Assignment 3

For secondary sources, I found one author in particular that really broke down the area known as Mt. Eden Today, And that is Author John Sandoval and his book Mt Eden-the cradle of the salt industry. Mr Sandoval was a great secondary source due to the fact that he got all his information from very credible sources; It is first hand from the pioneers families who have allowed mr Sandoval to sift through their collection of family heirlooms to tell the story. He knew these people, The Olivers, the Mohrs, through been a member of the Mt. Eden Lyons club.
The Most important topic that Mr sandoval wrote about in this book is the way the salt industry evolved into what it was before developers bought the land and built it over. The Salt industry in the area began almost immidietly after the first resident of Mt. Eden, John Johnson, a Scandinavian adventurist who left his country at a young age, squatted on 14 acres of land on what is known as Mt Eden. Johnson, who was more of a business man than a gold miner, noticed the medittereanan weather, soil, and shoreline and saw potential in salt mining.(Sandoval 20). Eventually other pioneers settled in Mt eden, including the Russel City area, and ran the salt industry of the Bay Area, one that would put "Little Copenhagen" on the map.
Mt eden was not a one crop area, however. Grain was a huge part of the industry, as it was shipped to san francisco for processing, and a good resting spot for those looking to venture up north.
Sandoval will be a great help to me because not only has he laid the foundation of what I needed. the history of a little town which thrived on the backs of immigrants who came from nothing, and made it into a huge empire. Many of the houses and huge lots remain in this part of town, and to me they tell a story. What was the use of the huge windmills that are still present today do the wells still work? Why have owners of land in russel city been reluctant to sell their stakes to developers? I want to know all these answers, and that is how i will contribute to the work of Mr. Sandoval. I want to know the story behind the people buried in the Mt. Eden Cementary (I swear I used to have a ghost in my house.. I lived in Waterford Apts, right behind the cementary!) Mohr, Gading, Barton,.... I want to know how these people managed to run this little township on their own ...schools, post office.... These are all questions in need of answers. I will be putting up pictures at the very latest by sunday, I will let the class know when their posted

Juan Barajas