Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve near Los Gatos in Santa Clara County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

From Rec Room to a Place of Prayer

Built 1909

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 1, 2024

1. From Rec Room to a Place of Prayer Marker

Inscription. Dr. Harry Tevis built this structure as a library to house his rare books and host lavish banquets for guests. The Jesuits remodeled it in 1934 to use as a chapel…and most recently the building was home to thousands of bats!

Midpen waited until the bats migrated away for the winter, then cleaned and sealed the building as was done for the 1934 library next door.

Erected 2023 by Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Architecture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 37° 10.923′ N, 122° 0.087′ W. Marker is near Los Gatos, California, in Santa Clara County. It is in Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve. It can be reached from Bear Creek Road south of Mellotts Road, on the left when traveling south. The resin maker is mounted to a door on the east side of the building. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Los Gatos CA 95033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area

and on the Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tevis’ Mansion, Lost to Fire (a few steps from this marker); Courtyard Fountain (a few steps from this marker); Millionaires transformed this place into a land of luxury

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(within shouting distance of this marker); Alma College Original Library (within shouting distance of this marker); From Ruins to Roost (within shouting distance of this marker); The Marian Shrine (within shouting distance of this marker); Alma College Library Foundation (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Alma College Garage (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Los Gatos.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Alma College

Also see . . . Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Bear Creek Redwoods Preserve

"Prevented from becoming a golf course and country club with luxury residences by a coalition of environmental activists, the land was far from pristine. It was extensively logged in the mid-1800s and briefly became a fish farm before being developed into a massive self-sufficient estate that passed between a couple of California's wealthiest families. The Catholic order of the Society of Jesus later repurposed the estate buildings to open Alma College, a theologate to train Jesuit priests."

(Submitted on July 5, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.)

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 1, 2024

2. From Rec Room to a Place of Prayer Marker

Chapel, Seen From The Southeast image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 1, 2024

3. Chapel, Seen From The Southeast

Alma College Original Library (foreground) and Chapel (background) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 1, 2024

4. Alma College Original Library (foreground) and Chapel (background)

Back Patio Overlooking the Forest image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joseph Alvarado, January 1, 2024

5. Back Patio Overlooking the Forest

Credits. This page was last revised on July 5, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California. This page has been viewed 168 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 5, 2024, by Joseph Alvarado of Livermore, California.