'Gambling Halls to City of Homes' – Talk at Library

For those interested in El Cerrito history, there will be an illustrated talk at the library tonight, Thursday, by writer and Historical Society Vice President Dave Weinstein on the city's old, quirky and architecturally interesting builidings.

We're happy to note that Dave Weinstein – a resident author, lecturer for the El Cerrito Historical Society and occasional contributor to El Cerrito Patch – will give an illustrated presentation tonight, Thursday, at the El Cerrito Library: "Gambling Halls to City of Homes.” The free presentation is sponsored by the Friends of the El Cerrito Library. Refreshments will be served at 7:15 with the talk beginning at 7:30. The announcement for the event says, "Friends of El Cerrito Library present a delightful and informative look at El Cerrito history in an evening program by Dave Weinstein, journalist and author of 'Berkeley Rocks' and other publications, Thursday, May 24, at 7:30 p.m., El Cerrito Library, 6510 Stockton Ave., El Cerrito.  "…

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City Fees to Rise, Some by 8.5 Percent

The El Cerrito City Council agreed Tuesday night to lower swim fees and boost other city fees by an average 5 percent but balked at the proposed $350 solar panel fee, seen as a potential black eye for the city's green image.

The El Cerrito City Council Tuesday night raised building and permit fees by around 8.5 percent in the next fiscal year to make up for unrecovered increased costs in recent years, while most fees at the city's swim center will fall due to competition from the swim center in neighboring Albany. The council also went on record in opposition to a state bill that would suspend carpool lanes on Interstate 80 in the reverse-commute direction between the Bay Bridge and the Carquinez Bridge, and it also voted to extend an exclusive development agreement with Eden Housing for a senior housing project next to City Hall. City fees to rise The City Council Tuesday night approved a wide range of new fees that had been proposed by city staff, with one …

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Kyle

9:59 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Wow, that's very unfortunate/disappointing news. Quite the dis-incentive to do the right thing (perrmits fees and UUT: takes a while to break even). We also pay a tax when we BUY power from PG&E, right? (I assume, but haven't analyzed the bill lately since there's not much I can do about it).   more ›

El Cerrito Mystery Trees?

In its latest newsletter, the Historical Society seeks help in identifying whom some of the trees in Memorial Grove are dedicated to. It also reports on the Blake Garden and seeks volunteers for compiling a "Notable Cerritans" roster.

Editor's note: Below is the latest edition of "Sparks from the Anvil," the periodic compilation of notices from the El Cerrito Historical Society. SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL Sparks from the Anvil is El Cerrito Historical Society’s May 2012 announcements Blake Gardens     Edwin and Anton Blake owned a quarry in Richmond. They were from a wealthy family and upon settlement of their parents' estates, each got over ten acres in Kensington.  Edwin's was sold to the Carmelite Order, but part of it was sub-divided and sold off.  Anton's parcel remains intact, including the home and extensive gardens installed by his wife.  The site is now owned by the University. The University’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Environmental Planning’s …

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'Sparks from the Anvil' – Newest Missive from El Cerrito Historical Society

We're glad to have permission to republish "Sparks from the Anvil," the periodic compilation of announcements from the group that helps keep the community connected to its roots, the El Cerrito Historical Society.

[Editor's note: This is second edition of "Sparks from the Anvil" for March. It was distributed March 30.]                          Sparks from the Anvil is El Cerrito Historical Society’s March 2012 announcements Jobs Available!  Challenging work, interesting co-workers, liberal time off, no pay (but time-and-half for over-time).   Here is the list of opportunities. 1-Memorial Grove    Can you recall folks who were honored between 1975 and 1992 with a tree in El Cerrito’s Memorial Grove?  The Memorial Grove was begun in the mid-1970’s and that the first tree, a pine, honored Jerome Waldie, our U.S. Representative for many years.  There also was a planting of about fifty Sequoia Sempervirens Soquel redwood trees.  Donations were given by …

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'Sparks from the Anvil' – March Missive from El Cerrito Historical Society

We're glad to have secured permission to republish "Sparks from the Anvil," the monthly announcements from the group that helps keep the community connected to its roots, the El Cerrito Historical Society.

Editor's note: Here is the March edition of "Sparks from the Anvil," the monthly email update from the El Cerrito Historical Society. We're delighted to reprint it not only because we believe awareness of a community's history is vital to the community's civic identity but also because we believe our local history and efforts to preserve it are interesting. For those unfamiliar with the "anvil" reference, the community that became "El Cerrito" when the city was incorporated in 1917 was formerly called "Rust," after pioneering blacksmith William Rust, whose blacksmith establishment was located at what is now the intersection of San Pablo and Fairmount avenues. (See attached photo.) SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL Sparks from the Anvil is El Cerrito …

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Invader from Another Climate Lands in El Cerrito

Making the rounds lately in the city is the attached 1926 photo showing a rare site in El Cerrito – snow on a home and surrounding land on Norvell Street between Central and Lincoln Avenues.

