THIS POINT NEWSLETTER A PtJBLICATION OF THE POINT RICHMOND HISTORY ASSOCIATION Vol. ll, N>. 2 September , 1983 75 cents
F?. ---==--... =------..:. -==--- --= WINEHAVEN- 75 YEARS OLD
MEMBERS I REGIONAL PARK WORKSHOP 11 HISTORY ASSOCIATION NEWS 2 IT WAS WRITTEN 12 POINTS IN THE PAST 4 NEW ATTHE MASQUERS 13 FIREFIGHTERS: PAST AND PRESENT 9 PEOPLE 'ROUND THE POINT 14 POI NT UP THE DOWNTOWN 10 RECENT HISTOBY MILLER PARt I\ 15 CIVIC GROUP REORGANIZATION 11 POINTS IN THE FUTURE 20 ~===in tiine=~~ MEMBERS .•• Clara Pcrasso ~ :"" ; Elizabeth Pope 4 83 Welcome to the new members of th .. Hattie Potts 4 'H :•.,int Richmond History Association, and Hazel Salmi 5183 · hank you for your support. These are the David E. Sawyer 3/83 .uembers who have joined since March, Victoria Schultz 5/83 1983: Hans and Lori Shaper 5/83 Ann Theresa Ageson 4/83 Miriam Shea 5/83 Mr. and Mrs. Don Allen 4/83 Jim Spilman 5/83 Emma Austin 5/83 Venetia Boehmer Stewan 5/83 Everett Beane 4/83 Ellie Stra~ & family 5/83 ~s. Edgar Brooker 5/83 Barbara Vincent 5/83 the Brant Family 5/83 Judy Walz 4/83 Anita Brougham 5/83 Edith Whetstone 4/83 Alice Buckingham 5/83 Alyce Williamson 5/83 the Butt Family 4/83 Betty Wirth 5/83 Nick and Ramona Calvan 4/83 Walter Wirth 5/83 Vera ~en 5/83 West Side Improvement Club 3/83 Laura Carey 5/83 Peggy Young 5/83 Di«dre Cerbnowicz 6/83 Louis R. Cunan 5/83 Please check the moutli you joined to Christine Dennis 5/83 make sure it is correct. If it is wrong, please Marie De Valle 4/83 callPam Wilson at 231-3101 weeltclays {8:00 Pat Doman 5/83 to 5:00) and it will be corrected. If your the Drake Family 4/83 name is not listed, and vori are a cHrrent Oretta Eaton 4/83 member, please notify P~m also. che Fenton Family 5/83 Mary Franco 3/83 Regina Garrard 5/83 Frances Greenlaw 8/83 Sonny Jackson 5/83 Robert Larson 5/83 If a red check mark appean here Katherine Lord 4/83 -- the MacDiarmid Family 5/83 ya&n' membership dues are (or were) due - Ruth McKay 3/83 ~fa rt y and Ruth McNair 4/83 To insure receiving your next issue of "This ~lrs . Tom Marconi 4/83 Point in Time" (and to keep it and other .\nn Marselis 7/83 worthwhile historical projects going)pSease 111e George Martin Family 5/83 mail your renewal membership to: Roberta Mayer 9/83 I lhn Maxwell 4/83 Pam Wilson \1rs. George Miller, Jr. 5/83 521 Western Drive Point Richmond, CA 94801 I ' elyn Moore 5/83 \ 11rgaret Muth 5/83 \tike Palcnchar 7/83 1 Tho~ m1ewing their memberships arc: HISTORY ASSOCIATION Maude Alexander 5/83 NOTES R.J. and Eliz;1 beth Anderson 5/83 the Burman Family 5/8J the Brown family 5/83 RAFFLERAFFLERAFFLERAFFLERAFF the Corbin Family 5/83 LE. Jack Creed 5/83 '··.RAFFLE William Chleboun 5/83 PRIZES: Mid Doman 5/83 " A beautiful jewel picture creaft'd· by Trannie Dornan 9/83 Clarice Stribley (and on display in Tran Marion Downey 5/83 nie's Window at the Richmond Supp Jack Elle 5/83 ly Company on West Richmond Ave.) Robert Feyder 5/83 Eleano1 Hurley 5/83 * A gourmet dinner created by the f me The Masquers Playhouse 5/83 chef of the Point Richmond FJ.refighters, Maxine Mayer 5/83 in the festive atmosphere of the Point Betty Rieger Karsten 5/83 Fire station, served by the firefighers! Elizabeth McDonald 5/83 * A sketch of your home, and stationery Henry O'Hara 5/83 with the sketch reproduced on it, by Roberta and Richard Palfmi 5/83 Donna Roselius. Dody Perry 5/83 the Roselius Family 5/83 * A year's membership in the Point Rich Goldie Shrewsbury 5/83 mond History Association. Bill and Clarice Stribley 5/83 Lawrence Thole 5/83 DRAWING: the Ward Family 5/83 Thursday, September 22, at the meet Saryl Wein~tein 5/83 ing of the History Association in Linsl_e.y Pam Wilson 5/83 Hall, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Charlotte G. Woods 5/83 PURPOSE: To raise funds for a permanent marker designating Dornan Grove and Dornan -o- Drive.
