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News and Events

Year Month News / Event 1960 January The “Grog and Vittle Shoppe” opened. This establishment later became the “Lakewood Lounge” and continued in business under that name for some 40 years. June The foundation was poured for the Lakewood Baptist Church on Lakewood Drive Shops in Dick’s Lakewood Center included Delta Drug (which had a post office substation), Mary’s Bakery, a dry cleaner, and “Bucket of Bolts” hardware store. November Among the political advertisements in The Villager was one supporting Richard Nixon for President. Most political ads had been for local candidates. (The Villager no longer accepts political ads) December The Lakewood Village Merchant’s Association was formed. 1961 June Our Lady of Peace parish was established (just outside of Lakewood Village in Santa Clara). October The LVRA started effort to petition the City of Sunnyvale for a new fire station to be built near Lakewood Village. 1962 February Bayside School (Lakewood’s third school) opened. October Our Lady of Peace church opened. December First meeting of the Lakewood Village Community Council (a group of representatives from various service organizations). 1963 March Fire Station #6 was dedicated. The establishment of this fire station was a direct result of community demand, organized and expressed through the LVRA. May LVRA has nearly 1,000 members, each household paying $2 per year for membership. LVRA President proclaims May as “Lakewood Village Beautiful” month. June Holiday Inn opens on Wildwood. It remained a Holiday Inn until the 1990’s, when it became a Ramada. July Lakewood Village homes were predicted to sell for $20,000 by 1968. 1964 October Lakewood Park was dedicated. 1965 April First free refuse cleanup day. First Easter Egg Hunt, held in Lakewood Park July First “Western Days” event, held at Dick’s Lakewood Center 1966     1967 May First (and only?) “Miss Lakewood Village” beauty contest was held. 1968     1969 January 4-way stop signs were installed at intersections near neighborhood schools. July Neighborhood crosswalk markings were painted. September Homes that originally cost $11,000 in 1953 sold for $23,500 in 1969 (see the prediction from July, 1963).

Neighborhood Profile

Census and demographic data can be difficult to obtain, and when it is available, it often is not in a consistent form from one set of data to the next. Here is what I have been able to obtain about Lakewood Village in the 1960’s:

1960 Census Data

These data represent the Lakewood Village and Orchard Gardens neighborhoods.

People Population Total 8066 Children under 18 4156 Children under 5 1799 Residence in 1955 Outside of San Jose SMSA 72.5% San Jose SMSA, different house 18.5% Same house 3.2% Not reported 1.9% Family Median age 15 (male) 17.3 (female) Population per household 4.4 Children under 18 per household 2.24 Children under 5 per household 0.98 Education Population, 25 and older 3265 Four years or more of college 4.7% One to three years of college 11.2% Four years or more of high school 40% Less than four years of high school 43.1% Median years of education 12.2 School enrollment, ages 5-34 2280 Race Non-minority 98% Minority 2% Place of Birth United States 95.3% Foreign 4.7%

Employment Unemployment, as percentage of civilian labor force 3.7% (male) 8.3% (female) Occupation   Total employed 2286 Metal industries and machinery 36% Other manufacturing 11.2% Retail trade (not eating and drinking places) 10.5% Construction 7% Transportation 6.2% Other 29.1% Employed males 1565 Craftsman, foreman, kindred 30.9% Operatives, kindred 10% Professional, technical, kindred 18.7% Clerical, kindred 9% Other 22.4% Employed females 721 Clerical, kindered 34.4% Operatives, kindered 21.2% Sales workers 13.4% Service workers (not household) 11.7% Other 19.3% Median income $6,888 Welfare recipients Old age and survivor’s insurance 8 Aid to needy children, family groups 23 Foster children placed here 2

Homes Number of Homes 1835 When First Occupied up to 1953 21 1954-1957 548 1957-1960 1266 Occupancy Status Owner-occupied 83.25% Rental 13.1% Vacant 3.7%

1964 Neighborhood Survey (for Urban Renewal)

Home Conditions
Total		Excellent	Good	Acceptable	Deficient	Deterior- ated
Number of Blocks	115	64	46	4	1	0
Percentage	100%	56%	40%	4%	0.9%	0%
Most frequently cited deficiencies
House Maintenance					X	n/a
Yard Maintenance			X	X	X	n/a
Planting Strip Maintenance			X	X	X	n/a
Debris				X	X	n/a
Other comments			Painting needed	Poor maintenance	Maintenance of yard at back of house	n/a

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