I may have mentioned before that I’m the only member of my family that was born in California. I’m not sure why history has been such a driving force, but it has been a defining interest. I’m not saying that I have been very deep, in one place, or at one time. Perhaps the problem is that if you focus on thing, you can’t see other things.
That means if I get even a little deep into one era, I feel the need to find another era to research. My life is filled with gaps in my knowledge and experience. So it goes with curiosity.
I was born in Richmond, Ca, but raised in San Pablo, a town almost completely surrounded by Richmond. San Pablo is older by about a hundred years, and has a colorful past.
I remember the rundown Alvarado Adobe, and the St. Paul’s Church on Church Lane. I also remember the old cemetery that was behind the fence on the corner.
The Adobe was bulldozed and the cemetery was moved, but the memory remained.
I read about the plains Sod-houses, but that’s okay wasn’t the same as the Adobe. It took years before I actually experienced being in an Adobe. I think we had a field trip to Sutter’s Fort in elementary school, but the was mostly American history, not Californio history. It wasn’t until years later, when I dated a young lady that lived in the town of Sonoma.
I had been there before, but now I really spent time there, right across the street from Vallejo’s home.
Then briefly, my focus was on early California history. That led to John Marsh in central Costa Costa county. That led to the California Trail before the Gold Rush, and after the Gold Rush. That led to researching the hired guides on the trail, mostly ex-mountain men. That led to the whole Rendezvous Era. That led to Lewis and Clark. That led to Napoleon. Somehow, that led to the Viking Era, and Harald Hardrada. Whew!
Now 70 years later I’m back full circle, researching the restored Moraga Adobe. Fortunately I’m being guided by a friend who has been active for years, and even related to many of the early Californios.
A Work Progressing 
Some History
I may have mentioned before that I’m the only member of my family that was born in California. I’m not sure why history has been such a driving force, but it has been a defining interest. I’m not saying that I have been very deep, in one place, or at one time. Perhaps the problem is that if you focus on thing, you can’t see other things.
That means if I get even a little deep into one era, I feel the need to find another era to research. My life is filled with gaps in my knowledge and experience. So it goes with curiosity.
I was born in Richmond, Ca, but raised in San Pablo, a town almost completely surrounded by Richmond. San Pablo is older by about a hundred years, and has a colorful past.
I remember the rundown Alvarado Adobe, and the St. Paul’s Church on Church Lane. I also remember the old cemetery that was behind the fence on the corner.
The Adobe was bulldozed and the cemetery was moved, but the memory remained.
I read about the plains Sod-houses, but that’s okay wasn’t the same as the Adobe. It took years before I actually experienced being in an Adobe. I think we had a field trip to Sutter’s Fort in elementary school, but the was mostly American history, not Californio history. It wasn’t until years later, when I dated a young lady that lived in the town of Sonoma.
I had been there before, but now I really spent time there, right across the street from Vallejo’s home.
Then briefly, my focus was on early California history. That led to John Marsh in central Costa Costa county. That led to the California Trail before the Gold Rush, and after the Gold Rush. That led to researching the hired guides on the trail, mostly ex-mountain men. That led to the whole Rendezvous Era. That led to Lewis and Clark. That led to Napoleon. Somehow, that led to the Viking Era, and Harald Hardrada. Whew!
Now 70 years later I’m back full circle, researching the restored Moraga Adobe. Fortunately I’m being guided by a friend who has been active for years, and even related to many of the early Californios.
It’s been a fascinating trip.
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