Today in Strawberry: We had a visit today from a person of the past through the classroom time portal: Jose' Domingo Peralta stopped by from 1850 to tell his family's tale of owning the rancho that became the land of Berkeley. Jose's father, Don Luis Maria Peralta is well known throughout the Bay Area as the largest Californio land owner in the area. After serving in the Spanish military until the Mexican revolution with Spain, Peralta was granted most of the land from San Jose' to about Albany to be used for ranching and agriculture. Peralta eventually divided his land among his sons, Jose' being the one to manage the area we now call Berkeley. He built his adobe house near what is today, St. Mary's High School along Codornices Creek. After the Gold Rush of 1849 and the ensuing population explosion in the Bay Area, Jose' Peralta sold off most of his land, but remained in the area until his death in 1865.
Have a great 4 day weekend in commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King jr.
Field Trip: Feb. 5, 8:30-3:30, Muir Beach & Redwood Creek habitat restoration permission slip & waiver. Please be sure to sign both sides of the form. The second side is confusing, but follow the arrows. Thanks!