RAFFLE TICKETS: Available from any of PARTICIPATION NEEDED the History ~ciation Board Members, or at the Richmond Supply Company. . All members are welcome to participate m any phase of our activities. Writers are especially needed - please let us know if you are willing to report, write an article, conduct an interview, etc. Please call 235- ;. 4222 if you :m.• interested. !t 2 PLANNING AHEAD •.• Llaytime tours may be planned (depending LOOKING BACK on interest) to the Castro Point Railway. and Point Molate , and a naturalist's view of A productive year is being planned by the Miller-Knox Park. the Association Board. Besides the creation of valuable indexes for past publications, - Donna Roselius making research far easier (see the Archives Committee's article), the growing collection of early photographs copied from the Don Church collection and other individual/ic- ARCHIVES COMMITTEE ••• ~ tures, and the continuing research an re Good news! On June 28 I picked up the porting via the monthly newsletter; we first group of Church collection reproduc have plans for some meetings worth coming tions from Chevron USA. And, not only did to: we get 8" by 1 O" glossy prinu, but also 4" SEPTEMBER 22 - Thursday, at 7:30p.m., by 5" negatives and proof sheets conveni at Linsley Halt Sherry Hartynyk will pre- ently organized in a large binder. Thank sent memorabilia from Richmond's First you very much, 01evron, and photographers Bank. Original records and documents tlaat C.oombs and McKeegan! At the same time were in the vault when ~he bought the build I picked up the photos, I dropped off the ing as well as some fme old posters found next set to be repcoduced, which included in the attic, and used by the bank, ~ be many interesting street scenes. part of her presentation. Muriel Clausen will also bring records Another major accomplishment this sw. from some of the old buildings in the Point mer was the completion of the index for our which her husband's uncle built. fust publication, the book '1his Point in Time. Rosemary C.orbin, Liz McDonald and As alw.tys, refre5hments will be served I combined our efforts on this project after the program. Everyone is invited, and which will be available to the public soon. bring friends. I really appreciate Rosemary's help, training NOVEMBER 17 - Authors! Authors! -We Liz and me, and then actually putting it are inviting authors who have written about together so it makes perfect sense. The in this area for a brief resume of their books, dex is now in the capable hands of Pam with time for questions and discussion. W'rlson, who has taken on the arduous task Authors we are inviting include Susan C.ole, of proofreading the list, in preparation for George C.oles, Bernard Johnston, Malcolm its fmal typing and publication. Margolin and George C.ollier. JANUARY 26 - The history of the Rich It has been more than a vear, but we arc mond Yacht Club. finally getting the filing tn~ether. Michelle and Michael Hrown providl·tl ns with a num MARCH 23 - or a date close to that time. her of accession forms, aml the PRHA pm when a date to visit Chevron's new facilitie~ t:hased the 11acssary materials to accept and can be arranged, along with a viewing of tht• -; core information. Soon I ltope to be com documentary they have produced. pletely cau~ht up and tu liave the entir• .' MAY - the Third Annual Meeting - date tc procedure under control. he announced. -Terc,.1 . l lbro 'Potltls ill t~ 'Past
~ 75 YEARS AGO ... California Wine Association, 'and this year promises to be a record breaker for us in the The California Wine Association (Calwa manufacture of our various lines. The grape in brand) completed its plant at Winehaven crushing end of the business is one of the 1908. The association of San Joaquin Valley most important features. This year it will be grape growers chose this site because of its the largest in volume of grapes crushed in deep water harbor frontage and direct rail the history of the local plant.' " connections to the valley vineyards. Ocean - Sf'ptember 14, 1913 going ships tied up there to pick up cargoes for world wide ports. The winery was con "At the First Street ball grounds Sunday sidered the largest in the world, producing afternoon the teams of the Santa Fe and the all kind~ of wine and fine champagne. The C...lwas of Winehaven will start their series of plant expanded and Winehaven included a three games for a purse of SSO ••• The rail group of cottages, a hotel and a post office. road men will be strengthened by Ash, their Prohibition stopped production at the plant shortstop, as he can cover a world of ground and eventually it became a naval fuel dept>t. around short. Pinkerton and Moss will form Excursion boats brought thirsty tourists the battery for the Calwa team and with from San Francisco regularly, during Wine Pinky in shape, the wine boys expect to haven's heyday. With the Chinese shrimp bring home the money!' camp close at hand. it's not hard to imagine - September 20, 1913 it u a popular picnic spot. "There is much interest among the West The buildings at Winchaven are !ltill in Side people over 1he first open air concert tact, though they never did look like what under the Indian fountain at Washington most people think of as a winery. The tur Avenue and Park Place bv the Richmond reted brick buildings remind one of .1 fort concert band this evening. ress. and most people are surf rised when ''The band boys have arranged for a most told that this was not original y •tmilitary attractive program and it is expected that building. rhl·rc will be a l.1rge crowd in attendance 70 YEARS AGO t"·om 7:30 until IJ ·,)<.