Great video! I lived in the Cherryland district of Hayward which was right next to San Lorenzo. Graduated from 8th grade at the old San Lorenzo grammer school "with the cemetery next to it" in 1948 and from Hayward High School in 1952. I believe no other high schools in the area until San Lorenzo high built in 1950. The "4 corners" (Hesperian and Lewelling Blvds) only had stop signs, not even stop lights when I moved to Hayward from Alameda in 1947. I enjoyed watching the ex military P-51 planes being flown at the Hayward airport. I was in the local Air National Guard from 1953 to 1962. I left Hayward in 1962 and my employment took me to Kentucky, Texas and finally to the mountains of Western North Carolina. I went to the Lorenzo theatre many times and ate at most of the places in your video. Played and fell into the San Lorenzo creek many times. Those grape vines hanging in the trees were not very strong. I miss all the fun that kids had before everything got so sophiscated. Ron White
I was born in '58. Lived on Via Buena Vista. I went to St. Joachim's, Del Rey and Bohannon, ate at A&W and Aggies, spent my allowance at Sprouce-Rietz, got "regular boys haircuts", wore Mervyns clothes, and my mom used to take us to see movies at the Lorenzo Theatre. Shopped at Safeway or Gemco. Bought wood at 4-Star lumber. Ripped many pairs of pants on that stripped down fighter in Airport Park. Milk from the 'Depot' in bottles. Occasional sweets from Van's Bakery. We were the last generation to "cruise the strip" in the '70s when gas lines caused the cops to ticket any car that they saw cross their path twice on E. 14th by the Bayfair shopping center, so we piled as many as we could into cars/vans and went to the 3 movies for $0.75 drive in. Lived at the end of the Hayward Airport runway with local P51's that used to buzz the house and the Air National Guard cargo planes that would shake you off your chairs. Pick up a bucket of golf balls from the "rough" and sell them to the clubhouse for gas money. Met my wife at the KFC at Bockmann Rd/Hesperian Blvd and we're still together. Crushed pennies on the tracks and fished for catfish at SLZ park. Sank in the poop-quicksand/mud near "Honda hill" where we rode minibikes/Yamahas. Getting my ass kicked walking home from Kindergarten ... the bullies who lived around the corner on Via San Ardo ... lots of memories growing up there.
Thanks so much for making this video. I grew up in Hayward. .moved there in 1956.. remember so many of these places. Lived in San Lorenzo 1987-2006..saw many of the changes as they happened.
Just moved to San Lorenzo and have found little info about its history on the web. Thanks so much for this! It shows what San Lorenzo was like around the time our house was built.
Beautiful and nostalgic presentation. I grew up far away here in Arizona at the same time, but lived and worked around San Lorenzo for a short time in the early 90s. What wonderful memories you all must have had!!!!
Amazing! I've lived in San Lorenzo my whole life. I've always been fascinated with the 1930s and 1940s especially the 1950s it's so wonderful to see what it used to be back then. Thank you for this Video
This was my Mom's time, yet I as well had my wonderful memories of San Lorenzo, makes me cry when I see how it looks now. And Ye Old Pizza Joint still vacant, yet nothing could ever really take it's place! Arroyo now fenced and ugly, streets all cracked and decaying. Condo's where Martin's used to be. Theater still sitting with a "Save me sign". Such a shame!
It was the MOST PERFECT place to grow up. Who did the video photos sure had it right. My husband went to Arroyo 62 and I was SLZ 64. I loved it and cruising on Fri or Sat night, Haps and the crazy fun kids we grew up with. What Great photos and yes, we really did live it and have a "blast"!! By the way Little Weirdo, its Colonial Acres. Safe, Fun memories!!! Too bad it's not like that now. It was a VILLAGE!
Awesome job! Loved what you did with the photos and the special effects. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I'm sure it was a labor of love.
Great job, love this! I lived on Via Arriba just down from Mervyns, from 1956-62...so this brought back so many memories. Saturday movies at the Lorenzo, cakes at Van's, swimming lessons at Arroyo's pool, summer school at Bohannon Junior High. Even saw my old church, airport park, Ye Olde Pizza Joint & our favorite burger place and much much more! Thanks for sharing...
What a wonderful visit to the past!! My sister, Sue Eastin, was a rally squad "song girl" (w/pom-poms) and graduated from Arroyo in 1963. I'll bet she would have remembered some people in your photos. I was 7 years younger, but strangely, Charlie looked kind of familiar. I loved growing up in SLZ and I was just searching for some photos to reminisce. Your video was beyond my wildest dreams. It's sad to see how the vibrant village has disappeared, but memories (and your video) keep it all alive. This was very special, Dave. Thank you!! Gwen
I lived in San Lorenzo from 66 to 92. Arroyo High class of 74. Remember Tot-Town, Milings Chinese restaurant , at the end of Grant ave. Gemco, Kavanugh Liquors, Denevi Cameras. The quarter midget race track at Airport Park, Turners Boats, Mayfair Market, Rite Aid Drugs? Thx for making this vid and saving our memories. If your planing a trip back there, don't. You won't recognize it.
