Sunnyvale Public Library Podcasts

Sunnyvale Voices - Sunnyvale Memories

Bob 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.

 Standard Podcast [6:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Memories of Early Sunnyvale

Mathilda 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.

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

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Sunnyvale Voices - Early Days (Part 1)

In 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.

 Standard Podcast [6:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Family and Farm Life (Part 2)

In 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.

 Vince Cala - Family and Farm Life [5:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Coming To Sunnyvale (Part 1)

In 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.

 Sunnyvale Voices - Coming to Sunnyvale [5:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Living in Sunnyvale (Part 2)

In 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.

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

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Sunnyvale Voices - High School Days (Part 3)

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.

 Sunnyvale Voices - High School Days [5:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Preserving the Past

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.

 Edith Drewek - Preserving the Past [6:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Sunnyvale Voices - Working at the Hendy Ironworks

Wallace 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.

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

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Sunnyvale Voices - Growing up Asian in Sunnyvale

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

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Sunnyvale Voices - A Tornado in Sunnyvale

Chiyo 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.

 Standard Podcast [4:48m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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