In the early 1930s, Rudolph Franke purchased 10-plus acres in Happy Valley near where Los Arabis Road is today. The property was initially used as a summer retreat. Mr. Franke later added a pool, a pavilion for hosting larger parties, and then built a year-round family home in 1937. Additional parts of the original Franke […]
From the Archives: Formation of the Lafayette Historical Society – April 26th, 1971 — Parts 1 & 2
From the Archives: A Tour of the Oliveira House/A talk with Benjamin B. Shaw III
George Wasson conducts a tour of the Oliveria home shortly before it was demolished for new construction. It was purchased by the Oliveiria family in 1902. The 42-acre property was located in Burton Valley on Oliveira Lane. It is now homes. The property was once pear and walnut orchards.
From the Archives: Lafayette Sesquicentennial – September 20th, 1998
A celebration of Lafayette’s 150th birthday starts with a tour of the Lafayette Cemetery, has demonstrations of various gold panning methods, dancers in period costumes, culminating with a parade along MT. Diablo Boulevard and the third annual Lafayette Arts and Wine Festival.
Oral History: Theron Nelson — May 2nd, 2014
Summary: Theron Nelson is a Lafayette resident since 1950. He was instrumental in forming the Laf-Frantics in 1956. The Lafayette Community Center acquired an 11-acre property on St. Marys Road, which is now Buckeye Fields that is home of the Lafayette Little League. Oral History: Ryan McKinley: This is an Oral History interview with Mr. […]
From the Archives: Acalanes High School Leadership/Actions Video
This is a video produced by the Acalanes High School Leadership class in 1997.
From the Archives: Lafayette History with Bill Wakeman
A brief history of Lafayette by Bill Wakeman.
From the Archives: Ray Peters as Elam Brown
Ray Peters performing as Elam Brown.
Oral History: Bill Wakeman
Bill’s parents bought land in the center of Lafayette and built a house in 1918. In this interview he talks about growing up here in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Lafayette School was easy to get to, but after that he had to take the Sacramento Northern train to Mount Diablo High School in Concord. […]
Oral History: Jennie Bickerstaff – 1957
This is a recording of a talk she gave to the Contra Costa Historical Society In 1957 when she was 85 years old. Her talk includes stories about the founders, other pioneers, and about life in early Lafayette. As a little girl, Jennie first came to Lafayette in 1877 from Pennsylvania and again in 1879 […]
