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History of Milpitas – 1900s
The Milpitas Monster was filmed in 1975 and 1976 and released to market in 1980, 80 Minutes, Color, Rated PG. Starring: Douglas A. Hagdohl, John “Pop” Kennedy, Scot A. Henderson, Daniel G. Birkhead, Scott Parker, Priscilla House, and William C. Guest. Screenplay by David E. Boston. Music by Robert R. Berry, Jr. Produced and Directed by Robert L. Burrill. Based on a story by David R. Kottas and Robert L. Burrill. Watch the trailer. On January 26, 1954, Milpitas residents incorporated as a city, including the Ford Factory. See what else happened in the 1900s. Milpitas in the 1900s On January 26, 1954, faced with getting swallowed up by a rapidly expanding San…
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A nostalgic look back at Cal Skate of Milpitas
By Eric Shapiro, The Milpitas Beat, July 25, 2023 With Retro Milpitas right around the corner, The Milpitas Beat got on the phone with Chris St. Germain – the longtime co-owner of Cal Skate and the daughter of its original founders Ernie and Evelyn St. Germain – for an exclusive interview. Chris, who now lives in Henderson, Nevada, ran the business with her brother Trace and their dad till it closed in 2011. Cal Skate burns bright in Milpitas’s collective memory. Even years after they shut their doors, they still maintain a robust Facebook page. To many, the business represents a lost time, one of joy, innocence, and simple togetherness.…
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Harry Wu: His Legacy
Releasing Wu was a major embarrassment to the PRC government. And, where in the world did Wu live? You guessed it: Milpitas. In fact, a very big deal was made to welcome Harry Wu home to Milpitas when he returned to the United States. Dateline: 3/19/98, Updated 6/18/2023/ From his inauspicious Milpitas tract home, Harry Wu has been operating a center for international intrigue. Once again, the controversial Chinese human rights crusader has made his blow for the fate of imprisoned dissidents in China, and put Milpitas on the front page of papers around the world. Harry’s target this time: China’s practice of reselling the organs of executed prisoners for…
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Historical trivia: Milpitas’ history as the constant butt of nationwide jokes
By Eric Shapiro, June 17, 2023, in The Milpitas Beat The Milpitas Beat last Saturday caught up with Milpitas Historical Society President Bill Hare for a fun, quick chat about our city’s long yet forgotten history as the butt of endless jokes around the nation… According to Hare, for about a century, a comparable cultural sentiment was in circulation about a “man from Milpitas…” No man in particular, just a general, fictional Milpitas resident… The Milpitas Historical Society can trace the whole thing back to news articles from the 1860s. According to Hare, “In 1863, there was talk of California maybe leaving the union and becoming a slave state…There was…
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Hobbies & Interests Groups in Milpitas
If you’d like to join with others who have a hobby, talent or interest like you in Milpitas, you’ll find a long list here. Advocacy and Service Arts & Creative Hobbies Charitable Groups Ethnic Organizations Gardening History Kids & Teenagers Neighborhood Associations Resources for Clubs Technical Hobbies Advocacy & Service Graffiti Terminators Become a graffiti terminator and help beautify Milpitas Silicon Valley Women’s Organizations and Resources Whether you are a woman wanting to network with other moms or business women or those of your culture, we have links to women’s organizations for you! Arts & Creative Hobbies Camera Club Meets monthly for a meeting on second Tuesdays, and holds field…
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Sunnyhills Neighborhood History
Please join Executive Producers Donnie Eiland and David Mosqueda for a special virtual viewing of… 54: The Story Of The First Planned Integrated Community In The Country History of the Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association Sunnyhills was the first planned racially-integrated community in the United States in 1956, arranged by a Union co-op of the United Auto Workers. Today, Sunnyhills still has one of the highest levels of integration of any neighborhood. More detailed version. Sunnyhills Neighborhood Association June 2022 Breakfast Meeting K’Meyer related the story of how the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), a Quaker social action organization, and the United Auto Workers union cooperated in the early 1950s to build…
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Museums In and Near Milpitas
I’m not counting the “collection” in our garage, no I’m not! As some of you know, we homeschooled our son. So I’m going to talk about our favorite “field trips” in the area. I’m going to focus on museums for children and the young at heart. Plans for Milpitas History Museum Milpitas is the only large city in Santa Clara County without a museum. Locating a museum next door to the Milpitas Public Library and Municipal Parking Garage is ideal and must be preserved. The Children’s Discovery Museum We were members for years when Scott was younger, going to the BIG PURPLE BUILDING where they “let you play in the…
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Ancient & Medieval History in the South Bay Area
You can find out more about ancient and medieval times right here in the South Bay Area. Learn about the mysterious rock wall formations, too. Paleontological Boy Paleontologists In the Irvington gravel pits, known as Bell Quarry, located off of Osgood Road from 1944 to 1960, the Boy Paleontologists of Hayward unearthed plant and animal fossils including mammoths, saber cats, horses, camels, and even rodents. A new species named Tetrameryx irvingtonensis, a four-pronged antelope, was the most significant find. Presently Freeway 680, between Washington Boulevard and Durham Road, covers this fossil field. Children’s Natural History Museum Including “Irvingtonian Fossils”, the “Boy Paleontologist” Room, “Bones of Vertebrates,” and “Environments through Time”…
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Main Street History Tour
Joann Souza narrates a tour of Main Street telling about the historic buildings and sites along the way. Created by MilpitasHistory
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Milpitas Historical Society April 14, 2021 with Mort Levine & Deva Luna
Milpitas Post founder Mort Levine, with his daughter Deva Luna, reflects on his family’s history in Milpitas, and talks about the life of his wife Elaine Levine, co-founder of The Milpitas Historical Society and original publisher of the Milpitas Post. Video from the Milpitas Historical Society.
