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Description
In this oral history, visionary architectural and choral duo Esther and Dart Cherk recount their lives, their work, and their reflections on community. Esther and Dart describe growing up in San Francisco's Chinatown during World War II where they attended the same elementary school. Remarkably, they continued to attend the same schools all the way through college, both studying to become architects at U.C. Berkeley. In 1956 they got married, and two years later bought a cottage in Mill Valley to fix up. Dart and Esther describe how they first became involved in community life with the PTA when their children went to Old Mill School. Esther then went on to serve on the Flood Control Committee and Dart on the Architectural Advisory Committee. They describe the heyday of growth in Mill Valley during the 1960s and 1970s, and the involvement of local architects in designing public spaces like the downtown plaza. They discuss the Steps, Lanes, and Paths controversy, ongoing at the time this oral history was conducted, and share their vision of building affordable housing in Mill Valley so that people who work in the community, such as teachers and firefighters, can once again afford to live in it. Lovers of song, Esther and Dart conclude this oral history of their lives and community involvement by singing a duet.
Identifier
6686B7BC-EF76-498D-AE09-918953235398 2017.090.001
Subject
1970s Alto Area Architects Architectural Advisory Committee Architecture Bassett, Dory Cherk, Dot Cherk, Homer Chinatown, San Francisco City planning City planning drawings Community Copenhaver, Matthew Degenhardt, Chris Housing Kagy, Ed Lee, Walter Mountjoy, Jan MV history - Growth (1980s) MV history - Music and counterculture (1960s and 1970s) Oral history - Local government, police, firefighters Oral history - Volunteerism, activism Platt, Kal Poutiatine, Ivan San Franicsco Shelter Ridge Singers Steps, lanes and paths Steps, Lanes, Paths - Mill Valley Toy, Mamie Volunteers World War II
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