Hugh Black with his daughters Shirley Masia, at left, and Linda Pacheco. Photo was taken in the 1980s. Hugh passed away in 1988.
Pages from The Pass of the Oaks
–At the request and guidance from Hugh Black’s daughters Linda Pacheco and Shirley Masia, I am currently writing a book titled, The Legacy of Hugh Black. It is a fascinating story of Hugh’s strength of character, business sense, love for his family, his ranches, the Black Hatchery, and how he “put poultry to work” to augment his commercial success and generosity for his community.
Hugh was an astute entrepreneur with a kind, generous heart, and a sense of humor. In 1959, dramatic changes came to Highway 101 that had historically traversed Spring Street through Paso Robles. The new highway created a major intersection near the current Mid-State Fair property. Hugh’s Black Hatchery was right in the “thick” of it!