In the late 1940s, Patricia’s grandfather purchased 4 acres, and her father one acre, in Happy Valley. They chose the location because they wanted to live in the country, with walnut trees and plenty of land.
She discovered a fossilized turtle on the property. The industrialist Henry J, Kaiser, along with other neighbors, attended horse shows on the Whitehead property.
Patricia was active in dance and cheerleading at Acalanes High School. She rode in a convertible with Jerry Brown, then the son of California’s attorney general and himself a future governor, during the ceremonies to mark the opening of Highway 24 in 1957.
Vicki Whitehead Hopkins says
Lafayette was such a wonderful place to grow up! I appreciate my sister’s memories and share a love of that history! As a child I loved playing “house” in the creek on the upper area of Pine Lane because there was an old brick fireplace down there (still there)and I am curious about the story behind it?