Reminiscing on my years in Pleasanton

While collecting bits and pieces of the past to help celebrate my 90th birthday, I ran across a letter written years ago for my picture album as a recollection of my time in Pleasanton.

In 1952-55, I was stationed at Parks Air Force Base as an instructor in the Air Base Defense School. My wife and two small children lived in an eight-unit apartment complex located at the time at what was the west end of Rose Avenue on the far turn of the race track. The apartments were owned by the Fiorios, who along with their son Jack had a small neighborhood market on Rose Avenue a few blocks west of Main Street.

Across from us in the apartments lived Frank and Marie Pacanowski with their daughter Carol. I heard that Frank had become the first mailman in town. I believe Carol still lives in town on Jensen Street as Carol Withers. Several years ago, she helped put together a CD describing the early days of Pleasanton.

I was born and raised in Los Angeles and upon my discharge from the Air Force, I returned to Southern California and settled in Orange County. I have visited "P-town" several times over the past 60-plus years and marveled at its growth. However, in my mind it is still the one Main Street anchored at the north by the railroad tracks and the south by the "Cozy Corner".

-- Bill Gifford