Eras in Castro Valley

Ohlone

The Ohlone lived in Castro Valley for thousands of years. Spanish explorers called them "Costanoans" (Coast people).

San Lorenzo Creek was a perfect location for a village. A variety of plants grew in the area that could be used for food, medicine and shelter. The creek attracted animals such as deer, elk, rabbits, squirrels, and birds.

Homes were made of Tule reeds. Tule grows along marshes and creeks. The homes were not large because people only used them for sleeping. Ohlones spent most of their day together in the center of the village. Life in the village was not all work - there was plenty of time for games and relaxation. Illustration from "Indians of California", U.S. Department of the Interior.

Acorns were the main food for Ohlone people. Acorns have to be cracked open, pounded into flour, and washed to remove acids before they can be eaten. In most hunter-gatherer societies, 80% of the calories were provided by grains, fruits and vegetables which were gathered and prepared by the women. Illustration from "Indians of California", U.S. Department of the Interior.

Men hunted animals in the hills around the village. A successful hunt takes a great deal of skill, so if the men returned with a large animal such as a deer, there was a celebration in the village. Illustration by Michael Harney from "The Ohlone Way."

Mission San Jose 1797-1840

Spanish Franciscan priests established Mission San Jose in 1797. The mission brought European-style agriculture and ranching to California, but its main purpose was to convert the Ohlone to Catholicism. Accounts differ as to whether Ohlone people moved into the mission by choice or coercion. By 1834 there were over 2,000 Ohlone living at the mission.

Mission San Jose is still standing in Fremont. The old buildings are open to the public.

Castro's Rancho San Lorenzo 1841-1850

When Mexico won independence from Spain, the new government gave the vast mission lands to individuals. One of those individuals was Guillermo Castro, who had been a soldier in the Mexican army.

Although Castro's home was in what is now downtown Hayward, Castro Valley was an important part of the Rancho San Lorenzo. This lovely valley is sheltered from wind and fog, and so made a perfect place to graze cattle over the winter. Cattle were the main source of income for the California ranchos. Hides, called "California dollars," and tallow were sold to ships in the bay and taken to Mexico and Fort Ross.

After the California Gold Rush, Guillermo Castro had problems with squatters taking over portions of his land. Lawsuits were often necessary to maintain title to the land, and law fees quickly added up. In addition, he had a fondness for gambling and was not always lucky. This combination of events led to Guillermo Castro loosing all of his 26,722 acres. The once great Don of Rancho San Lorenzo finished his life penniless in South America.

"Of the Spanish Californians that I have known, Guillermo Castro was the best. He was a sparse, wiry man with brown eyes and hair and was physically active and tough. He was a splendid horseman and he was very extravagant and spent his money freely." - Jacob Harlan

Painting of Guillermo Castro (image) from the Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.1527

This map (image) of Rancho San Lorenzo shows Castro's home ("Casas del Ranchero") in what is now downtown Hayward. The "Camino Royal de San Jose" marks the road to Mission San Jose. Today it is still called Mission Blvd. Castro Valley is directly above the area marked "Lomerias de San Lorenzo." Hayward Area Historical Museum collection.

Early Settlers 1850-1899

Guillermo Castro was the owner of the vast Mexican land grant Rancho San Lorenzo. He grazed his cattle in the land we now call Castro Valley. After California became part of the United States, Castro began to sell off his land to pay gambling debts.

By the end of the 19th century, large tracts had been divided into smaller plots used for dairies and fruit orchards. Some of these early residents are honored by streets that sill bear their names: Strobridge, Stanton, Jamison, Jensen, Cull.

The Castro Valley Exchange (image) was the first business in Castro Valley. In the 1880s it provided a road stop along Redwood Road at what is now Grove Way. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.3466

Redwood trees (image) were cut for lumber and shipped down Redwood Road to Castro Valley Road to Robert's Landing in San Lorenzo. The crests of the hills surrounding the valley were covered with redwoods and oaks. Starting in the 1850s, lumbering was a major industry for residents of Castro Valley. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection

The "Stanton House" (image) was built by the Mattox family in 1860. Michael Stanton bought it in 1868. He owned 500 acres of land along Castro Valley Boulevard. Streets in Castro Valley named for the Stanton family include Anita Avenue, John Street, and Stanton Avenue. Originally on Lake Chabot Road, the house was moved to prevent demolition in 1975. It is now on a busy corner of Strobridge Avenue by the freeway. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.1599

Chickens! 1900-1929

The former Castro land continued to be broken into smaller plots. In the early 1900s Castro Valley was home to many small chicken farms of three and four acres. By 1925 the valley was ranked 2nd in the world in egg and hatchling production. It is estimated that the population of Castro Valley was 800,000 hens and 5,000 people.

A little downtown area developed to support the needs of Castro Valley's 5,000 residents. Many of the businesses provided supplies for the poultry industry in the valley.

Incubators (image) greatly increased the number of chicks that could be raised. This photo was taken at the Rio Linda Hatchery. Photo courtesy "History of Castro Valley"

Castro Valley c. 1900 (image). Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.0364

Eden Vale School (image), Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.072

Palomares School (image), Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.1064

Pete's Hardware (image) opened in 1926 and is still run by the same family. In this photo: Peter, Ernest, Mary and Frank Selmeczki. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection

The Paul Rhodes Winery (image) was located in Castro Valley before alcohol prohibition closed it down. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.7142

Depression Years 1930-1941

The Depression hit hard here, as it did everywhere else across the U.S. But Castro Valley people stuck together and pulled through.

Advertisement for Castro Valley Garage during the Great Depression (image), Hayward Area Historical Museum library 978.1

The building (image) now housing Adobe Arts Center was built as a government W.P.A. project during the Depression. The Works Project Administration created work for many young men who constructed buildings all over the U.S. The adobe was built as headquarters for the Castro Valley Elementary School District in 1938. Photo courtesy "Our Heritage"

Post-War Boom 1945-1960

After World War II the population of Castro Valley jumped 400%. Because of the G.I. Bill, there was a great demand for new homes. Most of the chicken farms and ranches were divided into smaller lots and developed for housing. The business district on Castro Valley Boulevard grew to meet the needs of the new population. Clubs and civic organizations also flourished.

Eden Hospital (image) under construction 1954 Hayward Area Historical Museum collection 79.033.8404

This aerial photo of Castro Valley (image) around 1960 shows how much the valley had been developed. Compare this to the photo of the valley in the 1900s in the Chickens! page in this website.

Downtown Castro Valley (image) was full of shops serving the new residents who moved to the valley after the war. Gone are the hatchery supply businesses. Hayward Area Historical Museum collection.

Castro Village Shopping Center opening (image). Hayward Area Historical Museum collection.