Did you know that the roots of the Navy SEALs can be traced to Moraga? Well, that might be a bit of a stretch. But there’s a really cool story here. And how about this:

Moraga was considered for the headquarters of the United Nations. Yep, our charming little town has quite a history. And it is history that creates stories, and it’s stories that breed community.

During the Second World War, the U.S. Navy effectively used Saint Mary’s College for one of its preflight academies for training. The program focused on intense physical conditioning, water survival, and combat. In fact, Donald Rheem lent his pool at the Hacienda for this prestigious program before the largest indoor pool at that time was built on campus. Future President Gerald Ford was an instructor here, while future Mercury 7 astronaut Scott Carpenter also did his military training here.

Moraga’s brand was strong as the war concluded. After the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in June 1945, world leaders were searching for a location to serve as the permanent “capital of the world.” Perhaps surprising to most of you reading this, Moraga was on the list.

Proponents argued that major cities lacked the necessary space. Close enough to a major coastal city, the rural Moraga Valley had hundreds of square miles suitable for a massive international complex and housing. Reports indicate they had plans to even build a dedicated international airport here. It was not to be.

The Moraga momentum to be the UN home slowly faded. In December 1946, John D. Rockefeller, the Standard Oil titan, donated $8.5 million ($145 million in today’s dollars) to buy property along Manhattan’s East River. That sealed the deal, making New York City the permanent home of the United Nations and leaving our town to wonder, “What if?”

Before all of this, Moraga was decidedly an ag town. A guy named Irvine bought over 5,000 acres in 1912. James Irvine, yes, the same guy who built out a citrus grove empire in Southern California, established and served as the head of the Moraga Company. Irvine’s Moraga Company operated what was described as the largest pear production under a single management in the world. Moraga Bartletts were considered premium pears and were coveted as far away as New York, London, and Shanghai. I bet you’ll look at those fruit trees a little differently next time.

Moraga’s eventful story doesn’t stop there. The Historical Society, run by our town’s favorite daughter, Susan Sperry, who was born and raised here, possesses everything you need to know. The group, with big thanks to John Kaiser, is hard at work bringing it into the digital age. Storytelling breeds a sense of community. That’s precisely what this magazine is designed to do. Expect more from Moraga history in 2027!