Gilroy Historical Society & the Gilroy Museum

06/15/2026

If you aren't already a member of the Gilroy Historical Society, now is the perfect time to join!

06/13/2026

Why I Do This

Last Saturday, during a tour of Gilroy Cemetery with the Gilroy Historical Society & the Gilroy Museum, a woman approached me and shared that she had driven more than an hour hoping to find the grave of her grandfather, Neville G. Edwards.

It was her first visit, and despite searching, she had been unable to locate his headstone.

As the tour came to an end, I pulled out my veteran restoration list and immediately recognized the name. Neville Edwards was one of the veterans whose headstone had already been cleaned through the Valor Stone Restoration project.

A few minutes later, I was able to walk her directly to his grave.

Standing beside his restored headstone, she shared how much it meant to finally find her grandfather and to see that his grave was being cared for. It was a moment I won’t soon forget.

Neville Edwards served as a Private First Class in the U.S. Army Air Service, the aviation branch of the Army during the World War I era and the predecessor of today’s United States Air Force. Though nearly a century has passed since his service, his sacrifice and legacy still matter.

Many people think this project is about cleaning stone.

It isn’t.

It’s about preserving memories.

It’s about honoring service.

It’s about ensuring that the stories of our veterans are not lost to time.

And sometimes, it’s about helping a family member find a connection to someone they never had the chance to know.

Moments like this remind me why I started Valor Stone Restoration and why I remain committed to restoring every veteran headstone I can.

This is what Valor Stone Restoration is all about.

🇺🇸 Honoring Veterans. Preserving History. Reconnecting Families.

06/11/2026

Our Microfiche has been out of commission for far too long. It was repaired this week by volunteers Russell and Steve. Then, Susan demonstrated how to thread the film properly onto the machine. In-house repair saved big $$$! Yay for volunteers!!!

06/09/2026

Speak out to Save the California Room!
https://www.preservation.org/california-room

PAC*SJ urges City Council to reconsider an alarming proposal in the City’s 2026-27 budget to close the Martin Luther King Library’s California Room and eliminate its three dedicated staff positions. Established in 1906 as the local history section of San Jose’s first public library, the California Room today has grown to become a vast and incomparable collection of books, photographs, maps, newspaper archives, city directories, building permits, personal papers, and historic ephemera illuminating more than 250 years of San José, Santa Clara Valley, and California history. Boasting more than 5,400 annual in-person visits and countless more online inquiries, the California Room is an incredibly important public resource supporting the efforts of students, educators, authors, historians, genealogists, property owners, developers, land-use consultants, and engaged citizens to explore, uncover, and share the rich and diverse histories of our shared home.

As San José prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday in 2027, the loss of its preeminent public history repository would represent a profound civic failure. The proposed closure would save the City a mere $388,000-- just 0.6% of the total library budget and only 0.007% of the total City budget! The proposal to close direct access to the California Room will set in motion a long term change that will be difficult for the Library Department to reverse. We urge you to reach out to Mayor Matt Mahan, City Manager Jennifer Maguire, City Librarian Jill Bourne, and your City Council representatives before Monday, May 11th at 9:30am, when Council holds its first and only Neighborhood Services Budget Study Session prior to a final budget vote on June 9th. Speak out now to save the California Room!

06/08/2026

You can help Friends of Canada de los Osos raise funds for their youth programs and habitat work at the Reserve.
It's a beautiful location; we certainly enjoyed our tour last May.

06/07/2026

Perfect description... our volunteers keep our Museum going. Please consider joining our great group!

I’m constantly amazed at the dedication and hard work of small, local museums.
You know the ones.

They’re run by volunteers, curated by layman historians, and often kept alive by grants, donations, or local government.

Those volunteering their time are often experts in the area, knowing the town founders by name and every business which occupied their downtown for at least a century. They donate their limited time after work, or volunteer during their retirement years when they could just be taking it easy.

They plan events, hoping to generate enough interest through newspaper ads or Facebook posts.
They analyze last year’s events, and work hard to improve the current year.
And they do it on a shoestring budget.

They’re proud of their collections.
They want their community to be proud, too.
They single-handedly prop up local history by
preserving local memory and becoming a resource open to anyone.

So please—go. Visit.
Bring your kids and grandkids.
Invest in them with your time.
Donate to their cause.

Because without them, local history disappears.
Collective memory goes dark.
The founders and the people who made the town what it is are lost.
And you won’t know what you don’t know because the knowledge-keepers are gone.

Please go.

06/05/2026

We attended the swearing in ceremony of new Gilroy Police Chief Brandon Sanchez yesterday at Gilroy Gardens. Not all cities observe this traditional ceremony. It was also attended by many police dignitaries from bay area forces, 4 Gilroy equestrians, about 14 motorcycles, cadets, brass in dress uniforms, Gilroy Mayor Greg Bozzo, Council members Cline, Marques, Ramirez, City Administrator, the chief's family, and chamber members.
Welcome Chief Sanchez!!