| BERRYESSA CITIZENS ADVISORY COUNCIL History of Berryessa |
A Brief History of Berryessa courtesy of DeEtte Starr
As a speedy trip through history, the Berryessa area was first
inhabited by part of the Ohlone tribe. During the Rancheros' era, it
became part of Rancho Beryessa (only one "r") and was 'owned'
by a family of brothers. "Beryessa" was the way it was spelled on
the historical maps of the Rancheros. When the Ranchero era
ended, it was mainly subdivided into family apricot orchards. The
owners were of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.
.
The area felt the effects of the San Andreas earthquake.
Numerous farms' water towers fell over during the earthquake.
One of the now-deceased farmers (belonging to the Mattos
family) related to me that he fell off his milking stool. But, it being
mainly an agricultural region, there wasn't extensive damage.
There used to be a huge eucalyptus grove at the intersection of
Cropley and Piedmont. There was a small one-lane bridge that
allowed cars to pass. Neighborhood kids used to swing across
the creek on eucalyptus 'ropes'. Most of the old apricot orchards
became part of subdivisions in the early 1970's.
In the 35 years I've lived here, Berryessa and Penitencia Creeks
have flooded once. It was because of built-up debris. The year
after the flooding, Berryessa Creek was dredged and
sandbag-type sides were put into place, which seemed to have
done the trick. During a severe rain storm, many houses were
flooded along Piedmont Road where it meets with Old Piedmont
Road. The traffic island that's there now took care of that flooding.
For the historical information, I was fortunate enough to be allowed
into the archives at History San Jose Historical Park. The
California Room at the main library is also a good source of
information.
As a speedy trip through history, the Berryessa area was first
inhabited by part of the Ohlone tribe. During the Rancheros' era, it
became part of Rancho Beryessa (only one "r") and was 'owned'
by a family of brothers. "Beryessa" was the way it was spelled on
the historical maps of the Rancheros. When the Ranchero era
ended, it was mainly subdivided into family apricot orchards. The
owners were of Hispanic and Portuguese descent.
.
The area felt the effects of the San Andreas earthquake.
Numerous farms' water towers fell over during the earthquake.
One of the now-deceased farmers (belonging to the Mattos
family) related to me that he fell off his milking stool. But, it being
mainly an agricultural region, there wasn't extensive damage.
There used to be a huge eucalyptus grove at the intersection of
Cropley and Piedmont. There was a small one-lane bridge that
allowed cars to pass. Neighborhood kids used to swing across
the creek on eucalyptus 'ropes'. Most of the old apricot orchards
became part of subdivisions in the early 1970's.
In the 35 years I've lived here, Berryessa and Penitencia Creeks
have flooded once. It was because of built-up debris. The year
after the flooding, Berryessa Creek was dredged and
sandbag-type sides were put into place, which seemed to have
done the trick. During a severe rain storm, many houses were
flooded along Piedmont Road where it meets with Old Piedmont
Road. The traffic island that's there now took care of that flooding.
For the historical information, I was fortunate enough to be allowed
into the archives at History San Jose Historical Park. The
California Room at the main library is also a good source of
information.
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