ATTACHMENT D
Bianchi Bros. Barn
Dedicated May 17, 2003
The Bianchi Bros. barn was constructed circa 1918 on Capitol Avenue and Hostetter Road in San Jose and has been in continuous use since that time. It is a good example of the classic American barn with its unpretentious vernacular architecture. Barns are one of a rare handful of symbols that immediately evoke our national heritage and their honesty provides a strong regional identity to our agricultural past. In the tradition of all good barns, it is architecturally a perfect "form follows function" model. It was built of local redwood by local craftsmen to fit the landscape and serve the family’s orchard.
The Bianchi Ranch was purchased in 1939 by Santino and Domenic (Sonny and Dom) Bianchi who farmed French prune plums, walnut and cherry trees. The Bianchi Bros., noted for their time-saving and efficient inventions in fruit processing and drying, used the barn along with an attached dehydrator to process fruits for many orchards in the area. Their sister Clara donated the barn to the City of Sunnyvale in 2002 to recognize her brothers’ place in the industry.
Relocation of the barn was facilitated by the Sunnyvale Historical Society and Museum Association on behalf of the City. The general contractor responsible for meticulously dismantling and faithfully reconstructing the barn was Kent Construction, Inc. It took 11 days to dismantle the barn at its original location and 19 days to reconstruct it at its new site. It now serves as a working barn for the city’s ten-acre heritage orchard, managed by long-time orchardist Charlie Olson.Return to RTC# 03-156