The Cupertino Courier
Cover Story
Photograph courtesy of the Cupertino History Museum
This early store is another of several historical photos found in LyonŐs book, scheduled for publication in mid-October.
History Buff
Cupertino's Mary Lou Lyon puts pen to paper to preserve the past
By Ruby Elbogen
From how Stevens Creek got its name to the winery that once operated where DeAnza College now stands, Cupertino avocational historian Mary Lou Lyon has spent the last year researching and recording the community's early history.
Arcadia Press, publisher of a series of historical books called "Images of America," chose Lyon to write the text of a book about the community's historic roots.
The book is called Early Cupertino.
Lyon is a historian who's been teaching Western history for 40 years. She says she's been sharing Cupertino's history with her students without repeating herself for almost 20 years.
Longtime resident
Lyon has lived in the same Cupertino house since 1960. She was born in Kansas to what she describes as pioneer stock. Her father was one of the country's early aviators. During the Depression, her father left Wichita to work for Beechcraft. The family later moved to Cheyenne, Wyo., where Lyon's dad joined United Airlines, but California beckoned.
The family moved to San Leandro in 1941. Following in the footsteps of her pioneering family, Lyon has traveled on almost every road in California in her quest to learn more about the state and its history.
Highly qualified
A member of the Conference of California Historical Societies for 30 years, Lyon has a master's degree. She taught at Cupertino's Homestead High School for 31 years, at San Jose State University Extension Adult School at Fremont High School in Sunnyvale, and at Willows Senior Center in San Jose.
As a lover of history, Lyon laments the tearing down of many of Cupertino's landmark buildings in the name of progress. "It is difficult to teach students about historic buildings that no longer exist," she says.
To have its history published by Arcadia Press is a feather in Cupertino's cap, and Lyon, 86, feels honored to be the book's author. She has produced a record of the city's past that predates the Gold Rush era.
Want the book?
To mark her book's debut, Lyon will hold two book signings. The first will be Oct. 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Harold's Hot Dog Stand, owned by her friend Craig Steel. The cart is in the front parking lot of Kelly Moore Paint Store, 1510 De Anza, just past the Highway 85 freeway bridge on the Cupertino/Saratoga border. Lyon, who has been a Harold's regular for more than a decade, enjoys both the food and the banter. She accepted Steel's offer to hold the kick-off book-signing.
The second event, a citywide "meet the author" reception, will start at 3 p.m. Oct. 29 in the lobby of Community Hall, 10350 Torre Ave. The city of Cupertino, the Cupertino Historical Society, Cupertino Quota Club and the Cupertino Library Foundation will host the affair. Vice Mayor Kris Wang is chairperson of the book signing. Books autographed by the author will be available for purchase.