Born in 1956. Lived at 16037 Via Cordoba until 1977. This video brings back a lot of memories. Some random memories include seeing the Ghost and Mr. Chicken with Don Knotts at the Lorenzo Theater when it was first run. The following week was Spin Out with Elvis Presley. (My parents thought better of me seeing the Elvis flick at the tender age of 10 though.) I think it was 50 cents to see those movies then. The Village was a great hub for the town's people! I remember my dad testing TV tubes on a machine to figure out which ones needed replacing. I think that was People's Drug Store.!? Right outside the door, for awhile, was a machine that created wax busts of US Presidents. And it seems almost every store had penny gum-ball machines outside their door. Among many other memories of the Village was the annual, opening day, Little League parade that kicked off from the Village. The place would be packed with people from the community showing up for the event! Little did I know then, how fortunate I was to grow up there during that time.
It was a great place to grow up. Things were so much better back then. Sad to see how it is now. I remember getting bee hives from Van's bakery. Going to the underground bowling alley under Mervyn's. Santa coming to the Melvyn's parking lot by helicopter. Riding our bikes to the creek to get salamanders. Going to the carpenter shop to get scraps of wood and formica out of the dumpster. Kids now a days really are missing out on being kids. Sad to see how the area is now.
My dad owned Martin's Variety on Bockman Road. It is shown at 1:40. I remember the barber shop next door. He owned it for several years....I used to work in there...some great memories.
Great Great Video. When kids ask me about growing up in San Lorenzo on Via Cordoba, , I say that San Lorenzo was the best place ever!! I graduated in 1964 (San Lorenzo High) and my late husband in 1962(Arroyo High) Change isn't always good. They truly were happy days. Carol Austin Apple 2017
I grew up in San Lorenzo in the 50's and early 60's. I remember almost all of the sites noted in your video.Biggest memory was the tree lined streets, I lived on Via Mariposa. Thank you for the walk down memory lane.
Thank you for sharing. I immigrated with my family when I was little and settled in San Lorenzo. I was fortunate to be able to still experience Mervyns and the local shops in that area, the farm on Washington Ave. and a few other things before it changed to empty lots or new houses. Although things have changed a bit, I still enjoy the down to earth neighbors (at least a fair amount of them). I now raise my own family here and is still hopefully that San Lorenzo will pick up again to be the great community it can be.
Mrs. Billings? The HOT Mrs. Billings who US history? We had to pass that class or we couldn't graduate. I was panicking, but I ended up with a C+ in your class. Hahahahaha!
My mother’s family moved here in the mid-60’s. Lived off of Paseo Grande/Via Media. My mom was born in ‘56. She graduated from Arroyo in ‘74. I was born in ‘78, but have great memories of San Lorenzo through the 80’s as I grew up. Now my mom is gone, grandparents, etc. Life is tough. But you must move along.
Great memories. My family lived there from 1965 to 1975 on Via Media. In 1975 we moved to San Leandro. I went to David Martin School and remember almost everything in the video although my time in SLZ was mostly in the 70's since I was born in 1967. I especially remember the huge Little League program that was there and what a big event it was every year with the opening parade. Miss all of that and it's too bad that almost everything in the shopping area is now empty lots now. Anyone remember Sam's Burgers on Hesperian? The best on a summer day!
I grew up in the 'good old' San Lorenzo Village. We lived in a fine example of Norman Rockwell's west coast styled life. We had a village that was geared toward children and their needs. The streets were made with kids in mind. All curbs were a slopping round type with the thought that kids could always move on to the sidewalk when a car was approaching. It was a unique way to build a village. We had it made. Nice little place to grow up. Oh, by the way, did you have Santa show up in your town?... by helicopter?... we did! It was 1955 and it was great, too!!!
Although I grew up in Hayward and went to the new Tennyson High, most of the kids that graduated from Tennyson in 1960 and 61' had previously gone to Arroyo and San Lorenzo High. Of course all the various places shown here are remembered. It was a great time to grow up in. Thanks to the creators of this video.
Barry, I graduated from Tennyson High in 1987, but both of my older sisters and both of my older brothers graduated from Tennyson also. It was a great school back then.
My brothers graduated from Sunset 71 and 74. I was much later in 81. By the way Sunset mascot was Falcons. Thanks for putting this together. It brings back a lot of great memories.
