If you were to start your walk at the intersection of Glenwood and Lupton, walking north on the east side of Lupton Avenue, you would notice that the sidewalk was poured in August 1929 by S. Coronado, Contractor. He did many sections of walk along this street and they are holding up well. The thing is, before he poured them 73 years ago, there were only gravel paths. Of course, Lupton did not have concrete street curbs even as late as 1950 and in those days you actually drove out of San Jose and through orchards before you reached Willow Glen.

At 1535 there is a beautiful arched and columned portico over a large front door that is definitely worth looking at & Coronado's walks give way to those of A.L.Bynun whose work was done in 1956 and 1960. LLoyd Newgren's walks dated in 1964 and 1978 and G. Padia's work in 1987 and a couple of sections by Mr. Azzarello mark the end of properly signed and dated walks in this area. I think it is not that contemporary contractors lack pride in their work. It is just that a tradition (or custom) has unhappily been lost.

But as we reach 1486 we cease looking at walks to see a "Craftsman Style" masterpiece, created in just the last few years. It almost appears to be Greene and Greene at their best, (though smaller than some of the Pasadena examples of the turn of the century), and of course, 100 years of mellowing brings a richness to wood and stone alike which would be impossible to duplicate today. This house is a small masterpiece, however, though perhaps it would be seen to better advantage on a larger lot.

Across the street at 1455 a huge house has a spacious lot to set it off and supurb craftsmanship in over-the-window rondels and beautifully designed porch railings. The owner did much of the ornate work on this house himself and here again is workmanship to stop and admire.

At 1426 a tiny one story bungalow seems to come right out of a mystery story with it's boarded up windows, long grass and peeling white paint.

Just beyond a huge mansion has been built where (when its sidewalk was poured) there stood a beautiful little 2 bedroom brick bungalow on a lovely tree-filled lot. It has the look of a small hotel but is partially saved by the fact that two huge trees were saved when the original house was hauled to the dump.

(To see perhaps the outstanding example of the famous nouveau-riche, monster-houses of Willow Glen you only have to walk west one block on Minnesota.

But if you turn east instead, (walking toward Willow Glen's main street) you will see a curious thing. The sidewalk has been poured by Gecotti and Sons of San Francisco in 1961. (How could they have beaten out both Bynun and Newgren to get this job so far from home?)

Do not miss the fabulous collection of unusual roses along here and when the irises are in bloom they also are exceptional.

As you cross the intersection of Minnesota and Newport you will see the "Peach House" across the street to the north, with is wonderful collection of topiary schrubs. A private garden of course but walking along both the Newport and the Minnesota side you can view all of the many examples.

The Methodist Church (with it's bat-free belfry) has an interesing contrast in windows. The stained glass on the lower floor are beautiful 19th century antiques moved from another church, while the clerestory windows show a contemporary panoramic landscape of Silicon Valley on a cloudy day. Both windows are, of course, better viewed from inside.

Next door a lovely old English home originally built and owned by a San Jose merchant has been remodeled as classroom spaces for church functions. There is a museum-quality 14"x 14" decorative tile depicting a sailing ship set in the floor of a colonade next to the rear patio. There was originally a wooden plaque over the lounge window with the signatures and trades of all those who worked on the house when it was built (plumbers, electricians, cabinetmakers, tile setters, et al) - nearly 30 hand signed names done with a burning needle into oak wood.

Across the street now, next to the village library, is a mansion which I choose to call, "The House of the Cast Iron Chickens". There is an antique shop inside and perhaps a tea room and many large pieces of sculpture scattered about the yard. There are, of course a few cast iron roosters as well as the chickens, roosting atop the piers of the red brick wall and since they have rusted to a rich red brown they provide more than a name for the place.

But unless they are actually serving tea we will be better off heading to the coffee roasting company around the corner (after looking at the tile wall built by the alumni of the Elementary School), near the corner of Minnesota and Lincoln.

This store, not too far from downtown San Jose, is one of the few (three, if I remember correctly) that I have seen with custom murals that reflect the local community. The mural in this store takes some artistic license in depicting Lincoln Avenue, which you can see running into the background.

- Starbucks Everywhere

Oh shucks, I thought for a minute I had something there. I better get back to jpegs and htmls, (whatever they are).

-dotcalm