USA > California > Contra Costa County > History of Contra Costa County, California; with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 30
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January 22, 1890 .- Eight carloads of fruit were shipped from Mar- tinez during the season of 1889.
At a meeting of the citizens of Pacheco, January 13, a club called the Pacheco Social Club was organized. P. G. Loucks was elected president; George Holmes, secretary ; and R. Angelo, treasurer.
The new depot at Crockett is now covered.
The great storm, general all over the State, caused damages in every section. In Visalia boats were plying up and down Main Street Saturday noon. Stockton was flooded and the city plunged in total darkness Satur- day night. Heavy snow-slides were reported at Downieville and Sierra City. Los Angeles and San Bernardino suffered severely. In Contra Costa County, Pacheco Valley was one sheet of water, and it invaded Concord for the first time. Stages were delayed. Telegraph and tele- phone wires were down. There were heavy slides between Martinez and Port Costa. The inclemency of the weather has been a detriment to busi- ness in general.
February 1, 1890 .- We now have had 29.41 inches of rain.
Danville, Brentwood and Walnut Creek all report isolation on ac- count of bad roads and storms.
February 26, 1890 .- The season's rainfall is 35.41 inches. The heav- iest recorded was for 1852-1853, when 36.36 inches fell at Sacramento. This season is pretty sure to pass that record.
Briones Valley takes the lead in the county in rainfall, 47.50 inches. Snow fell to the depth of an inch Thursday.
March 8, 1890 .- There is now a really fair prospect of an amicable division of the San Pablo ranch. Nearly all of the claimants have agreed upon the terms of the division.
May 14, 1890 .- Thursday morning the rain gauge added enough to bring the total to 40.53 inches as against 17.32 inches for 1889.
The Pinole Packing Company, after a considerable time, is at last assured. It is a syndicate represented by Garretson and Hetches of Sioux City, Kans. They will slaughter and pack meats and establish an industry for working up hides, etc.
April 19, 1890 .- Steam was got up in the cannery on Thursday to put the machinery in motion and adjust the same.
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April 30, 1890 .- The new bell, weighing 2700 pounds, for the Catho- lic church, arrived at Martinez Saturday and was hauled to the church- yard, blocked up and rung for the first time. It has a deep tone.
May 17, 1890 .- Strawberries have made their appearance in local markets and meet with ready sale. The first cherries of the season were received from H. Raap in Martinez.
The Alamo bridge is completed on the Green Valley Road in the Walnut Creek district.
July 12, 1890 .- A large warehouse belonging to S. Blum & Company goes up in smoke; loss $2500; insurance $1500.
August 13, 1890 .- A handsome flag, 6 by 8 feet in size, having a large bear painted thereon, together with a staff, was presented to Mount Diablo Parlor No. 101, N. S. G. W., by some kind but unknown man.
September 6, 1890 .- A fire at Brentwood destroyed Moody's & Brewer's smithy, Shafer's livery, and the entire printing establishment of Mr. Humphrey. The local paper was being issued, and only a few copies had been run off.
The Smith Mineral Springs in Alhambra Valley have been fitted up with bath tubs and are now open to the public.
Frank L. Glass announces himself a candidate for county clerk.
On September 22 the second fair under the new organization of Agri- cultural District No. 23 will open at the fair grounds.
September 24, 1890 .- H. H. Markham, candidate for Governor, is announced to speak at Antioch September 26. He will be tendered a re- ception in Martinez between 10 and 12 o'clock that morning.
October 1, 1890 .- Destruction of the saloon of Nicholas King by fire. in which King was fatally burned, and of the butcher shop of Minor Slater and the brick building occupied by James Morrow, occurred on Saturday. On account of no water pressure it was with difficulty that other buildings were saved.
Contra Costa County Improvement Association organized, and drew up by-laws for "The Contra Costa Association"; John Swett, president; E. B. Smith, secretary ; J. H. Borland, vice-president, District No. 1; W. B. Rogers, vice-president, District No. 2; W. A. Patterson, District No. 3; M. Sickal, District No. 4; A. C. Hanley, District No. 5; Mrs. M. H. Bailhache, treasurer.
The condition of the monster ferry boat, Solano, is worrying the railroad authorities. She has never been out of the water since launched, and there is no dry dock in the State large enough to receive her. She must soon be repaired or sunk.
December 10, 1890 .- Work on the San Ramon branch railway is pro- gressing very satisfactorily. The ground is being graded for a depot. Rails a mile from Concord.
January 14, 1891 .- The county census gives the population of the county as 13,515 : whites, 12,978; Chinese, 468; Indians, 4; colored, 57; and Japanese, 8.
