Exactly 63 years ago today, front-page news in El Cerrito included a group photo and the names of all 51 students graduating in the Feb. 3 mid-term graduation at El Cerrito High School. Also big news in the weekly El Cerrito Journal on Jan. 20, 1949 was the excited community response to a visit by "The Schnoz."

The lead story in that day's New York Times was the expected record turn-out for the U.S. Presidential inauguration as hundreds of thousands of poured into Washington, D.C., for the following day's swearing-in of Harry Truman as President and Alben Barkley as Vice President.

Here are some of the actual headlines from the Journal's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles:

Local Businessman Foils Store Theft

El Cerrito businessman D.S. Moore was parked across the street from one his stores on San Pablo Avenue near closing time when he observed a "lad" ducking behind the counter and hiding. When confronted by Moore, the 15-year-old youth confessed that he planned to remain after the store closed so that he could take "funny books" and ice cream. Moore declined to sign a complaint, though the boy was referred to the head of the police juvenile detail for "further investigation."

Catacombers Score Smash Hit

Though seriously ailing, Hollywood star Jimmy Durante rose from his sick bed to give a "superb" performance that "completely captured the hearts" of the 1,500 people who squeezed into Roosevelt Junior High School in Richmond. His appearance with other performers was sponsored by the Catacombs Club, the youth organization from St. John's Parish.

'March of Dimes' Drive Organized for All-Out Effort

The El Cerrito chairman of the annual March of Dimes drive, Judge Joe Martin Turner, said this year's campaign to raise funds for the battle against infantile paralysis, or polio, would be the most intensive ever. Coin-collection cans have been distributed to local businesses, and all residents with phone service should have received a March of Dimes coin envelope with a pciture of Linda Browne rising from her wheel chair saying, "LOOK! I can walk again."

49er Bargain Bonanza Set for February 3rd

All of El Cerrito's parking meters will be covered with hoods and parking will be free for a three-day city-wide sale meant to support local business. Each business will display a special sign and will receive "Gold Nugget" tags for writing down reduced prices on items. The promotion is intended attract residents to use local stores and allow them to realize they don't need to leave the city to find good bargains.

• Click here for other vignettes of El Cerrito history. You can find some back issues of the El Cerrito Journal at the Shadi Historical Room at City Hall, open to the public on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.