MH Historical Society moving forward with plans for development
Published in the April 27 – May 10, 2016 issue of Morgan Hill Life
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By Kathy Sullivan
The Hiram Morgan Hill House at Villa Mira Monte is one of our city’s most significant old houses and historical resources, telling the stories of the Hill family and their influence on the development of our city.
In 1882 Diana Murphy Hill, wife of Hiram Morgan Hill, inherited 5,000 acres of Murphy land that would become the Morgan Hill Ranch. In 1884, the couple built a stately Queen Anne-style country home at the foot of Murphy’s Peak, today known as El Toro. They named it Villa Mira Monte for its view of the mountain.
Visitors would take the train to VMM and ask for it to stop at the Morgan Hill Ranch. Over the years the stop became known as “Morgan Hill” and this is how our city got its name. The land that would become our city had its beginnings with the Hills selling off parcels of Morgan Hill Ranch to developer Chauncey Phillips who subdivided it into town lots and promoted sales to bring settlers to the area. Our city sprang up around these subdivisions, providing necessary services for new settlers and enterprising orchardists, ranchers and farmers.
In 1978, Villa Mira Monte was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The landmark designation protects it into perpetuity, requiring it to be preserved, maintained and open to the public for educational and recreational purposes.
Over the years, the Costa and Walgren families owned Villa Mira Monte. In their trust, the Walgrens deeded the property to the Lions Eye Foundation, and, being unable to manage a National Landmark, they deeded it to the city of Morgan Hill in 1986. In 1993, with the house boarded up and in seriously declining condition, the city of Morgan Hill agreed to transfer the title to the Morgan Hill Historical Society with the condition that it be renovated and open to the public within five years. The work required a new foundation and total renovation inside and out. With Redevelopment Agency funds and a lot of community support, MHHS was able to open the Hiram Morgan Hill House doors to the public in 1998. The inaugural event was the wedding reception for then Mayor Dennis Kennedy and his bride Eileen.
Today, on the remaining 2.5 acres of historical Villa Mira Monte sits the 1884 Hiram Morgan Hill House, the 1911 Morgan Hill Museum (formerly the Acton house) and the 2006 Centennial History Trail, all preserving and sharing the stories of our community.
The back 1.3 acres of the site is undeveloped and remains an unsightly open field. MHHS has an approved Zoning and Design Plan from the city planning department, which would achieve the following goals: 1) to honor the site’s rich history by restoring its beauty to some semblance of what it was like when the Hills greeted and entertained their guests; 2) to enhance its value as a tourist destination and promotional point to start city tours; 3) to expand space for exhibits and student education programs; 4) to do more community outreach through historical conversations, workshops and lecture programs; and 5) to increase the capacity for rental events generating revenue to contribute to the site’s preservation and maintenance.
MHHS has staged the development into three phases. Phase I, which is critical, would complete storm water and utilities infrastructure, a paved driveway and parking area, lighting and landscaping. Phase II would provide a multi-purpose building that would provide for classes, workshops, meetings, office and archival storage space, additional restrooms and an approved kitchen for event food preparation. Phase III would add a covered pavilion for community events.
For 23 years, MHHS, an all-volunteer nonprofit corporation whose mission is to preserve and share the history of Morgan Hill and its environs to inspire a sense of community, has managed and raised the funds to preserve, maintain and operate the site. This would not have been possible without support from our members, volunteers, community partners, individuals and local business donors.
MHHS is working on a partnership agreement with the city that will include VMM as a park asset. Title to the site would stay with MHHS, but the city would assist with funding preservation, development and maintenance expenses. The General Plan and budgeting process are underway and your input will be instrumental in setting priorities for funding. Villa Mira Monte is the heart of our community. Morgan Hill deserves a National Landmark that honors its past, celebrates its present and leaves a historical resource legacy for future generations.
As MHHS takes on this development project, we are asking the entire Morgan Hill community for its support. Please contact City Manager Steve Rymer and our city council members to let them know that you value our historical resources, support city funding to complete the development of Villa Mira Monte and assist with the ongoing preservation and maintenance of this valuable historic resource.
Kathy Sullivan is the president of the Morgan Hill Historical Society. She wrote this column for Morgan Hill Life.
