Gilroy’s Special Centennial, 1914-Style
I
t wasn’t the same sort of Centennial event as this year’s
Gilroy Sesquicentennial, but the occasion was a big
blowout just the same. Planned to take place in Gilroy
on June 27, 1914, the celebration was to commemorate
two major local events, one historic and the other modern.
Named the “Pageant of Progress,” the gala was organized by
the newly-established Gilroy Chamber of Commerce. The
double observance acknowledged the one-hundredth year of
settler John Gilroy’s arrival in the area, and also unveiled the
newly completed, first-time permanent paving of downtown
Gilroy’s Monterey Street.
Scotsman John Gilroy, the town’s namesake, became the
first foreign settler in then-Mexican governed Santa Clara
Valley. As a captain’s coxswain on an English ship, Gilroy
(whose real name was John Cameron) arrived in Monterey
in 1813. Of the several accounts explaining his arrival in
California, one says that he was admonished for failing to
carry out an order, so he jumped ship. At first, he headed
into Monterey to hide, but then set foot toward the Santa
Clara Valley. Gilroy arrived at the San Ysidro Rancho in
1814, and by 1821 had married Maria Clara Ortega, whose
father Ygnacio owned the rancho. When her father died,
Maria Clara inherited a portion of the rancho, located in the
vicinity of today’s Frazier Lake and Pacheco Pass Roads. The
property was awarded to John Gilroy in 1867, two years
before he died.
John Gilroy was engaged in several occupations during
his life. He grew wheat, traded in flour produced at his grist
mill and raised cattle. He operated a soap-making factory
located at San Felipe Lake, now known as Soap Lake. The product was popular with sailors who traded at the Port of
Monterey, where Gilroy sold his product to businessman
Thomas Oliver Larkin. During the Mexican administration,
Gilroy was appointed alcalde, or mayor-magistrate, for the
San Juan district. In 1846, when California became American
territory, he served as justice of the peace.
The 1914 celebration was to include an aerial exhibition
by renowned Gilroy pilot, Bob Fowler. As the only living
coast-to-coast aviator who had also flown across the Panama
Canal, he was invited to make a sweeping downtown flyover
to celebrate the newly-paved Monterey Street.
Special trains were scheduled to bring in residents from
outlying towns and cities for the big day. Organized events
included a sunrise 100-volley gun salute, a loop parade
down Monterey Street from Second to Eighth Streets, music
from four bands, street games, and motorcycle races. That
evening, Monterey Street would be the scene of a 100-plus
automobile procession followed by a street dance, all held
under strings of brilliant lights. The capstone was a grand
ball, the following Saturday, at the town’s skating rink.
Honored guests for the event included John Gilroy’s
descendants, who would join a parade to celebrate the centu-
ry that had passed since their ancestor’s arrival. Other special
guests included descendants of the town’s pioneer Martin,
Lewis and Fellom families.
On the morning of June 27, 1914, speeches were sched-
uled at Gilroy’s oldest building, located on north Monterey
Street. Called “The Oaks,” it was built in 1851 by David
Hollaway as the town’s first hotel. Speeches would mark the
inauguration of the new state highway system. Many noted
106 SPRING 2020
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
gmhtoday.com
Written By Elizabeth Barratt