Pinole Spring 2009 Historical Society Newsbriefs P.O. Box 285, Pinole, CA 94564 www.PinoleHistoricalSociety.org [email protected] PREPARES TO CELEBRATE PHS PINOLE NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH BOOK ay marks the them,” says PHS Presi- early immigrants from ON SALE annual celebra- dent Marcia Kalapus. Spanish Mexico in the tion of National “After all, we wouldn’t be early 1800s, because Buy your M Preservation here without their perse- without the land grant to Month, and the Pinole verance, their struggles Don Ygnacio Martinez, copy of Historical Society plans to survive an untamed Pinole wouldn’t be in to participate with a num- wilderness, and the fore- existence either. Images of ber of activities. sight to provide us with “We owe these nation- America: “The celebration of the an everlasting document, al ancestors our respect history of the United the Constitution, that has and gratitude. Pinole States is one of the most prevailed for more than “So, it is our duty to important ways for us to 230 years. set aside this special today! honor our ancestors and “Locally, it is also month and plan events to — back page — all those who came after important to honor the to page 2 Our newsletter has expanded his newsletter may appear a bit meatier these businesses to read and take home to their than past issues—for a good reason! families. We have expanded this newsletter to 12 To expand the newsletter and print more T pages. So much is happening in the Pinole copies, we have sold business-card-size ads, Historical Society that four pages was not suffi- which appear at the bottom of each page. We cient to report all the news. could not afford to print a 12-page newsletter We have also increased our press run from 900 without the support of these wonderful business- to 2,000 copies. We’ve noticed that within a few es. Please patronize our advertisers! days after filling the Newsbriefs racks (see page 2 If you would like information on purchasing a for locations) with newsletters, they were empty. business-card ad, please send an e-mail to Our goal is to always have copies for patrons of [email protected]. Published quarterly by the Pinole Historical Society NATIONAL PRESERVATION MONTH from front page view by former Mayor upcoming book, Images National Preservation Betty Boyle with promi- of America: Pinole) will Month. show our appreciation for nent Pinole citizens. This be made at the Pinole ✰ ✰ ✰ all those who came first aired in 2002, and is City Council meeting For more information before us.” worth repeating to hear (May 19), the Pinole on National Preservation Those events include a the wonderful stories of Library (May 20), the PHS Month, visit the website proclamation by the City those who grew up in a annual meeting (May 21), of the National Trust for Council, declaring May as different Pinole in an era and Pinole Rotary (May Historic Preservation at National Preservation gone by. 28). www.preservation Month. This will be pre- Finally, historical pre- Get involved in nation.org/take-action/ sented to Marcia at the sentations by PHS vice Pinole’s history, and join preservation-month/. May 5 Pinole City Council president and historian the Pinole Historical meeting. George Vincent, and Society in celebrating Also in May, Pinole newsletter editor Jeff Community TV will re-run Rubin (co-authors, along a very enjoyable inter- with Joe Mariotti, of the RECENT DONATIONS TO PHS The society is grateful to the following people for donations to our archives: WHERE TO FIND NEWSBRIEFS • Connie Lopez (from the Marge Doty estate): SMC typewriter, 10-key adding machine, check printer • Thelma McPherson: A signed copy of Jessie You can find the Pinole Historical Society Howe Clark’s 1975 book of poems, Of a Number of Newsbriefs at these locations: Things. AccuTech Auto Care, The Alley Cafe, Antlers • Elaine Sturtevant (Friends of the Pinole Tavern, Bank of the West, The Bear Claw, Blue Library): An autographed copy of the book, Peepers, Sky Sports, Bronze Buns, China House, Collins The Tall Proud Duck, by Pinole author Ruth Wallace Elementary School, Crocketts Premier Auto Haley; a copy of the book, Doctors Hospital: Twenty- Body, Embers, Farmers Insurance (Madeline Five Years of Building the Future, by Margaret Crandall), Farmers Insurance (Carol White), Finnerty. Douglas Gordon, D.D.S., Hairitage Bead and Boutique, Happy Sashimi, Kendall Financial Services, Ladies Workout Express, Lakeridge Athletic Club, Mechanics Bank (Pinole Valley UPCOMING PHS MEETINGS and Pinole Vista), Old Time Realtors, Park May 21: Annual General Membership (presentation) Pharmacy, Attorney Donald E. Patterson, Peet’s June 18: Board of Directors (members welcome) Coffee, Pinole City Hall, Pinole Creek Cafe, July 16: Board of Directors (members welcome) Pinole Library, Pinole Paws, Pinole Police August 20: General Membership (presentation) Department, Pinole Senior Center, The Red Meetings are open to members and prospective Onion, Ristorante due Rose, Sashay’s Salon, members. Meetings are held the third Thursday of and Top Floor Salon. each month in the Alex Clark Room, Pinole Public It’s also posted on the PHS website. Safety Building; doors open at 6 p.m., meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. 