Dear EDITOR:
I felt compelled to write you in regards to the article Martin
Cheek wrote about the orchards in Santa Clara County. It was nice
to know that I am not the only person who has noticed the changes.
I take these changes personally because these changes represent the
changes of my community and my family.
Dear EDITOR:
I felt compelled to write you in regards to the article Martin Cheek wrote about the orchards in Santa Clara County. It was nice to know that I am not the only person who has noticed the changes. I take these changes personally because these changes represent the changes of my community and my family.
My great great great (you get the point) grandfather was Pierre Pellier and I am sixth generation Santa Clara County, born and raised. I have grown up hearing the history of my family and how we are connected to this community. I remember the story of Pierre bring the prune cuttings by ship around the horn of Africa. During the voyage the ship’s water was rationed, so Pierre came up with the idea to ask the ship’s cook for potatoes. The cuttings were placed in potatoes to keep them alive until arrival in California.
A few years ago the french prune was still being raised by our family. My uncle needed to cut down his orchard in Morgan Hill for various reasons. He was the last of our family to have an orchard. My family takes great pride in being from Santa Clara County. I have not forgotten my “roots” and will share it with others.
I appreciate that you, too, have shared the history of The Valley of Heart’s Delight which has become Silicon Valley. I hope that as the generations come and go they will learn that this county has a diverse history that should be cherished and not forgotten.
Michelle Madrigal-Walters, Gilroy
Submitted Tuesday, Sept. 16 to ed****@****ic.com
