Cops Swap Stolen Bikes in El Cerrito, Albany

If you go to the Shadi Historical Room at El Cerrito City Hall and turn to the now yellowed front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, March 31, 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:

Bike Registration
Proves Effective

The efficacy of El Cerrito's requirement for licensing bicycles was demonstrated over the weekend when two bicycles reported stolen in Albany were found in front of the Vista Theater. They had been registered in Albany. In return, Albany police handed over two stolen El Cerrito bicycles that were recovered in Albany. The bikes were returned to their owners, and police Capt. Howard Thulin said that bikes not registered by the April 10 deadline will be confiscated.

Whist Party to Aid
Boy Scout Troop 104

A cedar chest filled with linen will be the feature award at a whist party on April 29 at the Memorial hall. Funds raised by the party will be used to send Boy Scout Troop 104 to summer camp. The chest will be on display April 11-16 at the Stockton Variety Store, located on Stockton Avenue near Norvell Street, and those who live in the Fairmount-Cerrito Park area can see it April 18-23 at Fairmount Variety Store at Fairmount and Ramona avenues. It can be viewed at Mechanics Bank on San Pablo and Fairmount avenues April 25-28. 

Traffic Snarl
Unravelled at
Busy Crossing

Applause is welcoming the city's solution to the parking problem for Key System buses on the east side of San Pablo Avenue at Fairmount Avenue, City Manager Edwin S. Howell told the City Council. Both the transit company and local businessmen like the new arrangement: a red-painted curb for a bus at all times and additional space marked by two hooded parking meters during the busy 4-7 p.m. time. In other news, the council extended the deadline for opening bids for the former home of the El Cerrito Rationing Board April 11 to April 18.

Llewellyn Stevens to Be
Representative at Girl's State 

A popular junior, 16-year-old Miss Llewellyn Stevens, has been chosen to represent El Cerrito High School at the one-week Girls State convention in Sacramento in June. Llewellyn, who was born in Oakland and attended grammar schools in Kensington, was selected on the basis of scholarship, leadership, citizenship and school activities. She is active in the student legislature and belongs to the Los Hidalgos honor society and La Playa Tri-Y. She is a college major and intends to study at the University of California to become a dental hygienist.

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.