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Beginning with Native American encampments on the slopes and valleys of San Bruno Mountain, through Spanish occupation and Mexican land grants, to todayas vibrant suburban community, Brisbaneas story is an intriguing one. The town was either named for newspaperman Arthur Brisbane, or for the Australian coastal city of Brisbane, depending on the story. During the Great Depression, many people wanting to escape crowded San Francisco for a simpler, less urban life found it in Brisbane, which began with dairies and ranches and gradually grew up along the hillsides radiating from Visitacion Avenue. Brisbane has always been known for its spirit of independence, and the people here have been able to participate in small-town democracy more fully than in larger cities.
About the author
Authors Dolores Gomez and Christy Thilmany were staff members at the Brisbane Library for 27 and 31 years respectively. Along with Brisbane historian Dorothy Radoff, they began assembling photographs for the Brisbane Library Historical Collection in the 1970s. The images from that collection make up the bulk of this work, along with photographs and memorabilia from other collections in the area. These stirring images show Brisbane's planning, inception, wild times, and present-day suburban life.