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Fifteen new buildings have been erected in Pinole in the last year.
February 25, 1891 .- Wheat is coming into Port Costa at a lively rate. There are now 500 cars in the yards.
Owing to another heavy landslide east of Nevada Dock last Mon- day, traffic via Martinez was shut off for several hours.
March 7, 1891 .- A meeting of the Alhambra Cemetery Associa- tion was held. M. H. Bailhache called the meeting to order and trustees were elected to fill vacancies. The organization now stands: M. H. Bail- hache, president; G. A. Sherman, vice-president; L. C. Wittenmyer, sec- retary, superintendent and treasurer : trustees, M. H. Bailhache, G. A. Sherman, L. C. Wittenmyer, L. S. Davenport and E. Morgan.
March 11, 1891 .- A baseball club was organized in Martinez Sat- urday evening, with Real Sharp, manager; George Woolbert, captain; Albert Hickman, secretary and treasurer.
March 28, 1891 .- The four-masted schooner Kitsap arrived Satur- day with 950,000 feet of lumber and lath for Port Costa Lumber Com- pany at Vallejo Junction. In docking her, the wharf was rammed and damaged to the extent of several hundred dollars.
Last Sunday the first service was held in the new church at Port Costa.
According to the census returns, Mount Diablo district still furnishes the greater portion of coal produced in California. There has been a revival, to some extent, in mining operations.
April 15, 1891 .- Dunham, Carrigan & Company have bought the Heald Mill at Crockett and have made Mr. Heald manager.
April 25, 1891 .- President Harrison's train made a short stop at Martinez. An anvil salute was fired by A. Grimes. A delegation of leading citizens met the train. The school children were out in full force and presented him with a fine basket of flowers, and the Native Daughters presented another to the President's wife; other bouquets were presented by individuals. James Mckenzie was one of the Presidential party.
April 25, 1891 .- Papers of the incorporation of Contra Costa Gas & Water Company have been completed and sent to Sacramento for filing. Prospects for obtaining both water and gas seem to be very good.
Railroad graders have passed Danville and track-laying is under full swing.
April 29, 1891 .- Brentwood turned out in full force to greet Presi- dent Harrison's train. After a short speech and hand-shaking, the train departed amid cheers for the President.
On April 22, 1891, the Golden Wedding anniversary of George P. Loucks and his wife was fittingly celebrated at their residence by their many friends.
The construction train was run upon the Walnut Creek depot grounds April 21; the gravel train arrived April 29. The grounds for the depot were donated by Mr. and Mrs. Botillo. Two trains daily run from Em- ery Station to Orinda Park.
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At the Monday session of the board of supervisors, Charles Wood of Danville was appointed public administrator to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mr. Scammon.
May 27, 1891 .- Articles of incorporation have been filed in the county clerk's office by the Gas & Water Company.
A destructive fire at Crockett last Monday evening destroyed Ed. Summerfield's drug store, Lasell & Brothers' dry goods store, Eckley & Bartlett's butcher shop, and Cavanaugh's saloon. Total loss, $35,000, only partly insured.
May 30, 1891 .- Four locomotives at Danville at one time impart a lively appearance to the neighborhood.
The Martinez school census showed the following results for children between the ages of five and seventeen years: Boys, white, 151; girls, white, 159; Negro boys, 4; Negro girls, 6; Indian, 1. Total, 321.
June 6, 1891 .- Commencing Sunday, the 7th, the San Ramon Branch organization will open for freight and passenger business. The opening marks an era in the history of Contra Costa County. Trains leave San Francisco at 7:30 a. m., arrive in Martinez at 9:29, leave Martinez at 5 :10 p. m., and arrive in San Francisco at 6:45 p. m. Quite a number of residents of Martinez availed themselves of the opportunity of in- specting the line. There was also a delegation from San Francisco.
July 4, 1891 .- The Signal Service Reports state that the temperature for June has been the highest for many years, if not the highest ever re- corded in California.
At the conclusion of the day's festivities there will be a grand ball at Bennett's Hall under the auspices of Mount Diablo Parlor No. 101, N. S. G. W.
The railroad company has had another well bored near the depot at Concord. An artesian flow was struck at a depth of fifty-seven feet, flowing 1000 gallons per minute, four feet over the top of pipe. A valu- able artesian belt has been opened.
July 15, 1891 .- The late fire on the east side of Mount Diablo inflicts a heavy blow on the stockmen, the feed having been entirely destroyed over a large area.
