FIRST Fest

The First Fest Countdown

DAYS HOURS MINUTES

	Mt. Hamilton's Lick Observatory nominator: Alma Taylor Lick Observatory was the first mountain top permanently occupied observatory in the world, completed in 1887 from a bequest from James Lick, whose body is buried under the site. The 91-cm refracting telescope was Earth's largest when it became operational On January 3, 1888. At Lick observatory the following astronomical objects were discovered: Several moons of Jupiter and several extra solar planets.
historical “firsts” submissions
	First Eiffle Tower? The Electric Tower nominator: Maya Smith In 1831 James Jerome Owen, editor of the San Jose Daily Mercury, came up with a grand idea to illuminate the streets of San Jose - a huge tower rising over the intersection of Santa Clara and Market Streets. Eight years after San Jose's tower was built, the Eiffel Tower was built in Paris. Some hinted that the tower's design was influenced from San Jose. Pierre de Saisset, the French consul in San Jose in the late 1800s, was heavily involved in the company that owned the light tower and the French journal La Lumiere Electrique featured an article about the San Jose tower.
	San Jose as First State Capitol of California nominator: Monica Holm San Jose was founded on November 29, 1777 as El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, the first town in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California. The city served as a farming community to support Spanish military installations at San Francisco and Monterey. When California gained statehood in 1850, San Jose served as its first capital.
	The First Building of Silicon Valley nominator: Monica Holm First Varian Associates building, Stanford Industrial Park, Palo Alto, California, 1953. Source: "Russell and Sigurd Varian - The Inventor and The Pilot", by Dorothy Varian. Palo Alto, 1983, p.258.
	Eggo Waffles nominator: Stephen Wright The Eggo Waffle was invented in San Jose, according to a recent Mercury News article about a shortage of the delectable breakfast treat. Enough said.
	Alum Rock Park nominator: Russ Goodsite I nominate Alum Rock Park as the First City Park in the State of California
	City of Mountain View and Google - Public Private Partnership for Community-Wide FREE WiFi nominator: Nadine Levin The City of Mountain View (pop. 75,000) and Google, Inc., began in 2005, to establish the first Silicon Valley, Citywide-FREE-WiFi network to meet the goal of expanding the availability of information over the Internet to the entire community. Google installed over 400 transmitters and related equipment to provide the largest outdoor WiFi network in the United States. In August 2006, installation was complete and the project was officially launched. The innovative partnership has contributed to enhanced economic development, and to help provide for expanded access and inclusion for the community. It was truly a successful, Silicon Valley first!
	Louis Pellier nominator: Leigh Weimers In 1846, Louis Pellier introduced the French prune, la petite Prune d'Agen, and helped launch the fruit-growing and processing industry that would establish the Santa Clara Valley as one of the world's prime agricultural regions, "the Valley of Heart's Delight."
	Don Hoefler nominator: Monica Holm Don Hoefler is the journalist credited with coining the phrase: "Silicon Valley" In 1971, in a series of articles that Hoefler wrote for ELECTRONIC NEWS, a weekly tabloid, he first used the phrase "Silicon Valley" to describe the congeries of electronics firms mushrooming in Santa Clara county. "He pioneered the coverage of Silicon Valley as a distinct community."
	Notre Dame High School - San Jose nominator: Leslie Arioto Notre Dame High School is the oldest private secondary school for young women in California. The school is owned by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The Sisters came to California in 1851 to establish a school-elementary through college- in San Jose. Notre Dame opened on August 4, 1851. In 1923, the College of Notre Dame was moved to Belmont. The high school continued on the Santa Clara Street site until 1928 when it was moved to its present location at Second and Reed Street. The new site was the spacious home of the Honorable and Mrs. Myles P. O'Connor.
	Norman Mineta nominator: Alma Taylor He is the first Japanese American to have an Airport names after him. He was Mayor of San Jose (the first Japanese to hold that position), became a Congressman, and held several positions with the Democratic administration in Washington.
	Alum Rock Park nominator: Melissa Johnson On March 13, 1872 Alum Rock Park was the first municipal park in California. It's beautiful terrain, creek, and attractions made it a popular destination at the turn of the 19th century.
