Captain Elisha Stephens
1804-1887
A True Pioneer
Captain Elisha Stephens led the very first wagon train to California over the mighty Sierras in 1844. He earned the title of Captain serving in the Mexican War, 1846-1848. Immediately after this war Stephens homesteaded 160 acres in "Westside", later called Cupertino. He thus became the first non-native to live in this area. He called his spread Blackberry Farm. In 1859 he added 315.57 acres. His favorite food was the ever-available rattle snake. In 1852 he sold all his properties to George McCauley and William McClellan. He then moved to the Kern County, near Bakersfield. He died here in 1887. The reason he gave for moving was that the "Westside" area was now "Too durn civilized". In 1994 a 7,250 foot peak over-looking Donner Pass, the trail he first blazed, was named Mount Stephens. As Elisha was so often known to remark, "RIGHT WRONGS NOBODY".
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Here are the first installments that will hopefully eventually grow into a unique book about Cupertino High School. Click on to those stories you want to read in full.
| The History of Cupertino & Cupertino High |
Our first article deals with how our school came to be called Cupertino. To get to the root of this we had to find out where the city of Cupertino got the name in the first place. The first ship to enter SF Bay, Spanish Explorers and a flying Saint who students looked to when taking exams for inspiration are all a part of where the name Cupertino came from....it's quite a story. Also the first white non-native settler in the Cupertino area who was also the first to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains with a wagon train of settlers is featured. READ MORE...
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Each edition will spotlight a different CHS alum. To start with we proudly present a highly successful band that six
Cupertino
High alumni over the years have been deeply committed to. Papa Doo Run this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary of bringing musical joy to people all over the world. So get set for the amazing story of how Papa went from a “Garage Band” to one of the most acclaimed and successful Surf Music groups of all time. READ MORE...
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| Faculty Alumni Spotlight |
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Robert Lee Gomez...The Music Man of Cupertino
In two installments there will be an indepth look at a true Cupertino High School Faculty legend. READ MORE... |
| Special Events or Happenings |
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For years people have speculated on how this senior prank was pulled off. Now at long last we have the full unvarnished truth. It all boiled down to four 1965 seniors who were all members of the Cupertino High School Cross Country team. They spent a good part of the summer vacation before the 1964-65 school year to do all the things necessary to pull off this incredible senior prank. READ MORE... |
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