San Jose Mission Model and Granary by myrrhluz
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Description
The first image is of a model of the mission as it would have looked in the 1700's. This is very similar to the way it looks today, though much restoration was needed due to extensive damage during years of neglect. The model is in the granary and the second image was taken by turning 180 degrees from the first image. I left it pretty big, so you can see the model better on zoom. The woman mention on the plaque (Ethel Wilson Harris) was a very interesting woman who was instrumental in promoting regional pottery and decorated tiles.
What follows is a continuation of the article that I quoted with my last image.
"The mission was to acquaint the Indians with Christian teaching, European values, and vocational skills and to convert them to useful citizens of the empire. Neophytes learned the basic tenets of Catholicism, arts and crafts, and music and singing. Juan Agustin Morfi wrote in the 1780s, "many play the harp, the violin, and the guitar well, sing well, and dance the same dances as the Spaniards." Colonial art was exemplified by architecture and sculpture, fresco painting, window masonry, woodwork, and metal craftsmanship. Vocational training was basic to the mission economy and to development of essential livestock and agricultural industries. Father Ignacio Antonio Cyprian's 1749 report noted 2,000 cattle and 1,000 sheep on the mission ranch (El Atascoso). Nine years later, Governor Jacinto Barrios y Jauregui reported that San Jose owned 1,000 branded cattle and 3,276 sheep. In 1768, 1,500 yokes of oxen were still on the ranch, according to Father Gaspar Jose Solis's report, as well as many horses and 5,000 sheep and goats. Indian vaqueros, skilled at cutting mounts, cared for the large livestock, while Indian shepherds watched over the mission's small livestock. The Indians learned fundamental agricultural technology, notably systematic cultivation of the soil, selective use of seed, irrigation techniques, the use of hydraulic power in a flour mill, and granary storage methods. Cyprian recorded that 2,400 bushels of corn were harvested on mission farmlands, and Barrios noted an increased harvest of 4,000 bushels in 1758. Solis noted abundant crops of corn, beans, lentils, potatoes, sugar cane, cotton, melons, and fruit. In 1777 Morfi described the farmlands as an area of about a square league watered by an aqueduct system and producing vegetables and fruit, with peaches weighing up to a pound."
Gilberto R. Cruz, "SAN JOSE Y SAN MIGUEL DE AGUAYO MISSION," Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/uqs23), accessed February 19, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.
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Comments (26)
dochtersions
An excellent view of this history, dear Lucinda. The two pictures are very good. The colors do indeed reminiscent of the 1700s. The history is very interesting. A fantastic look at it, through these images. Thank you for sharing this excellent impression; as I in the past reed books about it, this is great to see.
durleybeachbum
Fascinating! Superb shots. I am ambivalent about missionaries: they spread European diseases and alien practices wherever they went,as well as their beliefs.
jayfar
Very interesting Lucinda and great shots.
blinkings
Interesting.
Juliette.Gribnau
fascinating and fantastic
anianiani
Very thoughtful Nd Artistic Image........thankyou my friend.
mgtcs
What marvelous shots Lucinda! The old architecture really stands out, especially in the granary, where one can easily imagine being back in the 18th Century and feel the "atmosphere" of the place at that time (which, from the information given, seems to have been economically thriving for the standards of those days).
magnus073
Lucinda, these are some fantastic photos my friend. I especially liked the photo featuring the model, and enjoyed hearing your thoughts on the comparison of it to the way it looks today. I also very much enjoyed the history you gave here. It provided us with a very detailed idea of what their goals were for the people.
Faemike55
very cool photos!
Jean_C
Interesting documentation and beautiful shots!
alessimarco
~Great images and information!~
angora
great captures, very interesting!!! and 2nd what Andrea said!!! the nerve they had...... and have tsss
jendellas
Lovely to see these pics, & very interesting info, with peaches weighing upto a pound WOW!!!
mickeyrony
Hmmm ..... the story is told at a glance. I like it. Thanks so much for sharing ((5 + +)) Hummm .....l'histoire se raconte en un regard . J'aime bien . Mercis beaucoup de partager ((5++))
drifterlee
Very cool old mission, I saw a few when I was out West years ago. Very impressive!
emmecielle
Great shots and interesting story! :)
sandra46
VERY INTERESTING PHOTOS AND INFO
goodoleboy
Texas? I thought this was the Mission San Jose in Fremont, California. There is also the city San Jose in California. In any event, very interesting fotos and followup history on the site, Lucinda.
flavia49
wonderful captures!!
wysiwig
Nice looking model and some fascinating information. You know, of course, that we have missions all over California. They are interesting time capsules. As your narrative shows, the mission fathers taught the Native Americans the skills they would need to survive under the new European domination.
jocko500
wow this is history. it a good history. just wonder what happened? so many good things gone. very good images
blondeblurr
'Indians learned fundamental agricultural technology' - to say the least something good and useful was passed on to the them, rather than hearing, reading (and having watched old movies) about the big killing-sprees, from both sides ... I also agree with Andrea on some points, why can't they all live in harmony? - this is so much more civilised! thanks for the info, Lucinda BB
mariogiannecchini
very beautiful images , Lucinda ! Very interesting story !
KatesFriend
I love the lower shot. The arch strikes again, nearly three hundred years old and it still holds up. Such an effective yet graceful piece of architecture. You captured this well with a very wide range of brightnesses but no section over or under exposed.
alanwilliams
your such a fount of interesting information and always an interesting picture to back it all up, many thanks
danapommet
That is a beautiful model as is your photo. Also a great view of the granary. Also wonderful information.