Cypress Street Barrio

Cypress St.

     After 1960, I grew up in the city of Orange, in the heart of OC. I left that city after college, but returned to live in the Old Town(e) section of Orange for seven or so years in the 90s. (After that, I ventured east, into the Santa Ana Mountains.)
     I’ve come across an interesting website entitled, “Shades of Orange: Cypress St. Barrio.” North Cypress St. runs along the railroad tracks a few blocks west of the Orange Plaza (aka the Orange “circle”). It’s in Old Town.
     According to the website,

     Commerce in the North Cypress Street area helped define the community as well as providing employment and services to the residents. Grocery stores, pool halls, barbershops, restaurants, and automobile shops filled the area, along with street peddlers. Anaconda Wire and Cable Company, Western Cordage, and the packing houses, especially the Santiago Orange Growers Association (later Villa Park Orchards Association), were important sources of revenue to the residents. The economy in the barrio revolved around the citrus industry. Men worked in groves as pickers; women worked in the packing houses as graders and packers. Some of the local businesses were the Filiberto Paredes Market, the Simon Luna Grocery, the Cayatano “Pete” Cruz Grocery, Cruz’s Pool Hall, and the Colin Tortilleria.

     Evidently, the “Shades of Orange” project collected photos, which are available: here (use the search phrase Shades of Orange to view the entire collection).
     The painting at top is by the artist Emigdio Vasquez (see The art of Emigdio Vasquez), who lived on Cypress St. as a child.
     See also: Shades of Orange: El Modena.

Rosary for baby girl Aguirre, Orange, California, ca. 1921 

Women packers at the Santiago Orange Growers Association, North Cypress Street, Orange: ca. 1945

The Cruz Market located at 440 North Cypress Street, Orange, California: ca. 1970

Jamaica Fiesta that was held on North Cypress Street, Orange, California: summer 1947

Julian Gonzales in military uniform, 1944 (he served in Italy)

Consolidated Orange Growers Association employees, 1935

The Garcia family, 1934

Ysidoro and Nina Aguirre, Orange, California, 1923

Nina Aguirre, Orange, California, 1925

La Jamaica Festival, 1965

El Modena, 1959

Some Sunday reading

Starring the universe

Starring Kate Winslet

•Thinking the Impossible: French Philosophy Since 1960 by Gary Gutting – review (The Guardian)
•‘Mildred Pierce’: A Mother’s House of Love and Hurt (New York Times)
•The 4% Universe by Richard Panek – review (The Guardian)

Gratuitous fun and memories:

1956 Messerschmitt Kabinenroller

1959 Frisky convertible (3-wheel)