Helping Hands, Old Photos and Documents Wanted by Historical Society

[Editor's note: Below is the September issue of "Sparks from the Anvil," the monthly newsletter from the El Cerrito Historical Society.]

SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL

Sparks from the Anvil is El Cerrito Historical Society’s September 2012 announcements

Next Program   Gambling and other vices will occupy our next members’ meeting, a topic for which El Cerrito was once quite well-known.  Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 30.  The program will start at 1:30 with a walking tour of some sites in the south end of town where significant activity took place.  Meet at the Eagles Lodge building, corner of Carlson and Central.  At 3:00 PM, we will have a tour of the former Wagon Wheel now Eagles Lodge and an overview of the history of this era by David Weinstein. Other speakers will include Hugh White, who led a band at the Wagon Wheel. No charge for either and you can attend one or both. Note: Credit for the donation of the El Cerrito Kennel Club poster for the Gambling and Vice flyer emailed earlier this week is given to Richard Schwartz.

Mortar & Pestle   The gift from Mrs. Arrighi was inspected by Richard Schwartz, a Berkeley historian and author, who decreed that it is consistent with Native American use in El Cerrito.  It probably was used to grind (not pound) fatty foods such as acorns, pine nuts, grass seeds and the like.  Although portable, the mortar & pestle are heavy so it was probably left in a gathering place and used each autumn when acorns were available.  Mr. Schwartz suggested that there are several shell mounds in El Cerrito, one of which could likely be the discovery site of this implement.  We have been informed that there is a scientist in Colorado who could analyze it for us, but that may be expensive.  The board is looking into this and considering whether the expense is currently warranted.

Star Volunteer   We sing our praise to Christine Roed who has assisted in the Shadi History Room every Wednesday afternoon.  We admire her faithfulness, and depend on her work to sort and file our many valuable documents.  If you would like to help the History Room crew, please contact our Secretary Joann Steck-Bayat at jsbayat1@comcast.net.

Documents and Photos Wanted   If you are cleaning out files in your home or office, let us know if you have anything from earlier days.  They don’t have to be ancient.  Even items that are only several decades old may have historical significance.  Here are a couple of real “wants” for the collection in the Shadi History Room:” Campaign materials from local elections, and photos of the former Arlington stables.  We would love to find one or more.  Can you help us?

Worker Bees Needed   There are projects on which the Society could be moving forward, but progress has been hampered by lack of sufficient volunteers. Can you help catalogue creeks, document our WPA projects, or plan a Lincoln Highway ribbon-cutting?  Maybe you have a pet idea related to our community's past that you would like to promote.  In either case, you will have help and support, and will be working with some neat people. Please contact President Rich Bartke at RichBartke@aol.com. 

 Wall of Fame   There have been seventeen El Cerritans recognized by the City on its Wall of Fame.  Of those seventeen, eight have been members of our Society. They include past presidents Sundar Shadi, Art Schroeder and Rich Bartke and members Nancy Gans, Jean Siri, Earl Wilson and Roy Mespelt.  Jane Bartke is the most recent.  Jane was honored by the City in August for her work on preserving and presenting the Shadi Holiday Display, her leadership in Soroptimists, for her work as the President of the Rosie the Riveter National Park Trust, an educator, and former Mayor.