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Ainsley
House: Beautifully restored in an enchanting park-like setting, the
English Tudor style architecture of the Ainsley House transports the visitor
to the bygone era of the 1920s. Built in 1925 as the home for Campbell
canning pioneer J.C. Ainsley and his wife Alcinda, the home was moved to
its present location in 1990. The exquisitely restored and decorated 15
rooms are furnished with much of the original furniture of the era when
it was one of the grand homes of the Santa Clara Valley. The surrounding
English gardens are a refreshing respite for the visitor to this unique
historic house.
Adult
Center: Membership at the Campbell Adult Center has many benefits which
includes fitness, education, cultural and wellness opportunities. Programs
consist of clubs, social services, travel and a wide variety of recreation
and leisure offerings.
Campbell Historical Museum presents new exhibits featuring artifacts
and memorabilia exploring the vanishing world of Santa Clara Valley's canneries;
a general store that acted as the community center; the intriguing evolution
of kitchen technology and appliances; the "bygone" days of adult recreation.
History of Campbell: Located in the West Valley of Santa Clara, Campbell
is a delightful community where tradition and progress combine in a successful
blend.
Benjamin Campbell, Campbell's founder, came West in 1846 with his family.
His father, William, is noted for having surveyed the cities of San Jose
and Santa Clara, and for starting a sawmill near the town of Saratoga.
In 1851, Benjamin Campbell bought 160 acres and planted it with hay and
grain. This acreage later became Campbell's historical downtown core.
In 1878,
Mr. Campbell sold an acre of his land for $5 to the railroad and, by1887,
the first subdivision was recorded west of the railroad from Campbell Avenue
to the spot where the Water Tower Plaza now stands. The area became the
center for shipping fruit, and within a short period of time, the drying
grounds and canneries made Campbell an important rail center. The Campbell
Fruit Growers' Union became a well known cooperative with its 17-acre drying
yard.
There were three major canneries in Campbell the J.C. Ainsley Packing Company,
Hyde Cannery, and Payne Cannery. Most of the output of high quality fruit
from the Ainsley Cannery was shipped to England. Ainsley Park, located
between Harrison and the railroad tracks, commemorates the man and his
cannery. Of special interest in the park are two giant black walnut trees
that were planted by the Swope family, descendants of Benjamin Campbell.
With all the industry, Campbell needed a bank, and in 1895, the Bank of
Campbell was established at the corner of Campbell and Central Avenues.
The Bank of Campbell, now called the Farley Building, is Campbell's oldest
commercial building. President Theodore Roosevelt visited Campbell in 1903.
He came at the request of Professor J. Fred Smith, the first principal
of Campbell Union High School. While here, President Roosevelt planted
a redwood tree on the school grounds. The Campbell Union High School closed
its doors in 1980 and now serves as a community center, providing a meeting
place for a variety of clubs and organizations. Campbell was first known
for its churches, which once directed community life. Later, the Board
of Trade became the leading community service. The Board of Trade is now
known as the Campbell Chamber of Commerce.
Campbell
was officially incorporated as a city in 1952. City offices occupied several
buildings, such as Fire House No. 1 and the old Congregational Church,
before the official City Hall was built. Campbell has grown from a small
farming community with a population of approximately 5,000 to a progressive
community with a population of over 38,000.- - - Courtesy City of Campbell
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