VASONA PARK. Los Gatos. 1970.
The 150-acre park and connecting parkway include 45 acres of lawn which can be used for informal play such as frisbee tossing, softball or soccer. Paddle boats and rowboats are available for rental from early spring through early fall.
The lake also offers fishing for Black Bass, Crappie, Catfish and Blue Gill. Vasona Lake County Park in Los Gatos has something for everyone. There is a train, carousel, play areas for big and small, group picnic areas, large open fields, trails and plenty of trees to find a shady area. In the summer one may find the science camp, and in the winter there is the Festival of Lights.
Make it a destination, pack a lunch and head on over... be sure to get a snow cone after your train or carousel ride. Set in beautiful Los Gatos hills where sailboating, fishing, and picnicking can be enjoyed by young and old alike.
Song: Do You Know the Way to San Jose?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2UpwpTAd8U
Los Gatos High School.
The school was founded in 1908.
During the late 1880s up until the establishment of Los Gatos High School, high school age students were taught at Los Gatos Central School, a grammar school which was established in 1886.
The school landscape is notable for its spacious extensive front lawn and neoclassical main building, which was designed by W. H. Weeks, a famous architect of schools in Calif. His Greek Revival style was famous in the 1920s and 1930s.
The main building was dedicated on January 17, 1925, built using a $250,000 bond measure which passed in 1923. Other buildings and various additions to the main building were built in the period between the dedication of the main building in 1925 and 1970.
The school was used as filming locations for several movies over the years. Notable alumni include Olivia de Havilland, two-times Academy Award-winning actress who played Melanie Hamilton in Gone with the Wind and Joan Fontaine, Academy Award-winning actress, the estranged sister of Olivia de Havilland.
The town was dubbed "Rinconada de Los Gatos" (Corner of the Cats) in 1839 by Mexican settlers who couldn't help but notice all those mountain lions and wildcats living in the forests.
Los Gatos' nickname is the Gem of the Foothills. It really is a gorgeous oasis of village charm.
Falafel Drive in - Mashed Chick Peas deep fat fried in Pita bread with EXTREMELY HOT Sauce.
Prior to the 1970s, Falafel was found only in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean and Jewish neighborhoods and restaurants. Today, the dish is a common and popular street food in many cities throughout North America.
In 1966, Anton and Zahie Nijmeh wanted to create a business that provided healthy and authentic foods. Their business started by selling hamburgers and slowly introduced his customers to his delicious falafels made from his own recipe.
The motto at Falafel's Drive-In goes, "Feeling awful? Have a falafel." These fried chickpea balls are made with fresh herbs and a perfect blend of spices. Regulars know when getting their "falafel fix."
THE LOS GATOS FRUIT PACKING COMPANY's railroad spur jutted northwest from the mainline into the primary facility.
It passes close between the packaging plant and a warehouse, where boxcars were loaded.
Beyond the end of the spur was the primary drying facility, where fruits were received for processing and then dried before being sent to the packaging room for canning. The facility packaged a range of fruits including peaches, apricots, apples, cherries, pears, and plums, much of which was shipped abroad.
Because of the seasonal nature of the facility, women and teenagers were often employed at the facility.
and I replied:
We owned Four Apricot Trees. We dried our cots on Quito Road where a Friend let us use the Smoker as long as we worked cutting cots. Everyone worked. Everything Got Done. No One was Paid.
San Jose Airport - Long Ago
We lived on Hedding Street Right under the Flight Path and Had to Move When they Started Landing Jet Airplanes There... 1960...
LOMA PRIETA EARTHQUAKE:
Today marks 34 years since the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the Bay Area on October 17, 1989.
Do you remember where you were?
Game 3 of the World Series between the Oakland A’s and the San Francisco Giants was about to begin when the shaking started. The series then was delayed for 10 days, and the A’s claimed the championship in a four-game sweep on Oct. 28.
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake occurred in Northern California on October 17 at 5:04 p.m. local time. The shock was centered in The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park approximately 10 mi northeast of Santa Cruz on a section of the San Andreas Fault System and was named for the nearby Loma Prieta Peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains.
With a moment magnitude of 6.9 and a maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent), the shock was responsible for 63 deaths and 3,757 injuries. Damage was heavy in Santa Cruz County and less so to the south in Monterey County, but effects extended well to the north into the San Francisco Bay Area, both on the San Francisco Peninsula and across the bay in Oakland.
In Santa Cruz, close to the epicenter, 40 buildings collapsed, killing six people. At the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Plunge Building was significantly damaged. Liquefaction also caused damage in the Watsonville area. For example, sand volcanoes formed in a field near Pajaro as well as in a strawberry field.
No surface faulting occurred, though a large number of other ground failures and landslides were present, especially in the Summit area of the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The 1989 Loma Prieta event originated on an undiscovered oblique-slip reverse fault that is located adjacent to the San Andreas Fault. Liquefaction was also a significant issue, especially in the heavily damaged Marina District of San Francisco, but its effects were also seen in the East Bay, and near the shore of Monterey Bay, where a non-destructive tsunami was also observed.
1906 EARTHQUAKE SAN JOSE.
The magnitude of the 7.8 registered earthquake of 1906 was felt from Oregon to southern California as it hit just after 5:00 a.m. on April 18.
Looking southwest on First Street, San Jose, following the 1906 earthquake. Onlookers view the damage. St. Joseph's Church is visible in background.
Vigilante signs were posted all over San Jose, which read, "Notice is given that any person found Pilfering, Stealing, Robbing or committing any act of Lawless violence will be summarily HANGED." And it was signed, "Vigilante Committee." This preceded the infamous lynching in St. James Park by 27 years, by the way.
Many original newspaper clippings depict San Jose's efforts to house those displaced folks from San Francisco. One says, "San Jose extends hospitality to all. Ample shelter and food are provided for all San Francisco refugees." But a clipping right underneath it warns, "Now is the time to get rid of Chinatowns in the cities. Concerted action to that effect should be taken by all the cities about the bay."
EDNA RAY Chinese Restaurant. N Santa Cruz Ave. Los Gatos.
"Los Gatos businessman Raymond "Ray" H. Lee, who with his wife, Edna, owned the Edna Ray Chinese restaurant on N. Santa Cruz Avenue, died March 22, 1997 in his Los Gatos home. He was 81.
Born in Toy-San, China, on Jan. 16, 1916, Lee and his family immigrated to San Francisco in 1931. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1944, rose to the rank of sergeant and was transferred overseas as part of the occupation forces in Okinawa. He returned four years later as a wounded veteran.
In 1951, a few years after marrying Edna Wong, the sister of his best friend, Lee moved to Santa Clara County and opened the Tao Tao Cafe, Sunnyvale's first Chinese restaurant. Lee and his wife brought their success to Los Gatos in 1963, when they opened the Edna Ray.
The idea for the name came from the banker who loaned them money to open the business. According to Lee's son Robert, the banker had said, "You know, when I go to the Tao Tao Cafe, I don't think I'm going to Tao Tao's. I'm going to see Edna and Ray!" (Closed Now).
