Pinole Winter 2014 Historical Society Newsbriefs P.O. Box 285, Pinole, CA 94564 www.PinoleHistoricalSociety.org [email protected] “SCHOOL ON THE HILL” BELL DEDICATED he 100+-year-old Pinole-Hercules School #1 bell, restored and installed at Collins T Elementary School by the West Contra Costa Unified School District, was formally dedicated at a brief ceremony January 25. The bell is the last remnant of the school that served generations of Pinole and Hercules students from 1906 to 1966. The school was demolished in 1968. The district also installed a bronze plaque on the wall behind the bell. More than 50 people attended the ceremony. Pinole Historical Society co-founder George Vincent, at right, speaks at the January 25 dedication of the Pinole-Hercules School #1 bell at Collins Elementary School. More than 50 people attended the brief ceremony, which featured remarks from one of the school’s graduates, Selma (Greenstein) Riskin, above, daughter of Jacob Greenstein, who owned Pinole’s only pharmacy in the 1920s and 1930s. Another photo is on page 7. Published quarterly by the Pinole Historical Society PHS CALENDAR WHERE TO FIND NEWSBRIEFS MEETINGS Pick up Newsbriefs at these locations: AccuTech Auto Care, A.D. Dern Insurance, The February 12, March 13, April 9: Monthly Board of Alley Cafe, Antlers Tavern, Bank of the West, Bay Park Directors meeting. The public is invited to attend Retirement Residence, The Bear Claw, Big O Tires, and speak on any of the items discussed at these Blue Sky Sports, Cafe Soleil, China House, Cindy’s meetings. Pinole Senior Center, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Shear Cuts, Coldwell Banker Bartels Realtors®, February 7 membership program: “Bars, Barbers, Coldwell Banker (Joni Vasquez and Dave Vida), and Characters of Early Pinole.” Be there as PHS Crocketts Premier Auto Body, George A. Egan, CFP, co-founder George Vincent takes us through the early, Feriel El Ghaoui, D.D.S., Embers, Farmers Insurance bawdy days of Pinole’s history. Great photos and great (Madeline Crandall), Farmers Insurance (Carol White), stories. Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building, Garden of Gems, Douglas Gordon, D.D.S., Grocery 1301 Pinole Valley Road, Conference Rooms 2A and Outlet, Happy Sashimi, Headquarters Salon, Hercules 2B, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Fitness, Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building, K & L Automotive (Rodeo), Kendall Financial Services, Ladies Workout Express, Mechanics Bank (Pinole ONGOING Valley office) Old Time Realtors, Douglas Oliver, D.D.S., Oliver’s Hardware, Park Pharmacy, Attorney Pinole Library history exhibits. Two exhibits at the Donald E. Patterson, Peggy’s Perfections Bead and library, 2935 Pinole Valley Road. Library hours are: Boutique, Pinole Art Center, Pinole City Hall, Pinole Monday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Wednesday (2 to 8 p.m.), Creek Cafe, Pinole Hearing Aid Center, Pinole Library, Friday and Saturday (12 to 5 p.m.). Pinole Paws, Pinole Police Department, Pinole Senior PHS booth at Pinole Farmers’ Market. We are at Center, Pinole Senior Village, Pinole Valley Community the farmers’ market every other Saturday from April Church, Lawrence Radcliffe, D.D.S., Realty World through December. (Viktor Manrique), Ricky’s Corner, Ristorante Due Rose, Sam’s Dog House (Pinole and El Sobrante), State Farm Insurance (Mark Bucklew and Rick Chalk), Sunshine Floor Covering, Taqueria Sanchez, Tenax Law Group, 10th Inning Baseball Cards, The New Deli, PinoleHistoricalSociety The Red Onion, The UPS Store, Tina’s Place, Top Board of Directors: Marcia Kalapus, President; Floor Salon, Albert M. Tsang, D.D.S., Waffle Stop, Jeff Rubin, Vice President; Mary Drazba, Treasurer; West Contra Costa Transit Authority, Windermere Jo Ann Gannotti, Secretary; Norma Martínez-Rubin, Rowland Realty, and Wilson & Kratzer Mortuaries. Mary McMains, George Vincent. It’s also posted on the PHS website. Director Emeritus: Jack Meehan FOR ADVERTISERS: 3,000 printed copies of PHS Newsletter Editor: Jeff Rubin Newsbriefs are distributed every quarter, generating readership among thousands of Pinole and West County residents. Hundreds more receive the newslet- NEW ADVERTISERS ter directly from the PHS via its database and website. The PHS welcomes these new advertisers: If you’re interested in advertising, please contact • Pinole Hearing Aid Center, Dennis Tobin, Jeff Rubin at [email protected] BC-H.I.S. or call him at (510) 724-9507. • Farmers Insurance, Gary Lally. PHS videos on city of Pinole website on your computer. Go to www.ci.pinole.ca.us/ Miss one of our history programs on Pinole about/videos.html and scroll down to PINOLE Community TV? HISTORY. You’ll find our interviews, Veterans Day Not a problem. The city’s website now has a programs, both of George Vincent’s Walking Tours dedicated section devoted to PINOLE HISTORY on of Historic Downtown Pinole, and the very fine its “Videos Online” page. PCTV-produced, 12-part series based on the You can view the numerous