Great job! I was born in Berkeley, went to BHS, however my brothers lived here and many friends as well. My bro has lived here forever and owns a business ,Triple A Drapery here. I lived in Hayward and drove thru town to work for a long time. Prings, I wish I had a dollar for every time I dinned there, great hamburgers and all.. Pizza Joint every Friday and hamburgers at ,Aggies on Hesperian. I could go on, on on, and on! Do more of these. How about Hayward and Berkeley in the 50's and 60's. Thanks Stan Young
I've lived here my whole life and I never knew that such places existed here. I'm only in High school so I don't know much. But my interest is the Lorenzo Theater. I've seen what it looks like today and its heartbreaking the way it looks.
David, San Lorenzo has a great bit of history behind it. I grew up there during the 60's and 70's. The Lorenzo Theater was a great place to see a movie. With its Art Deco designed interior and huge murals, it was a really cool place to watch a movie. I'm not sure of the exact reason(s) for the Lorenzo's demise, but I believe multiplex theaters were starting to be built just down Hesperian in Hayward. Those theaters offered multiple movie choices at one location and the latest in video and audio technology. In addition to the Lorenzo Theater, I think many of the other businesses in the San Lorenzo Village were drowned out by the fierce competition from such stores as GEMCO, which was sort of like the Wal-Mart of its time. It's sad from the standpoint, where we used to know the baker, the shoe repair person, the grocer, the shoe store salesperson, to how we do business now in an impersonal way where you hurriedly swipe your card and remember not to say "Merry Christmas". :-( I always hold out hope that the San Lorenzo Village may some day be resurrected into a sort of "Retro" version of its heyday, where it once again draws the original Bohanan Master Plan Community neighborhoods in to do business. Including a restoration of the Lorenzo Theater! Who knows David? Maybe you could play a key role in restoring San Lorenzo's gem of a theater.
I lived in San Lorenzo fro 1955 - 1965. My family then moved to SoCal. I've been trying to get back north ever since. I remember all the great things. Does anyone remember Dino's Pizza ? I loved that place. Went to St. Joachims school on Hesperian and also Bay school. That Mervyns store was #3. To bad they went under. Mervyn Morris was so nice to my family. Saw my first movie in that theater. Used to ride my bike for miles and miles and my Mom never worried. Our house was on Via Natal.Great memories.
Graduated in 2018 from Arroyo, lived here since 2009, and really did not recognize some of the photos of San Lorenzo back then 😣. Looked so different and pristine! Have always wanted to watch a movie in that theater on Hesperian. Times really change things 🤯
My mom lived in San Leandro. I never met her since I was given up for adoption, and grew up in Pasadena, CA in the 50'S. My Grandmas restaurant I found out was called the "Snack Shack" on 15754 14th street. It's the Rose Garden restaurant now by the Bayfair center. Does anyone have any pictures of it or remember it?
We moved in here in '56... Brand new home on Via Barrett... Went to most of the grades here, except for a few as we were Navy and moved a lot at first.. Always kept the same house though... I moved back into the old homestead back in '89 and still love the area... "There's No Place Like Home!" Oh.. and the weather is the best around too... Went to Bay school, Barrett JH and Arroyo...
we moved there in 1965 and graduated from SLZ in 76 and it was still awesome. My brother and his friend both had paper routes and when they were sick I would do them by myself over 50 papers at a time I could barely control the bike and help them collect money every month. I would never let my young daughter out in the dark or daylight to do that now. Not even in the 90's when we moved back there.
It was a shithole and the residents were a bunch of cliquish assholes who literally were among the last in the country to abolish the racist "covenant" clauses that kept POC out.
My sister was married in San Lorenzo Community Church. My sister and I went to David E. Martin, Bohannon, and Graduated Arroyo in 77. My mother Vicky Anderson went to Arroyo in 1958.
Our family moved into our brand new home in 1956, I moved away in1972 and returned in 1993 and am still here. SLZ was an amazing place to grow up, it's a ghost town now compared to back in the day. David Bohannon had a vision for SLZ and his heirs have dropped the ball big time. Thank goodness they've sold the old Mervyn's property and hopefully some stores and restaurants will go in there as we need more retail, not more homes.
Brought back some great memories. San Lorenzo, Class of 63. Does anyone remember Joy's Frosty Fair? On Hesperian, across from Bay Fair Bowl. Best burgers in the area!
Great day,s in San Lorenzo,sure changed since then , for the worse ln my opinion. 12/26/17. I loved George,s cafe on Bockman, ,all great stores on Bockman and they closed them too.
I grew up in SLZ in the 90's. Loved it there! Growing up my sister's and I were always trying to figure out the mystery incident that happened in the bowling alley that was under Mervyns., I believe in the 50's. None of the older people we knew who were around back then would not talk about it. Does anyone here know and willing to share?
There was a murder there, I think it was a stabbing. KTVU and the Tribune reported on it. I was fairly young at the time, but it was the talk of the town!
