Looking Back : Photos from the Archive
SUMMER / AUTUMN
August 1
Sunday , 3:00 p . m . to 5:00 p . m . MVHA Summer Event & Meeting
In-person at Rengstorff Park See front page for more information !
September 15
Wednesday , 5:30 p . m . to 7:30 p . m . MVHA Summer / Fall Board Meeting
Virtual Zoom meeting All interested members welcome to attend ! Email info @ mountainviewhistorical . org for login .
September 18
Saturday , 9:00 a . m . to 12:00 p . m .
Mtn . View Harvest History Festival
Heritage Park , 771 N . Renstorff Avenue More information on page 3 .
November 7
Sunday , 1:00 p . m . to 3:00 p . m . MVHA Fall Event & Meeting
Location TBD More information in our next newsletter !
In 1911 , Crisanto Castro built the Villa Francisca , a large Mission-style home named in honor of his late wife . The Villa was located in the heart of what remained of the family ’ s 8,800-acre Mexican-era land grant , Rancho Pastoria de las Borregas . In 1958 , Cristanto ’ s daugher Mercedes sold the Villa and the surrounding 23.5 acres of land — the last vesitage of the once vast rancho — to the City of Mountain View . Her hope was that the land would become a park and the Villa would become a history museum or senior center . In 1961 , a suspicious fire damaged the first floor of the Villa ’ s west wing . Rather than repair the damage , the City quickly demolished the entire building . Meanwhile , the surrounding 25 acres were transformed into a park . The City contemplated naming the park in honor of the Castros , but were convinced by councilman Harry True to name it “ Mountain View Recreation Center Park .” In 1970 , it was renamed Rengstorff Park due to its location on Rengstorff Avenue . The park ’ s group picnic area ( the location of our next event , see page 1 ) was the location of the Villa Francisca .
MOUNTAIN VIEW HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION P . O . Box 252 Mountain View , CA 94042
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