PHS programs right Historic Walking Tour brochure. It’s great TV! 2 President’s Message Marcia Kalapus, President, Pinole Historical Society WHY HISTORICAL SOCIETIES ARE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES ince the mid and Local Historical Soci- governments tossing old 1800s, there has eties formed within the records to make room for been an ongoing AHA. In 1940, it became new records. S interest in the an independent organiza- These historians began Marcia Kalapus preservation and tion, the American Asso- to fight to prevent his- protection of the histori- ciation for State and toric architectures from However, over the cal record, as well as Local History, which is being destroyed, collect- years it has been the making history available still active today. ing tons of old docu- small, local historical to academics and the Small, local historical ments, maps, books, societies that have public, by means of societies were formed in pictures, old furniture, worked very hard to educational forums, many communities in the clothing — anything that uncover, protect, pre- literature, and oral late 1800s and early had historical relevance serve, collect, and docu- communications. 1900s by the “elite” to the beginnings of this ment their communities’ Historical record also members of those areas country. history. includes the protection who were businessmen In some areas, such as They have engaged the of old buildings, artifacts, or government employ- in the original colonies, public — with parades, government papers, ees who wanted to pre- these included whole local history books, documents, collections serve their own family family histories, census, forums, workshops, edu- of ethnic mores, religious legacies, and by ances- land deeds, burial cational meetings, school materials and icons, tors who had settled the records, Bibles, church programs, and establish- re-enactments of war- area or made major records, baptism, and ing their own museums time engagements (Civil contributions to the well marriage records. Soon, to display the artifacts War, Boston Tea Party, being of the area. historians recognized and history they have American Revolution, After World War I, as that it didn’t do any good collected. etc.) with detailed the country began to to store them, that the Funding has been involvement, even down grow and major building, public should be includ- declining all across the to authentic costumes, revitalization of commu- ed in viewing all the United States for such weapons, and scripts. nities, and transportation collections and artifacts. endeavors because of In 1884, the American evolved to include more Museums were opened the economics of recent Historical Association infrastructure roads, to allow the public to years. Even great muse- (AHA) was formed to try coast-to-coast railroads, engage, and universities ums are having trouble to bring together those and air travel, historians and other institutions with funding. areas involved in histori- began to see old build- of learning engaged in Historical societies cal collection. In 1904, ings being torn down and research and documenta- provide communities a the Conference of State county courthouses and tion. Continued on page 4 A Pinole Landmark 3 Find out more about Pinole’s history by using your smartphone to scan this QR code. It will take you to the Pinole Historical Society website: www.PinoleHistoricalSociety.org WHY HISTORICAL SOCIETIES ARE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITIES Continued from page 3 the same time reminding Our community, our donate our time, us of our past. History state, our nation would resources, and energy in looking glass into how reminds us that we can not be where they are keeping local historical their cities evolved from learn from our past, today without volunteer societies vibrant. their beginnings. using our history to guide historians who, for more On page 5 of this Cicero, a Roman us, by knowing our mis- than two hundred years newsletter there’s an author, orator, and politi- takes as well as our have been doing what application to join the cian (106 BC – 43 BC) achievements. they love best — keeping Pinole Historical Society. said, “History is the When we question why historical data protected For only $30, you can witness that testifies something was done a and preserved, and shar- help the PHS bring the to the passing of time; certain way, historical ing it with others. history of Pinole to our it illuminates reality, data are available for us That’s why it is so residents. vitalizes memory, pro- to research to give us important for all of us to Please consider vides guidance in daily answers that will give continue to support and becoming a member. life, and brings us us insight into what our tidings of antiquity.” ancestors were thinking, What Cicero meant how they lived, and why Want to advertise with us? was that history brings they made the decisions Call (510)724-9507 into perspective what is that we live with every happening now, while at day.