Santa Clara Valley - Valley of Heart's Delight - 1948 - CharlieDeanArchives / Archival Footage

A 'new' version of the original of 1925, touting Santa Clara Valley's agricultural roots. Here we see the Clapp's Baby Food factory, the American Can Company plant, FMC, San Jose Steel, and Moffett Field, all accessible via the old Monterey Highway, or after arrival on the Coast Daylight steam locomotive-driven train.
This film has been made available for educational purposes courtesy the Academic Film Archive of North America .
CharlieDeanArchives - Archive footage from the 20th century making history come alive!

[@JAG312]

We moved to the Santa Clara Valley in January 1954 when I was a little boy. It wasn't any different from this film. Now I can say that I saw the Santa Clara Valley destroyed.

[@389383]

I was born in the Valley a year after this film was made. Summers were spent cutting cots at the family orchard. They couldn't fire us no matter how slow we worked!

[@wiscgaloot]

And the house you moved into was urban sprawl even back then.

[@JAG312]

@@wiscgaloot Yes, It was one of the first tract homes in Santa Clara Valley. We were surrounded by miles of orchards. We were the start.

[@raysousa955]

I grew up in Saratoga and my parents still live there in the same house for 45 years - it’s still a beautiful place. I miss my hometown

[@djkenny1202]

Now it’s unaffordable and many of us had to Leave.

[@fob1xxl]

I grew up here in the 50's ! We had farmland and orchards all around us. My first summer job was at 9 years old picking Apricots on an orchard that is now the CIVIC CENTER on first street. My parents first new home was in Santa Clara in 1961, in a community called STONGATE. We were surrounded by prune orchards which later became Pruneridge Estates ! I graduated San Jose High in 1963. Half of my mom's family were supervisors at the old Del Monte plant. My grandma's home still stands on East Jackson street. Photos of me there as a baby in 1945 still remind me what it used to look like. I loved growing up there as a kid. I used to skate around the neighborhood along the ranches and farms. Cruising Santa Clara street and the Alameda were typical teen choices in the early 60's. I remember when the "Emporium" at "Valley Fair Plaza" opened. My folks bought two Mercury's from "Joe Kerley Lincoln Mercury. First on Market Street, then at Stevens Creek. Going to the "Santa Clara County Fair" was always so much fun. In my teen years, I sang everywhere. I once even opened for RICKY NELSON in 1959 at the fair! Life has changed so much. I cherish my memories of Santa Clara. I moved away in 1964 to L.A. and pursued a career in showbusiness in 1984, I moved my folks down to be with me. It was a great life !

[@thedude4633]

Thank you for this upload 👌🏼

[@marybaughman9681]

Born in Willow Glen in 1944 and lived there through 1962 when I graduated from Willow Glen High and left for college. It was an absolutely beautiful valley and it is a real shame it had to change to the cess pool it now is. What a mess people can make of a wonderful place.

[@olympiawashdrummer]

The farmer at 1:09 looks like my grandfather and tractor too. I fell in the water trough once, trying to jump across.

[@yoncalla44]

1948 - just before the gigantic building boom that hit the Santa Clara Valley in 1949 with Joseph Eichler's Sunnymount Estates development in Sunnyvale and lasting until about 1970. -Tony Arioli

[@jkjohnson012]

"Keep in mind that home is where the heart is."

[@ArmpitStudios]

1:01 That dog!