Merritt Trace Elementary School

Through the Years

The making of Merritt Trace Elementary School – Through the Years

By Co Author, E. Leonard Johnson

In order to appreciate the work that went into preparing “Merritt Trace Elementary School – Through the Years” the story needs to be told about the history of the history.

My family and I moved to San Jose from Southern California in 1967, into what was known at that time as the Hanchett Park area of the city, in very close proximity to Hoover Junior High, Trace Elementary and Lincoln High Schools, as well as the SJUSD Administration Offices. At that time I began acquainting myself with many of the Custodians, Gardeners and District personnel of the time. To most of these people, I would be known as the “kid from across the street.”

As school started for me at Trace School in 1967, I would begin my after school time by going into Hoover Junior High and assisting the night custodians in cleaning the classrooms. Later I would meet Ed Meeker, night custodian at Trace Elementary, and assist him in cleaning classrooms on alternate days. It would be through these interactions with school personnel that I would learn the history and gain a special perspective about these beautiful historic schools.

In 1971, after the decision had been hastily made to demolish Merritt Trace Elementary School, school personnel were grappling with how to move all the various classroom materials, equipment and furniture from the old building to the new portables erected outside. I was one of the few students given the opportunity to assist in moving the school to the portables, which gave me unprecedented access to the entire “Historic Trace” building.

During this time Evelyn Walkington, then Principal of Trace, had commissioned a photographer to come to the school and take the final picture of the building before it was turned over to the demolition crew. Interested in the activity, I went to the second floor to watch the photographer take the picture. Little did I know at the time, I would be captured in the photo as a silhouette – upstairs, second set of windows from the left, lower pane.

The last person I would help move as the demolition company took possession of the building was Fred Ross, Trace Principal from 1960 to 1969. Even though he had been transferred to another school the year before, he had several carloads of “stuff” in a storage room, which I would later learn was the original Phase I office of the school. Above the door to what was an abandoned office was the framed original Plot Plan for West Side Grammar School, drawn by Harold H. Weeks, dated 1926. Sadly, not understanding the value of this item, I left it behind and it was allowed to perish with the historic school in 1971.

I also had the opportunity to venture into the basement of the historic school. Here you found the custodian’s office, bomb shelter and boiler room. On a drawing table in the custodian’s office were the plans (blueprints) for the historic school building – most pages were named “West Side Grammar School – Dated 1926”.

I would continue assisting various custodians, cleaning classrooms at Hoover Junior High until late 1972, when I began attending Lincoln High School. At that point I went onto other aspirations in life. But my knowledge and love for these historic schools lives on.

If you would like to get an idea of how “Historic Trace School” looked prior to 1971, look no further than Historic Hoover Junior High. The interior hallways look very similar; the major differences between Trace and Hoover were the interior doors, and a ramp case on the south side of the historic Trace building. The classroom doors in Historic Trace were beautiful – solid oak with panes of etched glass on top. Walking through either building you could tell there was attention to detail in every way – unlike that of today’s modern construction.

Most of this history I’ve quietly held onto until July 6^th, 2010, after the Trace POD fire, when I happened to drive by the site and noticed what appeared to be an older Jim Hubert standing in his driveway talking to a neighbor. I said to myself “that can’t be…” and immediately stopped the car, got out and crossed the street to see him. As I walked up, he asked “are you with the school district?” “No," I answered. “You with the city?” “No”… “Jim, (sticking my hand out)… Leonard Johnson.” His jaw drops, we shake hands and look over at the burned out POD building. Such a shame… Amazing how fast and completely it burned… Someone must have known exactly what they were doing… We then exchange contact information and Jim, who is known as "The Mayor," puts me on his Trace Elementary School and Rose Garden Neighborhood News and Alerts email update list.

At that point we begin corresponding. I travel extensively in my work, so we begin regular e-mails on Trace school and what’s happening in the neighborhood. I learn how involved Jim is with Trace after retiring at age forty-five, from a successful career in Big Box Store Management. We start discussing different teachers and stories about the school and changes on the site.

I then hit him with the email below.

From: Leonard Johnson

Subject: Trace History....

To: "'James R. Hubert'"

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010, 10:44 AM

Jim,

Here is something for you to chew over… In 1926, “Trace” was NOT the original name for the school.

Sometime after the school was built, the name was changed.

It was not: M.R. Trace, Merritt Trace or Trace… But a totally different name.

Hint: It was on all the original blueprints and drawings for the “Historic” building.

Check around and see if you can find the answer. If not, I’ll share.

Regards,

LJ

Jim responds (notice the time) and the conversation continues…

From: James R. Hubert

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 4:35 PM

To: Leonard Johnson

Subject: Re: Trace History....

I’ve spent the last 6 hours or more searching the internet, spent hours making phone calls, I even took out

the “Mayor Mobile” and hit the streets asking everyone I know. Nobody has the answer. I give

up.....what was it called?