Deeds by the following persons to the Southern Pacific for right of way of the San Ramon Railroad have been filed at the recorder's office : J. D. Smith, J. A. McGovern, Mrs. A. Love, D. P. Smith, W. W. Cox, Manuel Sherman and Maria Sherman, C. Waite, William Meese, R. O. Baldwin, Eli R. Chase, J. B. Moraga and L. P. Moraga, John Baker, M. D. Young, John Wilhelm, Felipa Soto de Welch.
The Nevada Docks will be quite deserted as soon as Eppinger & Company leave. There will be only one shipper, William Dresbach. It would not be surprising if the Nevada Bank were to ship wheat on its own account.
July 29, 1891 .- The county's wealth is estimated as follows: Real estate, $9,226,600; improvements, $1,805,010; city and town lots, $460,-
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957; improvements thereon, $605,000; telephone and telegraph lines, $20,087; money, $50,428; solvent credit, $34,000; other personal prop- erty, $3,310,569; total, $15,571,651.
The mortgages in Antioch and Martinez amount to $50,984; on farm and other town property, $2,550,597 ; value of property affected by mort- gage, $4,299,618; and assessed value of trust deeds and mortgages, $2,- 601,581.
Acres sown to crops in 1891 : Wheat, 44,500; oats, 1600; barley, 28,- 400; corn, 2200; hay, 48,400. Acres planted to grapes, 4350; to fruit and nuts, 264,770.
August 8, 1891 .- The Antioch Philharmonic Club has been organized with a membership of thirty-five. O. E. Swain is president.
August 29, 1891 .- Twenty cars of fruit passed through Martinez on Thursday from San Ramon Valley, and large shipments are being made every day.
The Home Orchestra was organized on Thursday evening in Mar- tinez. Its members are: Mrs. T. A. McMahon, Max Blum, Gustave Weiss, Miss Jennie Fraser, A. E. Blum, and Prof. W. B. Bartlett, who acts as leader.
The school districts composing the central portion of the county having voted for a Union High School, a meeting of the trustees of the . several districts is called to meet at Walnut Creek on September 26. It is desired that parties having eligible sites submit their propositions to the trustees.
October 10, 1891 .- On Tuesday evening, 3200 boxes of grapes were shipped from Martinez.
The Lumbermen's and Longshoremen's Association will give their first ball at Crockett on October 17.
October 14, 1891 .- Decidedly the most severe earthquake shock ex- perienced in this vicinity since 1868 occurred on Sunday evening at 10:30 p. m., lasting thirteen seconds. Clocks were stopped and light articles thrown from shelves, etc. In Napa the Masonic building was badly dam- aged, and at the State Asylum the inmates became almost uncontrollable.
Mahoney & Ivey have been awarded the contract for carrying mail from Martinez to Pacheco, and will run a stage twice a day.
October 28, 1891 .- At the last meeting of the town trustees an order was made contracting to take gas for five months from November 1, the gas company furnishing burners at their own expense.
November 7, 1891 .- The board of supervisors on Wednesday made an appropriation for one-third of the actual cost of the proposed Pacheco Canal to give relief to farmers of overflowed lands. This leaves $2000 to be contributed by those benefited.
December 26, 1891 .- A disastrous fire visited the town Wednesday morning, about three o'clock, starting in a Chinese wash-house. It spread to the Commercial Hotel and the James Rankin building. The loss amounted to about $12,000.
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January 16, 1892 .- The Starr Mill began making flour last week.
January 16, 1892 .- The new fire engine is expected to arrive today. More than ten times the cost of the engine would have been saved had it been on hand at the last fire. It is hoped it will prove satisfactory when the time comes to use it.
January 30, 1892 .- The Martinez Military Band has been reorgan- ized. A number of new musicians have been added, and their prospects for performance and efficiency are better than ever.
The "Boys' Brigade" being organized at Brentwood is very popular with all the boys from twelve to seventeen years of age. They have a regular uniform. The object is to produce habits of reverence and respect for authority.
February 3, 1892 .- At a meeting in the town hall Monday evening the Martinez branch of the Merchants' Retail Commercial Agency was organized, with the leading merchants as members. There are agencies all over California, and now a branch at Antioch, Concord, Crockett, and all towns of the county.
February 24, 1892 .- The Contra Costa Herald is a new eight-page paper at Brentwood. It is published by E. W. Netherton and is to be independent in politics.
March 3, 1892 .- Brick is being manufactured at Pacheco at Blum's brickyard. This is the beginning of what promises to be an important industry for Contra Costa.
The country adjacent to Brentwood, known as Eden Plain, is rapidly being set to almonds and is destined to become a great center for that industry. William Shafer, Thomas Murphy, P. J. Moody, and E. W. Steading have set out twenty acres or more each.
