BRENTWOOD — The city paid tribute Monday to the legacy of Davis Camp, built in the late 1920s to help those who moved to California from the Midwest to escape the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, with the unveiling of three interpretive displays honoring its contribution to Brentwood’s history.
Accessible from the adjacent Mokelumne Coast to Crest Trail and Marsh Creek Regional Trail, the displays provide information on how the camp first got started in 1927 by O.R Davis, also known as “Cal,” and his wife Ruth, who moved from Oklahoma looking for work in the fields and orchards.
There also is information on the picking, packing, and shipping of fruits and vegetables that were transported throughout the country. One panel provides details about the Mexican Farm Labor Program which “established the Bracero Program in 1942,” according to the Library of Congress.
“This series of diplomatic accords between Mexico and the United States permitted millions of Mexican men to work legally in the United States on short-term labor contracts,” the Library of Congress website states.
Frank Davis, Cal Davis’ nephew, arrived at the camp with his family in 1936 from Oklahoma and stayed for seven years before moving to Oakley. Frank Davis said the camp was a vital part of the community in Brentwood and surrounding areas.
“We all prospered here in California,” reflected 88-year-old Frank Davis at the unveiling ceremony of the displays on Monday. “There were jobs here; we were called ‘fruit tramps,’ that was the name given to us, but that’s OK because it instilled work ethics in us that has built part of this country.”
Davis Camp was situated on the southwest corner of Brentwood Boulevard and Sunset Road. When Cal Davis arrived in the late 1920s, he made a deal with Contra Costa County to take over the property in exchange for cleaning an area which used to be a dumping site. He then created temporary shelters and urged relatives from Oklahoma to join him and make a living by picking fruits from the orchards and fields.
According to a story published in The Press, by 1934, more than 1,000 people were living at Davis Camp.
Frank Davis said when his family first pulled up in front of Davis Log Cabin Grocery, a store portion of the camp with small cabins and other facilities, they were greeted by several young girls who had moved from Oklahoma and were living there. He said the girls had “called dibs” on his brothers.
“Believe it or not, they all got married and lived in this area,” he chuckled.
Frank Davis said he was grateful to the city for keeping the memories and history of the site, which meant a lot to him and many other families that lived there.
Brentwood resident Sharon Ellingson’s family also arrived from Oklahoma and lived in canvas tents when they arrived at Davis Camp. Ellingson, who is part of the East Contra Costa Historical Society, made it a point to research the site where her grandparents had once lived.
“We presented this (research) to the city council, and they got right on the ball and funded us the money to build this (display panels),” said Ellingson.
The panels were designed by graphic designer Sherrie Hamilton.
Brentwood Mayor Susannah Meyer said it is vital to recognize the significance and agricultural history of the city.
“We on the council are committed to making sure that we keep the history alive and not lose it to development,” said Meyer.
Assistant City Manager Darin Gale thanked the East Contra Costa Historical Society for bringing forward the idea to ensure the city could commemorate and memorialize the history of Brentwood. Gale said the city spent about $25,000 for the interpretive displays and benches for visitors to the area.
The Davis Camp property was acquired by Brentwood’s redevelopment agency, which was dissolved in 2012. In 2020, the city declared the property a surplus and was required to sell properties previously under the agency. Last year, the Davis Camp building was torn down and cleared as the city plans to sell the land for development.