A big Bay Area homebuilder has struck a deal to buy a Depression-era Los Gatos hotel as a potential prelude to a housing development at a prime location.
SummerHill Homes has obtained a purchase contract to buy Los Gatos Lodge, a well-known hotel on a choice site in the affluent town.
The homebuilder is buying an 8.8-acre site at 50 Los Gatos-Saratoga Road, according to documents filed on Oct. 20 with the Santa Clara County Recorder’s Office.
The terms of the purchase agreement weren’t disclosed in the public filing.
“We will replace the lodge with housing,” Anabelle Salum, director of marketing with SummerHill Homes, said in a comment emailed to this news organization.
The garden-style hotel totals 128 rooms and consists of multiple buildings.
In the 1920s, the Los Gatos area had a local reputation as an arts colony, attracting painters, musicians, writers, actors and their bohemian associates as residents over the years.
The violinist Yehudi Menuhin lived there as a boy; the actresses Joan Fontaine and Olivia de Havilland (sisters) were graduates of Los Gatos High School, John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath there (the location is now located in Monte Sereno), and Beat hero Neal Cassady lived there in the 1950s. Along with much of the Santa Clara Valley, Los Gatos became a suburban community for San Jose beginning in the 1950s, and the town was mostly built-out by the 1980s.
Downtown Los Gatos has retained and restored many of its Victorian-era homes and commercial buildings. Other notable buildings are the Forbes Mill Annex, dating to 1880 and now housing a history museum; Los Gatos High School which dates from the 1920s; and the Old Town Shopping Center, formerly the University Avenue School (the school was established in 1882; the current buildings date to 1923).
A number of brick buildings in Downtown Los Gatos were destroyed or seriously damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, though the district was quickly rebuilt and has made a full recovery.
THE CATALYST CLUB, it’s been serving Santa Cruzans with affordable music and nightlife for over sixty years and performances with the likes of the Beach Boys.
The vintage decor and feel are classic Santa Cruz. Who doesn't love that?
The Catalyst so many know and love today wasn’t even in the same location before 1973. The club used to be where Bookshop Santa Cruz is today and didn’t move until Randall Kane, a spirited man who wore a uniform of rainbow suspenders, bought the club and moved it a few blocks down Pacific.
The Catalyst’s main genres are rock, reggae, and hip-hop, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find some nice acoustic or indie acts. The restaurant connected to the Catalyst serves some of the tastiest, greasiest pizza slices in town, along with wings and soda. The club’s clientele can change greatly depending upon who they have played, from upscale hipsters in their thirties and forties for classic acts to grungy teenagers for the all-ages shows. With such a tiny venue, you can get up close and personal with some of your favorite artists.
There are a couple different rooms within the venue -- the Atrium, a smaller, more intimate setting, and the main floor. Both rooms are dark, tend to be smoky, and have limited seating.
THE GIANT DIPPER. Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.
The Giant Dipper is GLEAMING!! ...Thanks to painting contractor Baynum Painting, headquartered in Kentucky, they specialize in painting roller coasters and amusement park rides.
Fun Facts:
1) The Dipper turns 99 in 2023.
2) The last time it was painted was in 2000.
3) 2000 gallons of primer + 2500 gallons finish color
4) 3 colors make up the ride structure (not including station)--White, Red & Black
5) Estimated 327,000 board feet of lumber (not including station) in ride structure.
6) The Dipper cost $50,000 to build in 1924.
All I can say is "It's gorgeous!"
The Giant Dipper is a historic wooden roller coaster which replaced the Thompson's Scenic Railway, took 47 days to build. With a height of 70 feet and a speed of 55 miles per hour, it is one of the most popular wooden roller coasters in the world.
More than 66 million visitors have experienced the Giant Dipper since it first opened in 1924. The classic wooden coaster can be seen in several movies including "Sudden Impact," "The Lost Boys," and "Dangerous Minds."
Map of California with a Central Valley Lake
The Fun House (1925 -1971) was a magical place for generations of kids with its giant wooden slide, tricky mirrors, a tumbling walk-through barrel, and a fast spinning throw-the-kid-off disc.
"The secret of staying on the rotating (30-foot in diameter) maple platform was to sit dead center – and I was not the only participant who knew that. It was always a scramble to achieve that coveted spot. Once there, us veteran enthusiasts might work to lift the hands of others nearby as they braced against the rotating wheel’s centrifugal pull. If I didn’t make the center, I would surely slide off into canvas covered padding, closely entwined with another fun-loving participant. The days of this wild style of amusement park fun are long gone."
The Bandstand at Main Beach Santa Cruz -
where the Boardwalk is.
and then in San Francisco:
October 31, 1966 Acid Test Graduation
LSD-25 had just been outlawed on Oct. 6, 1966. The hipsters knew this was going to happen ahead of time and held a Graduation ceremony to celebrate the past and what was great at one time. Well, this of course, turned out to be a rather sad occasion for everyone. The vibe was down, as one can see from the Acid Test Graduation video footage that exists.
Kesey "Pranked" the media beforehand when interviewed, claiming the Graduation was a graduating from the acid experience. When asked if there would be acid on hand, Kesey replied, "Why don't you show up and find out?".
#PsychedelicSynchronicity #AcidTest
Winterland 10/31/67 “Trip or Freak”
Known as “Trip or Freak”, this collaboration by three of the most talented poster artists of the day - Rick Griffin, Alton Kelley and Stanley Mouse - is one of the most enduring images of the psychedelic poster era.
The central image is of Lon Chaney from the Phantom of the Opera (1925) and was Kelley’s contribution. The concert information lettering at the bottom was done by Griffin and the “Trip or Freak” lettering in the form of a topless woman was by Mouse.
The “Trip or Freak Fantasmagoraball” was held on Halloween in 1967 at Winterland, an old ice skating rink. Winterland would later be renovated and used for hundreds of concerts throughout the 70’s, but for this concert it was still a dilapidated, run down place with a definite Halloween-like atmosphere.
#PsychedelicSynchronicity
San Jose gave itself the name “capital of Silicon Valley” in 1988 as part of a publicity campaign, apparently confident in its future. It is home to thousands of tech companies, including several major tech companies, including IBM, eBay, Cisco Systems, and Adobe Systems. Many things were invented in San Jose, including the floppy disk, Eggo waffles, hard disk drives, and The Wave. In fact, the Silicon Valley U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is located in San Jose City Hall, and San Jose is one of the metro areas with the highest number of patents per capita.
VALLEY FAIR SHOPPING CENTER.
Macy's department store sought to build a downtown San Jose location to capitalize on the increased commercial opportunities but was blocked by existing businesses who didn't want the competition. Instead, Macy's and 40 more stores opened a new shopping center in 1956 several miles to the west along Stevens Creek Road, adjacent to a proposed freeway (Highway 17 would not be built for another couple of years).
Early stores included Woolworth, The Cable Car restaurant, Leed's, Lerner Shops, Thom McAn, Mode O'Day, McWhorter-Young and Campi's Music, a record store that provided preview kiosks before purchase. A free parking lot provided shoppers more convenience than the parking meters and paid lots of downtown, although Peerless Stages Bus Line offered shuttle service for loyal downtown shoppers.