Hi there, SLZ wasn't perfect but it was close, at a time when hormones ran my very life I remember Pam, Nancy, Yvonne, Carole, Maria, Gina, Donna, Rita, Patti, DeeDee, Liz, Anita, Lynn, Diane, Barbra, Cindy, Cheryl, Cathy, Daria, its been 45 years, seems like yesterday. Guitar man by Bread was a song that came to mind, simpler times, today we have tech and covid. the good ole days really were good.
I hate how they call it Edendale Middle School now. It will forever be Edendale Elementary to me. That’s what it was when I went there in ‘84 for kindergarten.
Because the world is 3 times as crowded and the jobs are all gone overseas, shipped away by capitalists who weren't happy with millinos and wanted billions instead. Anyway, SLZ was a shithole, filled with shitty people.
I currently reside in San Lorenzo with my husband and 3 young children. Yes it looks like it used to be beautiful, but it also looks like it was a place that would not have been very friendly to minorities.
Exactly. The history of San Lorenzo is nothing to brag about if you’re a minority. I’ve lived in SLZ for 23 years. I researched the history years ago. But we in this B as homeowners now! 😁✌🏿👏🏾✊🏿
we had all kind of kids at our school in the late 60's and 70's and never treated them any different. I heard there were restrictions for buying a house but that is nothing kids would know. I might have known more kids who were not white because we lived at the SLZ/Hayward border
WOW! Thanks for the memories Dave, seems like yesterday but I know it was a life time ago. Do you remember the PBY at the Hayward airport we where young and dumb. I remember the ice cream pallor in the village they would give free milk shakes to the football players when they would win, I drank a lot of shakes because we had a pretty good football team in 62.Say Hi to mike for me ,I remember when he shot me with his BB gun down on the mud flats. Now I look forward to the near future when their will be many good and happy times in Gods Kingdom. jw.org Thanks again Gary Crouse
Hello Gary it was really great to hear from you again its been a long time. Yes I remember all our times in Junior High and High School with many fond memories, even the PBY. I hope you and your family are doing well. I was transferred to North Carolina on business in 1974 and now make it my home. I will pass on your note to Mike and again Gary it was great hearing from you. We really had it good growing up in San Lorenzo and going to Arroyo Thanks for the good times Dave.
Over 39 million population, all the California haters need to step up their hate for Cali . Regardless of all the people supposedly leaving it’s still not enough. Too much traffic but we’re all here for the weather, one day I’ll be buried under that warm California sun.👍
Great video! I lived in the Cherryland district of Hayward which was right next to San Lorenzo. Graduated from 8th grade at the old San Lorenzo grammer school "with the cemetery next to it" in 1948 and from Hayward High School in 1952. I believe no other high schools in the area until San Lorenzo high built in 1950. The "4 corners" (Hesperian and Lewelling Blvds) only had stop signs, not even stop lights when I moved to Hayward from Alameda in 1947. I enjoyed watching the ex military P-51 planes being flown at the Hayward airport. I was in the local Air National Guard from 1953 to 1962. I left Hayward in 1962 and my employment took me to Kentucky, Texas and finally to the mountains of Western North Carolina. I went to the Lorenzo theatre many times and ate at most of the places in your video. Played and fell into the San Lorenzo creek many times. Those grape vines hanging in the trees were not very strong. I miss all the fun that kids had before everything got so sophiscated.
Ron White
I was born in '58. Lived on Via Buena Vista. I went to St. Joachim's, Del Rey and Bohannon, ate at A&W and Aggies, spent my allowance at Sprouce-Rietz, got "regular boys haircuts", wore Mervyns clothes, and my mom used to take us to see movies at the Lorenzo Theatre. Shopped at Safeway or Gemco. Bought wood at 4-Star lumber. Ripped many pairs of pants on that stripped down fighter in Airport Park. Milk from the 'Depot' in bottles. Occasional sweets from Van's Bakery. We were the last generation to "cruise the strip" in the '70s when gas lines caused the cops to ticket any car that they saw cross their path twice on E. 14th by the Bayfair shopping center, so we piled as many as we could into cars/vans and went to the 3 movies for $0.75 drive in. Lived at the end of the Hayward Airport runway with local P51's that used to buzz the house and the Air National Guard cargo planes that would shake you off your chairs. Pick up a bucket of golf balls from the "rough" and sell them to the clubhouse for gas money. Met my wife at the KFC at Bockmann Rd/Hesperian Blvd and we're still together. Crushed pennies on the tracks and fished for catfish at SLZ park. Sank in the poop-quicksand/mud near "Honda hill" where we rode minibikes/Yamahas. Getting my ass kicked walking home from Kindergarten ... the bullies who lived around the corner on Via San Ardo ... lots of memories growing up there.
Thanks so much for making this video. I grew up in Hayward. .moved there in 1956.. remember so many of these places. Lived in San Lorenzo 1987-2006..saw many of the changes as they happened.
