Oral Histories

Real voices, real stories. Residents who lived through the moments that shaped St. Helena.

65 interviews 54 with audio Spanning 43+ years

The Society’s “Voices of St. Helena” oral history program captures firsthand experiences of longtime residents — recorded by community volunteers and St. Helena High School students alike. These conversations are a window into the past: lawyers and librarians, farmers and winemakers, immigrant families and lifelong locals who shaped this valley.

Voices of St. Helena

Toni Allegra smiling in a grey turtleneck and beaded necklace against autumn foliage

Antonia (Toni) Allegra

by Bonnie Thoreen 6/14/2015 and 7/15/2015

BONNIE THOREEN: This is Bonnie Thoreen. I’m at the home of Antonia Allegra. It is…

Carl Shellhorn in a work shirt standing in his machine shop, tools hung on the wall behind him

Carl Shellhorn

by Noah Michela, Renzo Gansa May 16, 2024

And so I graduated from high school. There was a change in my junior year.…

Chouvarii Lyman smiling in a dark top against white clapboard siding

Chouvarii Lyman

by Mari Martinez March 23, 2014

MARI MARTINEZ: My name is Mari Martinez. I am Spanish Services Associate at the St.…

Chris Hartley in a St. Helena police chief's uniform, a framed group photograph behind him

Chris Hartley

by Matthew Larrabee, Vaughn Thongtawath April 5, 2025

ML: So for your father and mother's side, what is the name of your father?…

Christina Kreiden in a green dress beside shelves of bound volumes in the library

Christina Kreiden

by Reagan Dunnington, Piper Pike

They left Ukraine in the late 1930s. They lived in Poland before they went to…

No portrait available

Christopher Cole

by Penelope Williams and Corinna Schlatter April 11, 2026

Penelope Williams: This is Penelope Williams and Corinna Schlatter. I am pleased to welcome Chris…

Chuck O'Rear in a cap and glasses, holding his camera

Chuck O'Rear

by Julie Worthington October 17, 2013

on behalf of the St. Helena Historical Society’s Oral History Program. We are conducting this…

Darioush Khaledi holding a glass of wine before a wall of wine racks

Darioush Khaledi

by Nicholas Groth and Henry Ray

And I smelled something good. I couldn't reach the wine, but I saw a nearby…

Darrell Quirici smiling in a red polo shirt

Darrell Quirici

by Darrell Quirici

ST: When and where were you born? His father was from outside of Bologna, in…

David and Nancy Garden, he in a red bow tie with his arm around her, both laughing

David & Nancy Garden

by Mariam Hansen Feb. 4, 2014

DAVID: About the barn. Alright. Well, the barn existed here, an 1872 barn, existed here…

David Davies in heavy black-framed glasses and a patterned shirt

David Davies

by Leonardo Fitzpatrick, Gabriel Avina

Leonardo Fitzpatrick: This is Leo Fitzpatrick and.. LF: I'm pleased to welcome David Harrivern…, is…

No portrait available

Dick Woodson

by Isabella Montenegro and Aria Ries-Juncker April 23, 2026

Isabella Montenegro: This is Isabella Montenegro, Aria Ries-Juncker: And Aria Ries Juncker, IM: And we…

Don Buller in a red-and-black plaid shirt

Don Buller

by Lillian Grimes and Adalia Blanton April 19, 2026

Ada Blanton: This is Ada Blanton, Lillian Grimes: And Lillian Grimes AB: And I'm pleased…

Doug Wight in a work shirt standing among the stainless tanks of a winery

Doug Wight

by Hartleigh Demchuk and Rosemary Vasquez

Hartleigh Demchuk: This is Hartleigh Demchuk and Rosemary Vasquez: Rosemary Vasquez HD: I am pleased…

Ed Paulson in an open-collar shirt inside his workshop

Ed Paulson

by his niece (Mae’s daughter, Paula)

Interview with Ed Paulson November 23, 1978 PAULA: November 23rd, 1978 and we’re in St.…

Ernie Butala & Petite Abruzzini

by George Vierra June 2, 2017

history of St. Helena. We have two native residents who are going to be basically…

Frank "Laurie" Wood in a ball cap and work shirt, standing in a barn doorway

Frank "Laurie" Wood

by Pat Alexander and Trisha Westbrook 1/26/2005

Pat Alexander: Begin recording of Tape #1. This is Pat Alexander and I’m very pleased…

Studio portrait of Fred Abruzzini in a light suit, chin resting on his hand

Fred Abruzzini

Beginning part of transcript seems to be missing. of stuff on him. See, that’s old…

Greta Ericson in a helmet and leather jacket seated on a chrome motorcycle against a brick wall

Greta Ericson

Note: the text interview below is much shorter than our recorded interview. Use the playback…

A painting by Guli Buchanan of women in bright shawls reaching upward

Guli Buchanan

First part and last part of interview seems to be missing. Guli Buchanan: In oil.…

Guy Kay

by Skip Lane 11/21/?