Unable to compete with Valley Fair a few miles away, downtown stores closed or moved, giving way to blight during the sixties and seventies.
Lexington Dam Near Los Gatos.
The James J. Lenihan Dam, a 195 ft high, 1,000 ft thick earthen dam, forms the third-largest reservoir in Santa Clara County.
Alma Bridge Rd runs around the eastern side. The reservoir is contained in Lexington Reservoir County Park, which includes hiking trails in the hills with good views of the reservoir and of Silicon Valley.
This park includes the 475-acre man-made reservoir available for shoreline fishing. Dam construction began in the spring of 1952 and was completed in the fall of 1952. The reservoir covered the towns of Lexington and Alma. Alma and Lexington reached their peak population in the mid-19th century when about 200 people lived in each. Each of the towns had a post office, hotel, saloons, blacksmith shops, and half a dozen redwood sawmills.
Lexington was the halfway stop for stagecoaches running between San Jose and Santa Cruz. The town served as a place to switch from a team of 4 horses to 6 horses to get over the mountains. Lexington declined after 1880 when the narrow gauge railroad from Los Gatos to Santa Cruz bypassed it, while Alma declined when Highway 17 bypassed it in 1940. The railroad ceased operations in 1940.
By 1950, only about 100 people lived in the two communities. Lexington gained national attention in 1883, when a Los Gatos saloon keeper, Lloyd Majors, hired two thugs to rob an elderly Lexington man who kept $20,000 in gold in his cabin. They burned him with turpentine-soaked rags and beat him with pistols, killing him, and then fled with the gold. Their sensational trial in San Jose drew national attention similar to that accorded to the Lizzie Borden ax murders nine years later. Majors and one of the thugs were hanged. The other spent 15 years in prison.
SANTA'S VILLAGE. Scotts Valley.
Santa's Village was created in the wooded hills of the Santa Cruz mountains, in Scott's Valley. This Christmas wonderland served thousands of park visitors each year with its holiday cheer!
Residents of Santa's Village included Santa and Mrs. Claus, their elves and gnomes, who operated the rides and sold tickets. There was a baby petting zoo filled with goats, sheep, bunnies, ducks, deer and a Mexican Burro. Children could feed the animals green feed pellets that they purchased from dispensing machines. Four reindeer from Unalakleet, Alaska, pulled Santa's sleigh. There was a bobsled ride, a whirling Christmas tree ride, and a miniature Santa's Express train ride.
Other attractions included a giant Jack-in-the-Box, an Alice in Wonderland maze, Santa's enormous boot, brightly painted cement mushrooms and a Queen of Hearts figure ... all part of Fairytale Land.
All the buildings were designed to look like log chalet-type structures, repleat with snowy roofs and gingerbread trim.
The park had a gingerbread house, an elf toy factory, a lollipop tree and brightly colored gift shops. Around the village were tree-top tall wooden soldiers and candy canes. Santa himself had a huge mailbox to accept all the letters from children around the world.
MERRY GO ROUND at Santa Cruz boardwalk; throw the metal hoop in the clowns mouth as you go by.
Merry go round carousel built in 1911 by Charles I D Looff at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
The carousel horses, several of which boast toothy smiles. The horses have real horsehair tails and details ranging from swords to flashing jewels. Some have items strapped behind the saddles, including a sheep and a pheasant.
There are 73 horses -- 71 jumpers plus two stationary horses that are good for parents with unsteady young riders -- as well as two chariots decorated with the heads of rams and cherubs.
The big draw of the carousel is its ring dispenser. Rings were once handed out by "ring boys," but since 1950, the process has been mechanized.
The rings -- mostly steel these days except on special occasions when brass-plated ones are used -- are dispensed by a long arm that riders on outside horses can reach. You grab a ring, throw it toward the gaping mouth of a large clown painted on a backdrop near the carousel and, if successful, are rewarded by bells and flashing lights.
Super Round-Up Ride, Santa Cruz Boardwalk.
Winterland Ballroom, Post and Steiner, 1966-1978.
This former skating rink was a Bill Graham venue that hosted big concerts with Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Who, Bruce Springsteen, Led Zeppelin and more. The Band played its final show there, and the Sex Pistols played their final show with Sid Vicious there. Winterland was torn down in 1985. In this photo, taken June 13, 1972, fans are waiting in line for the Rolling Stones with Stevie Wonder opening. C This was just before the release of the classics "Exile on Main Street" and "Talking Book," with both artists playing heavily from both.
Dave Randolph/The Chronicle
PULGAS WATER TEMPLE.
Pulgas Water Temple is a stone structure in Woodside built by the City of San Francisco in the 1930's as a monument to the engineering marvel that brought Hetch Hetchy water to the Bay Area.
Water travels through the system more than 160 miles from the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
The 20-year Hetch Hetchy Project was completed in October 1934 at a cost of $102 million. On October 28 of that year, San Franciscans gathered at Pulgas Temple to celebrate the rush of the first mountain waters into the Bay Area. With still vivid memories of the fire that had raged unchecked after the Great Earthquake of 1906, they rejoiced in the new, reliable and plentiful supply of high-quality drinking water.
The frieze above the columns reflects the universal relief: “I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people.”
Pulgas Waler Temple was designed in the Beaux Arts style by William Merchant, a San Francisco architect trained by Bernard Maybeck. Merchant’s design reflects the architecture of ancient Greeks and Romans, whose engineering methods were applied in the construction of the new water system. Artist and master stone carver Albert Bernasconi brought Merchant’s drawings to life.
Pulgas Water Temple is located about one-half mile south of the Cañada Road trailhead.
Cranberry House Restaurant. 208 Bachman Ave. Los Gatos.
Country Fare Dining Room of this outstanding restaurant where you are invited to enjoy old-fashioned fare in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Air Conditioned. Private Dining Rooms.
Luncheon 11:30-2:20. Dinner 5:30-8:00 and Sundays Noon-6:30. Closed Mondays.
Reed Whitelam, Proprietor Phone 354-3162.
Tower Records. Bascom Ave. San Jose.
Tower Records was a retail music chain store from 1960 until 2006.
Known for its deep inventory of records – not just current albums, but older albums, as well as obscure albums. Tower Records became a destination for music lovers. People were known to spend hours going through the bins.
Tower Records also became the place where record companies debuted albums, frequently holding album release parties on site with artists signing autographs. Sometimes, artists would perform concerts in the store or in the parking lot.
The San Jose Flea Market is a small city with a life of its own.
Meander through colorful alleys and treasure-laden corridors. A great destination for families to spend an inexpensive and fun-packed day with playground and inflatable slides are just the beginning. A family tradition since 1960.
MOUNTAIN CHARLEY'S SALOONAnnual picture. 1980-81. Los Gatos.
Mountain Charley's traces its roots to before 1972, bringing a variety of bands to town and being named after, the first white settler in the Santa Cruz Mountains during the 1800s. Mountain Charley's Saloon is a place known for dancing and wacky antics. Back in the day, it was the most lively watering hole in town.
