Caretakers

 Most people driving along Mission Blvd. through Fremont are not aware that they are passing the three remaining adobe structures in Washington Township that date from the pre-California Spanish-Mexican Era. Mission San Jose, the Vallejo Adobe in Niles and the Warm Spring’s Galindo-Higuera Adobe. It’s quite amazing that these structures spanning four centuries and constructed only of clay and straw are not only standing, but were already in use when Spanish missionaries were still establishing the chain of missions in the late 1700’s and up until the 1840’s when gold seekers were stopping off at Mission San Jose to purchase food and supplies before trekking off to the Sierra foothills over what is now known as the “Sunol Grade”. It’s important to recognize that during all those years since then there have been caretakers responsible for preserving the legacy of these unique remnants of an earlier time. Mission San Jose was restored by the Committee for the Restoration of the Mission San Jose in partnership with the Catholic Diocese of Oakland and is currently administered by St. Joseph’s Parish. The Vallejo Adobe in Niles was maintained by the California Nursery Company for decades and is currently a Fremont Historical Park. The Galindo-Higuera Adobe is the last of seven adobes built between 1830 and 1840 on Fulgencio Higuera’s ranch in the foothills below Mission Peak and is also a Fremont Historical Park tucked away in suburban Fremont.

Our congregation of seekers now has the unique opportunity and responsibility to be the caretakers of the legacy of the United Church of Hayward. Although our familiar landmark building may ultimately not be part of the South Hayward skyline it’s proper and fitting that we celebrate the countless number of families and individuals who lives have forever been influenced by our existence here on Mission Blvd.  -Bill