WOW! THOSE WERE THE DAYS WHEN SAN LORENZO WAS ALMOST LIKE HEAVEN. EVERY THING WAS BEAUTIFUL, SURE CHANGED DAY,S NOW. FROM MY KEEPSAKES. NOW 1/9/2020.
Just moved to San Lorenzo and have found little info about its history on the web. Thanks so much for this! It shows what San Lorenzo was like around the time our house was built.
Beautiful and nostalgic presentation. I grew up far away here in Arizona at the same time, but lived and worked around San Lorenzo for a short time in the early 90s. What wonderful memories you all must have had!!!!
What an awesome video. Amazing the feelings that come back while watching. Thanks for adding some Hayward stuff.
Amazing! I've lived in San Lorenzo my whole life. I've always been fascinated with the 1930s and 1940s especially the 1950s it's so wonderful to see what it used to be back then. Thank you for this Video
This was my Mom's time, yet I as well had my wonderful memories of San Lorenzo, makes me cry when I see how it looks now. And Ye Old Pizza Joint still vacant, yet nothing could ever really take it's place! Arroyo now fenced and ugly, streets all cracked and decaying. Condo's where Martin's used to be. Theater still sitting with a "Save me sign". Such a shame!
Thank you so much that was awesome I grew up in that neighborhood me my brothers all went to San Lorenzo High School
This Brought back some Great memories. I wish I could go Back in that era.
It was the MOST PERFECT place to grow up. Who did the video photos sure had it right. My husband went to Arroyo 62 and I was SLZ 64. I loved it and cruising on Fri or Sat night, Haps and the crazy fun kids we grew up with. What Great photos and yes, we really did live it and have a "blast"!! By the way Little Weirdo, its Colonial Acres. Safe, Fun memories!!! Too bad it's not like that now. It was a VILLAGE!
I grew up in the Bay Area and know San Lorenzo very well. I wish it looked like it did back then though.
Awesome job! Loved what you did with the photos and the special effects. Thanks so much for taking the time to do this. I'm sure it was a labor of love.
Great job, love this! I lived on Via Arriba just down from Mervyns, from 1956-62...so this brought back so many memories. Saturday movies at the Lorenzo, cakes at Van's, swimming lessons at Arroyo's pool, summer school at Bohannon Junior High. Even saw my old church, airport park, Ye Olde Pizza Joint & our favorite burger place and much much more! Thanks for sharing...
What a wonderful visit to the past!! My sister, Sue Eastin, was a rally squad "song girl" (w/pom-poms) and graduated from Arroyo in 1963. I'll bet she would have remembered some people in your photos. I was 7 years younger, but strangely, Charlie looked kind of familiar. I loved growing up in SLZ and I was just searching for some photos to reminisce. Your video was beyond my wildest dreams. It's sad to see how the vibrant village has disappeared, but memories (and your video) keep it all alive. This was very special, Dave. Thank you!! Gwen
I lived in San Lorenzo from 66 to 92. Arroyo High class of 74. Remember Tot-Town, Milings Chinese restaurant , at the end of Grant ave. Gemco, Kavanugh Liquors, Denevi Cameras. The quarter midget race track at Airport Park, Turners Boats, Mayfair Market, Rite Aid Drugs? Thx for making this vid and saving our memories. If your planing a trip back there, don't. You won't recognize it.
Living in Australia I mist this era ,but love the music and the life style I veiw on youtube.
One day I will visit cheers to every one
Born in 1956. Lived at 16037 Via Cordoba until 1977. This video brings back a lot of memories. Some random memories include seeing the Ghost and Mr. Chicken with Don Knotts at the Lorenzo Theater when it was first run. The following week was Spin Out with Elvis Presley. (My parents thought better of me seeing the Elvis flick at the tender age of 10 though.) I think it was 50 cents to see those movies then. The Village was a great hub for the town's people! I remember my dad testing TV tubes on a machine to figure out which ones needed replacing. I think that was People's Drug Store.!? Right outside the door, for awhile, was a machine that created wax busts of US Presidents. And it seems almost every store had penny gum-ball machines outside their door. Among many other memories of the Village was the annual, opening day, Little League parade that kicked off from the Village. The place would be packed with people from the community showing up for the event! Little did I know then, how fortunate I was to grow up there during that time.
It was a great place to grow up. Things were so much better back then. Sad to see how it is now. I remember getting bee hives from Van's bakery. Going to the underground bowling alley under Mervyn's. Santa coming to the Melvyn's parking lot by helicopter. Riding our bikes to the creek to get salamanders. Going to the carpenter shop to get scraps of wood and formica out of the dumpster. Kids now a days really are missing out on being kids. Sad to see how the area is now.