Way back in 1972, when Mountain Charley’s Saloon first opened, Los Gatos was like that town in Footloose, says current co-owner Mark Achilli–dancing was strictly forbidden. Sure, Mountain Charley’s opened its doors as Los Gatos’ premier music venue, but if the band got going and the audience started swaying too much, the doormen would have to warn them to stop.
Some say the ghost of Mountain Charley Mc Kiernan, 29, himself may find his way to the dance floor. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: “A bear,” says co-owner Mark Achilli, “because of Mountain Charley, of course.”
The story goes that Charley and a friend went hunting one day and shot a bear. The bear didn’t like that too much, went crazy and mauled Charley–ripped the skin off his head clear from the eyebrows up. Charley lived, but the doctor had to replace part of his skull with Mexican silver dollars. And Charley became a connoisseur of hat wear ever after. himself may find his way to the dance floor. If Your Bar Could Be Any Animal, What Would It Be?: “A bear,” says co-owner Mark Achilli, “because of Mountain Charley, of course.”
The story goes that Charley and a friend went hunting one day and shot a bear. The bear didn’t like that too much, went crazy and mauled Charley–ripped the skin off his head clear from the eyebrows up. Charley lived, but the doctor had to replace part of his skull with Mexican silver dollars. And Charley became a connoisseur of hat wear ever after.
CAMPBELL DRYING YARDS.
In 1878, Mr. Campbell sold an acre of his land for $5 to the railroad and by 1887 the first subdivision was recorded west of the railroad from Campbell Avenue to the spot where the Water Tower Plaza now stands.
The area became the center for shipping fruit, and within a short period of time, the drying grounds and canneries made Campbell an important rail center. The Campbell Fruit Growers' Union became a well known cooperative with its 17-acre drying yard.
https://www.campbellca.gov/238/History
Atari founders Ted Dabney and Nolan Bushnell, with Al Alcorn, creator of Pong, and Fred Marincic, with a Pong console at the Atari offices in Santa Clara. On 29 November 1972, Atari released Pong, the first commercially successful video game (California 1973)In April 1974 Magnavox filed suit against Atari, Allied Leisure, Bally Midway and Chicago Dynamics. Magnavox argued that Atari had infringed on Sanders Associates' patents relating to the concept of electronic ping-pong based on detailed records Ralph Baer kept of the Odyssey's design process dating back to 1966.
Johnny Cash performs at Folsom Prison, CA, 1/13/1968,
Dan Poush photo.
WINCHESTER MYSTERY HOUSE.
The house became a tourist attraction nine months after Winchester's death in 1922.
The Victorian and Gothic-style mansion is renowned for its size and its architectural curiosities.
In 1886 Edward "Ned" Rambo, a San Francisco agent for the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, took Winchester on a tour of the Santa Clara valley to look for a home. He showed her a forty-five-acre ranch for sale that was located near San Jose. She purchased the property from John Hamm which included a two-story, eight-room farmhouse.
Since the property reminded her of Llanada Alavesa from the Basque area, she named her new home Llanada Villa.
Aerial view of Kaiser Richmond No. 2 Yard, Richmond, California, United States, 11 December 1944.
Came across this photo today of Billy Jones Railroad, Oak Meadow, new location, 1970.
I certainly remember it at the corner of Winchester and Dave’s Avenue. My mom would take us all over there every weekend and we loved it.
As we kids “ grew up”, I realized mom’s passion at taking us there reminded her of her growing up
years in Pennsylvania where the trains would run through.
The “hobos” of those days would mark posts as to whose houses would give them food…. mom’s family home was one of those places.
Until the day she passed here in Los Gatos, she always cooked for the marginalized.
How our upbringing shapes us.
To this day, when I hear the train whistle churning, I think of those days and know Spring is in the air.
I certainly remember it at the corner of Winchester and Dave’s Avenue. My mom would take us all over there every weekend and we loved it.
As we kids “ grew up”, I realized mom’s passion at taking us there reminded her of her growing up
years in Pennsylvania where the trains would run through.
The “hobos” of those days would mark posts as to whose houses would give them food…. mom’s family home was one of those places.
Until the day she passed here in Los Gatos, she always cooked for the marginalized.
How our upbringing shapes us.
To this day, when I hear the train whistle churning, I think of those days and know Spring is in the air.
YMCA Camp Campbell. 16275 Highway 9 Boulder Creek.
Camp provides developmental experiences in fun ways to help young people thrive, build confidence in themselves and others, and become healthy, caring, responsible adults. We believe camp is an essential experience for all children and families.
YMCA Camp Campbell is used as a summer camp, a conference center and an outdoor school by a wide variety of groups. Camp has facilities for 250 people and a reputation for great food. For more than 75 years, YMCA Camp Campbell has provided enriching outdoor experiences to thousands of children, families, and adults from all over the greater San Jose area.
Children and teens have the opportunity to explore nature, find new talents, try new activities, gain independence, and make lasting friendships and memories in a safe and enriching environment. And, of course, it’s fun too!
The camp is full of traditional outdoor activities like campfires, hikes, skits and songs, cabin cheers and the chance to sleep under the stars.
Prune Drying. Saratoga.
In 1846, a Mexican land grant deeded the Saratoga -- Campbell -- Cupertino area too early settlers Jose Noriega and his father-in-law, Jose Fernandez. A subsequent purchase by Manuel Alviso resulted in naming this land grant area Rancho Quito.
The area's fertile soil and available land saw the emergence of another industry -- agriculture. Farmland sold for a mere $5 to $40 per acre as the open spaces of wild wheat and poppies slowly gave way to vineyards and orchards.
Apricots, cherries and French prunes were particularly well-suited to Saratoga's soil and climate. The 680 acre Glen Una Ranch, located between Saratoga and Los Gatos, was the world's largest producer of prunes. Also, the internationally famous Sorosis Farm on Saratoga Avenue shipped its dried fruit worldwide. Another one of the early ranches, the Garrod Ranch, is still in operation today as a riding stable and vineyard.
It was during the late 1880s that the sunny hillsides were found to be conducive to viticulture and many wineries were established. By 1870, California had over 19,000 prune trees. Prune growing then began on a larger scale in and near Saratoga. By 1891, prune shipments reached 27 million lbs. (with over 21 million pounds shipped from San Jose alone). Sun drying required 1 acre of trays for every 20 acres of orchard.
During the 1900's, Saratoga developed an enviable reputation as a highly desirable place to live. Saratoga soon became a haven for wealthy San Franciscans who came to build elegant hillside homes overlooking the lush valley.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
We turn our thoughts to March 23, 1975, when Bill and BGP, with just a month’s notice, organized an all-star “benefit extravaganza” to raise funds needed by San Francisco public schools faced with fiscal cutbacks, in order to continue after-school sports and other extra-curricular activities. Entitled S.N.A.C.K. Sunday (“Students Need Activities, Culture and Kicks”), the event was held at the 60,000-seat Kezar Stadium, with tickets priced at $5.
