editor @ yourmonthlypaper.com
November 2019 • ALAMO TODAY & DANVILLE TODAY NEWS • PAGE 1
& NOVEMBER 2019
HAP MAGEE: GENUINE LOCAL LEGEND
By Jody Morgan
By the time Hap Magee brought Texas longhorns to the area, cattle ranching had been a way of life in the San Ramon Valley for over a century. Hap added the iconic symbols of the Old West to his herd to breed, to supply to rodeos, and to eventually provide for leading roles in commercials. His knack for showmanship resulted in entertainment for his neighbors that made him a local legend during his lifetime. Today, a portion of the land on the Danville-Alamo border where he resided from 1953-1985 welcomes visitors as Hap Magee Ranch Park.
ROOMS OF HOPE MAKEOVER BRINGS JOY
By Fran Miller
Twenty years ago, Shelley Ham made a promise to God that if her child was allowed to live, she would spend the rest of her life helping other seriously ill children. Ham’s daughter is now nearly 22 and healthy, and in 2014 Ham founded Rooms of Hope, an organization with the mission of providing dream room makeovers to children with life-threatening medical illnesses or conditions.
Rooms of Hope volunteers pose at a room makeover ‘reveal.’
“This is my passion,” says Ham. “I am an interior designer, and my husband is an architect, so this mission is perfect for us.” A Rooms of Hope room makeover is available to any child (ages 4 Magee longhorns: Magee longhorns were a novel sight in downtown Danville. Photo courtesy of Beverly Lane.
Hap’s parents, Harry and Juanita, purchased the property previously known as Camp Swain in 1946. Run as a summer camp for orphans in San Francisco from 1911 until World War II disrupted their routine, the site had buildings gone derelict from disuse and a 75-foot swimming pool in need of repair. Restoration work put the structures back in shape. Another house was added when Hap married. The family renamed the ranch Edgewood Farm. Hap’s brother Jerry and his wife along with their children Jed, Susan, and Ann spent summers in what park visitors know as the Swain House. Jed recalls, “Summers on the ranch were ideal for children. We could swim or saddle up a horse and ride through the hills. A small th Hap Magee was Grand Master of Danville's 4 of pond where we could fish was stocked July Parade in 1982. Photo courtesy of Jed Magee/ with perch and bluegills.” Mark Harrigan. Poolside barbeque’s were enjoyed in the roundhouse that provided shade and adequate dining space. But the pool and roundhouse succumbed to progress as I-680 tore through the landscape.
See Magee continued on page 21
Local Postal Customer
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Permit 263 Alamo CA
ECRWSS
See Hope continued on page 24
HELPING ONE WOMAN
By Fran Miller
With the knowledge that many of her hometown Fresno friends had been positively effected by the generosity of the National Helping One Woman (HOW) non profit, Kindra Brusseau sought to create a Danville chapter of the organization that helps women in need. HOW’s mission is simple and includes community coming together to provide comfort
See Helping continued on page 26
The Editors Serving the communities of Alamo, Diablo, and Danville
Volume XIX Number 11
Volume X Number 11
3000F Danville Blvd. #117 Alamo, CA 94507 Telephone (925) 405-6397 Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of The Editors. The Editors is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.