	New Almaden Quicksilver Mines nominator: George Castro The first Scientific Experiment (hypothesis, experiment, documentation) in California, the first Mine Land Claim in California, the first Corporation in California, and the first Chemical Industry in California are all associated with the discovery and mining of cinnabar in south San Jose in the years 1845-47. The reductions works there (now named New Almaden) produced mercury from 1845 to the late 1960s.
	Leigh Weimers nominator: James O’Lynn His wonderful book helped Create The first multi-Media Luncheon group called THE UNUSUAL SUSPECTS.16 years ago...
	Portola nominator: Leigh Weimers On Nov. 6, 1769, Capt. Gaspar de Portola's expedition reached the Santa Clara Valley, becoming the first Europeans to set foot on what one day would become Silicon Valley.
	Muwekma Ohlone nominator: Leigh Weimers The Muwekma Ohlone people are the first human inhabitants of what now is Silicon Valley. All else follows them.
	J.B. Crandall nominator: Leigh Weimers In 1857, Jared Burdick Crandall of San Jose introduced the first stagecoach service across the Sierra Nevada.
	Whisman nominator: Leigh Weimers In 1849, John Whisman of Mountain View opened California's first stagecoach service with a line between San Jose and San Francisco.
	Norman Yoshio Mineta nominator: Sarah Hildenberger Norman Yoshio Mineta was the first Asian Pacific American mayor of a U.S. City. Born in San Jose, he served on the San Jose City Council, as well as the U.S. House of Representatives in the district containing Silicon Valley and is currently the U.S. Secretary of Transportation. The Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport is named after him.
	Pet Rock nominator: Karen Rheault In 1975, Gary Dahl an advertising executive in Los Gatos, introduced the world to the very first Pet Rock. It was borne from the idea that pets require a lot of care and attention. These little rocks, which were imported from Mexico, sold in mock pet-carriers for $3.95. The boasted the advantage of not needing to be fed, groomed or walked, and they would never die. Each rock was accompanied by a 32-page book entitled "The care and training of your Pet Rock." Dahl’s Pet Rock became a stand-out fad of the 1970s. Did you own one?
	Eggo Waffles nominator: Karen Rheault Frank Dorsa's father and two brothers started the Eggo waffle company in San Jose. In the 1960's Kellogg acquired Eggo Waffles in their attempt at diversifying their product offerings. These frozen waffles appeal to anyone who loves waffles, but doesn't want the hassle of a waffle iron. San Jose city leaders have named the street where they are produced Eggo Way. The 2009 nationwide shortage of Eggos has underscored the product's appeal, as Eggo lovers stock up on limited supplies.
	San Jose to Toyko, American Airlines Inaugural Flight nominator: Steve Yamaguma On March 2nd, 1991, the first nonstop transpacific flight from San Jose to Tokyo was lead by a delegation including Mayor Susan Hammer and local business leaders. Due to the runway expansion not being completed by flight time, the new MD11 tri-jet airliner could only carry 1/3 of the passengers in order to reduce the overall weight and insure a safe takeoff. A lavish reception put on by the mayor of Tokyo and Japanese businesses greeted the San Jose delegation.
	Becky Morgan nominator: Sarah Moore Former State Senator Rebecca (Becky) Morgan (District 11, 1984 - 1992) was the first woman to wear pants on the Senate floor
	San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission nominator: Melissa Johnson In July 1945 the San Jose City Council and its President (mayor) Ernest Renzel formed the Historic Landmarks Commission. The first historical commission in the State of California was formally organized on September 17, 1945, "to promote the preservation of historic sites and landmarks and of the documents, paintings, and objects associated with the history of the community." Theron Fox served as the commission's first president and recommended that Clyde Arbuckle be the Honorary City Historian.
	Violet Enander nominator: Laura Harris First woman to serve on the Board of Directors of the Santa Clara Valley Water District (1960's)
	Laurie Smith nominated by Laura Harris First female sheriff of Santa Clara County
	BSA Troop 600 nominator: Ron Schoenmehl The Sikh Gurdwara, CA in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America announced the formation of first Sikh Scouts Troop in the USA. In June of 2009, Troop 600 was initiated under guidance and support from our Assistant Scout Executive, Eric Tarbox and our Coyote Creek District Executive, Ken Schott. The charter organization for the Sikh Scouts is Khalsa School at the Sikh Gurdwara - San Jose. Troop 600 accomplished their first milestone receiving their advancement to the Tenderfoot Rank at the Court of Honor on October 27, 2009 as well as their merit badges for their accomplishments at Hi-Sierra summer camp.