Yes, there have been times – very few – when El Cerrito found itself under winter's white blanket. One was captured in the attached 1926 photo, showing snow on a house and the ground on Norvell Street between Central and Lincoln Avenues. The photo, from the El Cerrito Historical Society, has been resurfacing lately in town. It was published recently in the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce newsletter, "Byline," noting that the house still stands on Norvell. The photo was again published in the March issue of the Historical Society's monthly email newsletter, "Sparks from the Anvil," which added: "The last significant snow in town was in the 1970’s, when it not only snowed, but it was so cold the snow stayed on the ground in some places for …

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Teri Sandholdt

9:13 am on Monday, March 12, 2012

Charles, not to worry! I was not offended! My Dad loved fires (and, of course, putting them out properly)! I remember years ago when everyone would take their Christmas tree to the quarry and place them on a huge pile. The ensuing bonfire was spectacular! And building a campfire or putting a fire in our fireplace: he had it all down to a science. He was also a firm believer in the fact that fire …   more ›

Honor Famous El Cerritans? How? What Criteria?

Following attention paid to Creedence Clearwater Revival by visiting European fans, the El Cerrito Historical Society has asked if famous El Cerritans should be honored. If so, how and what criteria should be used?

Should the city honor its notables? If so, who and how? Those questions are being posed by the El Cerrito Historical Society to its members following a recent visit to El Cerrito by a dozen European fans of the famous hometown rock band, Creedence Clearwater Revival. The just-emailed March issue of the society's "Sparks from the Anvil" says: "Famous El Cerritans – The recent visit of fans from Europe to El Cerrito, the home of Creedence Clearwater Revival, got us thinking.  This town has been home to several notable individuals from Nobel winners to architects to TV personalities.  Should we honor them?  How?  What should be the criteria?  We believe the Historical Society is the correct place to start but we’re asking our members for help…

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Toni Mayer

10:46 pm on Thursday, March 1, 2012

You make an excellent point, Jen.   more ›

El Cerrito Time Machine

First Trans-U.S. Highway Ran Through El Cerrito

Rich Bartke, president of the El Cerrito Historical Society, tells the story of the Lincoln Highway, America's first transcontinental roadway, whose entire length was driven by Bartke's father in a Model T.

Love it or hate it, San Pablo Avenue is the main artery for our community.  The Avenue starts in downtown Oakland and traverses the eight cities of Emeryville, Berkeley, Albany, El Cerrito, Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole and Hercules, and the unincorporated towns of Rodeo and Crockett with a couple of now-gone towns in between.  When was the roadway started?  The complete history will have to wait for another day.  But according to Edward Staniford, author of  El Cerrito Historical Evolution, it was originally “El Camino Real” (meaning a main road) and then “San Pablo Road” going from Oakland to Martinez via “San Pablo town.” Victor Castro (first non-Native American settler in what is now El Cerrito) built his El Cerrito adobe ranch house on …

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Betty Buginas

12:26 pm on Friday, December 30, 2011

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adobe   more ›

Comment of the Week

Comment: Community Should Help Pay to Save Historic Building

In the latest Comment of Week, reader Chris Hanrahan calls for a community funding effort from those who want to save the historic stone-clad building near City Hall from the developer's wrecking ball.

One issue of recent public concern is the fate of a historic stone-clad building at 10898 San Pablo Ave. in El Cerrito, near City Hall. The city is working with a developer, Eden Housing, to build a senior housing complex on the site that includes the old building and the former Tradeway furniture store next door. The El Cerrito Historical Society and some members of the community say the historic structure should be preserved, but Eden Housing, which originally proposed to demolish the structure, has not committed to retaining it. Our most recent story on the issue, "Historic Buidling's Fate Undecided, Developer Says," generated this week's Comment of the Week, posted by reader Chris Hanrahan: The only thing that's holding the developer …

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John Stashik

2:31 pm on Sunday, November 20, 2011

Eden can certainly incorporate the historic structures into their development plan. Their business is development and I'm certain they have dealt with similar situations before. It make take a bit more effort and slightly reduce rental revenue from their proposed plan, but it can be done.   more ›

Historic Buidling's Fate Undecided, Developer Says

Whether to retain a historic stone-clad building that was recently deemed historic has not been resolved, said the developer of a senior housing complex proposed for the site that sits adjacent to El Cerrito City Hall and includes the building.

The developer of a proposed senior housing complex next to City Hall has not decided whether to retain a historic stone-clad building that the El Cerrito Historical Society and some other community members are trying to preserve, a developer's representative said Monday. "We're looking at whether we can incorporate that building into the project," said Woody Karp, project manager for Eden Housing, which is planning the city-sponsored senior housing development. "That's something we're going back and forth on." Karp spoke at a community meeting at the El Cerrito Senior Center sponsored by Eden to provide information about the senior housing plan and receive public feedback. The effort is a city redevelopment project, begun under the city's …

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