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The Garden City of Santa Clara, Sevilla

Mystery authors are known for their attention to plot and landscape details and fortunately for urbanists, many mysteries are set in cities. In a previous post, we quoted from the Victoria Thompson mystery Murder on Washington Square which as the title suggests is set in Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village.

Today, we offer a quote about a neighborhood in Sevilla, Spain from Robert Wilson's The Vanished Hands. (Original title: The Silent and the Damned.)

 
Intersection of Avenida de Kansas City and Calle Frey Francisco de Pareja
He headed out past the endless high-rise blocks of the Avenida de Kansas City {Kansas City is one of Seville's sister cities} thinking about the exclusive barrio where he was headed. The Garden City of Santa Clara had been planned by the Americans to quarter their officers after the strategic Air Command base was established near Seville, following Franco's signing of the Defense Pact of 1953. Some of the bungalows retained their 1950s aspect, others had been Hispanicized and a few, owned by the wealthy had been torn down and rebuilt from scratch into palatial mansions. As far as Falcon remembered none of these changes had quite managed to rid the area of a pervasive unreality. It was to do with the houses being on their individual plots of land, together but isolated, which was not a Spanish phenomenon but rather like a suburban American estate. It was also, unlike the rest of Seville, almost eerily quiet.... Falcon parked in the shade of some overhanging greenery outside the modern house on Calle Frey Francisco de Pareja.

 
"Individual plots of land" along Calle Frey Francisco de Pareja

 
Across Calle Carmen Laffon - "a Spanish phenomenon"

We started this post by remarking on the acute observatory skills of mystery authors.  Here is how Robert Wilson describes his approach to writing:
My first job (the easy part) is research and, because my books are initially inspired by setting, this usually involves some travel and then a hell of a lot of reading before I'm confident enough to start writing....
Two questions: One, if you are a writer, what is your first step in drafting your work? Two, what are your favorite descriptions of cities in works of fiction?

Comments

Anonymous said…
I resided in of those Santa Clara housing units in 1963-1965 when I was a member of the USAF. I remember the unit number it was N-21A. The unit I lived in was a fourplex with 2 units downstairs and two units upstairs. Our unit was on the ground floor.
local ecologist said…
Thank you for your comment, Anonymous!
Unknown said…
I'm a resident of Santa Clara. I'm very happy to have met this article of the "barrio" where I grew up. I live in a modern (c.1979) block on the perimeter of the neighborhood. Currently, about half of the houses retains its original duplex design but because of insecurity, all gardens have been closed following the Spanish model; also survive the former American school, today San Agustín, the school where I learned my poor english haha. The former ball fields are today a park. Some neighbors say that the map of the neighborhood has gun form, so if started a war betwen Spain and USA, the U.S. Air Force would know that it was friendly territory. Here is a current photo of the original american map, the Sevillian "Little USA". REGARDS!!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_axURAFfflnA/TB6SvloEXfI/AAAAAAAAA64/PsXwNzJl6Zc/s1600/Santa+Clara+01.jpg
local ecologist said…
Andres, thank you for getting in touch with us. I really appreciate your contribution to this post.
Anonymous said…
My father was in SAC and we lived on the base housing when I was in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades: 1958 through 1960. I remember our house clearly. It was one story, and several were connected on a block by a common wall. All windows had wooden shades that we used during the heat of the day. Most officers all had maids who had a very tiny room in the small house. Attached to the room was our laundry room: a built-in wash board attached to a sink. Yes, the maid did all the laundry! My mom kept in touch with Paquita for many, many years after we left.
The ballfield was in the center of the "Little America" and we kids spent a lot of time there. I remember just outside the development scores of poor children would surround our cars with their grubby hands out begging for Chicle (gum).
All in all, the time we spent there was life-changing for me. I still have fond memories of the whole Spanish experience.
local ecologist said…
I am happy about the feedback on this post. Thanks, "Anonymous" (4/3/13), for your contribution.
Anonymous said…
My father was a USAF Sgt. We lived at J-57B in Santa Clara from April, 1959 until Sept,1961. I attended part of first grade, all of second and third grade; and about 3 weeks of 4th grade at the San Pablo School. Even the families of enlisted men had Spanish maids. Little League baseball and Cub Scouts were prominent activities outside of school. We had no TV, just the Armed Forces Radio Network. Our time in Spain had a strong impact on my childhood. The Spanish Air Force was still flying WWII era planes at San Pablo, gifts from Hitler to Franco. the USAF planes were out at Moron AB. Larry G.
Agus said…
Currently I'm a resident of Santa Clara, like Andrés (I haven't the pleasure to meet him).
I am very curious to know what life was like here 60 years ago, and I wish you could send me, if you have, photos of the neighborhood in the 50's, 60's or 70's.
If any of you would like to contact me, you can send an email to kholus@gmail.com
Thanks and regards
Anonymous said…
My experience is nearly identical to Anonymous 12-11-2013. My father was a USAF Sgt. and we lived at J-53A from March 1959 to February 1962. I attended part of 1st, all of 2nd & 3rd, and part of 4th grades. I was in Cub Scouts for a little while and remember going to meetings in the area of J-57B. I remember cutting through the yards and crossing the street to get there. I wonder if J-57B wasn't the residence I went to? Wow, what a small world!
AQ said…
Any of you who, like me, were AF brats living in Santa Clara in the 1950's and 1960's, please email me at FBSteph@hotmail.com. Thanks!
Unknown said…
I lived in Santa Clara as an Air Force kid from 1959-1961.
*If you were there too,please contact me at williemg@verizon.net.
Larry G.
Anonymous said…
Amazing. I lived there at the same time. I was a small child, my father was in the USAF at Maron. We lived in M-20D. We must have been neighbors.
Larry said…
We lived in M13A at the same time. My Mom was a Den Mother, so we probably bumped into one another. Did you ever take the trip to Camp Columbus at Rota?
wolfmags said…
I wish I had known this and sites like it were around before I stumbled on it today. I've been working on the family tree and sort of spread out and here we are. I've been trying to figure out just when we were there and I think I've narrowed it down to 1958 to 1962. Daddy was a communication officer stationed at San Pablo. We lived in Santa Clara, and I'm pretty sure it was on Angel Camacho Banos, D9. I know it was across the street from a grove of olive trees, which we later found out my mother was violently allergic to. I went to the San Pablo Elementary School, and remember going to my first day of school with a huge black eye that I got the day before after my brother hit me with a baseball. It was a total accident, but made my first day a bit uncomfortable. I remember going to school with the son of Claude Rains, while he was there for the shooting of Lawrence of Arabia. As a matter of fact my brother was one of thousands of locals hired to play British soldiers. My brother went to Seville High School, and I think he graduated from there, or at least almost. He may have had to finish school when we got back to the states.

