San Jose Airport Terminal C demolition

Terminal C

I just read that San Jose Airport Terminal C demolition has begun.  Terminal C was the original San Jose airport for me.  It was old and crowded and needed to be replaced, which it has by Terminal A and now B.

I must have flown out of that terminal over 100 times in my life.  Four memories stand out.

• Summer 1970: Flying home from visit with the Grandma and Grandpa Schilling when I was 8 years old.  The “very pretty” flight attendant on PSA held my hand when she walked me into the terminal to meet my parents.  PSA for me was the “it” airline.  Air Cal was for the non-cool.
• December 1980: Arriving at the airport during my freshmen year in college and hoping for a ride because I had missed my scheduled flight to San Francisco.  I had just sat down at a pay phone when I heard my father’s voice:  “Hello stupid.”
• April 1994:  Balls and Beers Tour – Baseball weekend with the boys down to San Diego and Los Angeles.  On our flight back, one of the not so amused first class passengers was not happy with a drunk brother Dave.
• January 1995:  Sitting in the waiting area with my boss waiting for a night flight from San Jose to Las Vegas so I could attend CES when I saw my father waiting for the same flight.  He was off to do some work for one of the hotels.  We even stayed at the same hotel but never saw each other once we got to Las Vegas.

PSA at San Jose

More info from Wiki:

This terminal was built in 1965. Instead of using jetways (elevated tunnels that connect planes to the terminal), Terminal C mostly used airstairs, but most airlines, including Alaska Airlines^[31] and SkyWest Airlines, used turboway ramps. Terminal C will be torn down for construction of a temporary parking lot in 2010. In preparation for construction of Terminal B, the north end of Terminal C, previously home to gates C14–C16 and home to Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air, and Frontier Airlines, was closed for demolition in December 2007. The remaining portion of the terminal was reconfigured, including the addition of a new, larger consolidated security checkpoint. In February 2008, the north end of Terminal C was torn down to start the new construction of Terminal B.^[32]

In December 2009, United Airlines, Continental Airlines, and JetBlue Airways moved to new or reconstructed gates in Terminal A, as the area within Terminal C containing the three airlines’ gates was demolished. Other airlines currently operating within Terminal C remained in the terminal until Terminal B and the North Concourse opened in June 2010.

The Terminal C baggage claim was closed for demolition on February 2, 2010. This allowed for completion of the airport’s new roadways. The terminal was officially closed on June 30, 2010.

Terminal C featured a wall mural, children’s play area and access to outdoor observation decks. The lobby held a food court and restroom facilties.