From 1986 to 2006 , the Edes Building was home to the South
Valley Bike Shop . During the bike shop ’ s run , Morgan Hill became known as the home of Specialized , a worldfamous bicycle designer , and as a great destination for cycling enthusiasts . After the bike shop moved out , the Edes building stood vacant for the first time in its history . Morgan Hill ’ s longtime community members looked forward to the arrival of a new business enterprise that would bring new life to the empty space at 2nd and Monterey .
ABOVE : Inside V . M . Edes Grocery Store , circa 1913
John Telfer Sr also served Morgan Hill for nearly 30 years as a city councilman and mayor . His son , Ernie , married Ethel Steele , and they operated their grocery business in the Edes building until 1951 when they moved to a new location further North on Monterey Road . In the 1960s , the Telfer family opened South County Realty , which it continues to operate today .
In 1952 , Clyde Edes and his son George Orman Edes moved into the Edes building where they operated Edes Hardware . After seven years , they were ready to retire from retail . Joe and Bob Squeri scrapped their college plans , bought Edes Hardware , and reopened as Squeri Brothers Hardware in 1959 . Their store became a place where the community gathered around the coffee pot , ate doughnuts from Tracy ’ s Bakery next door , and discussed the events of the day . It was not unusual for Joe and Bob to visit customers ’ homes to install purchased items for them .
In 2016 , the property ’ s new owner , Dan McCranie , announced plans to replace the existing building with a new multi-use venue that would support local arts in the community . During the demolition , Dan preserved a wall of the building on which the
ABOVE : Side of Edes Hardware Store-corner of 2nd St . and Monterey . Taken when the store was moved back to accommodate widening of Monterey Rd . BELOW : Morgan Hill pop-up park provided a fun , family-friendly space for several years at the location .
ABOVE : Steele ' s Cash and Carry - 1926 - Charlotte Steele stands at the entrance - Photo Courtesy of J Telfer
In 1968 , Al Statti purchased the Edes building and operated
Statti ’ s Corner Drug Store until retiring in the early 1980s . It was there that Al ’ s teenage daughter , Alice , met her future husband George Chiala . Alice was serving customers at the store ’ s popular soda fountain when George came in for some ice cream and got to talking about carrying on his family ’ s farming tradition . Later they married and established GC Farms in Morgan Hill , which continues today , led by George ’ s children . original Albers Flapjack Flour ad had been painted . He worked with Tim Edes , a fourth-generation Edes family descendant , to have the wall moved and installed in the original Edes family home ( now owned by cousins in the Link family ), where it still stands today .
Interesting how a single parcel of land in the heart of a community has captured the imagination and inspired the endeavors and neighborliness of Morgan Hill families across generations , past , present and future .
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