Arthur M. Free House is placed on the National Registry
Naglee Park has more than its share of notable residents and the significant accomplishments of one of our lesser known neighbors are finally officially recognized. Last Friday, the State Historic Preservation Board in Sacramento unanimously approved adding the Arthur M. Free House, 66 South 14th Street, to the National Register. In addition the house will also be made a state historic landmark.
The house is a two-story brown shingle structure with large redwood trees in the yard. The stairs to the front door are made of clinker brick, and the chimney structure on the south side is also of dark red clinker brick. The house was built around 1907 for the Palmer family, but they lived in it only a few years before selling to Arthur and Mabel Free. It was the Free home until the 1960's.
Arthur M. Free was a Republican Congressman, serving from 1921 to 1933. He is known as the Father of Moffett Field for his efforts in introducing and successfully campaigning for the federal statues which created Moffett Field. It is this important contribution to American history which puts his house on the National Register.
Arthur Monroe Free was educated in schools in the City of Santa Clara and later attended University of the Pacific and then Stanford University. He received his law degree from Stanford. In 1904 he began is public career, starting as the City Attorney of Mountain View, then as District Attorney for Santa Clara County for three terms. After his time in Congress, Mr. Free resumed his law practice in San Jose and was a partner in the firm of Rea, Free, Jacka & Frasse. (Rea lived at 118 S. 13th Street.) Always interested in civic affairs, Free was a member of the Masons, the IOOF, the Elks, the Rotary, the Commercial Club and Director of the Chamber of Commerce among other affiliations.
The Free family had five children who grew up in the neighborhood; Lloyd, Gerald, Geraldine, Robert and Herbert. There were two sets of twins, Gerald and Geraldine, Herbert and Robert. Free died in 1953, fracturing his skull while falling downstairs. Mrs. Free remained in the house until the early 1960's.
The application for the National Register was submitted by the owner. The house is currently occupied by several tenants.