·lock tonight." September 27, 1913 ·•'We arc crushing on an average of 11101 c d1a11 20 carloads of grapes a day: said Su1>1.:1 · "Arrangenw111' ••re being completed fo1 1111cmlent Berndt of the local plant ot 'hl' the removal of 1 lic Wesl Side Branch Library 4 ·com its present location on Richmond A\ c· Mayonnaise .1 9 per pin : nuc, to the new quarters which have been Sirloin steak .20 per lh. 1cascd in the large store room in the building Veal roas1 .14 per TJ, ..t the gore of Washington Avenue and Park Lettuce .05 for 2 Place. The new quarters of the branch will Artichokes .02 eotd1 be completely furnished by the library board Oranges .01 eotch .n order to make its surroundings of the -Septr111l1rr 29, 19).t most attractive character possible to those Artich-s from o"1 R.ichnwnd ,\'r,,.spc111rn., ccm. t• > 'isiting it and using its book shelves." of the Richmond Public Library. - Sqmmber 28, 1913 - Tcres,1 Al/Jru 60 YEARS AGO ... 40 YEARS AGO ... " 'Five for Sixty-Five' is the Standard Oil filling station slogan in Richmond. This ( '.S. ,\JOJIES TO CORRF:cr CONDITIO.\ 'S is the lowest price for gasoline in the hi5tory "A two million dollar appropriation to of the city. say uld-timers. improve food conditions in Richmond ship "Outside the city of Richmond the price yardJ and ot11ers in the &y Arca operated is 14 cents. The Standard Oil Co. makes the under the Maritime Commission will lx: 13 cent price only in Los Angeles and Rich sought immediately, C.W. Eliason, U.S. Ma mond. The cut is attributed to over-supply." ritime Commission Regional Industrial Rela - September 7, 192J tions Advisor declared today. "He made this announcement to a com 50 YEARS AGO .. . miuee of union delegates at a special confer "Miss Gladys O'Hara was appointed by ence held in Oakland. the Boardof Education to be a kindergarten "During the meeting the union repre teacher in our Washington School. She ha~ sentatives declared their oppo~ition to pri been a substitute for some time, and will vate food concessions in the yards and an ~rk on a half-day basis. Increased enroll nounced that they would favor direct Mari ment in the schools is the reason." time Commission control. -S~tember 22, 19JJ "Union representatives included Pre,.i ,;A;, old landmark (the Stiefvater Build dent jack Shelley of the San Francisco labor ing), the principal building used for lodge <. onncil; Ed Rowan. Shipfitter5; Jackie Mc purposes in the 'good old days' has been farlane. W.Utresses, and Ernest uvino, Cooks. purchased by our good neighbor, Dick Fer, "Meai:iwhile, the labor-management cn·n· ~roceryman, and (as part of a major remod rnittee at Richmond Yard nu. 2 placed lt· cling) the upper two floors arc feeling thl· ..elf on record as favoring tlw installation of effect of wreckers' hammers under the dircc tood dispensaries where hot food ma, be tion of Lawrence Thole." pu. chased by any worker dc,iring it . "Two workers, June St<.·vt·nson. shipfir· From an ad for the Liberl v Market. 1111 ll: 1 .rnd Fred Shultz, w.areho11,t·111;111. pre,enr \V;tshinirton Avenue: · l d •he committee with a pl'I 11 ion signed b ~ Butter S.20 per lh. " ~no workers." Eggs .30 per lh. - j 11 Iv I . I •1 I l /'H I: lt'ORl.D'S HIS/" ·d hii. judgment. "The man who ought to know, the 111iln "When the charges were made before" who has had the actual experience 30 : louse sub-committee on merchant marine. year., of it - Rear Admiral Howard L. Vick •hey were given due prominence - beca~ ery. vice chairman of the U .S.Maritime Com this was the first time that Kaiser was ac mission, this week classified Richmond Ship cusedof not keeping up to production goals. yard no. 3 as 'one of the best in the world "No one has disputed that fact, hut Ad today'. miral Vickery, Henry J. Kaiser himself, and "Admiral Vickery made that statement other officials of the shipbuilding company to a group of newspapennen at an interview soon pointed out that there were extenuat at Shipyard 3 when the visitors were taken ing circumstances. on an inspection trip through one of the "The Admiral, praising Kaiser and Clay giant transports now being built at the yard. P.Bedford, general manager of the Richmond "His statement was made in refutatio n Shipyards, as the nation's outstanding ship of charges by a Maritime C.Ommission audi builders, declared that me:1 and material, to tor that 'Yard 3 ·was the world's worst mess,' the extent of nearly nine million man hours, a condition he charged was brought about were diverted from Yard 3 for a rush job for by mismanagement. the Navy at Yard 4. Nine million man hours .. We do not have to defend Henry J. would have made a considerable difference Kaiser and his record as a shipbuilder - a in the delivery date of the first transport, record which every other shipbuilder in the which is expected to be turned over to the nation today is vainly attempting to follow. Maritime C.Ommission this month. "Maybe there arc some things wrong at "Then, too, there was the little matter Richmond Shipyard No. 3, but it certainly of changes in plans. More than 250 changes is not the job of an auditor, whose duties are have been made in the original specifications to pass on vouchers and the like, to make and at some stages of construction the work tho'!>e char$es unless he is certain of his facts ers were waiting on the plans.
