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The History of Alta Crest
Joe and Theresa Machado
Alta Crest was established in 1907 in an old family lore. The Gragg's great-great grandfather, Joe Machado, stowed away on a cattle ship from Portugal, crossed the Atlantic to San Francisco, and eventually settled in Lafayette, California. Joe turned to the only trade he knew: dairy farming, and set up shop on the rolling green hills of Lafayette, where our citrus orchards are today.
Joe, his wife and eight children lived in an 800 square foot house, with the boys sleeping in the barn. The family woke at the crack of dawn, milked the cows, bottled the milk, and delivered it to the doorsteps of rural Contra Costa homesteaders. In the late 1940's Dr. Hamlin purchased the property, and so the nostalgic chapter of Alta Crest Dairy gave way to the development of Silver Springs and Lafayette Woodlands.
Fresh Milk is a Life Saver, according to Joe Machado, proprietor, as depicted on this bottle label.
A receipt from Diamond K, for $38.16 for fence building supplies, dated 1941.
Alta Crest is brought back to life by the Graggs!
2000
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