The day featured appearances by Marlon Brando and Willie Mays, among other celebrities; a one-time-only collaboration of Bob Dylan, The Band and Neil Young; and performances by Santana, Jefferson Airplane, Jerry Garcia and Friends, Joan Baez, The Doobie Brothers, and others. The event raised more than $200,000, enough to fund San Francisco after-school programs for an entire year.
Jo-Ann and I Went to SNACK...
The Occupation of Alcatraz
In 1963, Belva Cottier, a Rosebud Sioux social worker living in the San Francisco Bay Area, read an article that the Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was to be closed and the property given to the City of San Francisco. Remembering the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, she and her cousin, Richard McKenzie, located a copy of the treaty and proposed that if the property was surplus land of the government, the Sioux could claim it. She planned and organized an occupation and a court action to obtain title to the island.
On March 8, 1964, a small group of Sioux demonstrated by occupying the island for four hours. The entire party consisted of about 40 people, including photographers, reporters and Elliot Leighton, the lawyer representing those claiming land stakes. According to Adam Fortunate Eagle, this demonstration was an extension of already prevalent Bay Area street theater used to raise awareness. The Sioux activists were led by Richard McKenzie, Mark Martinez, Garfield Spotted Elk, Virgil Standing-Elk, Walter Means, and Allen Cottier.
Cottier acted as spokesman for the demonstration, stating that it was "peaceful and in accordance with Sioux treaty rights". The protesters were publicly offering the federal government the same amount for the land that the government had initially offered them; at 47 cents per acre, this amounted to $9.40 for the entire rocky island, equivalent to $88.69 in 2022, or $5.64 for the twelve usable acres. Cottier also stated that the federal government would be allowed to maintain use of the Coast Guard lighthouse located on the island. The protesters left under threat that they would be charged with felony. This incident resulted in increased media attention for indigenous peoples' protests across the Bay Area.
The United Council of the Bay Area Indian community initially considered writing a proposal and filing an application for the use of Alcatraz by Sioux people under the conditions of their treaty. Plans were drawn up for using the buildings on Alcatraz as a cultural center. Conversations about handing Alcatraz over to developers for commercial development created concern about the future availability of the island. A desire for more immediate action to claim space for the local Indian community was finally spurred by the loss of the San Francisco Indian Center to fire on October 10, 1969.
The loss of the San Francisco Indian Center spurred action among indigenous peoples because of the importance it held within their community. The center provided Native Americans with jobs, health care, aid in legal affairs, and social opportunities. This detrimental loss happening on top of the Native’s already growing tension with the U.S. government prompted strategies for obtaining Alcatraz for use by the local Native community shifted from formal applications to more immediate takeover.
In 1969, Adam Nordwall planned a symbolic boat ride for November 9, during the daylight hours, to ride around Alcatraz to gain the attention of local news outlets. University student leaders Mohawk Richard Oakes and Shoshone-Bannock LaNada Means, head of the Native American Student Organization at the University of California, Berkeley, with a larger group of student activists joined Nordwall. A group of five boats were organized to take approximately 75 indigenous peoples over to the island, but none of the boats showed up. Adam Fortunate Eagle convinced Ronald Craig, the owner of the Monte Cristo, a three-masted yacht, to pass by the island when their own boats did not arrive. Oakes, Jim Vaughn, Joe Bill, Ross Harden and Jerry Hatch jumped overboard, attempting to swim to shore, and claim the island by right of discovery.
The Coast Guard quickly grabbed the men from the water, ending their attempts. LaNada Means dissatisfied with the outcome of the day, hired a fishing boat paid by Earl Livermore, and made their way to the island again, and fourteen stayed overnight. The plan for that nights takeover was to split into groups that way if the coast guard found one group there would still be others there to continue the righteous fight. The following day, November 10, Oakes surprised the student occupiers, by delivering a proclamation, written by Fortunate Eagle, to the General Services Administration which claimed the island by right of discovery, after which the groups were removed. The Native American students felt betrayed by Oakes who gave them up to the Coast Guard. Having no knowledge of a proclamation that gave up the Native American student occupier groups in trade for a proclamation to no effect. There were more students on the mainland who were going to join the 14 occupiers and bring out food and supplies on the 10th.
At the height of the occupation there were 400 people on the island. Native women, like Aranaydo, Woesha Cloud North, and Vicky Santana ran the school with the help of Douglas Remington, and teacher's aids Justine Moppin and Rosalie Willie. There was also a daycare and Stella Leach set up the health clinic. Jennie R. Joe and Dorothy Lonewolf Miller assisted Leach as nurses, and Robert Brennan, Richard Fine, and Leach's boss, David Tepper, volunteered as doctors.
Native and non-native people brought food and other necessary items to the people on the island, but the coast guard's blockades made it increasingly difficult to supply the occupants with food. The suppliers, after stealthily journeying across the bay via canoe, dropped off the supplies which then had to be carried up steep ladders. Aranaydo and Luwana Quitiquit were responsible for running the kitchen and cooking for the occupants. The occupation lasted about 19 months but ended peacefully. An employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Doris Purdy, who was also an amateur photographer, accompanied a group who went on November 29, stayed the night and recorded video footage.
The protesters, predominantly students, drew inspiration and tactics from contemporary civil rights demonstrations, some of which they had themselves organized. Jerry Hatch and Al Miller, both present at the initial landing but unable to leave the boat in the confusion after the Coast Guard showed up, quickly turned up in a private boat. The first landing party was joined later by many others in the following days, including Joe Morris, and the man who would soon become "the Voice of Alcatraz", John Trudell.
In December, one of the occupiers, Isani Sioux John Trudell, began making daily radio broadcasts from the island, and in January 1970, occupiers began publishing a newsletter. Joseph Morris, a Blackfoot member of the local longshoreman's union, rented space on Pier 40 to facilitate the transportation of supplies and people to the island. Cleo Waterman was president of the American Indian Center during the takeover. As an elder, she chose to stay behind and work on logistics to support the occupiers. She worked closely with Grace Thorpe and the singer Kay Starr to bring attention to the occupation and its purpose.
On January 3, 1970, Yvonne Oakes, 13-year-old daughter of Annie and stepdaughter to Richard Oakes, fell to her death, prompting the Oakes family to leave the island, saying they did not have the heart for it anymore. Some of the original occupiers left to return to school and some of the new occupiers had drug addictions. Some non-indigenous members of San Francisco's drug and hippie scene also moved to the island, until non-natives were prohibited from staying overnight.
By late May, the government had cut off all electrical power and all telephone service to the island. In June, a fire of disputed origin destroyed numerous buildings on the island. Left without power, fresh water, and in the face of diminishing public support and sympathy, the number of occupiers began to dwindle. On June 11, 1971, a large force of government officers removed the remaining 15 people from the island. Though fraught with controversy and forcibly ended, the occupation is hailed by many as a success for having attained international attention for the situation of native peoples in the United States, and for sparking more than 200 instances of civil disobedience among Native Americans.
