Some Shuey History

This past week, I joined 30,000 real estate professionals who attended the National Association of Realtors® conference in Las Vegas. As the largest trade organization in the United States gathered to celebrate its 100th anniversary, I thought it would be fitting to reflect on some of our own history right here in Almond-Shuey.


Homer Stow Shuey appeared in Walnut Creek at the right moment with the right idea. Born in Quincy, Illinois, on August 7, 1840, Shuey was one of eight children of John Shuey. Shuey came to Walnut Creek in the mid-1860's and opened a general Merchandise store with his brother Malcolm. In 1868, her married Genevra Doughherty of Lafayette.

One year after his marriage Homer bought fifty-seven acres from Hiram Penniman of what was to become the downtown business district of Walnut Creek. Shuey filed a subdivision map in 1876 and began selling off his lots. He followed a year later with a larger subdivision, establishing the street pattern of the present day Walnut Creek.

When Shuey filed these subdivision maps, street names were different than they are now. Cypress was called "China" and Locust was named "School". Main street was desginated "Pacheco" and California appeared as "Granger". Well in to the 1930's, Mt. Diablo Boulevard was called Lafayette Road.

On Shuey's maps, his lots are fifty feet wide and 140 feet deep. One of the early buyers, Ah Lo, the village laundryman, bought a 25-foot piece fronting on Main Street and he paid thirty-five dollars.

(Information and photos courtesy of the Walnut Creek Historical Society)