___________________________________________________________

From: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

To: "'James R. Hubert'"

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010, 5:05 PM

In 1926, only Dana and Naglee Avenues existed. It was proposed that Randol Avenue was to be extended

to run across Park Avenue through the Hoover campus (which did not exist yet) and end directly in front of

Trace.

Your neighborhood, the Rose Garden Park and a major part of the Rose Garden Neighborhood were still

orchards and did not exist yet. What is now Lincoln and your neighborhood behind Trace were either

orchards or open fields. Remember in the day, our area was considered the “suburbs” from downtown.

So no street names can be involved.

Also, SJUSD did not exist yet. The schools were run by the city.

However, Trace was the only school in our area to completely change names. Hoover was designed and

built as “Hoover”, as was Lincoln. The school’s name was geographic, but not by a street.

Just out of curiosity, how about asking one of your SJUSD or Trace contacts if they know the answer. If

someone does, they should be able to explain who Merritt R. Trace was and why the school was named

after him.

__________________________________________________________

From: James R. Hubert

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:06 PM

To: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

Unsure if anyone at SJUSD knows, but I will ask. Lincoln was built in 1943, I know that, unsure about Hoover.

I know most of this area were orchards and John Crummey, Founder of FMC, owned what is now Topeka and

Cleveland Avenues, I wonder if he also owned the land where Trace sits today. His junior executives were

able to purchase lots from him for $5,000.00 and build their homes. Most of the homes on Cleveland may

have been built by Crummey, as most have very similar design. Getting back to the search, is any of the

information on the internet? I can't even find Merritt R. Trace. Now I wish I had asked the “Old Guard” before

they passed this earth. Trust me, no one of our generation will know the answer--------if we can’t find the

answer, I’ll contact Stan Chinchen, he’s John Crummey’s grandson, he might know……….

___________________________________________________________

From: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

To: "'James R. Hubert'"

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010, 6:25 PM

I’ve been searching the internet too. There is nothing about Trace history. There’s got to be some

information in the city archives or even in the Mercury News archives pertaining to the building of the

school in 1926 and the name.

A real mystery… let me check a couple of more things. There’s got to be a record somewhere. Where‘s

Ed Hodges? Bet he knows.

___________________________________________________________

From: James R. Hubert

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 6:39 PM

To: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

If your asking me to contact Hodges, forget it----I like the guy alot and have since my school days at Hoover.

If he knows the answer it will take him months to respond. I’d rather have my teeth pulled without Novacaine,

than have to wait on Ed.

Do you know the answers? My ex-neighbor was in the first class at Trace and she always called it Trace.

I remember in the Office at Trace, I mean the wall outside the office in the hall they had a sepia picture of

him, M.R. Trace, in a suit and tie. He had very short grey hair....was he a farmer?

____________________________________________________________

From: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

To: "'James R. Hubert'"

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010, 7:00 PM

Of course I know the answer, or I would not have asked the question. Seems like I remember the picture in

the office. BUT who was he and why was the school named after him??? These are questions I do not

have answers to…

____________________________________________________________

From: James R. Hubert

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:03 PM

To: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

Was it San Jose Grammar School?

___________________________________________________________

From: Leonard Johnson

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 7:43 PM

To: 'James R. Hubert'

Subject: RE: Trace History....

I’ll call you in a bit with the answer.

I’m still searching the internet myself. This has now piqued my curiosity in a BIG way.

_____________________________________________________________

From: Leonard Johnson

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 8:57 PM

To: 'James R. Hubert'

Subject: RE: Trace History....

Any luck?

_____________________________________________________________

From: James R. Hubert

Sent: Monday, August 09, 2010 9:13 PM

To: Leonard Johnson

Subject: RE: Trace History....

Stand by---I just received an email from Sandi. Maybe she found something.

_____________________________________________________________

From: Sandi Strouse

Subject: M.R. Trace

To: ‘James R. Hubert’

Date: Monday, August 9, 2010, 9:10 PM

Hi Jim,

I have book and it says Trace was named for the long time principal of Hester Elementary. I did try to

Google it, but didn’t find anything.

Sandi

_____________________________________________________________

At this point, after receiving the email from Sandi, we both begin frantically searching the Internet for anything historical concerning Merritt Trace and Merritt Trace Elementary School. What little history there is, points to the California Room at the Main San Jose Public Library. On a later visit home, I go to the library with scanner and camera in hand and find a treasure trove of information, which I quickly copy for a detailed review.

As I compile all the history collected from the library, I begin drafting the history of the Historic Building and pass my findings to Jim. He in turn, begins interviewing old time neighbors, people connected with the school district and begins collecting a myriad of additional information and photographs. With ample photos and lots of additional information pouring in and from the neighborhood and the school, it was decided we would create a book detailing the history of Merritt Trace and of Merritt Trace Elementary School.

After ten months and over two thousand hours of work, I hope you enjoy learning about M.R. Trace and the history of Trace Elementary School.

E. Leonard Johnson

Co Author, Merritt Trace Elementary School – Through the Years

Alumni – Merritt Trace Elementary School, 1970

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