Joyce Allen Stewart is a member of one of Lafayette’s oldest pioneer families, the Allens. Her father, Harold Allen, was born in Lafayette in 1889. Her grandfather, Albert Allen, was born in Lafayette in 1869. Joyce was raised in Lafayette and was a member of the first class to graduate from Stanley School in 1954. […]
Oral History: Louis Armanino — May 6, 1980
Summary: Louis Armanino was born in Italy in 1881. He came to the U.S. at the turn of the century and settled in Lafayette in 1916. In this interview, which was conducted in 1980 when he was 99 years old, Mr. Armanino describes his dairy farm consisting of 50 cows which was located near the […]
Oral History: Bill McNeil — June 8th, 2016
This interview took place at the time that an antique barrel, which once held corn syrup, was added to the Lafayette Historical Society’s collection. The barrel had originally been in use at the general store in Lafayette that was owned and operated by Bill’s grandfather Robert McNeil. Bill, now 93 years of age, recalls some […]
Oral History: Adelaide Gerow (Allen) — June 28th, 1962
In one of our oldest oral histories, conducted in 1962, Dorothy Mutnick interviews Adelaide Gerow (Allen) at age 94. “Aunt Addie” shares her own memories of Lafayette at the end of the 19th century, and also recounts stories which were told to her by family members who actually accompanied Elam Brown and Margaret Allen on […]
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 […]
