Archive for the 'Historical' Category

Sunnyvale Voices - Sunnyvale Memories

Friday, April 6th, 2007

Cannery in Silicon ValleyBob Balmanno relates life as it was in the 1950s as a boy growing up on Vine Street, then on the edge of the edge of Sunnyvale, a City with 9,000 people and growing fast. “There wasn’t a single commercial or residential area except for a couple of old houses and the Donut Wheel in Cupertino” on the seven mile stretch of road between Sunnyvale and Saratoga.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Memories of Early Sunnyvale

Thursday, March 29th, 2007

Harvesting fruitMathilda Sousa remembers life in early Sunnyvale on her family’s four acre ranch, spending time with her sister doing the things she loved. “We picked prunes, and we cut apricots, and we loved it! I cannot believe every time I think of it I hear people saying how ‘we hated to pick prunes, and how we hated to cut apricots.’ And I say, ‘you know, we thought it was fun.’”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

icon for podpress  Mathilda Sousa - Memories of early Sunnyvale [8:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sunnyvale Voices - Early Days (Part 1)

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Vince CalaIn the first of two podcasts, Vince Cala recalls his time in Sunnyvale before and after World War Two. “The whole neighborhood could hear all day- the firing, and the soldiers marching back and forth. During the time that they were there, when they’d leave, we’d come down as kids and the lead would hit the targets and fall on the ground. We’d pick up the lead; we’d actually fight for the lead.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.


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Sunnyvale Voices - Family and Farm Life (Part 2)

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

Vince CalaIn part two of Vince Cala’s story, Vince talks about the move his family made from Sicily back in 1920 and why the orchards disappeared throughout the years.

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Coming To Sunnyvale (Part 1)

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

Denise and Nancy AlexanderIn this first of three podcasts, Denise and Nancy Alexander recall their impressions of Sunnyvale when they first moved here in March of 1960. “We remember Sunnyvale looking a lot different than it does today. We came here and lived in this house and my father landscaped and put in these bricks and everything. As a child here it was a lot of fun because the neighborhood ended right over here and it was just orchards. That was our playground, where the orchards were.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.


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Sunnyvale Voices - Living in Sunnyvale (Part 2)

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

Denise and Nancy AlexanderIn part two of Denise and Nancy Alexander’s story, the two recall what life was like living in downtown Sunnyvale. “Our house was the last house on the block. So it was kinda neat, we’d come out here and play baseball and everything. Beyond our house here was a cherry orchard and across the street, that was a huge field and you had to walk through the field to get to the next block over.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

icon for podpress  Sunnyvale Voices - Living in Sunnyvale [4:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sunnyvale Voices - High School Days (Part 3)

Thursday, March 15th, 2007

Denise and Nancy Alexander

In part three of Denise and Nancy Alexander’s story, Denise explains what high school was like in Sunnyvale during the 1960’s. “Growing up in Sunnyvale, I saw a lot of changes, I’d walk home from the bus stop, and especially in my high school years, I’d get off the bus and there was another orchard being torn down, and I’d run home very sad, the whole thing was before my eyes.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Preserving the Past

Thursday, March 8th, 2007

Edith Drewek speaks about the changes she has witnessed since coming back to Sunnyvale. “Returning to the Sunnyvale area after being away for about thirteen years, I view both its past and present with renewed interest. I enjoy seeing the familiar Libby’s fruit can towering over Evelyn Avenue and the train tracks.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Working at the Hendy Ironworks

Thursday, March 1st, 2007

Hendy IronworksWallace Erichsen talks about what he saw during his time working at Joshua Hendy Ironworks. “The history of the Sunnyvale plant of Joshua Hendy Ironworks represents several unique periods of development in Santa Clara Valley.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

icon for podpress  Wallace Erichsen - Working at the Hendy Ironworks [6:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sunnyvale Voices - Growing up Asian in Sunnyvale

Thursday, February 22nd, 2007

Mike Chow and family

“Hi, my name is Mike Chow and I would like to tell you a little bit about my family and how difficult it was for my parents to immigrate into this country.” Mike details the difficulties his family encountered with the Chinese Exclusion Act and what it was like to grow up in Sunnyvale on a farm from the early 1950’s to the 1970’s.

