1923, from Elsie Burton’s Diary
We located in Santa Clara Valley in a little town called Milpitas. We were on the Los Esteros Ranchero owned by a man named Miles Standish. He was more or less retired and his son, Allen, was slowly taking over the operation. Grandfather Aldrich was foreman on the ranch. He had retired from his farm and had given it to his son, my Uncle Clarence.
Dad was hired as the irrigator. It was a 300 acre pear ranch on the Coyote Creek half way between the communities of Milpitas and Alviso. Since the Post Office and General Store used by the ranch was located in Milpitas that was the school chosen for my brothers and me.
Attending a New School
From the time we moved to Milpitas, my life was not a particularly happy one. First off, my grandmother decided that since we were now living close by that she should start calling me “Elsie” like everyone else. I missed my “Irene.” Secondly, I felt like a dummy at school. Not only could I not compete scholastically, but my nice new wardrobe was completely wrong for the new school. I was considered a kook.
Thirdly, I found I was of a minority. In my classes, there were never more than two or three of us who were of Northern European ancestry. It was a Portuguese community mostly with many Mexican and Japanese scattered in. The Portuguese people all attended the Catholic Church and their social lives centered around their church and their families. There were many brothers, sisters, cousins, nieces and nephews throughout the school. I felt very isolated.
Church
Grandma and Grandpa took me to Sunday school in San Jose on Sundays but that was a sort of outsider relationship too because I was not able to participate in the activities other than Sunday school. It was during this stretch of time I earned my first bible. It was awarded for perfect attendance. That bible got a great deal of use. I carried it with me to Sunday school all through my growing up years.
Elmer is Made Foreman
After sometime our grandparents moved back to Hughson. Their big Victorian house on the farm had burned down and their son Clarence who had been living there opted to start a farm on his own instead of continuing on the family place. As a result of this move my father took the job of foreman of the ranch and we moved into the house my grandparents had vacated.
In this house, my room, while not ever heated, was warmed by the sun on sunny days. My old room had been small, dark, narrow and always cold. My brothers Clem and Floyd slept on the sofa bed in the living room.
Illness Strikes
We had Scarlet fever and diphtheria and lice while living at that first house. Only my mother and brother Darrell, who was about four years old, had the diphtheria. The rest of us were given immunization shots to prevent it.
I remember the hatred I had for that cruel doctor who would give those hurtful shots to even a small baby. My baby brother Jackie was such a good and happy child and to have to make him cry made me mad. That was one time that all of my brothers and I were united. We did so hate that doctor.
I remember being in bed with mother one day after she was recovering but Darrell was not doing well and she was crying in fear and anxiety. He did recover and from that time on we were to give him special considerations because he had been so ill.
Clothing
For a while after Grandmother and Grandfather Aldrich went back to Hughson to live, my Sunday school days came to a halt. It seems Grandma had provided me with suitable clothes to attend church with them, but they could in no way provide a similar service for the entire family. It was some time before my parents were able to provide suitable attire for us all for school and Sunday school as well.
My brothers were able to keep passing their clothes down to the next youngest as time went on. Otherwise, I fear that they would not have been able to keep up with the little growing bodies.
Swagerty-Aldrich Family Web Site 