My dad owned Martin's Variety on Bockman Road. It is shown at 1:40. I remember the barber shop next door. He owned it for several years....I used to work in there...some great memories.
Great Great Video. When kids ask me about growing up in San Lorenzo on Via Cordoba, , I say that San Lorenzo was the best place ever!! I graduated in 1964 (San Lorenzo High) and my late husband in 1962(Arroyo High) Change isn't always good. They truly were happy days.
Carol Austin Apple 2017
Sorry to hear about Phil, he was a great guy in high school.
I grew up in San Lorenzo in the 50's and early 60's. I remember almost all of the sites noted in your video.Biggest memory was the tree lined streets, I lived on Via Mariposa. Thank you for the walk down memory lane.
Thank you for sharing. I immigrated with my family when I was little and settled in San Lorenzo. I was fortunate to be able to still experience Mervyns and the local shops in that area, the farm on Washington Ave. and a few other things before it changed to empty lots or new houses. Although things have changed a bit, I still enjoy the down to earth neighbors (at least a fair amount of them). I now raise my own family here and is still hopefully that San Lorenzo will pick up again to be the great community it can be.
Wonderful place to grow up! Millard Billings, Arroyo class of 63 and teacher at Arroyo for 35years. Thanks.
Mrs. Billings? The HOT Mrs. Billings who US history? We had to pass that class or we couldn't graduate. I was panicking, but I ended up with a C+ in your class. Hahahahaha!
Lived on Via Rancho h in the late 60's .Thank you for that great video!
Lived on Via Rancho from 1976 to 2008.
My mother’s family moved here in the mid-60’s. Lived off of Paseo Grande/Via Media. My mom was born in ‘56. She graduated from Arroyo in ‘74. I was born in ‘78, but have great memories of San Lorenzo through the 80’s as I grew up. Now my mom is gone, grandparents, etc. Life is tough. But you must move along.
Thank you so much for this ... Wonderful Memories...
Loved it. Thanks for the memories. Arroyo Class of '66
That is because we didn't have the internet yet.
Great memories. My family lived there from 1965 to 1975 on Via Media. In 1975 we moved to San Leandro. I went to David Martin School and remember almost everything in the video although my time in SLZ was mostly in the 70's since I was born in 1967. I especially remember the huge Little League program that was there and what a big event it was every year with the opening parade. Miss all of that and it's too bad that almost everything in the shopping area is now empty lots now. Anyone remember Sam's Burgers on Hesperian? The best on a summer day!
Thank you. Enjoyed this piece a lot. - Marina Hi School, Class of '66
I grew up in the 'good old' San Lorenzo Village. We lived in a fine example of Norman Rockwell's west coast styled life. We had a village that was geared toward children and their needs. The streets were made with kids in mind. All curbs were a slopping round type with the thought that kids could always move on to the sidewalk when a car was approaching. It was a unique way to build a village. We had it made. Nice little place to grow up. Oh, by the way, did you have Santa show up in your town?... by helicopter?... we did! It was 1955 and it was great, too!!!
Although I grew up in Hayward and went to the new Tennyson High, most of the kids that graduated from Tennyson in 1960 and 61' had previously gone to Arroyo and San Lorenzo High. Of course all the various places shown here are remembered. It was a great time to grow up in. Thanks to the creators of this video.
Barry, I graduated from Tennyson High in 1987, but both of my older sisters and both of my older brothers graduated from Tennyson also. It was a great school back then.
Quite amazing. This really brings back memories.
My brothers graduated from Sunset 71 and 74. I was much later in 81. By the way Sunset mascot was Falcons. Thanks for putting this together. It brings back a lot of great memories.
I went to Grant Elementary from '72-'75, loved it there. thanks for the video and God bless you and your family
Great job! I was born in Berkeley, went to BHS, however my brothers lived here and many friends as well. My bro has lived here forever and owns a business ,Triple A Drapery here. I lived in Hayward and drove thru town to work for a long time. Prings, I wish I had a dollar for every time I dinned there, great hamburgers and all.. Pizza Joint every Friday and hamburgers at ,Aggies on Hesperian. I could go on, on on, and on! Do more of these. How about Hayward and Berkeley in the 50's and 60's. Thanks Stan Young
This was the best time and place to live back then
I've lived here my whole life and I never knew that such places existed here. I'm only in High school so I don't know much. But my interest is the Lorenzo Theater. I've seen what it looks like today and its heartbreaking the way it looks.
