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<br />SITE BACKGROUND
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<br />The area now designated as Santa Clara was a part of a larger area known as Pleasant
<br />Grove, which included six districts in addition to Santa Clara. This was one of the first
<br />voting precincts in Lane County. The name "vas changed to Santa Clara in 1890 when
<br />Cot AJ, Straight came in and bought the farms ofthe Potters and Grays, ,vhich were
<br />subdivided for the purpose of selling in smaller tracts. It was called Santa Clara because
<br />the new subdivisions were advertised under that name, given them by Cot Straight who
<br />came from Santa Clara, Calit'(lrnia. It ,vas at this time that the school was moved from its
<br />first site, on the Irving road a half mile west of the present site, In 1904 this was made
<br />into a two-morn school building, In 1913 this ,vas raised and remodeled into a two StOlY,
<br />four-room school building, and a high school was started. This required more room so in
<br />1915 they built a one-roorn building in the corner of the grounds tt)r the t1rst three grades.
<br />For the last tor years the school was so inadequate that the school used the kitchen of the
<br />community hall for a classroom. But by January, 1931, Santa Clara had erected a six~
<br />room modern schoolhouse and now had a standard public school of eight grades and a
<br />high school.
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<br />We can look at tlus timeline in a number ofv'iays, such as;
<br />1. That was only 75 years ago, that building is not so historic
<br />2. Lane County was only created in 1851, a mere 80 years earlier.
<br />3, It was not until 1846 (five years earlier) t.hat a pioneer home was build in Lane
<br />County,
<br />4, It was in that year (1846) that Elijah Bristow was granted a claim at Pleasant Hill
<br />and shortly after Eugene Skinner was granted a claim \vhere Eugene now stands
<br />5. The flrst. scheduled stagt1 coach route established out of Eugene was in 1860 and
<br />ran along what is now Prairie Road.
<br />6, The first railroad through Eugene came ten years later in 1870, a rnen.1 20 years
<br />bet ore the Santa Clara school was moved to its prestmt site.
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<br />Our history might not be long as if measured by Europe or even the eastern part of the
<br />United States but what it lacks in age and longevity it more the makes up in its rich
<br />heritage and pride
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