The Occupation of Alcatraz had a direct effect on federal Native policy and, with its visible results, established a precedent for Native activism. Spurred in part by Spiro Agnew's support for Native American rights, federal policy began to progress away from termination and toward Native autonomy. In Nixon's July 8, 1970 message, he decried termination, proclaiming, "self-determination among Indian people can and must be encouraged without the threat of eventual termination." Nixon's attitude toward Indian affairs soured with the November 2, 1972, occupation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Much of the Indian rights activism of the period can be traced to the Occupation of Alcatraz. The Trail of Broken Treaties, the BIA occupation, the Wounded Knee incident, and the Longest Walk all have their roots in the occupation. The American Indian Movement noted from their visit to the occupation that the demonstration garnered national attention, while those involved faced no punitive action.
-The Occupation of Alcatraz Island: Roots of American Indian Activism
Then it was NUMMI... and Now TESLA...
As I reflect upon the twists and turns, the ups and downs, the highs and lows that have shaped my journey of 70 years, I am reminded of the profound wisdom and knowledge that I have gained along the way. Life has a way of teaching us valuable lessons, sometimes through joyous triumphs and at other times through challenging tribulations.
Throughout these years, I have come to understand that true change, the kind that lasts, takes time. We are creatures of habit, often resistant to stepping outside our comfort zones. Yet, it is in those moments of discomfort and growth that we find the greatest opportunities for transformation.
Patience has become my steadfast companion, reminding me that life unfolds at its own pace. It is in the waiting, the trusting, and the surrendering that we allow the universe to work its magic. Acceptance has taught me to embrace both the light and the shadows within myself and others, recognizing that it is through our imperfections that we find our true strength.
But knowledge and wisdom alone are not enough. It is the action we take that breathes life into our dreams and aspirations. I have learned that waking up to the immense potential within ourselves is only the first step. It is in the pursuit of our passions, with unwavering dedication, that we truly come alive.
And as I have grown older, I have come to understand the importance of living not just for myself, but also for the betterment of others. Being of service to those around us, in whatever capacity we can, brings a profound sense of purpose and fulfillment. It is through acts of kindness, compassion, and selflessness that we leave a lasting impact on the world.
In this journey of 70 years, I have come to appreciate the interconnectedness of my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Nurturing each aspect of myself has allowed me to find balance, harmony, and a deep sense of inner peace. It is through self-care, personal growth, and spiritual exploration that I have discovered the true essence of who I am.
As I celebrate this milestone, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences that have shaped me, the lessons that have guided me, and the people who have walked alongside me. My 70 years of life have been a tapestry woven with threads of joy, sorrow, growth, pain, and love.
May the next chapter of my journey be filled with continued growth, new adventures, and a heart that remains open to the endless possibilities that life has to offer. Here's to embracing the wisdom of age, living with passion, and making a positive difference in the lives of others.
Cheers to 70 years of life!
BROOKDALE LODGE. HWY 9.
The once-famous Brookdale Lodge in the Santa Cruz Mountains was a hideaway for the rich and famous.
The Brookdale Lodge is a historic, world famous hotel and dining facility. Brookdale is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the beauty of The Santa Cruz Mountains. With its famous Brookroom, who's giant dining room has Clear Creek running through it.
Famous persons passing through Brookdale Lodge included: Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Tyrone Power, Joan Crawford, Rita Hayworth, and Hedy Lamarr. Shirley Temple and Johnny Weissmuller had homes nearby. And during the San Francisco conference establishing the United Nations, world leaders and diplomats came to the lodge to relax.
The lodge was also famous for its first rate entertainment, attracting the best big band and swing groups of the era. There are at least three swing era songs written about the Brookdale including, My Brookdale Hideaway, A Place Known as Brookdale, and Beautiful Brookdale Lodge. President Hoover, they say, used to sit on this bridge and catch a fish. And when he caught one, he’d bring it back to the kitchen and have them cook it for him. If only walls could talk. "
For generations to come, patrons and employees alike would hear, feel and even see the antics of a little girl wandering the famed Brookdale Lodge. A little girl whose ghostly apparition remains trapped near the babbling brook, of Clear Creek…the endless beating heart of the Brookdale Lodge."
The Ghost of Sarah Logan:
"Stemming from the legend of ten year old Sarah Logan -- dating back to 1892; who was believed to be related to the famed founder of Brookdale himself, and the original developer of what has now become the Brookdale Lodge, Judge James Harvey Logan; spins a tale of woe and the start of a legendary haunting. Stemming from the legend of ten year old Sarah Logan."
"The tragic tale focuses on a vibrant young lass, Ten year old, Sarah Logan; whose family likely worked at the adjacent lumber camp during its peak seasons. Young Sarah loved the mountainous terrain and played amongst her peers in their imaginary magical forest. Clear Creek (the brook that now runs through the lodge) was a place of enchantment for one so young. It is believed that during the fall months as the wet whether approached and the cold began to fill the air. Young Sarah who was playing around the creek bed of Clear Creek tragically slipped and fell onto the rocks below, suffering a severe injury to her head and nearly drowned. She would later die from these injuries."
The lodge appeared on the paranormal show Ghost Adventures in 2012. The property has once again been sold and is undergoing intensive renovations.
THE BEAUTIFUL LOS GATOS CATS
The eight feet tall cats, Leo and Leona, have kept watch over the entrance to “Poets Canyon” since 1922. They were commissioned by writer Colonel Charles Erskine Scott Wood and poet, suffragist Sara Bard Field to mark the entrance to their 34 acres; their safe haven and place to philosophize and write poetry. They built a house, planted a vineyard and put big wine casks out along the road as a way to protest prohibition. The property was a hang out for artists, writers and musicians of the day. Sara wrote well known poems while living there: The Pale Woman, Barrabas, and A Darkling Plain. Charlie Chaplin, John Steinbeck and even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the place.
History of Los Gatos
The eight feet tall cats, Leo and Leona, have kept watch over the entrance to “Poets Canyon” since 1922. They were commissioned by writer Colonel Charles Erskine Scott Wood and poet, suffragist Sara Bard Field to mark the entrance to their 34 acres; their safe haven and place to philosophize and write poetry. They built a house, planted a vineyard and put big wine casks out along the road as a way to protest prohibition. The property was a hang out for artists, writers and musicians of the day. Sara wrote well known poems while living there: The Pale Woman, Barrabas, and A Darkling Plain. Charlie Chaplin, John Steinbeck and even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the place.
History of Los Gatos
The Cats restaurant in Los Gatos relaunching under new ownership
May, 2023
LOS GATOS, Calif. - A legendary barbecue restaurant in Los Gatos is back by popular demand and relaunching Friday night. The Cats restaurant, just off Highway 17, has had limited service since the pandemic began, and now it also has a new owner.
The building was originally opened in 1896 as a roadhouse, and then it became The Cats in 1967. The new owner says he wants to keep things the same, all while bringing a sense of freshness to the restaurant and its menu.
They used to have a little band once in a while and people coming in for music and having drinks," said Kamran, a longtime customer of The Cats.
A longtime patron of The Cats stopped by Thursday evening for dinner but didn’t realize it was temporarily closed and preparing for a grand re-opening.
"I guess he just wanted to spruce it up a little bit which is good. You got to go with the times. If there’s change, you’ve got to change. I’m pretty sure it’s going to work out as long as you’ve got good food to offer, I’m sure people will have no problem coming back here," Kamran said.
