El Cerrito Library Pioneers Paperbacks – Who-Done-Its, Shoot-Em-Ups

The now yellowed front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, April 7, in 1949 provides a snapshot of our community in its post-war growth years. Here are some of the actual headlines from the paper's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles:

Local Library First
County Branch with
Pocket Size Books

The newly built El Cerrito library is the first branch in the Contra Costa Libary system to use pocket-sized paperback books as circulating books, according the county librarian, Miss Jessie A. Lea. The experiment is intended to satisfy readers of mysteries and westerns, whose hunger for those genres far exceeds the hardback supply. The pocket book editions include Invisible Man by Wells and The Rope Began to Hang the Butcher by Grafton.

Stockton Ave.
Bus Red Zones
Bring Protests

Stockton Avenue businessmen complained to the City Council that bus parking on the street is creating congestion and driving away business. Allen W. McKenzie, who runs a market on Stockton, said the red zone made it impossible for customers to park their cars. He also said buses park far from the curb, creating traffic confusion and congestion. Other businessmen pointed out that there are three bus stops on one block. City Manager Edwin S. Howell said it's hard to please everyone. 

Police Department
To Get New Ford

El Cerrito police will buy a 1949 four-door V-8 from the Curt Campbell Ford dealer of Albany, which submitted the low bid of $449.10. The low price of the car resulted from the turn-in value of the old police car, which had reached 70,000 miles and passed it normal utility, said City Councilman Melvin C. Heinkel.

Marshall Plan
Is Local C. of C.,
Speaker Says

With the battle against world Communism at a critical stage, the Marshall Plan in Europe is more important than ever, an exchange teacher from England, Collin Dix, told the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce at its weekly luncheon yesterday. Aid to Europe has a direct impact on the U.S. economy and that local communities like El Cerrito represent the foundation of the national structure. By paying taxes, each American has a role to play in supporting the plan and in American internationalism, Dix said.

Click  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.