Rediscovering a Chinese-American Success Story: The Legacy of Thomas Foon Chew of Bay Side Cannery

Bay Side canned its products under at least seven different labels, something new we've learned since publication of Historic Bay Area Visionaries last October. 

At left, a portrait of a young Thomas Foon Chew who became a millionaire with his Bay Side Canning Company

When I published Historic Bay Area Visionaries (History Press 2018) last fall, I included a chapter about Thomas Foon Chew, whose story was well known during the early 20th century in the San Francisco Bay Area, but had almost been lost by the time I published my book. Historians new about it, most of the general public did not.

Since the book's publication, I've enjoying following the trail of new information relating to this improbable Chinese-American success story. Foon came to American from China at the age of 8 in 1897. A few years later, with his father, Sai Yen Chew, he founded Bay Side Canning Company, and became a multi-millionaire.

Quiet Engineer Helped Apollo 11 Speed Safely to the Moon

Henry "Hank" Cole and his dog Mimmi still live in Los Altos, half a century after his work at NASA Ames Research Center was critical to the Apollo 11 mission. Can you see that Mimmi is smiling?

There are always quiet heroes who walk among us. The men and women of the Greatest Generation certainly qualify for that designation, as do the teams of people who worked to successfully launch America's--and the world's--first manned mission to the surface of the moon. These dedicated professionals did their jobs using very early and rudimentary computers, many developed in the early days of Silicon Valley. I have been fortunate to meet one of those who made that moon launch possible.   

Green Space and A Community's Story at the Heart of a Town

We gathered eighty people to celebrate Heritage Orchard's very first sign. It was a day to celebrate!

I confess that I have loved apricot trees of all sizes and shapes since I grew up surrounded by them in the small community of Los Altos, California. I left my hometown after graduate school, and spent many years away, working as a journalist.

World War II Aircraft Speak of Courage on D-Day Anniversary

Robin Chapman standing with the B-24 aircraft dubbed "Witchcraft" at Moffett Federal Airfield. The B-24 is maintained by the Collings Foundation.

I probably would not have taken a flight on this World War II aircraft, if I had not won it in a drawing at the Moffett Historical Museum. My parents were members of the museum before me, and every year the museum holds a drawing when the Collings Foundation's Wings of Freedom Tour pays a visit to Moffett. Entering the drawing is a way to contribute to the museum. No one was more surprised than I when they drew my ticket. 

Fire at Notre-Dame de Paris recalls Mission Santa Clara Blaze

This 1926 photo of Mission Santa Clara burning was taken on October 25, 1926, when fire destroyed the 101 year old building. It may be used only with the permission of the 

Department of Archives & Special Collections, Santa Clara University.

Historic buildings, like Notre-Dame de Paris and Mission Santa Clara, are often subject to fire because they were built long before the use of electricity. In older times, candles often started the fires in old buildings. In the twentieth century, primitive wiring, retrofitted on to these historic buildings is often to blame.

Take a Walk Through the Historic Los Altos Apricot Orchard

Artist Cynthia Riordan spends some quiet time in the Los Altos Civic Center Apricot Orchard.  The Orchard is a City Historic Landmark. 

I thought you might enjoy taking a walk at your leisure through the Los Altos Civic Center Apricot Orchard. I researched and wrote it last summer and have led it myself half-a-dozen times. But now I've posted it here so you can call it up on your device and take it yourself. Or you can relax at home and take it as an armchair tour! 

When Future Star Esther Williams Eloped to a Small Town

This vintage postcard shows MGM star Esther Williams circa 1952. 

She was gorgeous and she had already had two children.

If you like movie star trivia you are in good company with me. I love learning more about film history and the interesting people who made their home in this industry. Esther Williams is certainly one of the more unusual. An award-winning swimmer, she had planned to compete in the 1940 Olympics, but the summer games were cancelled by the beginning of World War II.