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Description
This is a recording on an oral history of Helen Harbison Power (1893-1976), a native of Vacaville, California. In 1921, Helen Power and her husband, Edwin I. (Bunny) Power, established a roadside fruit stand which later developed into the Nut Tree Restaurant. The oral history was conducted by Joann L. Larkey in 1973-1974. Part 1 of 6 Helen Power discusses the Allison-Harbison-Power Ranch history and childhood memories of her parents and sisters. She takes the interviewer on a walking tour of the Harbison House. The tour includes remarks about the restoration of the house in 1971. The recording ends with Power telling the story of Sally Fox and the Nut Tree. Part 2 of 6 This recording, which continues the tour of the Harbison House, begins in the front hall and is followed by descriptions of the living room, dining room, ranch office, pantry, kitchen, and the rural telephone line. Part 3 of 6 This recording provides details of the back porch, downstairs bathroom, front stairs, upstairs hall, guest room, Julia and Harriet Harbison’s bedroom, upstairs bathroom, Edith Harbison’s bedroom, Luther and Hester Harbison’s bedroom, and her own bedroom which was turned into a sewing room. Part 4 of 6 0 to 30:00 contains a portion of an interview with Julia Donaldson Sims (1873-1978). The interview then resumes with Helen Harbison Power providing her memories of a typical day on the ranch, irrigation, farm labor, and the beginning of the business as a roadside stand. She also discusses meeting her husband Edwin I. (Bunny) Power at the University Farm (now UC Davis), patenting the Nut Tree brand, fruit boxes and breadboards, and wholesaling nuts and fruits, Part 5 of 6 Power discusses the Nut Tree during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s including the following topics: the original tree for which the restaurant was named, the airport development and expansion, the Art Department and Don Dirrell as its director, the post office, celebrities who visited, and the third generation of Powers. Part 6 of 6 Here she talks of the Roadside Marketing Association meeting in Ohio and then reflects on additional items in the Harbison house. She also speaks about Nut Tree menus and recipes, Nut Tree development and expansion, commercial development around the Nut Tree, conservation efforts, Robert Power’s historical interests including those related to Sir Francis Drake, the involvement of the Power children in the business, and the California Medical Facility at Vacaville.
University of California, Davis, Library, Special Collections California Revealed is supported by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
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