Kay, who I am interviewing on behalf of the St. Helena Historical Society’s Oral History…

Helen Paris Christianson smiling in a striped shirt before a carved wood panel

Helen Paris Christianson

November 14, 2013

At Grace Episcopal Church, St. Helena. I’m pleased to welcome Helena Christianson whom I am…

Henry Escareno in a denim work shirt and sunglasses, a log building and barrels behind him

Henry Escareno

by Mari Martinez

Helena Public Library, and today is May 21st of 2016 and we are at the…

Hope Lugo in large glasses and a black-and-white patterned jacket

Hope Lugo

by Mari Martinez April 24, 2014

Mari Martinez and I am the Spanish Services Associate at the St. Helena Public Library. …

No portrait available

Jill Davis

by Sonny Calder, Olivia Réblé

I am pleased to welcome Jill Davis, whom I am interviewing on behalf of the…

Joanne and John Sales in formal dress, she in a black jacket and he in a tuxedo

Joanne & John Sales

by Jan Bradley October 31, 2013

born in Ontario, Canada in l935 and I came to St. Helena when I got…

Joe Heitz in a striped shirt lifting a cluster from a bin of dark grapes beside a stone winery wall

Joe Heitz

by William Ferdinand Heintz 7/06/1983

William:tToday's date is July 6, 1983.tMy name is William Heintz.tI'm at 500 Taplan Road, St.…

John Thoreen with long grey hair, glasses and a moustache

John Thoreen

by Claire Scalzo 9/12/2016

I am interviewing on behalf of the St. Helena Historical Society’s Oral History Program. We…

Ken Taplin smiling in aviator glasses and a blue plaid shirt

Ken Taplin

by Lorin Sorenson 2002

and we're interviewing Ken Taplin. My name is Lorin Sorenson, and Ken, let's June 10,…

Grant Cairns in uniform and a peaked service cap, a wartime portrait

Kenneth Grant Cairns

by Susanne Salvestrin February, 2007

Kenneth Grant Cairns who I am interviewing on behalf of the St. Helena Historical Society’s…

Larry and Annette Smith standing together outdoors under summer greenery

Larry & Annette Smith

by Jan Bradley July 13, 2015 at Fir Hill Farm in St. Helena July 13, 2015

July 13, 2015 at Fir Hill Farm in St. Helena JAN: To start out I…

Larry Bettinelli in a wide-brimmed bush hat, open hills behind him

Larry Bettinelli

by Mari Martinez March 23, 2014

Layla Fanucci leaning on a rack of wine glasses before one of her brightly coloured paintings

Layla Fanucci

by Olive Filippini, Alice Baxter

Olive Filippini: This is Alice Baxter and Olive Filippini. I am pleased to welcome Layla…

Luis Pena standing in a cap, glasses and a quilted jacket

Luis Peña

by Juliana Carroll and Danette Olguin Reyes April 20, 2026

Juliana Carroll: This is Juliana Carroll and Danette Olguin Reyes, and I am pleased to…

Sepia portrait of Marie Del Bondio as a young woman with 1940s waved hair

Marie Del Bondio

by Susanne Salvestrin 5-17-2006

SUSANNE SALVESTRIN: Susanne Savestrin MARIE DEL BONDIO: Marie Del Bondio SUSANNE SALVESTRIN: This is Susanne…

No portrait available

Marie Oliver

by Peter Oliver, Jack Robinson

So, but they had all, Mr. Lyman was still alive. He was a well-known figure…

Marilyn and Nick Coy beside a lit garden fountain at dusk

Marilyn & Nick Coy

by Mari Martinez March 23, 2014

MARI: It’s March 23, 2014. My name is Mari Martinez; I work as a Spanish…

A young Marjorie Hoyer-Smith with a companion before a Kiwanis Kapades banner

Marjorie Hoyer-Smith

by Alexis Lund and Tahlia Smith

Tahlia Smith: This is Tahlia Smith. I am accompanied today by Alexis Lund and we…

Larry and Marsha Bettinelli in wide-brimmed sun hats outdoors

Marsha Bettinelli

by Mari Martinez March 23, 2014

MARI: My name is Marti Martinez and I work here in the St. Helena Public…

Mary Edano and Rose Taylor standing with hands clasped before a church altar

Mary Edano & Rose Taylor

by Susanne Salvestrin 7/15/2014

Salvestrin, and I am pleased to welcome Mary Edano and her sister Rose Taylor who…

Norman Manzer in glasses and a checked shirt

Norman Manzer

by Larsen Moura, Jeremiah Vasquez

LM: I am pleased to welcome Norman Samuel Manzer whom I am interviewing on behalf…

Oscar DeHaro in a navy suit and striped tie

Oscar DeHaro

by Jimena Reynaga-Castro, Camila Tolteca-Clavel

Program. We are conducting this interview at 04:01 o'clock on April 2nd 2025 at 1401…

Oscar Delgado

by Mari Martinez May 21, ?

Hello, my name is Mari Martinez and I am a librarian at the St. Helena…

Osvaldo Particelli in a fedora, grinning as he raises a forkful of food

Osvaldo and Ferruccia Particelli

by Jan Bradley February 10, 2015

JAN BRADLEY: This is Jan Bradley and I am interviewing Oswaldo Particelli and Ferruccia Particelli…

Petite Abruzzini smiling in a navy top in a kitchen

Petite Abruzzini

by Ken Taplin and Susanne Salvestrin July 9, 2008

Ken Taplin: This is an interview with Petite Abruzzini on Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at…

Phoebe Ellsworth in a coral top, standing beneath a tree

Phoebe Ellsworth

August 9 circa 2015-16 Sharon Delmonico

I grew up in Palo Alto, and I had an exceptionally wonderful upbringing and opportunities…

Placido Garcia in a straw hat and red bandana

Placido Garcia

by Brissa Gomez and Samantha Solano

It was in Parral, Chihuahua. Parral, Chihuahua is a mining area, pure mines and at…

Rafael Rios with his brothers around a table set with two bottles of their wine

Rafael Rios

by Ariani Diaz, Charlie Maldonado, Karina Garcia

AD: Hello, I'm Ariani Diaz, and here I am with Karina Garcia and Charlie Maldonado.…

Rafael Rodriguez smiling outdoors in glasses and a light blue shirt

Rafael Rodriguez

Interview with Rafael Rodriguez Rafael was born and educated in Mexico City. He went to…

Reuel Minton laughing in an armchair beside a sunlit window

Reuel Minton

by Dylan Williams and Brandon Pham April 12, 2026

Dylan Williams: I'm Dylan Williams, and this is… Brandon Pham: Brandon Pham DW: And I'm…

Rudy and Therese Frey seated together, she wearing a green beaded necklace

Rudy & Therese Frey

by Mariam Hansen and Bonnie Thoreen 2/12/2011

RUDY: Gosh for at least, for thirteen years at the bakery, was it thirteen years?…

Scott Snowden in a white cowboy hat and canvas jacket, outdoors among trees

Scott Snowden

SS: My immediate family history is my father was a professor of engineering at Berkeley…

No portrait available

Slim Benson

by Tatum Smith and Melissa Teaff April 3, 2026

Tatum Smith: This is Tatum Smith and MJ Teaff. I am pleased to welcome Slim…

Studio portrait of Sloan Upton, white-bearded, in a dark T-shirt

Sloan Upton

by Claire Scalzo 9/26/16

I’m pleased to welcome W. Sloan Upton, who I am interviewing on behalf of the…

No portrait available

Steve & Linda Goldfarb

by Luke Symon and Jackson White April 8, 2026

Luke Symon: This is Luke Symon. I'm pleased to welcome Linda and Steve Goldfarb, who…

Sue Cottrell in a navy top, standing beside a carved wooden panel and oak door

Sue Cottrell

by Gansevoort Dunnington and Frederick Cutting

Frederick Cutting: This is Frederick Cutting and Gansevoort Dunnington. I am pleased to welcome Susan…

Tala DeWynter in glasses and a floral blouse, smiling beside red flowers

Tala DeWynter

by Sandra Nichols 7/9/2007

SANDRA NICHOLS: I’m pleased to welcome Tala DeWynter, whom I will be interviewing on behalf…

Tom Giugni smiling outdoors in a striped shirt and a purple orchid lei

Tom Giugni

by Dagfinnr Chang-Wick, Hector Rodriguez-Rodriguez

Helena High School in Mr. Blasingame's class. The day is March 9, 2024, at 3:45pm.…

Tracey Skupny and a companion standing together in a garden at golden hour

Tracey Skupny

by Alondra Calderon and Matias Ruvalcaba April 15, 2026

Matias Ruvalcaba: This is Matias Ruvalcaba. I am pleased to welcome Tracey Skupny, who I…

Vincent and Claire Amendola smiling side by side before a decorative tiled wall

Vincent & Claire Amendola

by Norma Ferriz November 18, 2013

Today is November 18 of 2013. Thank you for your time and can you start…

Wine Families of St. Helena

The families who planted the vines and built the cellars — their stories are woven into the land itself.

Bedolla Family

tJulia and Pete had five children: sons LiBrado (Lee) and Joseph, and daughters Rosa, Ramona and Amador and a total…

Lincoln Family

ttHarry Lincoln and children tHarry Latham Lincoln was born in New York January 21, 1830 and was one of 13…

MacDonald Family

ttRichard and Hedwig Detert on Easter Peak, Guenoc Rancho, looking towards Detert Lake 1940 tThe MACDONALD winery story officially starts…

McCormick Family Story

ttJohn York and Lucinda Hudson York tThe McCormicks, Hudsons and Yorks, all prominent Napa Valley pioneers, made many contributions to…

Money Family Story

tIf you have ever sat in the Cameo Cinema and wondered about the building, the story behind it involves one…

Share Your Story

Know someone whose story should be recorded? We’re always looking for new voices. Contact us to suggest an interviewee or volunteer as a narrator.