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.

Marking California History Along the Old El Camino Real

This Mission Bell Marker can be found near the intersection of El Monte Avenue and El Camino Real on the southbound side of the roadway.

I'm not sure if drivers and passengers are taking note of what is outside their windows these days as they ride along America's highways. But there is a lot of history to see out there for those who would find it.

New Book Talks and Signings for "Visionaries" and "Apricots"

"Historic Bay Area Visionaries" is a hit in our Silicon Valley library system, where there are now a dozen copies in circulation--and they're all checked out! I donated two more at a recent talk at the Los Altos Library.

We have lots of talks scheduled for 2019, and I hope you will find time to stop by and say hello at one or more of them. I always like to see familiar faces when I am at these events. It is a delight to see so many of you! Here are the details: 

Robert Louis Stevenson's First Christmas in California

Robert Louis Stevenson photographed in Boston, 1887. Courtesy of 

Historic Bay Area Visionaries and the California Historical Society.

If you've ever had a blue Christmas (and even Elvis had one of those), you have some great company in the poet and writer Robert Louis Stevenson. He came to California in 1879 from Scotland on a journey of romance and, at first, it did not appear to be going well. Here's what happened over the holidays (and be sure and read it all the way through, as there is a lesson in the story). And for more on Stevenson in California, pick up a copy of my book Historic Bay Area Visionaries (History Press 2018). Merry Christmas! 

CLICK TO READ ABOUT ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON'S CALIFORNIA CHRISTMAS

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New List of Upcoming Events for Historic Bay Area Visionaries

Christmas in the Adobes uses these wooden angels as the icons of the event. They were originally created in the 1950s for the City of Monterey. 

The Robert Louis Stevenson House was one of twenty-two adobes open during Monterey's annual "Christmas in the Adobes" celebration. It is a historic house-and-building tour in a city with some of the oldest standing structures in California. What a wonderful event. Lights, mulled cider, cookies, music, costumes, and volunteer docents led the celebrations at every adobe. A wonderful way to learn history and begin the holiday season.

Upcoming Events For Historic Bay Area Visionaries

Author Robin Chapman at a book signing with author Jan Batiste Adkins at Recycle Bookstore in Campbell, California in November.

The book signings and book talks have been going well since the publication of Historic Bay Area Visionaries in October and they have been keeping me very busy. In addition to the scheduled events below I will be doing some impromptu signings at retail outlets in the region that are carrying the book. And there are quite a few. 

American Legion Post Has Helped Veterans for Eight Decades

Col. John J. Howard was a decorated war hero who retied to a house on 

Robledo Road in Los Altos. The local American Legion post is named after him.

Our local American Legion post has made the decision to seek Historic Landmark status for its building. These things are difficult in all-volunteer organizations, because now the group needs to organize both the paperwork and the fund-raising to gain the status and to help restore the structure. That is a lot of work for volunteers.

Yet the post as done so much good in its life. 

Click the link to read more about its story:  CLICK TO READ ABOUT THE COL. HOWARD AMERICAN LEGION POST

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