	Andrea Jung nominator: Danielle Seaman Andrea Jung Chairman and CEO of Avon Products is the First Woman Minority on a Board in Silicon Valley. She is now on the Apple's board.
	Norman Mineta nominator: Joe O’Kane First Asian American mayor of a major city in California. The only mayor I know who actually remembers every one’s name.
	Karen Allyn nominator: Josh Russell Karen Allen began her career as a firefighter in the Almaden Valley in 1981. 28 years later, Allyn retired as San Jose’s first female firefighter. She is married with two daughters living in Watsonville. Currently, there are roughly 40 females on a staff of 700 firefighters in San Jose.
	Mt. Hamilton's Lick Observatory nominator: Alma Taylor Lick Observatory was the first mountain top permanently occupied observatory in the world, completed in 1887 from a bequest from James Lick, whose body is buried under the site. The 91-cm refracting telescope was Earth's largest when it became operational On January 3, 1888. At Lick observatory the following astronomical objects were discovered: Several moons of Jupiter and several extra solar planets.
	Ygnacio Archlueta nominator: Leigh Weimers In 1783, Ygnacio Archlueta became the first elected mayor (alcalde) of San Jose, California's first civil settlement.
	San Jose Electricity nominator: Maya Smith In 1831, San Jose was the first electrified city west of the Rockies.
	St. Joseph's Cathedral nominator: Maya Smith St. Joseph's was the first church of the Pueblo de San Jose. The original adobe structure was built on the present site in 1803. It was replaced by a second adobe in 1845, which was replaced by a wooden building in 1869. After this structure was destroyed by fire in 1875, the present building was erected. Designed by architect Bryan J. Clinch, this grand edifice continues to house San Jose's oldest seat of Christian worship.
	US Post Office nominator: Maya Smith This Romanesque-style structure was the city's first federal building. It was designed by Willoughby Edbrooke and built in 1892 using sandstone from the nearby Goodrich Quarry in New Almaden. An upper portion of the corner tower was lost in the 1906 earthquake. In 1933, the post office operations were moved to a new facility near St. James Park after the old quarters were determined to be too small. From 1937 to 1970, the building served as a public library and, in 1970, became home to the San Jose Museum of Art.
	Plaza Park nominator: Maya Smith Plaza park, now known as Plaza de Cesar Chavez, is part of the original plaza of the 1797 Pueblo de San Jose and is the oldest continuously used public open space in the city. The plaza served as the hub of the old Spanish settlement. It was the site of the Juzgado (town hall) and the church, and it was a focus for the public life of the pueblo. After the U.S. takeover, surveyor Chester Lyman laid out the present elliptical park at the southern edge of the plaza. This became the primary civic open space of the new American city and, in 1849, the first State Capitol was situated on its eastern edge.
	Hotel Montgomery nominator: Maya Smith The Hotel Montgomery is San Jose's oldest, yet most modern hotel. Originally constructed by the legendary developer and prominent local businessman TS Montgomery in 1911, the Hotel Montgomery was San Jose's first truly "modern" hotel in the downtown area.
	City of San Jose nominator: Nancy Park I nominate the historical city of San Jose for being the first capital of California when it gained statehood in 1850.
	Martin Luther King Library nominator: Kimberly Echeverri This joint library project of San Jose State University and the City of San Jose is the first major library funded, constructed and operated as a result of a partnership between a municipality and a major four-year university. This national first houses a collection of almost 2 million items and is visited daily by thousands, both university students and the general public. It's a wonderful architectural addition to the downtown landscape as well as "gem" in the world of education.
	Madison Nguyen nominator: Gerri Ledbetter Madison Nguyen became the first Vietnamese woman elected to public office in California in 2002. Nguyen currently serves on the San Jose City Council.
	Ron Gonzales nominator: Meghan Horrigan Ron Gonzales was the first Hispanic mayor of San Jose as he began his term in 1999.
	Convention Center Facilities District nominator: anonymous The Convention Center Facilities District, created by San Jose hotels to tax themselves for the purpose of funding a public project, is the first of its kind in the State of California as passed in June 2009.

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