As with you all, Spain made a profound impression on me that has stayed with me until this time. I'm grateful for the experiences I had there and still speak Spanish with my children. Amazing how it has stuck with me and how much I can read and actually understand of some of the Spanish sites about the base. Ya'all take care and you can drop me a line at wolfmags@gmail.com. Margaret (Maggie) W.
Rainie said…
We also lived in the San Pablo Air Force Housing while my father (Master Sergeant Anthony Scott - weather forecaster) was stationed there 1963-1966. My parents had 8 kids and we lived in a 2-story white-washed house. The neighborhood had these little grass areas in the middle of housing with a concrete block; we would get my dad’s boxing gloves (he was Golden Gloves) and play “King of the Hill” on the concrete blocks - duking it out with boxing gloves on. All the kids participated in it. Does anyone remember the “boombas”? They were some type of firework that you threw on ground for it to explode. I was young when I lived there, 5-8 years old, but I clearly remember so much! Living there had a profound impact on my life, I’d never trade it for anything. Our family, the Scott’s, were friends with the Humphrey family and the Jones family. We all ended up in Riverside, California at March AFB after being in Spain. If you were there during those years, I’m Lorraine and can be contacted at: newportbeachpcs@aol.com
Rainie said…
Our family lived in Seville 1963-1966. My father was Master Sgt Scott, he was weather forecaster for the pilots. We had 8 kids and lived in a 2-story house. I was only 5-8 years old when we lived there, but I have vivid memories! We used to take the blue military bus onto base to swim at the base pool, we would go to the NCO club for iced tea afterwards. I saw Mary Poppins and Psycho at the base theater for 15 cents; our neighborhood block had these 2 little grass areas with concrete blocks on them - we would get my dad’s boxing gloves and play “King of the Hill” on them, duking it out with all the neighborhood kids. My older sisters and brother were in high school at the time, I was in first and second grades. We were friends with the Humphrey family and the Jones family; all of us ended up at March AFB in Riverside, California after Spain and we are friends on Facebook and in real life. If you were lived there from 1973-1966, feel free to reach out to me! I loved my time in Spain and feel that it impacted my life in a positive way. I went back to Seville in 2000 and didn’t need a map to get around the Cathedral area, but I couldn’t find our old neighborhood. Really happy to have found this site.
Anonymous said…
I lived on Moron AFB during the time frame, I'm pretty sure it was 1961-63.
Anonymous said…
Was Mrs. Gordon your first grade teacher? I was a first grader there in '58, and we also left in '62. I remember a girl in my class named Margaret. I still have first grade class picture.
Anonymous said…
My family lived in M3B, across the street from the large empty field that ran almost the length of the complex. Friends I remember from grade school were Keith Ferguson, "Brucey", "Bad Larry" the frog dissector, Margaret Martinez, and Danny Villareal. My favorite teachers were Mrs. Sharkey and Ms. Shanchez, the Spanish teacher. When Spaniards were allowed to "visit" Santa Clara on Sundays in their processions we had impromptu soccer matches with them (kids), and they beat the hell out of us every time. We tried to teach them how to throw footballs, but it was too awkward for them. I remember Cruz Campo (think it was Cruz Campo) beer factory was in back of us on the other side of the dirt road that ran to, and through the area that was called "Stink Village". I learned about real poverty through my experiences riding through that area. One of our maids picked snails off of the evergreen bushes in our back yard and cooked them in a red sauce. They were actually good. My parents got into the culture and had lots of Spanish friends. I remember the commander (Senior Cabo, a big burly man) of the Guardia Civil station coming to our house several times a night for his "Tio Pepe" wine. After he'd leave, two subordinate guards would show up, submachine guns hanging on their shoulders, drink their Tio Pepes, and sneak out through the sliding door which led to the back yard. Feria, those scary Semana Santa outfits, parties at Sr. Pepe's bar and villa in Castilleja, trips to Rota, dinner and night carriage rides in Maria Luisa park, rides around Santa Clara in Sr. Pepe's tiny car, first Thunderbirds show, riding to school to San Pablo in troop carriers until Bluebird buses arrived, our first maid Amparo ( a beauty), trips to the Exportadora, the ice ream truck, listening to radio stations from different parts of Europe on the "Telefunken" late at night--all permanent and wonderful memories in my life. We left Spain for Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and then to Travis AFB, California. I live in Sacramento, California, as do many people who were stationed at Moron AFB and Torrejon AFB during those years. Went back to Sevilla once in 1992. Hope to go back next Spring. Peace.
Unknown said…
I lived there from 1964 to 66, my dad was stationed at Moron AFB, I was in 4th and 5th grades, I wish I could remember our house number
Unknown said…
Hello I Lived in Santa Clara 1964 to 1967 D13B C2A Yes I would love to see the photos of where we lived
Unknown said…
Wow, hat great memories flooding back from our wonderful times at Santa Clara Base Housing! We arrived in the summer of 1966 and lived at H-8 and the Shirleys were our neighbors for a while. Our maid Carmine was a wonderful young woman and she adored my little brother when he was born in 67. My parents paid her $1.50 a week and wanted to give her more but their friends threw a fit because that meant that they would have to give their help a raise too, so we didn't. Mr. Leanus was my first grade teacher, and I think he was ten feet tall! We sponsored the Kauffman family when they arrived and our parents remained very close the rest of their lives. We went to the base theater to see The Beatles "Hard Days Night" and I had to sit on a teenage girls lap because it was so full. Good times! Would love to see other people's photos from the era!
J27B was our house number. My dad, TSgt Elvin R Olson was stationed there from 63 to 66. I was one of the first born at the new hospital across the street from the officers quarters (old hospital). There are some videos on you tube from urban explorers. Sad to see it abandoned, alot of people have great memories of it all.
Unknown said…
My dad was stationed in Spain between 1963 and 1966. We lived in Santa Clara. Our house was part of a four-plus (like a duplex only 4). Our unit was across the street from a large field that had a round concrete thing in it. We kids called it a castle and played in it. I don't remember the name of the street that ran between our house and the field. Do you remember when Franco road past and we all went out to the road in front of the entrance to Santa Clara and waved. One of my favorite memories was the smell of bread when the pan (sp??) (Bread) man pushed his cart around the housing area. We were there during the big earthquake. My brother was born in the hospital on San Pablo in 1964. One of my first teachers at San Pablo Elementary was Ms. Bones. I'd love to go back!
bookwench said…
I was there same time and I remember that field and those tower things we called a castle. I lived one the street behind yours. I miss the pan and the donut man and the pipa man especially. I definitely left my heart there.
sue