David, San Lorenzo has a great bit of history behind it. I grew up there during the 60's and 70's. The Lorenzo Theater was a great place to see a movie. With its Art Deco designed interior and huge murals, it was a really cool place to watch a movie. I'm not sure of the exact reason(s) for the Lorenzo's demise, but I believe multiplex theaters were starting to be built just down Hesperian in Hayward. Those theaters offered multiple movie choices at one location and the latest in video and audio technology. In addition to the Lorenzo Theater, I think many of the other businesses in the San Lorenzo Village were drowned out by the fierce competition from such stores as GEMCO, which was sort of like the Wal-Mart of its time. It's sad from the standpoint, where we used to know the baker, the shoe repair person, the grocer, the shoe store salesperson, to how we do business now in an impersonal way where you hurriedly swipe your card and remember not to say "Merry Christmas". :-( I always hold out hope that the San Lorenzo Village may some day be resurrected into a sort of "Retro" version of its heyday, where it once again draws the original Bohanan Master Plan Community neighborhoods in to do business. Including a restoration of the Lorenzo Theater! Who knows David? Maybe you could play a key role in restoring San Lorenzo's gem of a theater.
I use to live on Via Sorrento in the 70s.................I havnt been back in 20 years,,,,,,thanx for the memories
I lived in San Lorenzo fro 1955 - 1965. My family then moved to SoCal. I've been trying to get back north ever since. I remember all the great things. Does anyone remember Dino's Pizza ? I loved that place. Went to St. Joachims school on Hesperian and also Bay school. That Mervyns store was #3. To bad they went under. Mervyn Morris was so nice to my family. Saw my first movie in that theater. Used to ride my bike for miles and miles and my Mom never worried. Our house was on Via Natal.Great memories.
I grew up on Via Natal as well! Between 84-04
I've been living in San Lorenzo for 4 years now and its crazy what still stands to this day, i used to live in San Leandro
i went to bohannon and my mom is the librarian there and im currently going to Arroyo High (11th grade)
andrew munson your mom is miss munson right, I love her style of clothing she wears something different every day
yes she is my mom
Your last name kind of gave it away lol
^^
I remember alot of these places and still live here now for 45 years now
I love seeing how San Lorenzo was like when I lived there, from the time I was born in '51-'71. Go Dons, Arroyo High class of 1969 ;)
The house I used to lived in was literally next to San Lorenzo Theater
i love San Lorenzo still to day i have lived in Hayward and it is a big difference..
Much respect to the San Low!!!!!!
Graduated in 2018 from Arroyo, lived here since 2009, and really did not recognize some of the photos of San Lorenzo back then 😣. Looked so different and pristine! Have always wanted to watch a movie in that theater on Hesperian. Times really change things 🤯
I loved growing up here. It was a little utopia. Even though it looks a little worn out these days, it will always be home to me
Thank you so much!!
My mom lived in San Leandro. I never met her since I was given up for adoption, and grew up in Pasadena, CA in the 50'S. My Grandmas restaurant I found out was called the "Snack Shack" on 15754 14th street. It's the Rose Garden restaurant now by the Bayfair center. Does anyone have any pictures of it or remember it?
Hi Dave. Well done. Thanks. I took the photo of the F-9 in Navy paint.
Well Don then we are even I took the picture of your Navy "HellCat". Good to hear from you.
We moved in here in '56... Brand new home on Via Barrett... Went to most of the grades here, except for a few as we were Navy and moved a lot at first.. Always kept the same house though... I moved back into the old homestead back in '89 and still love the area... "There's No Place Like Home!" Oh.. and the weather is the best around too... Went to Bay school, Barrett JH and Arroyo...
Rip pizza joint 😭
we moved there in 1965 and graduated from SLZ in 76 and it was still awesome. My brother and his friend both had paper routes and when they were sick I would do them by myself over 50 papers at a time I could barely control the bike and help them collect money every month. I would never let my young daughter out in the dark or daylight to do that now. Not even in the 90's when we moved back there.
It was a shithole and the residents were a bunch of cliquish assholes who literally were among the last in the country to abolish the racist "covenant" clauses that kept POC out.
My step dad dated Annette Funicello lol
Did he "schtup" her?
In 1962 I lived across the tracks from San Lorenzo High School. At 22 Lewelling Blvd. A lot of memories of that neighborhood in 1962.
Behind the Co-op?
I lived in San Lorenzo in 1969-1976. Via Del Sol. Loved it.
My sister was married in San Lorenzo Community Church. My sister and I went to David E. Martin, Bohannon, and Graduated Arroyo in 77. My mother Vicky Anderson went to Arroyo in 1958.
Remember the first Mervyns? Remember the underground bowling ally? Remember Grutman's ? Remember the theater? What a great place to grow up!
Our family moved into our brand new home in 1956, I moved away in1972 and returned in 1993 and am still here. SLZ was an amazing place to grow up, it's a ghost town now compared to back in the day. David Bohannon had a vision for SLZ and his heirs have dropped the ball big time. Thank goodness they've sold the old Mervyn's property and hopefully some stores and restaurants will go in there as we need more retail, not more homes.
Very nice -- Great Job!