With a reputation built on decades of good barbeque and live entertainment, new owner Richard Tam says he’s ready to give people what they’re used to and even more. He says they’ve upgraded much of the infrastructure and equipment, making it easier to serve customers.
"We can basically do about 800 pounds of meat in here, all kinds of smoked chicken, brisket ribs and so forth," Tam said.
Tam operates The Cats under his food service company ChefCentury, which he started around two years ago to help chefs struggling during the pandemic. He opened a commercial kitchen free of charge, so they could sell meals online. Then the retired engineer, turned restaurateur bought The Cats.
"We thought this was an iconic place. It’s the best place for people to enjoy themselves and have good food. We are confident our chefs can give them good food," Tam said.
The Cats Executive Chef and General Manager Adrian Pham says he’s looking forward to upholding the legacy.
"I think the key point for me is to be able to uphold its history, in terms of creating a great ambiance for entertainment and food. To me, that’s very important, and I feel like that’s just culture, in general," Pham said.
Tam says they’re going to keep the limited schedule for at least the first month. They’ll be open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday starting at 4 p.m.
https://www.ktvu.com/.../the-cats-restaurant-in-los-gatos...
https://www.thecatslosgatos.com/the-cats-dine-in-menu/
REDWOOD ESTATES.
Driving to Santa Cruz from Los Gatos, you’ll pass signs for Redwood Estates just before the summit.
The origins of this subdivision go back to the 1920s when it was pushed hard as an easy-to-get-to mountain retreat for San Franciscans who were just purchasing automobiles and wanted a country getaway.
After a rather leisurely drive from the city, you could be among the redwoods, with clean mountain air and fresh free-flowing mountain spring water. Why you might just feel like a kid again. At least that’s what the promoters hoped when they enlisted Gail Lloyd, a movie star of that time, to exclaim how desirable it would be to buy property there.
And this air. There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world!
And the crystal-clear spring water, so cool and sparkling. And just think. it’s supplied, abundantly and freely, to every cabin. Why, just to be here makes a person feel like a happy, like a frisky child of ten. This is the place to come for vacation. This is the place to live.
Lots of the development ranged from $100 to $1,000, and the Redwood Estate company offered cabin plans for a quick and easy building. There was a large community center with a pool, free water, ready electrical hook-up, and if you owned a car, passable roads.
Although the US Census Bureau classifies the area as part of Lexington Hills, the name of the local post office is still Redwood Estates. Today, the housing is certainly no bargain and is primarily permanent, not vacation homes.
Driving to Santa Cruz from Los Gatos, you’ll pass signs for Redwood Estates just before the summit.
The origins of this subdivision go back to the 1920s when it was pushed hard as an easy-to-get-to mountain retreat for San Franciscans who were just purchasing automobiles and wanted a country getaway.
After a rather leisurely drive from the city, you could be among the redwoods, with clean mountain air and fresh free-flowing mountain spring water. Why you might just feel like a kid again. At least that’s what the promoters hoped when they enlisted Gail Lloyd, a movie star of that time, to exclaim how desirable it would be to buy property there.
And this air. There’s nothing like it anywhere in the world!
And the crystal-clear spring water, so cool and sparkling. And just think. it’s supplied, abundantly and freely, to every cabin. Why, just to be here makes a person feel like a happy, like a frisky child of ten. This is the place to come for vacation. This is the place to live.
Lots of the development ranged from $100 to $1,000, and the Redwood Estate company offered cabin plans for a quick and easy building. There was a large community center with a pool, free water, ready electrical hook-up, and if you owned a car, passable roads.
Although the US Census Bureau classifies the area as part of Lexington Hills, the name of the local post office is still Redwood Estates. Today, the housing is certainly no bargain and is primarily permanent, not vacation homes.
Charles Henry McKiernan, known as Mountain Charley, made his way from Ireland to the Santa Cruz Mountains in 1850 and became one of Los Gatos’ most well-known residents. The frame house he built at the corner of Redwood Estates and Summit Road is believed to be the first structure of that kind on the entire mountain. Charley also built several mountain roads that are still in use today. He and his wife ran a stagecoach business, providing a stopping point for travelers to enjoy a meal and have their horses and wagons tended to.
But Charley is best known for a life-altering event that occurred on May 8, 1854. Legend has it that he and a friend encountered a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs. Charley was attacked as he fired on the bear. She mauled Charley severely, crushing a portion of his skull and wounding his eye before dragging him to an oak tree at the edge of a clearing. She pawed at him and then left him, never to be seen again. The story goes that the doctor who treated Charley hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican dollars to patch the broken part of his skull. This procedure was repeated at least twice. Charley eventually married the Irish nurse who cared for him, Barbara Berricke Kelly and they had seven children together.
Charley lived an active life for another 38 years. The only outward evidence of his fight with the grizzly was the hat he wore for the rest of his life to cover his disfigured eye.
But Charley is best known for a life-altering event that occurred on May 8, 1854. Legend has it that he and a friend encountered a mother grizzly bear and her two cubs. Charley was attacked as he fired on the bear. She mauled Charley severely, crushing a portion of his skull and wounding his eye before dragging him to an oak tree at the edge of a clearing. She pawed at him and then left him, never to be seen again. The story goes that the doctor who treated Charley hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican dollars to patch the broken part of his skull. This procedure was repeated at least twice. Charley eventually married the Irish nurse who cared for him, Barbara Berricke Kelly and they had seven children together.
Charley lived an active life for another 38 years. The only outward evidence of his fight with the grizzly was the hat he wore for the rest of his life to cover his disfigured eye.
The Wildcat, a literary magazine/yearbook published by the students of Los Gatos High School, Volume 6, Number 4, published January 1904.
On today's episode of "you never know what kind of fruit or vegetables you'll find randomly growing in San Jose:" I stopped by Antique Row after work today, and I parked on one of the side streets behind the antique stores. As I was leaving, I turned down another one of the back streets, and there were a bunch of artichoke plants growing in the curb strip, with artichokes growing on them! I had to go back around the block in order to find a place to park, and then I walked back to the artichoke plants to take some photos. Several people walked by, and everyone marveled at the fact that these artichokes were just growing right there along the street. Some of the plants had been smashed. Most of the artichokes were small, but some were pretty big. I was going to just take photos and then leave them there, but you know me and locally-grown fruit/veggies. I couldn't leave without grabbing one. So I grabbed one of the bigger ones. I don't know if it will be any good. The leaves aren't close together like the beautiful artichoke I ate a few days ago. But I'll still cook it and see how it is. And I'll go back there in a week or so and see if the small ones have gotten bigger.
Paul Mason winery on Saratoga Ave, San Jose
GEMCO. San Jose.
Gemco offered one-stop shopping for everything from garden supplies to groceries, and regular department store offerings as well. Its concessionaires included gasoline (located outside and away from the front entrance) and jewelry.