March 16, 1892 .- The foundation for the packing house is now laid at Rodeo. The building is to be of brick, four stories high, 150 by 175 feet. Work will also commence on the canning department.
The new hotel is now opened for business and is handsomely furnished. while the bar-room is the finest in the county.
April 13, 1892 .- Over a year ago the Gazette published extracts from more than fifty papers about the ten-block system of naming roads and numbering county houses. Thus far no criticism has been made. Recent dispatches from Washington say that the postmaster general has become interested, as it remains the only obstacle to rapid and accurate service in the country. These dispatches have been published all over the country, and Contra Costa County has been mentioned in all of them.
David Bush and A. L. Bancroft are now at work interviewing Contra Costa people about money with which to measure our roads and block them off preparatory to numbering the country houses.
Hon. Joseph McKenna has presented each school in the county with a fine large map of the United States. In retiring from public office Mr. McKenna cherishes a feeling of kind regard for those whose confidence he has enjoyed.
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April 23, 1892 .- The Martinez Free Library Association has been compelled to vacate the place so long occupied and will be placed in the room formerly occupied by Mrs. Hollenbeck on Ferry Street.
The violence of the quake was felt here quite enough to satisfy al- most everybody. At Dixon the Masonic Hall was badly damaged and will have to be taken down. The Odd Fellows' building at Vacaville is also in ruins.
On May 7, 1892, the Contra Costa Fruit Growers' Association was organized, with George Frazer, president; H. M. Bush, vice president ; H. Raap, secretary; G. A. Putnam, treasurer.
Married, in Martinez, May 12, 1892, by Rev. D. W. Calfee, Edward W. Netherton of Brentwood and Miss Alice M. Carpenter of Martinez.
May 28, 1892 .- A kiln of brick will soon be ready for the market from S. Blum's yard at Pacheco.
Martinez Steel Manufacturing Company: I will pay five cents per share for assessment-paid stock in this company. D. J. West.
July 6, 1892 .- The day was made to order for the Antioch celebra- tion of our national anniversary. The weather was ideal; a fine parade was had, including a number of floats, the Fire Department, and the Na- tive Sons of Antioch and Martinez. Two bands furnished the music. The oration was delivered by Col. J. P. Irish. The day closed with a grand ball in the evening.
July 13, 1892 .- The Giant Powder Works at Fleming's. Point, West Berkeley, met with destruction in some five or six separate explosions about 9 a. m. Saturday. The concussions caused destruction to adjacent build- ings, and to windows in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley. The shock was plainly felt in Martinez.
Danville Lodge No. 378, 1. O. O. F., was organized July 26, 1892, with seven charter members; twenty-two new members were initiated.
August 13, 1892 .- Last week parties leased 1000 acres in Briones Valley and are now prospecting for oil.
Nathaniel Jones and wife celebrated their Golden Wedding anniver- sary at Walnut Creek, Wednesday, August 10, 1892.
October 1, 1892 .- The water question is getting to be a serious ques- tion in Martinez. A number of families are entirely dependent on the water-works for their supply and are cut off without a drop. The Water Company is under contract to supply the railroad; and as there is not water enough within reach of the shallow wells, the town is likely to be shut out entirely until the winter rains set in.
October 26, 1892 .- Columbus Day was celebrated at Orinda Park by the teachers, pupils and parents of Mount Pleasant and Orinda Park school districts. The Alhambra School also celebrated the day with appropriate ceremonies.
Alamo and Port Costa held fitting exercises in honor of Discovery Day, October 21, 1892. Liberty, Byron, Oak Grove, Pacheco and Green Valley also held their celebrations in proper observance of the day.
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November 23, 1892 .- The work of measuring and blocking off the roads of the central part of the county, on the ten-block system, has been under way for some time. The committee on rural affairs are L. C. Wit- tenmyer, W. A. Kirkwood and A. L. Bancroft. H. M. Gregory has charge of the field work. Considerable money has been subscribed by San Francisco people.
November 30, 1892 .- The Lafayette Hotel was totally destroyed by fire Sunday evening; also the stable and entire contents.
More than 100 miles of road have been measured off thus far in the new system of blocking.
January 14, 1893 .- At a meeting of the town trustees Tuesday even- ing, an ordinance was introduced providing for a special tax levy to pur- chase a chemical engine for protection against fire.
January 21, 1893 .- On Gwin Ranch, four miles east of Martinez, a flowing well is reported at eighty feet, yielding an inch stream. Shallow flowing wells are reported in Pacheco Valley; also at Concord, on the east side of Walnut Creek, at 160 feet.
A map of Contra Costa County is on exhibit at the Mechanics' Insti- tute in San Francisco, showing the ten-block system of numbering houses and naming roads.
