Lafayette in Contra Costa County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Site of Bickerstaff House

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 19, 2021

1. Site of Bickerstaff House Marker

Inscription. Built in 1879 by James Bickerstaff on a dirt road that is now Mt. Diablo Blvd. Daughter, Jennie Bickerstaff (Rosenberg), lived in the house for 85 years. It was razed in 1964 to build a market which is now at 3615 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Jennie was a beloved teacher who rode her horse to school each day. This redwood tree is all that is left of her beautiful garden.

Erected 1998 by Lafayette Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 37° 53.444′ N, 122° 7.472′ W. Marker is in Lafayette, California, in Contra Costa County. Marker can be reached from Mount Diablo Boulevard west of Dewing Avenue, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3615 Mt Diablo Boulevard, Lafayette CA 94549, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Elam and Margaret Brown Home-Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Lafayette House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Lafayette Grammar School (approx. 0.3 miles away); Deodar Cedars (approx. 0.3 miles away); Dedicated to the Pony Express (approx. 0.3 miles away); Pioneer Store (approx. 0.3 miles

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away); Geils Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Way Side Inn (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lafayette.

More about this marker. The marker can be found at the foot of the redwood tree in the parking lot for the Diablo Foods supermarket.

Also see . . . A Lafayette Holiday Tradition: The Tree At Diablo Foods (Lafayette Historical Society, Jan. 2020). LHS provides short biographies of Ms. Bickerstaff and her tree.

Excerpt: "In 1877, James and Delilah Bickerstaff moved their family from Pennsylvania to Lafayette. Charlie was a baby, and sadly died when he was a year old. Jennie was 7, and thrived in Lafayette. James built them a little white house on Mt. Diablo Blvd. that then was a dirt path leading from Oakland to Walnut Creek. Jennie lived in that house for 85 years, surrounded by gas stations, businesses, and fronted by a four-lane highway by the end. She left an indelible mark on our town."

(Submitted on October 19, 2021.)

Redwood tree and Bickerstaff House Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 19, 2021

2. Redwood tree and Bickerstaff House Marker

The marker is easy to find - it is mounted to a low rock at the base of the redwood tree that is to the left of the supermarket entrance. The marker is not visible from the street.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on October 19, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 238 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 19, 2021, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.