It's Been a Quiet Week in El Cerrito (63 Years Ago)

If you go to the  at El Cerrito City Hall and turn to the now yellowed front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, May 26, in 1949, you can find 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:

Cerrito Man Weds
Bride in Germany
At 2 Ceremonies

The first time Lt. Edward L. Wilson Jr. attempted to wed his future wife in Germany, it didn't stick. Uncle Sam said he had to do it again in front of U.S. Army chaplain. The vows pronounced a day earlier by burgomaster didn't pass muster. Wilson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward L. Wilson of 5701 Charles Ave. in El Cerrito, served in the war, surviving the ill-starred Battle of Bulge, and re-enlisted to serve in the rebuilding of Germany. He met his future wife, Gladys, a a war department secretary from South Carolina, while serving with the U.S. Occupation Forces in Bamburg, near Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia.

Dixie Hayes Wins
AL Essay Contest

The extraordinary essay-writing ability of El Cerrito High School senior Dixie Lynn Hayes, 17, has racked up another $1,000 prize. Earlier this month, she won a $1,000 scholarship to Stanford, and last week she was named the winner of $1,000 statewide American Legion essay-writing contest. Her essay was on the topic, "Responsibility of Future Citizens." She first competed against 85 other students in her district and then represented the district against winners from 25 other American Legion districts in the state. Her parents are Mr. and Mrs. Wesly Hayes of 104 Ashbury Ave.

Harry West Takes Office as
Township's New Constable

Harry B. West is the newly appointed Constable of the Seventh Township, which includes El Cerrito and Kensington Park. He has lived here for four years, following his discharge from the Marine Corps, in which he saw action in the South Pacific as a Private First Class. The 38-year-old native of Kansas City has been working in the painting line with a local contractor. He lives on Liberty Street with his wife and their son, a student at El Cerrito High, and daughter, who attends Castro Elementary. As Constable, he performs general police duties for unincorporated areas and serves civil papers for damage suits and small claims cases.

Ben Parker Returns
From 3 States Trip

Ben Parker of 7132 Potrero Ave. in El Cerrito recently returned from a motor trip spent sightseeing in three states. He left on April 27 and traveled to Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. 

Click  for other vignettes we've published about El Cerrito history. Click the Keep the Keep me posted button below for alerts to future articles in this series. 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.

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