Palm Haven Intro and Mission Statement

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100 years ago, developers Eaton, Vestal, & Herschbach opened Palm Haven! It was the most unique residential development ever created in or near San Jose. In fact, it incorporated as its own little city and its independence attracted a special mix of people seeking to chart their own destiny.
Most of my time has been devoted to putting together the book (see below) on Palm Haven but stay tuned for developments throughout Palm Haven's centennial year!

"A city of homes - not houses"

From the Ford Educational Library series a short film made about 1921 highlights the Santa Clara Valley.

At about 1:17 in the video clip below, a series of residential scenes is shown and the first one is shot in Palm Haven. It was taken standing in Palm Haven Avenue at Hartford Avenue facing west toward the plaza and then pans to the right ending at 655 Palm Haven Avenue. 665 Palm Haven Avenue can be seen and 675 Palm Haven Avenue is in the far background. All three houses had recently been built by Edgard Bevens, father-in-law of L.D. Bohnett. Bohnett engaged in speculative building of simple stucco homes such as these in Palm Haven. Bevens made 655 Palm Haven Avenue his home. By 1920, inflation had rendered it easy to build cheap homes in Palm Haven that still fell under the minimums established in 1913.

Copyright 2013 World and Time, Inc.

Planned book on Palm Haven

Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com) has approved a proposal to develop a book on Palm Haven for its "Images of America" series on local history across the country. This is a great opportunity to educate the public on the important people that made Palm Haven their home over the years.

The "Images of America" series depends on having books chock-full of photographs and other imagery. If you think you have a photo, diagram, or other document that relates to Palm Haven and its former residents, I would be grateful to arrange for its possible use in the forthcoming book.

Please contact me at mail@palmhaven.info to discuss what you have.

If you have any photos or documents regarding Palm Haven and/or its residents, please CLICK HERE as we would be grateful to be able to scan and return them to you but share for others to view.

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Support the Palm Haven restoration efforts ...
... and purchase one of these unique pillar models!

Order your:
Cast-pewter keychains with the original Palm Haven logo engraved on the bottom!

$10 each!

or for more info.
Proceeds go toward improvements in the Historic Conservation Area under the stewardship of the Palm Haven Restoration Committee.

Introduction

In 1913, real estate developers Eaton, Vestal & Herschbach opened a small "Residence Park" on the southern edge of San Jose, California they called Palm Haven.

"The immediate cause of our putting Palm Haven on the market was the realization that there is an active demand for residence property of the very highest class in San Jose." Said Vestal, "We have made every effort to make Palm Haven a place of pride to us and to the community at large as well as a pleasure to those purchasing from us, whether they buy for a home or for an investment. Palm Haven is destined to occupy a proud position among the well-known residence parks of California."

The San Jose Mercury And Herald (now the San Jose Mercury News) reported after the March 15 opening: "No surer evidence of the upbuilding of San Jose has ever been furnished than the opening of this section which is destined to become the most beautiful and exclusive of the Garden City's unsurpassed park-like districts of residences."

Then, San Jose Mayor Monahan said, "Palm Haven is rightly named. This beautiful row of palm trees shelters the property from the north winds and is a haven in reality as well as in name. The work of the architects is a masterpiece and San Jose could wish for no prettier or more exclusive residence district."

Indeed, Palm Haven managed to attract some of San Jose's leading professionals and politicians to commission architect-specified residences in the neighborhood. Most of those residences remain today as the neighborhood has survived the changes that came with growth in suburbs and the many economic swings that affected San Jose. But the most visible marker of Palm Haven's tenacious claim to its part of San Jose are the great old palm trees that line the streets. The nearly 100 year-old trees stand tall today as though to guard Palm Haven from all peril and comfort those below who rest in their windy whisper.

Palm Haven has garnered a rich history that has earned it numerous historic designations with the City of San Jose and the State of California.

This web site is being developed as a "living" heritage resource for the history of Palm Haven. Unlike a book, this site will contain a variety of collected media that will be presented through a unique interface. As more information is discovered, the historical collection will grow to be the most comprehensive resource on the area's history. The site will not take on an editorial disposition of its history and will include verifiable information unless noted otherwise.

My hope is that you will find the site informative, useful, and maybe even a little entertaining.

- Site master