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Father's Day-Remembering Maternal Grandfather Victor Leopoldo Schwab


Rose Ruth Buero Schwab (Maternal Grandmother 1887-1946) and Victor Leopoldo Schwab (Maternal Grandfather 1888-1970). Circa 1913 Monterey or Santa Cruz County. Likely Cannery Row in New Monterey where Victor was a engineering superintendent at various sardine canneries including the Hovden Cannery founded in 1916. Hovden's last facility is the site of the Monterey Bay Aquarium (Wikipedia). Note Victor's greasy trousers and big hands. Rose worked the canneries and raised 13 children. Steinbeck's 'Cannery Row', 'Tortilla Flat' and 'Sweet Thursday' are based on the life and times on Cannery Row, New Monterey and Pacific Grove. Although Victor reportedly told Steinbeck to not include his family in the storytelling, Rose was famous for homemade tortillas, frijoles and many children similar to Teresina in 'Tortilla Flat (1935)'.

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