2 minute read
Danville: New to Me!
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Sandra Mcmullen, Resident since 1992
It all started with a “Just For Fun” post on NextDoor. I asked if there were any places in Danville that you pass by but you’ve never been to and the response was so much fun! I was amazed at what I didn’t know about the town I’ve lived in for 31 years! So, after 39 people responded, I decided I needed to go out and discover a “new to me” Danville.
Can you spot this marker on your next drive by?
The first location was a bit of a surprise. I have driven past it a million times and never, ever noticed it. Right in the middle of a parking lot at the south end of town in Danville’s Sycamore Square Shopping center is a small grove of redwood trees. In the middle of that grove there sits a plaque on a stone base. It honors Charles Gardner Goold and his wife Allie Johnson Goold, early pioneers in the Sycamore Valley and Danville. The Goold Family acquired the land in 1900 and planted the redwood trees in 1913. The 1960’s progress brought the new interstate freeway, along with it the Sycamore Valley Road exit, pushing the family to sell their lands. The San Ramon Valley Historical Society placed the plaque in 1975 and honestly, it could use a little cleaning to help it stand out.
The plaque honoring the Goold family
Next I discovered the ”secret” rose garden behind the ministry center at St. Isidore. What a lovely, serene spot. There must be over 200 rose plants in raised beds in the garden. Many are dedicated to deceased loved ones. It’s Winter now, but come Spring I will be returning here as I can only imagine the beauty and the fragrance when all those rose bushes are in full bloom.
The secret rose garden at St. Isidore
Lastly, one person wrote of the seven trailheads on the west side of Danville; I had no idea! These trailheads connect to each other through a trail system that takes you to the top of the ridge of the Las Trampas Regional Park – and even connect you to both San Ramon and Lafayette. I found the entrance on Remington and the views up there are spectacular!!! I could not find the entrance on Montair, but it is a long and winding road so I could’ve easily missed it. The other entrances can be found on Del Amigo, San Damiano, Camille, Hemme, and Las Trampas. All that beautiful open space right in our backyard!
A big thanks to all who responded, there’s still more places I look forward to discovering. This really was a lot of fun! We really do have a treasure trove of citizens in our little Town.
Sandra Mcmullen immigrated from Ireland when she was just 3 1/2 years old. She recently retired from a composite career in Workforce and Economic Development designing training programs funded by both the state of California’s Employment Training Panel (ETP) and or the Federal Workforce Investment Act. Sandra loves fishing, traveling, and being an adventurous grandmother!
