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