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| Landmark #434 | Santa Clara County | Visited: August 28, 2016 | Plaque? NO. 🙁 |
| What is it? | The park with the plaque was bulldozed into nothingness just before I arrived! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: Pellier, native of Saint-Hippolyte, France and founder of California’s prune industry, came to California in 1849. In October 1850 he established a nursery called City Gardens. Here, aided by his brothers Pierre and Jean, who came over from France at a later date, he introduced the French prune—la petite prune d’Agen—into California during the winter of 1856-57.
OTHER TIDBITS: Fruit saved these two French brothers, who lost their life savings in the northern gold mines by Shasta and, on the edge of giving up, discovered in San Francisco that fruit was a pretty popular commodity! So, he sent his brother, Pierre, back to France to bring back Louis’ fiancée and a whole bunch of fruit tree cuttings (500 pounds worth)! The ship pulled into port in December of 1856, and the California prune industry grew from there! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: 100 block of W St James St San Jose, CA 95110 ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~340mi (548km) — 5.7hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |