Welcome to the
Los Gatos Chapter DAR.
Our group meets October – May on the first Monday of each month.
We welcome ladies of age 18 and above who can prove lineal,
blood-line descent from a man or woman who aided in achieving
American Independence. Acceptable service is defined as:
- Signers of the Declaration of Independence or the
Constitution of the United States
- Military Service – all branches of the Military
- Civil Service and Patriotic Service
Prospective members are always welcome. If you are
interested, please contact us at
losgatosdar@hotmail.com.
Early History of the
Los Gatos Chapter DAR
Los Gatos Chapter DAR No. 75 was organized November 19, 1929.
The Organizing Regent was Mrs. Harry B. Payne.
The Chapter had the distinction of holding its organizing
meeting in the home of famous writer Ruth Comfort Mitchell (Mrs.
Sanford Young).
In choosing the Chapter’s name, "Los Gatos," which when
translated into English means, “The Cats,” the founders sought
to perpetuate the memory of the founder of the city, José
Hernandez. In 1840, Hernandez and Sebastian Peralta had obtained
a land grant from Mexico, which contained 6,631 acres on which
the town of Los Gatos now stands. While exploring their holdings
from the Pacific Ocean to what is now Santa Clara Valley, the
party heard the screaming of wild cats; hence, the name. Upon
having discovered water and fertile land, Hernandez built his
Adobe Hacienda off what is now Quito Road.
The Los Gatos Chapter DAR marked this original Hacienda with
a plaque and held many of its early meetings there. The
descendants of the Raisch family were owners of the property.
We would like to thank Roz Work for
compiling this history of our Los Gatos Chapter.
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