Located at Washington Square in San Jos� bounded by San Fernando, San Carlos, Fourth and Seventh Streets - at the same site as the First Normal School building.
Ionic style. Built of bricks.
The First State Normal School Building that was completed in 1871 was destroyed in a fire on February 10, 1880. A replacement building (see above) was constructed at the site and occupied on May 2, 1881.
The Normal School students met in a high school until the new building was completed.
The California Legislature appropriated $100,000 to construct the new building and $50,000 of insurance proceeds were also available from the loss of the first building. The total cost of construction was only $148,936.95, so the Trustees returned $1,063.05 to the State treasury.
The building was built in about one year.
"The building was quite devoid of external beauty. It had a certain dignity and a plainness and solidity that promised lasting qualities, but no one, however confirmed an optimist, could have truthfully discovered lines of beauty. The interior finish was more ornate; broad stairways flanked by solid black walnut newel posts led to the second story, where a large assembly hall with a balcony occupied the center of the building, which like its predecessor had a three story portion with wings on either side. On the right of the main entrance was the president's office, on the left the office of the Preceptress. Back of the entrance hall was the library, and across from the library was the museum." [The Story of An Inspiring Past, 1928]
The building was deemed unsafe after the 1906 earthquake.
Source of information: Gilbert and Burdick, Washington
Square 1857 - 1979 - The History of San Jose State University, page 71 - 77;
and The Story of An Inspiring Past, 1928, page 31.
Photo source:
Special
Collections at SJSU King Library.