pl;i1•1• \\ ltl't't' I'\ 1' 1',\ I lil l 1\,; I , ... '' (fa, , .. l'Xt'l'f•I 11 1 PRICES "~Ad from Riclimond ****** *** ** ** i ****•~*~ • u ~~****** ~* * * ~~ : .· _. ;(X·'"*h.. ~- ... ~newspaper, 1902 6~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ..Maybe the auditor who made the'> "But certainly competent shipbuilding program is the demolition of the original men should be c.alled in and heard before a Peres Elementary School built more than man who has no connection with actual ship four decades ago. building is allowed to blast at methods that "At Peres, in addition to the demolition Kaiser has proven are the world's fastest." of the old four-classroom building, is a new -Rkhmond Independent building consisting of necessary lavatory fa July 1, 1943 cilities, a storage room, and a p nitor's closet JO YEARS AGO ... When completed on September 13, this pro ject will have cost $24,418.00. Architect on 'D1LK AND TRIVIA . .. the Peres job is Donald L. Hardison, with "With v.;acation interests in the beautiful work being performed by Carl Overaa and Russian River country, do you know how it Company. was so named? The Russians sr.:ttled in Sono ma County in the area between Bodega Bay "At Grant I:lcmentary School, two n,w and Fort Ross - on the coast, living there typc portable classroom buildings are in· the from 1812 to 1841. They called the river process of construction with a scheduled "Slavianka", the Spanish settlers called it completion date set as September 13. These "San Ignacio,, and "Rio Russo". After Am two clas.voom units, designed by architect erican occupation it became River Russo - Hardison with an assist from Donald Wood finally Russian River. Simple eh? Marin ington, director of school planning for the County's name was fll'st applied during tbe Richmond Public Schools will cost $19,974. Mexican regime for an Indian of Mission San Rafael. He was called 'Marin', probably an "Designed by architect Charles F. Strot abbreviation of 'Marino', a baptismal name, hoff, Coronado Elementary School located or it might have been because he WclS a Bay at Twentieth Street and Virginia Avenue is boatsman. The County was officially given under construction by O.mtractor Robert the name in 1850. Miller. Thier shallow-bottom barges at high tide on the drawing boards. Work on Pico was along a meandering canal connecting San stopped as the school district found that it Francisco and San Pablo Bays, avoiding an could move ten clas.~rooms from Washington extra f'tve mile sail around the Point Rich to Pico Schoo~ and by constructing lavatory mond 'horn'. facilities and a storage room on the site, would have a completely functional and use "This convenient short cut was elimU.. ful school. One classroom from Washington ated forever when Richmond joined the re is being moved to Alvarado School where it finery and railroad in earth-filling a good part of the swampy waterway, connecting , will relieve enrollment pressure in this rapid ly expanding area. the older, isolated western part of town with , the mushrooming newer portions to the "Architect on the Pico-Alvarado-Wash north, south. and east." ington project is Donald L. Hardison, and -Richmond Independent the work is being performed by R.H.Myers. Septembn 61 196J 11le amount of the contract is $71,623.63, and the project, which was started June 15, -Pam Wilson ii scheduled for completion September ts:• -Richmond Independent August 6, 195J
20 YEARS AGO ... TEXACO FINED FOR. SEEPAGE OF OIL IN BAY COAL HAY and FEED ''The Texaco Oil Co. was fmed $100 by HORSES FOft 8ALE. Municipal Judge Charles H. Baldwin yester Contracting, Hauling day for polluting the Bay with oil residue A. M. COLEMAN a co· from one of its tankers June 12. ''Fish and Grune officers investigated the incident and cited the master of an oil tanker for permitting seepage of oil harmful to fish life in the Bay. The violation occurred when the shlp was tied up at Anchorage No. 12 in Richmond waters. "Judge Baldwin found the company guilty after the firm submitted its case on the basis of the rel>ort made by the Division of fi~h and Game." -Richmond Independem September 5, 1963 8 FIREFIGHTERS performed admirably; but there was a ,I n The water was pumped from a marsh bd1 •1.,i PAST AND PRESENT ~ he Santa Fe shops - a good idea, bu• · · fortunately, there was no water pressun·. "Two great fires" in Point Richmond oil June 9 and 10, 1901, hastened the formc1 Apparently the volunteer viremen \\ l" {' tion of Richmond's first fire department. able to overcome problems such as this, .. s Although no details of these f tres were 10- history indicates that by September 1, 1915, cated, early records indicate that the fires when the frre department was put on a fully ~urned ':1":c~ecked and destroyed everything paid basis, there were five volunteer de,art tn the v1cm1ty. There was no official group ments throughout Richmond. None o the to fight the fires and no equipment to fight volunteers received any compensation for with. their services. On June 13, 1901, several prominent As Richmond grew so did her needs. members of the community met in the Crit - Fourteen years after the volunteer fue fight chett Hotel (located at the northeast comer e~s were organ~ed the.city required the ser of Washington and West Richmond) to dis vices of full trme, paid firemen. The first cuss the formation of a fuc department. members of this group were Captain R.F. Lyman Naugle, publisher of The Record, Paasch, Lieutenant Fred Brewen and Hose Richmond's fust newspaper, was elected men Victor Green and F.M.Smith. Roy L. chairman. E.M. Tilden, A.C.Lang, J .A.White Lemoin was the ftrst paid fire chief; he sides, P.MDan, R.L.Adams, John Murray, served until 1924, when W.P.Cooper took \\illiam Ellis, J .B.Blake, and E.J .Summerfield over that role. ~re among those present. These men, along Over the years Richmond,s fire depart with many Oakland and San Francisco fums ment has grown considerably. Today the donated the initial funds necessary to start fire department is allocated 121 ftremen, the fue department. although the actual number presently em A group of volunteer fue fighters was ployed is 109. The department responds to formed with A.C.Lang