Description

In this oral history interview, longtime Tennessee Valley resident Katherine Kirkland recounts tales an active life as part of a close-knit community. Kathy spent her childhood on her grandfather's dairy farm in Tennessee Valley, part of the community of Portuguese families that worked the land both in the valley and beyond. With a practical mindset, she relays some of the challenges of farming, from the rationing days of World War II to the high cost of feed today, and touches upon land use in the area and its evolution. Kathy's heartfelt and often humorous personal stories convey a picture of a vibrant childhood experienced not just in Tennessee Valley, but in Sausalito, Marin City and downtown Mill Valley. Kathy describes her dedication to baton twirling, the multiculturalism of local drum corps and the food-filled celebrations of the Portuguese community. She also recounts some wild local stories, including one about a ghost in Tennessee Valley and a more tangible tale of murder and Mafia in Sausalito. With fluid, easy-going recollection, Kathy describes a tenor of life that was at once very grounded and just a little surreal.

Record Contributed By

Mill Valley Public Library

Record Harvested From

California Digital Library