AF Brat said…
My Dad was the squadron commander of the 67th ARRS at Moron '66-'68 so we lived in one of the few houses on Moron. Dad was responsible for the move of the squadron from Prestwick, Scotland to Moron. I spent 7th & 8th grades going to the Jr./Sr. High School on San Pablo getting to take that bus everyday. I remember the time fondly. Almost no TV so we had to make our own fun.
Unknown said…
We moved to Seville from Schilling AFB Kansas in 1957- Lived first at San Pablo, right after the houses were completed in 1958- then to Moron AB in 1959. Attended first grade downtown in El Cano building- then at San Pablo- My dad helped build a small school at Moron where I attended 2nd and part of 3rd grade. I remember the Spanish Air Force had German airplanes from World War Two!
Anonymous said…
So wonderful reading these memories. We lived in Santa Clara from 1964 - 1967 (I think). I still stay in touch with my friends Janet & Sandra Lowery who lived on the other side of our duplex. We lived in J59A. I had a friends, Ann Moss, Fred Pett, Michael Bernard, Robert Brow. My sister and I are going to Spain in a month and I hope to find the old Santa Clara Streets. Any suggestion would be helpful and anyone who knows the above people, I would love to reconnect. Sharon Bowman Slayton & Sister Liz Bowman Williamson