Preface

This is only a glimpse … a brief look into the life and landscape of a community that has been home to tribes of Indigenous people, Mexican grantees, Yankee farmers, village storekeepers and innkeepers, and today is home to suburbanites.

During the dozen years the Lafayette Historical Society and its predecessor, the Lafayette Historical Committee, have existed, members have spent countless hours searching for facts and artifacts for letters, diaries, pictures, drawings, maps, deeds and memories. Much has been done but more is left to be searched and researched before the entire story of La Fayette (an early spelling) can be completed.

We hope this booklet, which is presented as one of the Lafayette Historical Society’s contributions to our community, will spark a new interest in the hunt for these bits and pieces of our history.

Meanwhile, La Fayette … a Pictorial History is intended to arouse your curiosity about what happened here in days gone by and to introduce you to those who found the delights of living in the “Sunshine Valley” years before we did.

We’re indebted to the many citizens who’ve helped us find pictures, verify dates, and supply missing bits of information in the presentation of this book. We’re particularly grateful to the following:

Our most sincere thanks go to all these friends of the Lafayette Historical Society and to the many others who had a part in preparing this book.

Sandy Kimball
Lafayette, California