One of the million reason's why Spanishtown ROCKS!

Reason # 1....they all want us!



One of the things that makes Spanish Town so cool is that it is tucked in between two beautifully kept historic Sacramento neighborhoods, all the while it is in itself a vintage subdivision. In fact, many homes in Spanish Town were built far earlier than Land Park to the west and Curtis Park to the east.

In all my years growing up in this area*, attending C.K. McClatchy High School (another architectural gem to be shot later) and cutting school regularly to hang out with older guys at the ultimate Spanish Town cafe Espresso Metro (see last post), I never really checked out the neighborhood.

Needless to say when I began researching our house I was pleased to find out that Spanish Town is actually part of both local neighborhood associations! Apparently the College Plaza Tract (including Spanish Town) can be claimed by two community associations, the Sierra Curtis Park Neighborhood Association and the Land Park Community Association and the reason for this likely lies in the history of the land itself.

As researched by Dan Murphy and documented on his Curtis Park History website, the Curtis Land Grant, the land once belonging to William Curtis extended from the eastern edge of Freeport Blvd out to the east past the rail yards into the edge of Oak Park. This Curtis tract was later pieced out, eventually leaving the College Tract and Spanish Town with it, cut away from Curtis Park by the rail yards and closer to Land Park in proximity rather than Curtis Park itself.

Lying in the middle, in limbo we also have our own small neighborhood association, the College Plaza Neighborhood Association which has been influential in traffic and pedestrian safety issues around the college campus and surrounding residential area.

Check out the links and join if your a neighborhood member!

*Oddly enough though .. my history with the Spanish Colonial Revival (SCR) architectural style began early considering the building that houses Espresso Metro actually dates back to a much earlier time in my life...when my parents business actually existed in the front portion of the property where the College Soda Fountain used to be and where the Student Book Exchange is now. Additionally..the first site of their real estate office was in another landmark SCR complex where the Tower Theatre is!

I heart Spanish Town!

My husband and I bought our first home a few summer's back and we are madly in love with not only our house, but also our tiny vintage hidden neighborhood called Spanish Town. I have decided to share my developing love for all things Spanish Revival in my neighborhood and hopefully inspire you to document the history of your community as a way to preserve it's special parts along with building a sense of connection between you and your neighbors. Maybe I am doing this because I am a history nerd or possible because Sacramento real estate runs through my veins, either way it just feels good to share all the little things I find so quaint.

According to Dan Murphy, local Sacramento historical writer and neighborhood activist, a subdivision map for the College Plaza area, sometimes called the College Town Tract, just north of Sacramento Junior College (now Sacramento City College) was filed in 1928. Marketed as 'Spanish Town' , it's where I am blogging about.

In the picture of the subdivision at the top of the page you can see College Plaza in the lower left hand corner, just to the east of Freeport Blvd and just south of College Terrace. Comprised of a shortened 8th avenue and all of 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th Avenue's from West to East, College Plaza is also crisscrossed by Freeport Blvd. (21st), 22nd and 23rd streets along with three accessible fire lanes. The distinctive markings of the Water Tower and Hughes Stadium are visible on the map and even further east from that, across the Curtis Park Rail Yards are the neighborhoods surrounding Curtis Park such as Curtis Oaks and Heilbron Oaks.

So hidden and quaint, most people just barely realize Spanish Town is here. Unless of course you did any time at Espresso Metro eating baguettes with chive cream cheese while hanging out in Metro Park a.k.a... Plaza Cervantes Park. But more on that to come later...ciao for now.