and a place to prepare meals. Personal furnishings were kept to a minimum, facilitating relocation to the next work site.

These four houses were constructed by Schuckles Cannery between 1905 and 1920. They were sold to Eiichi (Ed) Sakauye and relocated to his ranch on North First Street in 1952 to provide housing for migrant farm workers. In the 1990s, Mr. Sakauye was instrumental in having the workers' houses saved and moved to History Park.

Erected by History San Jose.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture • Asian Americans • Hispanic Americans. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location.

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37° 19.262′ N, 121° 51.493′ W. Marker is in San Jose, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in History Park. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Phelan Avenue and Senter Road, on the left when traveling east. The resin marker is mounted to wood posts next to the migrant houses. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 635 Phelan Avenue, San Jose CA 95112, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Stevens Ranch Fruit Barn (a few steps from this marker); The Gordon House (within shouting distance of this marker); Empire Firehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Coyote Post Office (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Electric Light Tower (about 300 feet away); The Chiechi House (about 300 feet away); O’Brien’s (about 300 feet away); Bank of Italy (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Jose.

More about this marker. Inset Images:
Ed Sakauye, 1945. Courtesy of the Bancroft Library University of California, Berkeley
The Sakauye orchard was one of the few owned by a person of Japanese descent in the Santa Clara Valley. By grafting and propagating over twenty varieties, Ed made important contributions to the development of pears as an agricultural product.
Above: Japanese farm workers, 1910. Courtesy of the Japanese

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 24, 2023

2. Sakauye Migrant Farm Worker Housing Marker

American Museum of San Jose.
Left: Migrant farm worker children, c. 1950. Courtesy of the Felix Gomez family. Center: Mexican field workers picking peas, c. 1950. History San Jose Collection. Right: Detail, migrant workers, unknown man with Cirilo Alvarado driving tractor, San Jose, CA, c. 1950. Photograph by Ricardo Ocreto Alvarado, courtesy The Alvarado Project.

Regarding Sakauye Migrant Farm Worker Housing. To learn more about the Sakauye Migrant Farm Worker Housing or orchards in the Santa Clara Valley, please visit our website: www.historysanjose.org
This sign made possible by a generous grant from the California State Questers Califa Chapter #648 and Valley Heritage Chapter #168 Questers.

Migrant Farm Worker Housing image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 24, 2023

3. Migrant Farm Worker Housing

History Park Map image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joseph Alvarado, June 24, 2023

4. History Park Map

El Camino Real bell in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 27, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 27, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 75 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 27, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. 4. submitted on June 26, 2023, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.