IF YOU LIVE HERE YOU PRONOUNCE ESTUDILLO “ESTA-DILLO”. Sorry Spanish speakers…
As I tell you this story you will recognize some of our street names with origins in our founding families.
The 1st settler was Don Jose Joaquin and this wife Dona Juana. Don Joaquin, as he was referred to, was friends with the new governor, Don Juan Alvarado. Alvarado was put to the task of was dividing up grazing lands between friends. Some of the Estudillo land was redistributed to Guillermo Castro, who was related to the governor by marriage. The hills of Castro Valley to Eastern Hayward was appropriated and Estudillo was left with all the grazing land below that. Castro Valley was part of the original 28,000 acre (110 km²) land grant given to Castro, called Rancho San Lorenzo. This land grant included Hayward, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley, including Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, and Palomares Canyons. Castro had a gambling habit and had to sell off portions of his land to pay gambling debts. The last of his holding was sold in a sheriff's sale in 1864 to Faxon Atherton for $400,000 (yes, the Atherton of the City of Atherton). But I digress…back to San Leandro
Jesus Maria Estudillo, whose nickname was Chumalia was the most active sons in the family business.
Jesus Maria Estudillo, whose nickname was Chumalia was the most active sons in the family business.
Estudillo Ave |
Don Joaquin had 4 daughters, Magdalena, Dolores and Concepcion who were married to a real movers and shakers, John B. Ward (now W. Estudillo) & daughter Maria de Jesus married Heath Davis. Ward and Davis managed Estudillo business after his Estudillo’s death and contributed to the general plan for San Leandro.
So, last week I covered the Peraltas and this week the Estudillos. Both were our First Families. Here is a link to more in-depth history of last week’s topic of the great land divide of the east bay. http://historyofberkeley.org/chapter01.html
Castro Valley was part of the original 28,000 acre (110 km²) land grant given to Castro, called Rancho San Lorenzo. This land grant included Hayward, San Lorenzo, and Castro Valley, including Crow Canyon, Cull Canyon, and Palomares Canyons. Castro had a gambling habit and had to sell off portions of his land to pay gambling debts. The last of his holding was sold in a sheriff's sale in 1864 to Faxon Atherton for $400,000 (yes, the Atherton of the City of Atherton). But I digress…back to San Leandro
Estudillo Ave |
Don Joaquin had 4 daughters, Magdalena, Dolores and Concepcion who were married to a real movers and shakers, John B. Ward (now W. Estudillo) & daughter Maria de Jesus married Heath Davis. Ward and Davis managed Estudillo business after his Estudillo’s death and contributed to the general plan for San Leandro.
By the way, those of us who are lucky enough to have made San Leandro home for generations, like myself, do slaughter the pronunciation of Estudillo to “Esta-Dillo”. If you pronounce it the correct way of “Estudee-yo” we know you don’t live here yet! If you want to...contact me Your "Joy" in Real Estate...4th generation San Leandran.
Sources: Garden Grows in Eden, Gudde, Erwin Gustav. "California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names" University of California Press 2004. 495 pp
This place is clean and has nice ambiance, more like modern than classic. Our visit to venue New York was just amazing. I believe it was a treat to be here. It would be a treat to attend another event here.
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