 

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

icon for podpress  Mike Chow - Growing up Asian in Sunnyvale [7:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Sunnyvale Voices - A Tornado in Sunnyvale

Thursday, February 15th, 2007

Chiyo Winters - A Tornado in SunnyvaleChiyo Winters recalls the terrible tornado which hit Sunnyvale on January 11, 1951. “I remember it was a very stormy morning, there was the rain, and hail, and the roar of the wind sounded just like a freight train.”  

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library.  The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents.  A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - The Westinghouse Plant

Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007

Westinghouse's Deepstar Submersible“My name is Jack Perry, and my story is about the Westinghouse Plant in Sunnyvale where I worked as an engineer and manager for 35 years.” The Sunnyvale division of Westinghouse designed and built many notable one-of-a-kind products, including Wind Tunnel Compressors for the Air Force’s Arnold Air Research Center, said to have been the world’s largest rotating machines. Other unique orders ranged from telescopes for Kitt Peak Observatory to “Deepstar” submersible vehicles such as the one pictured to the left.

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Hendy Family Saga

Wednesday, December 20th, 2006

Joshua Hendy

“My name is Marian Hendy Rust. My father was Samuel Hendy Jr., son of Samuel Hendy Sr., who was the nephew of Joshua Hendy, the founder of Joshua Hendy Iron Works. I’d like to share with you in my own words the saga of the Hendy family.”

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Sunnyvale’s High-Tech Era

Tuesday, November 21st, 2006

MicrochipMary Jo Ignoffo, author of Sunnyvale: From the City of Destiny to the Heart of Silicon Valley, presents an historical overview of Sunnyvale’s High-Tech Era.

This overview was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Sunnyvale’s Defense Era

Tuesday, November 14th, 2006

Moffett FieldMary Jo Ignoffo, author of Sunnyvale: From the City of Destiny to the Heart of Silicon Valley, presents an historical overview of Sunnyvale’s Defense Era.

This overview was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Sunnyvale’s Argiculture Era

Tuesday, November 7th, 2006

Picking fruit in the Heart of Silicon ValleyMary Jo Ignoffo, author of Sunnyvale: From the City of Destiny to the Heart of Silicon Valley, presents an historical overview of Sunnyvale’s Agricultural Era.

This overview was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Work Hard, Play Hard

Monday, August 14th, 2006

Vince Cala
Vince Cala talks about life in Sunnyvale in the 1930s and 1940s. He describes the hard work in the fruit orchards and dancing the night away in Santa Cruz.

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - A Prune is a Prune!

Monday, August 7th, 2006

Dave Johnson
Dave Johnson
tells the story of how his great, great grandfather won title to El Quito Rancho, a land grant along Lawrence Road, in a card game with Manuel Arguello, an Emissary of King Phillip of Spain, in Paris, France in 1854. He also reminisces about life on a ranch before Silicon Valley was developed the way it is today.

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - Eichler Homes

Monday, July 17th, 2006

Eichler Home
Lillian Pang
and her family bought their Eichler home in Sunnyvale in 1960. Join her for a tour!

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

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Sunnyvale Voices - How Apricots Were Grown and Dried

Monday, July 10th, 2006

Apricot Cutters
A resident for more than 80 years, Ann Zarko shares a slice of apricot history with listeners.

This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology grant from the California State Library. The goal of the Sunnyvale Voices project was to record and provide access to the early history of Sunnyvale as told by Sunnyvale residents. A compilation video of all stories recorded for this project, titled “Sunnyvale Voices: From Settlers to Silicon,” is available for checkout in the Library collection.

icon for podpress  Ann Zarko [4:09m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download