Past Event – Speaker Series: February 23, 2025 Former mayors Barry Gross and Sue (McNulty) Rainey – The Road to Incorporation and Beyond

Vera Kochan Review from MHS Newsletter 2025 Q2

The Moraga Historical Society began 2025 with its first quarterly speaker series on Feb. 23. Wanting to wrap up 2024’s year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration, the Town’s first elected Council Members and former Mayors Sue (McNulty) Rainey and Barry Gross graciously offered to headline the event. Unfortunately, Rainey had to opt out at the last minute due to an illness, but Gross, with the help of long-time resident and MHS President Susan Sperry, was up to the task.

MHS Board Member John Kaiser put together an in-depth Slide Presentation that included photos from the 1840s to the Moraga of today. Much of the event involved a question and answer style of format based on topics, such as the Shepherd Canyon Highway 77 controversy, the Martinez/Moraga Mentality, tri-city boundary controversies, incorporation jitters, and more.

The theme of the afternoon was “The Road to Incorporation and Beyond” with initial slides that included an aerial tour of Moraga. Topical photos touched upon: the 1841 Rancho Laguna de los Palos Land Grant, the Joaquin Moraga Adobe, California’s Americanization from 1848-1890, the Moraga Company site c.1913, a lot map of the early Valle Vista subdivision, Saint Mary’s College 1927 – now, Moraga’s pear and walnut orchards, and aerial photos of Moraga from 1950 to the present.

With regards to the Shepherd Canyon Highway 77 controversy, Gross discussed when and why Moraga became opposed to the idea of a freeway through the Moraga Valley and whether that affected the push for incorporation.

The “Martinez Mentality” versus the “Moraga Mentality” discussion explained the ideology behind both terms and the part the Ascot subdivision played in the open space movement.

For anyone who’s ever wondered why the Moraga Adobe is in Orinda, there were two explanations. Gross stated that the Pacific Gas & Electric Company owned much of the adobe land and was not willing to give it up to Moraga. Sperry added that as Orinda’s population grew by 1924, Moraga’s Willow Spring School allowed them to annex the land since Moraga couldn’t handle all of the students alone. The new boundary eventually came down to Ivy Drive.

Once the Town of Moraga became incorporated on Nov. 12, 1974, the Casita on the Hacienda de las Flores grounds became the first Town Offices. Ironically, and appropriately, it was the very building that this MHS event was held.

To cap the discussion off, attendees were treated to a shortened version of the Time Capsule Ceremony video showing the actual burial process of the capsule, which is intended to be opened on Nov. 12, 2074.

Adding to the success of the MHS incorporation discussion, was a very knowledgeable group of audience members who continued the discussion long after the presentation was finished. Also, the MHS would like to thank Barry Gross for his time and expertise and wishes Sue Rainey a speedy recovery.