You're invited! The CCCHS Annual Membership Meeting is January 27, 2024

The Contra Costa County Historical Society

Annual Membership Meeting and Luncheon

Balfour Guthrie. Brentwood. Boxed fruit:

The history and importance of our East County land.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Concord Museum & Event Center

This year's program Balfour Guthrie. Brentwood. Boxed fruit: The history and importance of our East County land is presented by Carol A. Jensen, author, historian and native resident of East Contra Costa County. Carol will delve into the history and significance of the Balfour Guthrie & Company, its success in the farming business of Brentwood's yesteryear and the fruitfulness of our East County land today.

From the start, Balfour, Guthrie & Co. planned a return on investment based on real estate speculation, not farm operations. Arriving from England in 1869, they originally engaged in finance, insurance and investment opportunities that characterized the speculative boom of Victorian San Francisco. By 1900, Balfour Guthrie & Co. was the largest grain buyer in the world, and Brentwood and the upper San Joaquin Valley formed the largest wheat-producing area in the country.

It was, however, the Balfour, Guthrie & Co.'s experimental farm and orchard in Brentwood that would lead them their greatest success.

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Program agenda:

Registration and Welcome Reception

Lunch and beverages served

Contra Costa County Historical Society Annual Review

Balfour Guthrie. Brentwood. Boxed fruit: The history and importance of our East County land. Presented by Carol A. Jensen

Raffle drawing and book sales

Join your friends in history for this special presentation and in celebration of Brentwood's 75th anniversary!

RSVP Information:

$35.00 per person

$55.00* with pre-ordered copy of Brentwood 75th Anniversary Edition

Sponsorship tables and Student pricing also available. Click here.

RSVP's are requested by January 18th

* Pre-order a copy of Carol's new book Brentwood 75th Anniversary Edition and receive $5 off and zero tax. Pre-ordered copies will be handed out at the event. Event day purchase will be regular price of $24.99 + tax. If you cannot attend and would like to purchase a signed copy of Carol's book , please visit our online Book Store.

Click here to RSVP and pay by credit card

Click here for the RSVP form or call 925-229-1042

About the Author

Carol A. Jensen has been fascinated with local history since the early 1960s. A native of eastern Contra Costa County, Carol is a history graduate of UC Santa Barbara and a Fulbright Scholar. She delights in discovering cultural ephemera and documenting the cultural history of the area in which people lived, visited or worked in California. The fruits of the historical search can be found at the East Contra Costa County Historical Society, Brentwood, CA.

You can reach Carol at Historian@ByronHotSprings.com

Directions and Parking

Concord Museum & Event Center

1928 Clayton Road, Concord, CA

View in Google Maps

The Event Center is ADA accessible. The parking lot is located behind the CMEC and the Galindo House on Marina Ave., just off of Amador Ave. Please note: parking is limited.

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