Silicon Valley advocates pledge funds to save historic farmhouse

The Japanese American Museum of San Jose is teaming up with preservation advocates to save a farmhouse once home to a World War II internment camp survivor.

A 1,472-apartment development on Seely Avenue threatened the North San Jose farmhouse once owned by Eiichi “Ed” Sakauye with demolition before residents stepped in to lobby for preserving the home. They succeeded and developers The Hanover Company gave them an initial fundraising deadline of Nov. 15, which was later extended to early next year. Advocates said they have enough pledged donations to move the Sakauye House to History Park by next summer. The park is located on the south end of Kelley Park at the intersection of Senter Road and Phelan Avenue.

The project will cost $1 million, double the initial estimates — $750,000 needed for relocation and $250,000 for restoration. The Hanover Company committed $100,000 toward the efforts as preservation advocates fundraise to fill in the gaps.

“This move reflects our confidence for a successful fundraising campaign by History San Jose, and we look forward to the final relocation of the house to History Park,” Scott Youdall, Hanover regional development partner, said in a statement.

Preservation experts say Sakauye, a late Japanese farmer and community leader, was able to return to his home and farmland thanks to a neighbor after his family was forced into internment during World War II — giving historical significance to the property.

Collaborations with The Hanover Company, History San Jose and Preservation Action Council of San Jose made saving the historic farmhouse possible, Vanessa Hatakeyama, acting director of the Japanese American Museum of San Jose, said.

“We’re entering a partnership with History San Jose to operate the home as a museum space,” she told San José Spotlight. “This will help us fulfill our mission in the educational aspect of having another space to really tell the story and narrative of Japanese Americans in the Santa Clara Valley.”

The farmhouse will be moved to temporary staging grounds in February before reaching its final destination at History Park. Preservation advocates said they need to finalize relocation and restoration plans to make sure the Sakauye House will be presented as an educational resource and enduring testament to Japanese American contributions.

Ben Leech, executive director of the Preservation Action Council of San Jose, said he would have liked for the house to remain on the property in the spirit of total preservation, but saving the home itself is still a positive.

“It’s rare when a preservation issue brings so many stakeholders to the table,” he told San José Spotlight. “I would see the benefits of keeping this in place, designing around it, incorporating it into the development and making it a better development with more of a rich sense of place.”

North San Jose Councilmember David Cohen described the Sakauye House as a vital piece of the city’s cultural heritage. He said it became clear more time was needed for advocates to secure the funding, leading to the deadline extension.

“Hanover Company, the developer of the site, has agreed to use their funding commitment to move the house and temporarily stage it on the corner of the site. This will provide the time for the move to be done right,” Cohen told San José Spotlight. “I look forward to visiting the Sakauye House at its new home in History Park, where it will be part of a larger exhibit about Eiichi Sakauye and his farming legacy in North San Jose.”
Hatakeyama said the effort to save the farmhouse proves the power of community solidarity.

“It really would not have happened if we didn’t have the support of all the groups, the Sakauye family, community organizations and then also the city of San Jose. Hanover was also really willing to come to the table,” she told San José Spotlight. “We’re really relieved that it all came together.”