One innovation the store offered -- found nowhere else at the time -- was the storing and delivery of already purchased groceries when the member was finished shopping the rest of the store. A numbered plastic card was placed on the cart(s) and its match was given to the customer. When the member was done shopping and ready to leave the premises, the member merely needed to drive to the side of the store where the plastic card was given to the security guard. The guard would call for a courtesy clerk to deliver the groceries, and the clerk would load them into the member's vehicle. Niceties such as this won many new members to Gemco, and created repeat business.
On a trial basis, a few Gemco stores offered free babysitting while an adult was shopping in the store. The adult would drop off the child in the designated area of the store and would be given a ticket with a number on it. When done shopping they would give the cashier the ticket, who in return called the babysitting dept and a clerk would bring the child out to the parent. The parent could also pick the child up directly as well. After about one year of trial Gemco ceased operation of this trial. California law required a caregiver in a commercial operation to be licensed and insured as a daycare.
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A clown, a guru, and a doctor walk into a cabin. The clown says, “What I have in mind is eye care for 400,000.” The guru says “See here now.” The doctor says, “Brilliant. We can do that.” What actually transpired in 1978 was the start of Seva led by Dr. Brilliant with an eclectic group including Ram Dass, Wavy Gravy, Dr. "V", and Dr. Nicole Grasset. What came next was the landmark Nepal Blindness Survey using an Apple 2+ computer donated by Steve Jobs and a helicopter funded by a Grateful Dead concert. The story of Seva’s beginning is colorful and quirky, but the results are miraculous. Science, art, and spirituality are a potent blend that can transform lives! Witness for yourself the promise of ending avoidable blindness in Nepal and around the world.
Hiway 17 runs alongside the dam's western edge and over part of the reservoir. Alma Bridge Road (Limekiln Canyon Road) runs around the eastern side, connecting with 17 at the north end and again at the south end via other streets. It provides water for Silicon Valley.
When the level of Lexington Reservoir drops, it is possible to see portions of the old roads that were used in the construction of the reservoir and to the historic towns of Lexington and Alma that once existed in the valley before the reservoir was created. Some building foundations in the ghost towns are also visible at times.
The Lexington Park includes part of the San Andreas Fault, which crosses Los Gatos Creek just south of the upstream end of the reservoir.
SE said:
Felt the need to spend a bit of time out in nature today, so I went on a brief hike in the redwoods behind Montalvo, where I've been going since I was a kid. The trails look the same now as they did then, but it's a nature preserve, so I’m sure it’s looked the same since long before I was born. I would have taken a longer hike, but my knees...and I didn't bring my knee braces. I was a bit surprised by how cold it was, though. It's only 57 degrees outside right now. Spring is an unpredictable season around here. Two days ago it was 85. I prefer the cold, though, as long as my apartment is cozy and warm.
and I Replied:
I've been to Montalvo Many Times... a folk music concert with Janis Ian... a Seminar that taught Self hypnosis... an Acid Trip just hanging out on the Lawn out front of the Mansion and I took piano lessons there... https://montalvoarts.org/
Joey Franco came from Italy at the age of 9. Joey Franco started out in the grocery business working for his cousins as a kid, the brother's Henry and Joseph Franco, at their Franco Brothers Markets.
The 13th and Washington Street store was one of theirs, and it was known as Franco’s 13th Street Market. They built the 13th Street store in 1934, and by 1945 they had added a third store on The Alameda. They eventually opening to several stores in the San Jose area.
Joey Franco built a ten-store chain with the Alum Rock store eventually became the chain's headquarters. Joey passed away in 2003, the ownership passed onto Lee and Joy Belli, Joy being Joey Franco's daughter. (Arnold Del Carlo Collection, Sourisseau Academy, SJSU.)
I worked at the Branham Lane store pushing shopping carts and bagging groceries.
Mission Santa Clara Façade, 1866.
I got married there in 1976... All SC University students were welcome to use the Mission for their wedding.
Mission Church as it appeared after an Italianate Victorian façade of wood with two matching towers was laid over its original adobe front in 1861.
The California Hotel with its second floor Debating Hall can also be seen.
Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.
Mission Church as it appeared after an Italianate Victorian façade of wood with two matching towers was laid over its original adobe front in 1861.
The California Hotel with its second floor Debating Hall can also be seen.
Santa Clara University Library, Archives & Special Collections.
ZEPHYR A. MACABEE. 110 Loma Alta Ave. Los Gatos. 1900.
Zephyr A. Macabee invented an effective gopher trap in the basement of his home on Loma Alta Ave., built in 1894/5.
Gophers were causing a great deal of damage to orchard trees, and so Zephyr created the trap using a pair of pliers, some wire and a piece of metal. He obtained a patent for his trap in 1900, and the traps are still manufactured at the same location today.
(Zephyr's wife Elizabeth is sitting on the front steps with her little dog).
Leslie Salt Company harvesting salt from the salt ponds in Redwood City , October 14, 1983.
Salt mining in the Bay Area has been going on for longer than California has been a state. The Ohlone Indians pulled salt from the bay, and Gold Rush-era entrepreneurs built primitive dikes to create evaporation ponds and harvest the salt for the Comstock silver mines, which used it to process ore.
In the 1970s and ’80s, when the industry was in its prime and the Leslie Salt Mountain on the Peninsula was at its highest.
According to a Chronicle article by reporter Harre Demoro from Oct. 15, 1983, an insect-like machine crawled along the crusty ponds, scraping up the salt and loading it into rail cars, which carried it to the mounds next to the Leslie Salt refinery. More than 200 workers swarmed along the bay shoreline to harvest 1 million tons of the crystals.
“From September through the Christmas season, ponds around Newark will yield 700,000 tons of salt, and another 300,000 tons will be harvested from the ponds between Redwood City and Alviso.”
The 15-acre parcel in Redwood City was sold to pharmaceutical company Abbott Labs in the early 2000s. While this site was only a small piece of the more than 19,000 acres owned in the area at the time, it was home to the Leslie Salt Mountain, easily the most visible part of the operation.
In 2006, production ceased operation at the Redwood City facility and removed the salt mountain, scoop by scoop, and the Bay Area lost a classic, glistening landmark.
Credit: Gary Fong / The Chronicle 1983.
And then I replied:
What amazes me about harvesting salt in the bay... Is it the bay is low in salt because of the fresh water coming from the Sacramento River... The bay is not nearly as salty as the ocean...But if you ever take the train ride from Martinez to San Jose you go right along the edge of the bay and you can see the salt harvesting up close...
I took that Amtrak train ride to the Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara... So I could go to the Grateful Dead concert... And it was so much better than driving a car... No problem parking... No problem driving the car when I'm high as a kite on edible marijuana...
Hiway 17 runs alongside the dam's western edge and over part of the reservoir. Alma Bridge Road (Limekiln Canyon Road) runs around the eastern side, connecting with 17 at the north end and again at the south end via other streets. It provides water for Silicon Valley.
When the level of Lexington Reservoir drops, it is possible to see portions of the old roads that were used in the construction of the reservoir and to the historic towns of Lexington and Alma that once existed in the valley before the reservoir was created. Some building foundations in the ghost towns are also visible at times. The Lexington Park includes part of the San Andreas Fault, which crosses Los Gatos Creek just south of the upstream end of the reservoir.
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