An Early Celebration of Cupertino's 60th Birthday

The Cupertino Historical Society and Museum (CHS&M) holds a fundraising barbecue every summer, but it feels more special this summer, because the 60th anniversary of Cupertino’s incorporation is only a little more than three months away.

On Oct 10,1955, Cupertino officially became Santa Clara County’s 13th city.

Cupertino’s history is much longer than 60 years, however. It goes way back to the 1776 expedition led by the Spanish explorer, Captain Juan Bautista de Anza. His diarist and cartographer Pedro Font named the creek they saw in today’s Santa Clara County after Saint Joseph of Cupertino. Although the creek was later renamed Stevens, John T. Doyle, a San Francisco lawyer and historian, picked up the name Cupertino for his winery on McClellan Road.

In 1904, Cupertino replaced “ West Side” as the name for the Crossroads of Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road (now De Anza Boulevard) and Stevens Creek Road as well as the area around the post office, thanks to the the Home Union Store called the Cupertino Store on the northeast corner of the Crossroads.

Cupertino’s economy used to be based on fruit agriculture. The incorporation of the city didn’t change it, but VALLCO did. When VALLCO was established in the early 1960s, it was a business and industrial park, which first brought the electronics industry to Cupertino more than a decade before Apple came into the picture in 1976. It was also in 1976 when VALLCO was transformed into a shopping center.

Now with Sand Hill Property Company as its new owner, VALLCO is going through another transformation. Former Cupertino Mayor Sandra James works as the public affairs manager of the project. She gave a brief speech on VALLCO at the CHS&M fundraiser and stressed the importance of preserving Cupertino’s history.

“A city that doesn’t pay attention to its past will have no future,” James said.

Another notable speaker at the CHS&M event was Jason Lundgaard, Apple’s manager of state and local government affairs. He said Apple deeply cherishes its 39-year relationship with Cupertino and looks forward to an even greater future together.

The June 28 event marked the end of Donna Austin’s three-year term as president of the CHS&M. Helene Davis will be the next president, starting July 1.

Titled “A Sip of History,” the fundraiser took place at Cooper-Garrod Estate Vineyards. Each attendee was given a complimentary drink ticket. While conversing over a glass of wine, Catherine Alexander shared her family stories as part of Cupertino’s history.

According to Alexander, her grandparents came from Slovenia and Dubrovnik. Her grandfather worked in a lumber mill. He once delivered lumber and other building materials to the home of rifle heiress Sarah Winchester in order to remodel her mansion, which later became the world famous Winchester Mystery House.

Alexander commented positively on the changes that have happened in Cupertino since her grandfather’s time. She said she particularly enjoys the variety of cultures brought by Apple employees from all over the world. She called them “cream of the cream,” and said they are making Cupertino more enlightening than ever.

Even so, Alexander said the past is worth remembering. The retired librarian has established a website (http://www.siliconvalleylibrarian.com) that collects and presents eclectic resources on the history of Silicon Valley, going along with the mission of the CHS&M.

For the sake of nostalgia, the CHS&M fundraiser was a Western theme party with a country music band. Most attendees were wearing cowboy hats and denim clothes.

Photo Captions:

1) Incoming president of the CHS&M, Helene Davis (left), and the outgoing president Donna Austin.

2) Jason Lundgaard, Apple’s manager of state and local government affairs.

3) Former Cupertino Mayor Sandra James

4) Beverly Lenihan (left) and her husband Phil

5) Donna Austin (left) and Evan Low, a Democratic member of the California State Assembly, representing District 28.

6) Crystal Tai in a denim Mandarin dress invented by herself (probably the first person thinking of using denim to make Mandarin dresses), custom tailored by Elegente.com, an on-line clothing vendor.