January 28, 1893 .- The fine warehouse of J. A. Shuey at Danville was totally destroyed by fire Tuesday night, together with all its contents. There were 4000 tons of hay in storage. The contents and the building were well insured.
The Rodeo Daily News made its expected appearance on March 1, 1893. Ernest Hymens is the publisher and editor. It is an eight-page folio newspaper.
April 29, 1893 .- The California & Nevada Railroad is completed to within three miles of Lafayette. This branch line is a private affair of the Grant Brothers.
Work will progress from now on upon the new ferry piers at Emery- ville. It is proposed to construct two steel ferry boats.
May 13, 1893 .- A local camp of the W. O. W. will be instituted at Masonic Hall Saturday evening, with thirty charter members. The name of the camp will be Laurel Camp No. 145.
The new owners of the Narrow Gauge have organized and elected officers as follows : J. S. Emery, president; E. A. Phelps, secretary ; Abner Doble, J. J. Souvenir, George W. Schell, A. H. Clough, and William Thomas, directors. The road will be made a broad-gauge.
May 30, 1893 .- The Rodeo Daily News suspended publication.
June 17, 1893 .- E. W. Netherton and family have removed to Santa Cruz, where Mr. Netherton will be employed in the office of the Sentinel.
August 5, 1893 .- The Rodeo Packing Company suspended on account of the present financial stringency. 10
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Frank T, Swett, of Alhambra Valley, has just returned to Martinez after an extended visit to the East. He describes the stagnation in busi- ness and hard times among the laboring classes as deplorable. He hap- pened to be in Manchester, N. H., when the great Amoskeag Mills closed. They are the largest in the world and had run continuously for thirty years. 8000 people are out of employment.
The Antioch Ledger goes from the control of C. F. Montgomery & Son to Prof. G. F. Foster, who has given ample evidence of ability in the editorial chair.
December 30, 1893 .- Chris Evans, the train robber, who had been sentenced to prison for life for murder, made his escape from the Fresno County jail last Thursday evening.
March 10, 1894 .- On Saturday last Judge J. C. B. Hubbard signed the decree for the partition of the San Pablo Ranch. It is a formidable document of 500 pages and will cost $300 to record. This ends a case that will go down in history as one of the most noted land contests in Califor- nia. The amount and value of the land in dispute, the ability and repute of the counsel employed, and the length of time extended, have given it wide notoriety. Parties secure in the possession of their premises can now improve with security. A large increase in population can now be looked for, and general advancement of the whole section may be realized.
March 17, 1894 .- Byron has a brass band of fifteen pieces, and it is very liberal with its services.
On Friday evening the Lafayette Improvement Club gave its initial party at Corvillo Hall. It was organized some weeks ago, with Ed. J. Brady, president. A sumptuous repast was served at midnight.
March, 1894 .- Concord now has the fair grounds of the Agricul- tural Society, a fine railroad station, the Klein and Mount Diablo Hotels, the firms of Novas & Beebe, Randall Brothers, Henry Soto, Gambs & Kaliski, general merchants; M. M. Brackenridge, hardware; Maggie Soto, B. Neustaedter, dry goods; two harness shops; one bakery; two blacksmiths; three grain warehouses; one livery; one meat market; one drug store; the Weekly Sun; two doctors; the I. O. O. F. lodge ; express office and postoffice ; a hook and ladder company; a free reading room; a $15,000 school; three churches; a firemen's hall, and a hall for public meetings.
May 5, 1894 .- Work was commenced Monday on the new sewer to run from Howard Street, near Dr. Tennent's residence, down Talbert to Main, and thence down Main to Castro to connect with the sewer laid last year.
The guide posts erected by the county are a great public convenience, and if they suffer at the hands of vandals it will go hard with the offend- ers. The Lasell Company have supplemented the useful work by placing distance posts along the highways out of Martinez.
June 2, 1894 .- The machinery for the manufacture of gas has been placed in position and new rates will soon be announced.
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July 14, 1894 .- Ferry wharf is the most lively place in town. Since the tie-up of trains the mail, express, freight and passenger traffic is all handled by the California Transit Company.
July 26, 1894 .- The Black Diamond Cannery, erected seventeen years ago, was burned to the ground. The cannery was owned by the Sac- ramento River Packers' Association, and was one of the best and most completely equipped on the coast.
Besides the cannery, the Southport Land and Commercial Company's wharf works, and a sloop owned by Gus Smith, and a plunger of the Sac- ramento River Packing Company were burned.
The board of supervisors has arranged the judicial townships and made provision so that but one justice and one constable be allowed to each township.
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