as president, John ~tween 9,0~0and10,000 calls a year (these Murray as chief, and William Ellis assistant mdude medical emergencies, fires and IDlceJ. chief. In succeeding years others who acted laneous details). The present fue chief is as chief of the f ue department volunteers Charles Schwab. Other officers are Deputy at the Point were: George Hinds, William Chiefs Floyd Cormier and Mark Lynch and Elis, <>fiver Wylie, R.L.Adams, Dick Spiersch, Battalion Chiefs Richard Giaramita, John and R.F. Paasch. Walker and William Lewis. (Our thanks to Deputy Chief Floyd Cormier Dances and shows, sponsored by civic (or his help in gatliering information for this groups such as the Women's West Side Im artick.) prov~~ent Club, were held for the purpose - Michelle Brown of rawng money for equipment for the vol unteers. On March 8, 1902, Richmond pur chased a second-hand chemical ftre engine for $500 from a San Francisco firm. It had been used by Mill Valley for a short time The community, especially the firemen, \\Cr' elated about their engine, which reported!~ 9 buses that serve Point Richmond in a ma.1- POINT UP 1.er that will bypass congested Washingto.1 THE DOWNTOWN Avenue and Park Place. The new proposed route will come in as always from Garrard, REAL ESTATE turn right down Railroad Avenue, then left Two properties on the lower end of on T<.wksbury to a proposed turnaround Washington Avenue have recently changed Jnd terminate at the "triangle" where the hands. Reliable sources report that The Spot pum~ing station to Marin County recently has been purchased by Point Ridunonder stood. The return trip would retrace the June Davies and that it will undergo an ex same route. tensive renovation. Not far away, the build AC Transit has secured an agreement ing housing Whitney's Sandwich Shop has from the owner of the propertl to exchange been purchased by Claudia Bowman of its use in return for/ayment o annual prop Berkeley who now operates the sandwich erty taxes. The Ian will eventually be taken shop under the name "New Whitney's". The for the Hoffman Freeway and could be in south half of the building, which has been corporated as a bus terminal under the ulti an antique store, is available for lease. mate plan. Meanwhile the only re~ining Next door to the Santa Fe Market, the impediment is the cost of apptoxunately building housing Energy Unlimited is under $20,000 to grade and impro~e the turn going rehabilitation which will result in four around. AC Transit cannot use its funds for teen "
The East Bay Regional Park District held a public workshop at Washington School on \ A~.st , 11. Representatives presented the Distn~t s Resource Analysis, and received l some mput from those attending on their Land Use-Development Plan and Environ mental Impact Report. Late in October the Parl.. District wili hold a public hearing on tlwir plan, pn haps incorporating in it so11h· of the 1d1· •S :: : .. ---·---.. ·------voiced at the August 11 mec1 i11~.
A comprd1cnsive list of 1 unsidera: .un ' was presented l~lf discussion including a l- , , 11 ~r · ctures wichin the park, adjacent Jand salary; then there was the Presiding Elders .: . vieWl> r. om the park, historic-arche claim and other necessary amounts which olu~ic resouH"eS, geology, vegetation and would figure close up to $275.00 and only w1iJ1ife. 3 month time. Representatives from the Masquers and On motion by Bro A. Odell seconded hy from a model railroad association voiced an Bro Lester it was moved that the ladies of interest in using one of the buildings on park the church and the Sunday School scholars land; member:. of the Aero-Rocket Society be asked to canvas for the Pastors salary. which meets on Saturday mornings in the It was also suggested that we have a park voiced their interest in continuing Strawberry Festival down at the Band Stand their activities; a representative of the Boy or in that vicinity some evening when the Scouts who created Doman Grove was on Band is giving their open air consert {sic). hand to report the progress of the grove, The question of insuring the Church which the Scouts have invested approximate property came up but as no means were ly $2,000 in, and on which work is still provided to pay for the same it was laid over for the present. progressing. Concerns voiced included the access to the Bay for fishing. Nothing more before the meeting it ad journed. Notices of the public hearing will be published; anyone interested in attending Pt. Richmond August 15, 1904 should watch for notices in October. Meeting of the Official Board was called to order by Bro C.E.Rich at 8: t 5 p.m. at IT WAS WRITTEN •.. the church those present being Bro's Rich, FROM THE ARCHIVES OF LOCAL CHURCHES Rodell, Lester, Bly and Sister Conn. COME STORIES OF EARLY POINT RICHMOND. The meeting was opened by prayer led AT A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ENJOYED by Bro A.Odell. Bro Bly acted as secy. ANO TOOK TIME TO COMPOSE THE "WRITTEN WORD". The Treasurer reported $355.60 bad lliE METHODIST CHUROI been collected and given the pastor up to date $17 .65 had been collected for the Pre TM follof!b:tt 1641 continudtion of the {int records of tM Methodist Clwrch. 11W is the siding Elder leaving a hllance due Pastor eighth instaUJMnt of the series, which reflects St 44.40 and due the Presiding Eder S32.JS. the developing and building of the new church The Ladies Aid had fitted up the church and how tl1ey dealt with probkms. 71te minutes in the way of carpet for the floor, painting_ are printed as written. ceiling, had attended to paying Janitor work Pt. Richmond June 4, t 904 and electric lights the amount of which had Meeting of the Official Board was called to not been placed in Treasurer's hand. order by Rev. Bro. Rich at the church at Bro Odell reported he had insured the 8: t 5 p.m. which was opened by prayer by church building for three years at a cost Bro. A.Odell. of St 6.00 which had been collected by him. Bro Jas C Bly acting as secy. Those pres Nothing more coming before the meet ent were Bro Rich, Bro A.Odell, Bro Lester, ing it adjourned. Si~t"r Conn and Bro Bly. Jas C Bly, Secy It was shown that the church was behind Pt Richmond Oct 3, t 904 Sl 10.00 on the pa\tors salary up to the Meeting called to order at 8:45 bv pre..,\!nt timl· .md tha1 S2J0.00 should bf' R.D.W.Calfee; those present being A.Odel( 1:uM·d befort· t·on fell·nee to pay the past• • J. Lester, Sister Pritchart Schular, Bros l~ Dahl, Ingraham, Phelps, Bly and Calfee. It was moved ho) Bro Lester, seconded COMING UP by Bro A.Odell that we hold official board AT THE MASQUERS the fll'st Monday of each month. C'.arried. Bro A. Odell made a motion to adopt Auditions for the musical play, 'Tlte Fan the Reynolds system in full for the present tastics - are set for Sunday, September 18 year, seconded by Bro Lester and carried at 2:30 p.m. and Monday, September 19 at unanimously. 