 Villa Maria was the country home of the Jesuit fathers of Santa Clara University, who purchased the 320 acre (1.3 km²) tract in 1873.Shortly thereafter, Brother Tom Cunningham cleared the land for orchards and vineyards and built a simple frame chapel of redwood, 18 by 25 feet (5x8 m), in the mission style, with buttresses and towers.The parish moved to a location near the center of Cupertino, on De Anza Boulevard.