Rosie Francisco Vargas was the daughter of Azorean emigrants, Joe Francisco Vargas of Castelo Branco and Anna C. Lourenco of Santa Cruz, Flores. Rosie born May 2, 1904, in Warm Springs, was raised, along with nine siblings on property belonging to Henry Curtner, where her parents were share crop farmers. She attended Warm Springs Grammar School and later worked there. One day, when she was 16 years old, she met her future husband, Joe Silveira Brown, as she was leaving her job of cleaning the school. Joe owned the Warm Springs Store and was also was the United States Census taker for that area. Joe offered her a ride home, which she accepted, and told her that he would soon be calling on her family home to take the 1920 census.
Joe invited Rosie to a dance at the home of his father, Antonio. Joe showered her with attention at this dance and the courtship began. They were married in Mission San Jose on October 4, 1920 with her sister, Minnie Vargas Sarmento, and her husband, Manuel Sarmento, as their witnesses. They established their home at the grocery store where Rosie became an active partner in the business. The store was the hub of activity in Warm Springs. Besides being the post office, where Rosie acted as postal clerk, the store also housed the local library, which had been organized on February 20, 1912. Rosie became the Alameda County Librarian at this branch. Joe was a station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Warm Springs. The store also carried appliances and Rosie and Joe set to work in installing and servicing the stoves they sold. The store had a hall upstairs which served for local meetings and for family get-togethers for Rosie's siblings and their families on holidays. Their home was attached to the store but they purchased an off-site home in 1934.
The Browns were very active in their community. Rosie was a member of Sao Gabriel Council 84 of the S.P.R.S.I. and was a member of its drill team. She marched in parades along with her sisters Adeline and Florence. Rosie served as secretary for the council for over twenty-five years.
After Joe died on August 28, 1957, Rosie assumed the duties of postmistress on June 30, 1957 and was designated "Acting Postmistress" on July 11, 1957. She was officially confirmed Postmistress of Warm Springs on May 13, 1959. She continued in this post until the city of Fremont was unified and all postmasters became station agents. Rosie retired and leased the store to several families in turn, Tony and Annie Lawrence, John Feliciano and Walter Stienmetz and then Lillian and Louie Rodrigues. The post office moved to another location and Rosie carried on as its station agent. Rosie remarried in1960 to Ray Morgan. Rose Morgan died on December 17, 1979 and is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Warm Springs.
Today, one lonely palm tree stands faithful watch over a gas station which was built on the site where once stood the Warm Springs Store.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Joe invited Rosie to a dance at the home of his father, Antonio. Joe showered her with attention at this dance and the courtship began. They were married in Mission San Jose on October 4, 1920 with her sister, Minnie Vargas Sarmento, and her husband, Manuel Sarmento, as their witnesses. They established their home at the grocery store where Rosie became an active partner in the business. The store was the hub of activity in Warm Springs. Besides being the post office, where Rosie acted as postal clerk, the store also housed the local library, which had been organized on February 20, 1912. Rosie became the Alameda County Librarian at this branch. Joe was a station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Warm Springs. The store also carried appliances and Rosie and Joe set to work in installing and servicing the stoves they sold. The store had a hall upstairs which served for local meetings and for family get-togethers for Rosie's siblings and their families on holidays. Their home was attached to the store but they purchased an off-site home in 1934.
The Browns were very active in their community. Rosie was a member of Sao Gabriel Council 84 of the S.P.R.S.I. and was a member of its drill team. She marched in parades along with her sisters Adeline and Florence. Rosie served as secretary for the council for over twenty-five years.
After Joe died on August 28, 1957, Rosie assumed the duties of postmistress on June 30, 1957 and was designated "Acting Postmistress" on July 11, 1957. She was officially confirmed Postmistress of Warm Springs on May 13, 1959. She continued in this post until the city of Fremont was unified and all postmasters became station agents. Rosie retired and leased the store to several families in turn, Tony and Annie Lawrence, John Feliciano and Walter Stienmetz and then Lillian and Louie Rodrigues. The post office moved to another location and Rosie carried on as its station agent. Rosie remarried in1960 to Ray Morgan. Rose Morgan died on December 17, 1979 and is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Warm Springs.
Today, one lonely palm tree stands faithful watch over a gas station which was built on the site where once stood the Warm Springs Store.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Rosie Francisco Vargas was the daughter of Azorean emigrants, Joe Francisco Vargas of Castelo Branco and Anna C. Lourenco of Santa Cruz, Flores. Rosie born May 2, 1904, in Warm Springs, was raised, along with nine siblings on property belonging to Henry Curtner, where her parents were share crop farmers. She attended Warm Springs Grammar School and later worked there. One day, when she was 16 years old, she met her future husband, Joe Silveira Brown, as she was leaving her job of cleaning the school. Joe owned the Warm Springs Store and was also was the United States Census taker for that area. Joe offered her a ride home, which she accepted, and told her that he would soon be calling on her family home to take the 1920 census.
