Tri Valley Heritage Happenings - October 2012

Are you interested in learning more about your ancestors? Would you like to know where your grandparents lived in 1920, 1930 and 1940? If yes, then come on over to the Dublin Library every Saturday in October.  Volunteers from the Livermore-Amador Genealogical Society will help you track down information about your ancestors.  

 



Treasure Chest Thursday: 1915 Friendship Quilt

1915 Friendship Quilt 
Created by Nellie Lyons Massera, Monterey County, California
© Teresa L. Fraser 2011

Last summer I traveled from the San Francisco area to San Benito County to meet a 92-year-old woman who actually remembers my great grandfather, Vincenzo Lawrence Massera (1870-1962). ^[[1]-[2]]  She also has a quilt dated Nov. 9, 1915 made by my great grandmother, Nellie Olive Lyons Massera (1886-1928). ^[[3]-[4]] It was given to her mother years ago. Click on the photo above to see a variety of decorative embroidery stitches my great grandmother used to piece together this friendship quilt.

After driving 80 miles through a patchwork of fields of California crops, I parked my car next to an old red barn and walked through a cottage garden of beautiful pansies, hot pink peonies and roses. Her garden reminded me of Monet’s impressionist paintings I saw in Paris. 

After she offered me a cup of steaming English tea and plate of sugar cookies, she shared stories and pictures of my great grandfather. She said she remembered my great grandfather “Vic” because he used to give her silver dollars when he came to visit her parents. Apparently, that was a lot of money during the Depression. 

Then, she showed me the quilt my great grandmother made for her mother. I thought it looked like a Crazy Quilt, with an array of different fabrics and colors, pieced together with decorative stitching. It was approximately 54” X 90” and was in great condition for nearly 100 years old. Seeing and touching my great grandmother’s quilt made me feel close to her. It gave me an appreciation of her quilting skills, creativity and persistence in finishing this quilt. I was proud of her. 

---

[1] 1900 U.S. census, Monterey County, California, population schedule, Gonzales Township, p. 206  (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 6, sheet 12-A, dwelling 258, family 267, V. Messera [Vincent  Massera]; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 May 2012) citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 94. 

[2] Monterey County, California, death certificate no. 914, Vincenzo Massera; County Clerk-Recorder’s Office, Salinas.

[3] 1900 U.S. census, Monterey County, California, population schedule, Castroville Township, p. 175 A (stamped), enumeration district (ED) 4, sheet 9-A, dwelling 157, family 157, Nellie O. Lyons, digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 30 May 2012) citing NARA microfilm publication T623, roll 94. 

[4] “Mrs. Massera’s Funeral Set For Monday Morning,” Society Section, Salinas Index-Journal, 3 Nov 1928.

Workday Wednesday: Buckhorn Saloon

United States Internal Revenue - Special Tax on Retail Liquor Dealer
Vincent Massera, 219-221 Main Street., Salinas California
18 August 1912

In Memory of My Brother Louis Vernon Costa



Louis Vernon Costa
September 6, 1957 - January 17, 2012

My younger brother, Louis Vernon Costa, 54, died unexpectedly January 17, 2012, at the University of California Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. He was born September 6, 1957, in Santa Clara the son of Vernon Louis (deceased) and Rena Louise (Whittington) Costa.

Louis graduated from Linden High School.  After a stint in the military, he co-owned and operated a tow trucking company. He helped hundreds of people after accidents and breakdowns in and around Rio Vista.

He called nearly every month, just to talk and stay connected. He was always talking about repairing something and helping his neighbors. To me, he epitomized "my brother's keeper" throughout his life. He also loved to talk, work on his mobile home and boats, and keep those pesky rabbits out of his garden. He loved gardening. His garden was abundant and he shared with his neighbors and friends. He often spoke of his good friends’ Larry and Margaret Collins. He enjoyed being with them. He was practically a member of their family. He also often spoke of the kindness of his doctors at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.

One of Louis’s favorite places was Sonora, California where his family lived in the 60’s.  He went back several times to visit his childhood home on Old Wards Ferry Rd.

In addition to his mother, Louis is survived by his daughters, Jennifer Costa and Lisa Lehigh and two granddaughters.  He leaves behind ten brothers and sisters: Vincent and his wife Nancy (Foster) Costa of Mountain Ranch; Teresa Costa and her husband Barry Fraser of Dublin; Mary Costa of Stockton; Tim Costa of Sacramento; Joseph and his wife Susan (Morijama) Costa of Stockton; Logan Costa of Carmichael; Andrew Costa of Salt Lake City, Utah; Susan Costa and her husband John Anderson of Colfax; Samuel Costa of Linden; and Ann Costa and her husband Ken Welsh of Auckland, New Zealand. He was preceded in death by his brother, John Patrick Costa.  His many nieces and nephews will also fondly remember him.

A celebration of Louis’s life was held, Friday, January 27, 2012 at St. Edward Catholic Church, 731 S. Cardinal Ave, Stockton, CA 95215.

Wordless Wednesday Holy Spirit Cemetery





Holy Spirit Cemetery

Fremont, California

© 2011 Barry D. Fraser

  



Joseph Silva Santos Jr.

abt. 1863 - 21 November 1892

Holy Spirit Cemetery, Fremont, California

© 2011 Barry D. Fraser