Images of America: Mountain View
If you haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy of Images of America: Mountain View, now is the perfect time. The book is a fabulous collection of historical images showing how the city of Mountain View evolved from a tiny stagecoach stop along the El Camino to a bursting agricultural community to “the true birthplace of the Silicon Valley.”
Author Nick Perry was born and raised in Mountain View. His grandparents owned the Middlefield Market, which is now La Costena Market at Old Middlefield and Rengstorff. Nick was always interested in the history of Mountain View and loved doing the research required to put together this beautiful book. The photographs used in the book were selected from the extensive collection of images in the Mountain View History Center in the Mountain View Public Library.
Included in the book are photos of the Castro family, Henry Rengstorff, the old Emporium store, the original Minton’s Lumber Company and the old Mountain View High School. Remember Linda’s Drive In at El Camino and Escuela Ave? Did you know that Pioneer Park which is between the library and the Chamber of Commerce used to be a cemetery? It’s named “Pioneer Park” after the pioneers who are “still resting beneath its rolling lawns.” There is a splendid image a garbage truck and birds scavenging for food in the landfill area that is now Shoreline Park. And I’m sure you’ve heard about Mayfield Mall; it’s also in the book. One of my favorite photos is of the original Community School of Music And Arts. It was located at the intersection of Mariposa and California Streets.
Would you like to meet local author Nick Perry? He will be available to sign copies of his book on December 4th, 2010 at Costco in Mountain View from 1:00 – 3:00 pm. The book would be a wonderful gift for any Mountain View resident. It might be fun to come prepared with a question about the Mountain View of yesteryear. If you aren’t able to make it to Costco December 4th, you can still purchase the book on Amazon, directly from the Arcadia
Publishing website, or at local Borders and Barnes & Noble. It might also be available at the History Center and at the Jehning Family Lock Museum. Thanks to Nick Perry for putting together such a beautiful book about our city. We love Mountain View.
It seems to me, Mountain View is very nice.
Greetings from Mostar, Bosnia, Europe.
Nick does an excellent job of describing the history of Mountain View while peppering it with some personal family stories. Looking at the pictures makes you reminisce about old times.