Joe invited Rosie to a dance at the home of his father, Antonio. Joe showered her with attention at this dance and the courtship began. They were married in Mission San Jose on October 4, 1920 with her sister, Minnie Vargas Sarmento, and her husband, Manuel Sarmento, as their witnesses. They established their home at the grocery store where Rosie became an active partner in the business. The store was the hub of activity in Warm Springs. Besides being the post office, where Rosie acted as postal clerk, the store also housed the local library, which had been organized on February 20, 1912. Rosie became the Alameda County Librarian at this branch. Joe was a station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Warm Springs. The store also carried appliances and Rosie and Joe set to work in installing and servicing the stoves they sold. The store had a hall upstairs which served for local meetings and for family get-togethers for Rosie's siblings and their families on holidays. Their home was attached to the store but they purchased an off-site home in 1934.
The Browns were very active in their community. Rosie was a member of Sao Gabriel Council 84 of the S.P.R.S.I. and was a member of its drill team. She marched in parades along with her sisters Adeline and Florence. Rosie served as secretary for the council for over twenty-five years.
After Joe died on August 28, 1957, Rosie assumed the duties of postmistress on June 30, 1957 and was designated "Acting Postmistress" on July 11, 1957. She was officially confirmed Postmistress of Warm Springs on May 13, 1959. She continued in this post until the city of Fremont was unified and all postmasters became station agents. Rosie retired and leased the store to several families in turn, Tony and Annie Lawrence, John Feliciano and Walter Stienmetz and then Lillian and Louie Rodrigues. The post office moved to another location and Rosie carried on as its station agent. Rosie remarried in1960 to Ray Morgan. Rose Morgan died on December 17, 1979 and is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Warm Springs.
Today, one lonely palm tree stands faithful watch over a gas station which was built on the site where once stood the Warm Springs Store.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Joe invited Rosie to a dance at the home of his father, Antonio. Joe showered her with attention at this dance and the courtship began. They were married in Mission San Jose on October 4, 1920 with her sister, Minnie Vargas Sarmento, and her husband, Manuel Sarmento, as their witnesses. They established their home at the grocery store where Rosie became an active partner in the business. The store was the hub of activity in Warm Springs. Besides being the post office, where Rosie acted as postal clerk, the store also housed the local library, which had been organized on February 20, 1912. Rosie became the Alameda County Librarian at this branch. Joe was a station agent for the Southern Pacific Railroad Station in Warm Springs. The store also carried appliances and Rosie and Joe set to work in installing and servicing the stoves they sold. The store had a hall upstairs which served for local meetings and for family get-togethers for Rosie's siblings and their families on holidays. Their home was attached to the store but they purchased an off-site home in 1934.
The Browns were very active in their community. Rosie was a member of Sao Gabriel Council 84 of the S.P.R.S.I. and was a member of its drill team. She marched in parades along with her sisters Adeline and Florence. Rosie served as secretary for the council for over twenty-five years.
After Joe died on August 28, 1957, Rosie assumed the duties of postmistress on June 30, 1957 and was designated "Acting Postmistress" on July 11, 1957. She was officially confirmed Postmistress of Warm Springs on May 13, 1959. She continued in this post until the city of Fremont was unified and all postmasters became station agents. Rosie retired and leased the store to several families in turn, Tony and Annie Lawrence, John Feliciano and Walter Stienmetz and then Lillian and Louie Rodrigues. The post office moved to another location and Rosie carried on as its station agent. Rosie remarried in1960 to Ray Morgan. Rose Morgan died on December 17, 1979 and is buried at Cedar Lawn Cemetery in Warm Springs.
Today, one lonely palm tree stands faithful watch over a gas station which was built on the site where once stood the Warm Springs Store.
Copyright Susan Vargas Murphy. All rights reserved.
Family Members
Siblings
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Alvino Francisco Vargas
1892–1968
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Joseph Francisco Vargas Jr
1894–1960
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Mary Francisca Vargas Costa
1895–1949
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Filomena Sarmento Vargas Souza
1897–1980
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Annie Edna Vargas Maciel
1900–1998
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Antone Francisco Vargas
1901–1970
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Adeline Theresa Vargas Swartz
1906–1974
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Manuel Francisco Vargas
1909–1986
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Florence Rita Vargas Brazil Stonecypher
1912–2004
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