7:30 p.m. at the Masquers Playlaouse, 105 The Ladies Aid had done noble work Park Place, Point Richmond. There are ..oles last year defraying the current expemes, for 4 to 6 men and 1 to 3 women; all ages paying the Pastor's salary and purchasing are needed. Be prepared to dance and sing. carpet for the church; The board did not Please bring your sheet music with{ou. One wish to give them any certain work to do, of the roles to be ca.st is that o a mime. but let them do what they were willing and Dance experience would be helpful but is able to do for the present year. not essential to the role. It was suggested that there be commit Performances will be Friday and Satur tees appointe-d to look up new comers and day eveni.ngl from November 4 through De get them into the church. Sisters Bly and cember 17, 1983. There will also be three Pritchard on the hill, Sisters Phelps and Sunday matinees, dates to be announced. Schular lower part of town, Sisters Dahl For further informal.ion, call director and Ingraham in Santa Fe and old town Pat Siekert at 689-1769 (after 6:30 p.m.). respectively. Brother Calfee spoke very favorable as Opening September 9 - t11 the Parsonage fund as did Bro A.Odell. 11iornton Wilder's classic play, The Skin Bro Odell had subscription papers drawn up and they were given to Bro Calfee Bm of °'" Teeth will open at the Masquers on Friday, September9, 1983. Perfo~ces Lester, Bro A.Odell and Bro Bly to be circu will continue Friday and Saturday evenings lated and get what we could to build par al 8:30 p.m. through October 15. There sonage as soon as pomble. will be two Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. on Bro A.Odell made a motion seconded by September 25 and October 9, 1983. . Bro Lester for all to try and raise what we could to pay in advance on the ministers Members of the cast include Jama Clark, salary. C'.a.rried unanimously. Daniel Bradley, Jack Gardiner and Rhonda Bro Calfee reported that the Arst quart Kaye, all of Marin. Janet Gannaway and erly conference for the year be held Mon Jane Mosburg of El Cerrito and Bill Van day October 10 that Dr. Coyle would douris of Berkeley are also featured. Other preach Sunday eve. members of the cast include Steven Malum It was moved by Bro A.Odell seconded phy of San Francisco, Mike Tompkins of by Bro Bly that Bro I. Lester be appointed Walnut Creek, and Helen Petit and Lauren asst. to secretary in Sunday School. Osher of Oakland. A cameo appearance is Bro Lester, Sisters Pritchard and Schu~ made by Dave McElhatton of the KPIX Eye lar were appointed to help distribute cards witness News Team. The play is directed by of the Reynolds System of collection. San Francisco's George Johnson. Admission Nothing more before the meeting it ad- is $4.50. For reservations please call 526- journed. Jas C.Bly, Secy 1038. -.\lid Dornan 13 minimal because of the successful pancake PEOPLE 'ROUND THE POINT breakfast(the annual fund-raiser). Mrs. Donald Laing of Swindon, Wiltsh .. ~ , t:.ngland, was a recent visitor at the home ORGANIST WANTED - Immediately! Jf her daughter, Wendy Thompson. and For Sunday Morning \Wrship at the First granddaughter Rayne, and Marion Downey. Methodist Church. Call 234-0780 (Oret Those who opened their homes to her. ta Eaton) if you can be of any help. or entertained her were Wendy and Marion, Anyone in the community is invited to Mrs. William Stribley of San Rafael, Mrs. 'show up' on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. in J.M. McKay of Walnut C.Ceek, Capt. and Friendship Hall at the Methodist Church, Mrs. H.P. Beaver of San Francisco, Meredith Martina at West Richmond, to help the loyal Benz, Henry Francis, Allan and Jeanne few prepare for the annual Country Faire in Downey, George Rudolph, Dorcas Radde; October. They have aafts and ideas that and she was a guest at the K. of C. dinner need a helping hand. They also are open to as well as the church dinner at the Point new suggestions. They are a friendly group. Catholic Church hall. - Mario·n Downey Trv a visit . TO BE MARRIED - • ~v. Nancy Yamamoto was wel~omed Sunday, September 18, 1983 at Our by members and friends of the Poin~ Meth Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, Suzanne odist Church following church as theif new Bartram, daughter of Bruce and Ann Bartram minister. Nancy will be attending facific and Richard Wilson. A reception will follow ' School of Religion in Berkeley along with at the Brazilian Room in Tilden Park. fulfdlin2 her appointment to the church. Friday evening, September 10, at a fami Wife ot the Bishop Wilbur Choy, Nancy ly gathering, Jodi .Roselius and ~larence chooses to use her maiden name profession Bagley will be mamed. The followmg ~y, ally. a reception will be held at the Roselius After a busy summer, Scout Troop 111 home in Point Richmond. will resume meeting on Monday, September One of the special guests at the wedding 12 in Friendship Hall at the Methodist will be Arthur Boie, Jodi's grandfather, of Church. Any boy between 11 and 18 is in Lake City, Minnesota. vited to join. Summer included a rafting trip, Jack C.Ceed is back bowling, a happy a 50 mile baCk-pack anda week at the Sierra event for his co-bowlers. Jack underwent Buttes base camp. Leaders Fred Hart, S.M., extensive surgery this summer and has wea Ben Woodson, Asst. S.M., parents Steve thered many radiation treatments. He looks Waterman, George Martin and Jay Fenton great! Wife Jean looks a little affected from assisted the following scouts who attended it all though. one or