500 San Pablo Ave., Pinole, CA 94564 2 President’s Message Marcia Kalapus, President Pinole Historical Society CELEBRATE HISTORY IN MAY ay is National torian, and Jeff Rubin will this newsletter has more Preservation be giving these Power- pages than previous Month, as desig- Point presentations. issues. We had so much M nated by the Next year we plan to information to report that National Trust for Historic bring the history of we expanded this issue Marcia Preservation. Pinole to the schools by to 12 pages, and our Kalapus The celebration of his- working with school prin- press run to 2,000 tory, whether it’s national cipals to present in class- copies. To do this we had or local, is very impor- rooms and assemblies. to sell ads. tant. It’s important to This is just the begin- We are very grateful to PINOLE remember and cherish ning of our outreach pro- the advertisers in this all that has happened gram to service organiza- newsletter. This is the HISTORICAL before us, to celebrate tions, schools, and the first time we’ve solicited SOCIETY the lives of people who community at large. ads, and considering the contributed to the history The last year has been economic climate, the Board of Directors of our community, and to an active and exciting business people who preserve and chronicle year for the society. We purchased ads are true Marcia Kalapus the city's past and pre- have accomplished a supporters of the society President sent history for current great many things—a and the Pinole communi- George Vincent and future generations. book, a website, a news- ty. Their participation is Vice President During National Preser- letter, and a Veterans’ truly appreciated. We Linda Brooks vation Month, the Pinole Day event. More events urge you to support their Tresurer Historical Society will that celebrate the city’s businesses. join the national celebra- history are being I also want to acknowl- JoAnn Gannotti tion with several activi- planned. edge all of the people Secretary ties, including historical Most importantly, we who gave us photos, and Tom Brooks presentations to the City are making progress with told us stories, for our Dr. Joe Mariotti Council (May 19), at the our museum project — book. They have also Jeff Rubin Pinole Library (20), to we are collaborating with contributed much history Carol White our membership at our the city for a feasibility and memorabilia in annual meeting (21) and study that will establish support of our goal of Director Emeritus to Pinole Rotary (28). the groundwork for a establishing a museum. Jack Meehan George Vincent, PHS Pinole municipal Editor vice president, long-time museum. to page 11 Jeff Rubin teacher, and resident his- You will notice that A Pinole Landmark 3 PINOLE’S CLEAN, GREEN, RENEWABLE FUEL! By Jack Meehan magine a renewable, solar-generated ener- Back in the day gy medium, to fuel I local transportation medium. Yum. Some today, regressed? in metropolitan centers— even claim mushrooms A riddle of history, San Francisco in this symbolized San Francis- perhaps, but worthy of example—shipped there co politics of the day. intellectual examination. via wind-driven, low- Was Bernardo ahead Go history! impact, water-borne ves- of his time, or have we, sels that would have little or no atmospheric impact . and even During the 1850s, Bernardo Fernandez started have a significant after- a mercantile business on this site at the foot of market value in produc- Tennent Avenue. He built a supply store, con- tion of human food! structed warehouses and wharves, hauled farm Well, a Portuguese products, and handled the mail to become very immigrant, a Pinole pio- instrumental in the early establishment of this neer and businessman, city and become Pinole’s leading businessman. Bernardo saw a need—and filled it. (Photos courtesy of Edward Armstrong.) Fernandez El Rancho Pinole’s verdant hills (seasonal, of course) provided abun- dant hay and other field grasses. Ranch hands harvested it and brought it to the Pinole ware- house and wharf run by Bernardo Fernandez at the foot of (now) Tennent Avenue. He, in turn, shipped it by no-impact, wind-powered boat and sold it in San Francisco, where it fueled the hors- es hauling carriages, wagons, and street cars. No noise, almost. No harmful emissions. Well, OK, but that after-market by-product—manure— became prized as a mushroom-growing TRANSFER YOUR FAMILY HOME VIDEOS TO DVD BEFORE THEY DISINTEGRATE! As low as $10 each! 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