On the western outskirts of Crockett, on the bluffs overlooking the Carquinez strait, there’s a small unincorporated neighborhood called Valona. These days, this community isn’t that different from any of the others that stretch along this northern edge of Contra Costa County, but things used to be a lot different. If you were in Valona a century ago, you might have felt more like you were in a traditional Italian village than a Bay Area suburb. You would’ve seen kids stomping grapes to make wine during harvest season and families making salami from scratch to hang in their cellars. And you definitely would’ve heard people speaking Italian, which was more common than hearing English around these parts. 

But one thing hasn’t changed – looking down from Valona back then, and now, you’d see a giant brick factory, flanked by huge silos and loading docks. That is the C&H Sugar Factory, and in a lot of ways, that factory is the reason why Valona and the entire town of Crockett exists. 

Today’s episode is a journey into the history of Valona and Crockett, and our guide is Barbara Pagni Denton, the author of a new book called “Sweet Success: How Industry, Immigrants, and Working Women Shaped a Town.” Listen now to hear Barbara discuss her deep Italian roots, the downfall of Crockett’s “golden age,” and the importance of community cookbooks. Available via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news. 

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