both of the camps: Mario Allen, Erik Brown, Robb Bury, Todd and Paul A full house honored Trannie Dornan Cort, Seth Fenton, Shawn Fernandes, Gwil in recognition of her 70 year membership lym and Luther Martin, Mathew and Mich in Zephyr Relwkah Lodge in the Point. ael Modie, Lamont Reed, Christopher Ward. Chris Waterman, Shawn Baker and Josh. Gust Allyn has been hospitalized, but Former .Eagle Scout, Gary Darli,ng,now wtth it is hoped he will soon be home again. rh1.: ~tate Forestry Department.joined the ~·,• up for a few days. Camping fees were \ lid Dornc11: J "i RECENT HISTORY - hearing. through " adminisrr;1t ivc dl·d ..,i on ·· But in this case an "encroad1111cnt 1wn1111 THE MILLER-KNOX was required fo r an underground pipeline REGIONAL SHORELINE PARK beneath the end of cit y-owncd G;irrarcl J" Boulevard, necessitating the E.l.R. Pand's A series of articles on the P.irk - review. its birth ancl development. Grateful for the small hut ui.efol tech (Continued fwm VoL I, no. 8) nicality that brought the project to pt~blic attention, the Shoreline Parks Comn11ttce Those who have been following this in argued for the necessity of an. Environment termittent saga of the development of the al Impact Report on the basis of: l.11 sa~c Miller-Knox Shoreline Park will recall that ty (from a toxic substance), { 2 J visual m peril, frustration and crisis have marked the t~usion of the massive tanks, and {3 I the park's history. Sometimes the crises came in probable pr c-emption of a port ion of l he quick succession, at other ti mes sporadically, shoreline v\rhich would prcvem access. but a crisis in one form or another could be The panel, made up of the department relied upon to prevent compfoccncy. heads of Planning, Public Works and Parks In 1974 a threat to the park, and indeed and Recreation, ag1 eccl that the adverse im to the lives and health of a significant num pact of the project on the envir~nmcnt re ber of Richmond residents, arose from an · quired an E.LR., and che Planning Depart unexpected source. ment was directed to prepare the necessary A City Hall staff person mentioned to documents. a member of the Shoreline Parks Commit tee that a little publicized Environment Im· pact Review Panel meeting might be "inter estinf?" to the group. Members attending the public meeting learned to their consterna· tion that the Panel was considerinf a prop<> sal by Collier Carbon and Chemica Corpora tion (a Union Oil Company subsidiary) to erect two 20,000 ton capacity tanks, 88 feet high, 138 feet in diameter, for the storage of anhydrous ammonia on the eight acres of flat land between Petromark and the Bay Terminal's tanks. Their intent was to utilize The neighborhoods on cir her side of the the Petromark pumping station facility to site - Brickyard Cove and Point Richmond fill the tank trucks or railroad tank ca1., - became aware of the plan. researched an used to tran~port the ammonia to the Sac hydrous ammonia, and beca1m· ;1larmed. An '.unento and San Joachin Valley agricultural hydrous ammonia is used to fertilize food 11·cas. crops. Its basic raw materi.tl is uatural g.a' This acreage is zoned for heavy indu,t1 v .l\t the time, demand for till' rcrtilizer \\.l' :111d, in 197-1-, industry could do much a ... • increasing and availability of 11.11 ural gas 11 \·ishcd on land so zoned, including (as hd, rhe U.S. WdS becoming critical. 1 liough pleni • h·cn previously recorded) obtaining perm '' tul in Alaska. Collier Carbo11 .rnd Chenlllcll tl1out benefit of a Planning Commiss1 111 ( orporation (or Union Collit·• l Ii.id rccen Iv 15 uously refrigerated :11 280 below zero, and opened an anhydrous ammonia ma11ufac1 lo ring plant at Kenai, Alaska. stored under pressnn·. Chilled by evapora tion, the liquid is unst:1ble, being :lenser and To reduce transportation costs anhy colder at the top than at the bottom. As drous ammonia in liquid form (at atn10s long as the tank is kept absolutely still and pheric pressure and under refrigeration) is the contents stable. it is harmless. However, transported in large quantities in sea-going any jarring action would result in what (in barges, each capable of carrying a 9,500 ton anhydrous ammonia circles) is known as a cargo. In order to bridge a service gap to the "roll-over", exposing warmer liquid &om valleys, Union Collier wanted a deep-water the bottom, resulting in a "flash", releasing docking facility on the Bay with access to large quantities of ammonia gas. Even a rail lines and truck highways. They felt that small earthquake could be highly dangerous. they had found it in Richmond, complete a roll-over or tank rupture releasinghighly with the Petromark pumping equipment. concentrated pressurized gas. A-ewiling Mods · To have an ample supply of fe~!{izer o~ at the tank site blow toward densely populat hand during the spring planting season, the ed areas. So while the noxious fumes might company planned for a storage tank that go out into the Bay, the greater likelihood would hold 40,000 tons. A single tank with would be that they would sweep inland, this capacity would have been 110 feet high affecting the Yacht Club, Brickyard Cove, • and 180 feet across. Though substantially Miller-Knox Park and Point Richmond. A cheaper to construct than two tanks, its aes really bad leak could necessitate the evacu thetic impact would have been so brutal ation of a large area of west Contra Costa that the plan was changed to the two smaller County. Though no seismic instability has tanks holding 20,000 tons each. been recorded on this site, this is, historical Anhydrous anunonia (a concentrate from ly, an earthquake-prone area. There are a which the water has been removed) is ex number of fault lines in the vicinity, and the tremely harmful to flora, fauna and human public is freciuently warned that we are due beings, in high concentrations and large for a -big one . Small wonder that neighbor amounts. Though so hard to ignite that it hood groups felt apprehensive. Surely it will is considered non-flammable, it is hazardous be difficult enough to maintain physical and for the following reason: It must be contin- emotional equilibrium during an earthquake
Corner ofSu : PablCJ Ave. and Macdonald Ave., 1925.