I have lived in san lorenzo since 2003 and i think its pretty cool how much san lorenzo has changed mervyns building is gone now
Brought back some great memories. San Lorenzo, Class of 63. Does anyone remember Joy's Frosty Fair? On Hesperian, across from Bay Fair Bowl. Best burgers in the area!
Very Nice piece, miss SLZ.
Great day,s in San Lorenzo,sure changed since then , for the worse ln my opinion.
12/26/17.
I loved George,s cafe on Bockman, ,all great stores on Bockman and they closed them too.
I grew up in SLZ in the 90's. Loved it there! Growing up my sister's and I were always trying to figure out the mystery incident that happened in the bowling alley that was under Mervyns., I believe in the 50's. None of the older people we knew who were around back then would not talk about it. Does anyone here know and willing to share?
There was a murder there, I think it was a stabbing. KTVU and the Tribune reported on it. I was fairly young at the time, but it was the talk of the town!
@@JohnKurz1 do you know the year?
Why was the San Lorenzo Movie theatre closed?
couldn't compete with bigger theaters
Great video!!
I lived on via flores for a few years what a trip
Hey, I'm trying to find some info on a house I remember as the Bachmann Tea Room. It was on Bachmann rd. in slz any help would be much appreciated.
+TheSparky5363 That's Bockman Rd...
Try searching under Bockman Road, correct spelling.
Thanks
I lived there in 1966 on off of channel and Grant ....
The best years of my life
very nice moved to SLZ in 1968 graduated in 1980 what happened
Hi there, SLZ wasn't perfect but it was close, at a time when hormones ran my very life I remember Pam, Nancy, Yvonne, Carole, Maria, Gina, Donna, Rita, Patti, DeeDee, Liz, Anita, Lynn, Diane, Barbra, Cindy, Cheryl, Cathy, Daria, its been 45 years, seems like yesterday. Guitar man by Bread was a song that came to mind, simpler times, today we have tech and covid. the good ole days really were good.
wow it is crazy to see the past
I grew up right next door in San Leandro
So cool man
Was Edendale middle school not there
Edendale was there, just not in video. It was built in early 50's.
I hate how they call it Edendale Middle School now. It will forever be Edendale Elementary to me. That’s what it was when I went there in ‘84 for kindergarten.
I went to Edendale.
I miss the 50-90s
Like the SLZ Queen pictures. My sister Claire (Head yell leader) competed. I think Joann Jackson was the winner.
San Lorenzo high class of 1986. Can anybody tell me why this once beautiful town looks the way it does now, and have the crime rate it does now?
Because the world is 3 times as crowded and the jobs are all gone overseas, shipped away by capitalists who weren't happy with millinos and wanted billions instead.
Anyway, SLZ was a shithole, filled with shitty people.
I currently reside in San Lorenzo with my husband and 3 young children. Yes it looks like it used to be beautiful, but it also looks like it was a place that would not have been very friendly to minorities.
Exactly. The history of San Lorenzo is nothing to brag about if you’re a minority. I’ve lived in SLZ for 23 years. I researched the history years ago. But we in this B as homeowners now! 😁✌🏿👏🏾✊🏿
we had all kind of kids at our school in the late 60's and 70's and never treated them any different. I heard there were restrictions for buying a house but that is nothing kids would know. I might have known more kids who were not white because we lived at the SLZ/Hayward border
California was once a paradise on Earth. Now its not much different than Detroit.
WOW! Thanks for the memories Dave, seems like yesterday but I know it was a life time ago. Do you remember the PBY at the Hayward airport we where young and dumb. I remember the ice cream pallor in the village they would give free milk shakes to the football players when they would win, I drank a lot of shakes because we had a pretty good football team in 62.Say Hi to mike for me ,I remember when he shot me with his BB gun down on the mud flats. Now I look forward to the near future when their will be many good and happy times in Gods Kingdom. jw.org Thanks again Gary Crouse
Hello Gary it was really great to hear from you again its been a long time. Yes I remember all our times in Junior High and High School with many fond memories, even the PBY. I hope you and your family are doing well. I was transferred to North Carolina on business in 1974 and now make it my home. I will pass on your note to Mike and again Gary it was great hearing from you. We really had it good growing up in San Lorenzo and going to Arroyo Thanks for the good times Dave.
We Americans could use a little more of the European love of towns and caring for them not just letting them slide into decay.
I'm extremely jealous of people who live in California!!!
Over 39 million population, all the California haters need to step up their hate for Cali . Regardless of all the people supposedly leaving it’s still not enough. Too much traffic but we’re all here for the weather, one day I’ll be buried under that warm California sun.👍
We are but a vapor. 🕳
Funny. Not a single black or brown face......
How's it funny ?
@@ChevyFtWss it’s sarcasm
bruh
Same
Then u all voted dem. And the proof is in the pudding. Im srry for the lose of ur great town
wow it is crazy to see the past