Mission San Jose: Historic Gem To Visit In Fremont

Located in Fremont, Mission San Jose was founded on June 11, 1797. It was the 14th Spanish mission center established in California by the Franciscan order. Also, the mission shares a name with the Mission San Jose district of Fremont, an independent town incorporated into the city in 1957. The Mexican secularization act of 1833 led to the mission’s gradual decline. However, a series of restoration efforts were carried out to reconstruct various structures that existed before.

Presently, what remains of the Old Mission Church is still functioning as a chapel by a parish of the Diocese of Oakland, Saint Joseph Catholic Church. The site has a visitor center, as well as a slideshow narrating the history of the mission as it was.

Interesting History of Mission San Jose

During the construction of Mission San Jose, the initial plan to set the foundation at San Ramon Valley was strongly opposed and thwarted by the Native Americans in the region. The hostility between the Americans and the Spanish was evident in the confrontation. With no other choice left, the Spanish were forced to relocate to a different location, and in the process, they came to Fremont.

In May 1797, the construction of Mission San Jose started. Interestingly, a helping hand was availed from the Native Americans from Mission Santa Clara, as directed by the secular Hispanic overseers, as well as Franciscan missionaries. The church’s adobe and redwood walls were 5 feet thick and 24 feet high. Both the floors and walls were constructed using tiles.

The slopes overlooking Fremont had been inhabited by Indians for countless generations. Those Indians spoke Ohlone, a popular language at the time. When the mission had been established, most Indians neighboring the site had given themselves for baptism at Mission Santa Clara. It was these groups that formed the founding population of the new community when they returned to their homes. The mission was headed by Father Narciso Duran from 1806 until February 1833, when Father Jose Gonzalez Rubio took over the leadership. The replacement was per a post-independence ordinance that required Mexican-born clerics to replace the Spanish-born ones. Father Narciso started both a choir and orchestra, training the locals to play music, which attracted fame throughout California.

Twice, Narciso served as Father-Presidente of all Franciscan missions while at San Jose. The church’s original permanent adobe was incepted following a grand ceremony in April 1809. Gifts of sacred vessels, vestments, paintings, and religious statues proved proof of the generous nature of the Mission’s friends around the Bay region and beyond. A significant number of vestments were brought into the mission as early as the 18th century, and have stayed there. The luxurious fabrics were made in different textile centers that belonged to the Spanish Empire.

The decision to build Mission San Jose where it was was because of its richness in natural resources such as adobe soil, stones, water, and a fertile land. The Mission’s ranges were home to thousands of cattle, and the padres took care of the planting and harvesting of crops. In 1868, these ranges produced over 100 tons of wheat, along with a healthy harvest of figs, olives, and grapes.

In 1832, the mission owned 13,000 horses, 12,000 cattle, and 12,000 sheep that roamed the vast lands from what is presently the city of Oakland to San Jose. This made it the most prosperous mission in California. It was also a very organized mission, keeping records for a church, guest house, a women’s dormitory, and a monastery. They also kept track of the grazing lands and crop cultivation.

It all came mostly to an end when the Mexican Congress passed a bill in 1833 that secularized the Mission and its land, parts of it going to private land owners. Father Rubio stayed until he was transferred to Mission Santa Barbara in 1842. Those who fled starved to death or succumbed to diseases because they couldn’t thrive the way they used to before coming to the Mission. The Mission decayed, over time, and was sold by the Governor of Mexico in 1845.

Conclusion

In 1956, Fremont became a city when 5 towns were incorporated, including the town of Mission San Jose. Restoration plans for the church of the Mission went into effect in 1973 and was completed in 1985. It looks exactly like it did in the past, only with a steel frame to protect it from earthquake damage. Restorations for other areas will continue. Fremont has a vibrant housing market if you’re in the market.

The Mission San Jose was a significant institution that contributed to not only the religious community, but also the business-oriented community around California. The establishment of the mission as the center for agriculture and industry marked the beginning of significant milestones in the area. Therefore, the history of Mission San Jose is a great lesson for future generations to learn from.