16 '' ichout having ro com hat possible asphy xi been placed in newspapers. J\n .idditional .ltion. :ttionale was that the Bay Conservation and Tu alleviate the growing community .111- Development Commission had requested .a :-..iccy and c.ommotion, the Planning Commi.,.. (·ontinuance of the item, in order that their "ion i.chcduleda neighborhood work session Engineering Criteria Review Board might in May to exchange information and ideas have adequate time to study the report and regarding the matter, prior to the final prep make its input into the Draft E.l.R. aration of the E.I.R. This meeting attracted The crowd was so large, so irritated and sixty-odd residents, many of whom had rele so obviously convinced that they were simp vant questions and thoughtful statements ly being "put ofr• that a hasty public rela regarding their concerns. The meeting closed tions decision was made to hold an informal \\ith a unanimous expression of opposition hearing for the crowd's benefit, to be con to the tanks. tinued at a properly advertised and sd1eduled However, when the E.1.R. draft was re meeting on August 27. leased in June, none of the questions asked at the meeting, nor any of the objections Twenty speakers were then heard in a raised were addressed. Indeed, the draftwas succession of thoroughly profcssional, sci highly favorable to the project. Representing entific and scholarly objections to th~ an neither a full nor objective disclosure of en hydrous ammonia storage tank proposal, vironmental effects, the statement began in presentations which went on for raearly three a professional manner, but quickly deteriora hours. Speakers included an architect, an ted to an apologetic and wordy justification urban consultant, an expert on environment of the ammonia stor-.1gc facility. al analysis, a PTA representative, a chemical Nothing, of course, could have more engineer, an economic analyst, a member of instantly or effectively galvanized and fo the Shoreline Parks Committee, a Board cused the energit"S of the Brickyard Cove and member from Save the San Francisco Bay, Point Richmond neighborhoods into an a safety engineer, the President of Associ angry and potent fighting force. To para ated Sportsmen of California, one of the de phrase, "Hell hath no fury like a neighbor velopers of Brickyard Cove, and numerous hood scorned. ., Small meetings were held, concerned citizens. They all stated (many ~tatistics were gathered, allies were noti with explicitly documented reasons} that fied, statements were prepared, and when a the E.I.R. was a whitewash and grossly in notice was circulated that the E.1. Panel adequate. Their comments ranged from very would rneet on July 24, 1974, to review the pressing anxieties about tl1e foll} of storing adequacy of the E.l.R., a capacity crowd large quantities of an unpredictable and tox turned out at the Bermuda Room in the ic substance so near to residential comnm Richmond Auditorium. nities in an earthquake prom· .1rea, to the specific that the Yacht Club and Brickyard July 24, 1974 was unusually hot and Cove would be isolated in tit\.' event of a humid - the kind of weather that make'i 1011-over, rupture or spill. people irritable - and these people were angry to begin with . At 7:30 p.m .. when tht" The projected large nu111her of tank meeting was called to order, elevated temp . ruch which would carry 1111· .inhydrou' ers were not :.oothed by the announcemen• . umonia to the valleys. and 1 lu· t onscqul'IH that the public meeting could not be held '' increased possibility of a11 .u t·i '"Ibis Point In Ttme" is published by the TELEPHONE NO. Point Richmond History Allociation.. 212 l~' TYPE OF MEMBERSHIP (CHECK ONE) Bilbop Alley, Point Richmond, CA 94801. F.clitorial Staff: Donna Roeellus, 'l'erela Al 0 SINGLE $1 o.oo bro, Michelle Brown, Mid Doman, Lucretia 0 SENIOR CITIZEN (IS +) s.oo Edwards, Liz McDonald, Judy Spediacci, 0 FAMILY 20. 00 Pam Wilson. ,1, 0 ORGANIZATION zs.oo 0 HIS TORY-PRESERVER so.oo Illustrations: Donna RO!!elius 0 H I STORY•MA K ER 100. 00 Layout: Jodi Ro&elius, Deirdre Cerkanowicz 1 '1 Membership in the Point Richmond History ARTICLES FOR EACH MONTH'S ISSUE 11 Association includes a subscription to this ARE DUE ON THE 2om OF THE PREVI· newsletter. OUSMONTH. Please send membership forms to: Please ma.ii articles and Items of interest to: PAM WILSON 212 Bishop Alley, Point Richmond, CA 94801. 521 WESTERN DRIVE Questions? Call 235-4222. POINT RI CHMOND, CA 94801 Items may also be dropped off at Richmond Supply Co., 145 W. Richmond Avenue. 20 "======i--=--======-=-===-======- · ~