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 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114
December 17, 1921 .- The fleet of trucks engaged in wrecking the test highway at Pittsburg have traveled 57,908 miles and have subjected the circular track to 1,896,560 tons, according to the report made by the Good Roads Bureau of the California State Automobile Association. The total weight passing over each section from December 4 to the 10th was 636,300 tons, the trucks traveling 17,538 miles. There has been no sec- tion to give way thus far, but all show signs of cracking. On December 14, the weight of the trucks was increased from eleven tons to thirteen and a half tons, and the weight is to be increased until thirty-ton loads are carried over the road, and the speed increased to twenty miles. The en- gineers say these tests will result in a lasting benefit.
January 16, 1922 .- Classes will begin in the new $185,000 high school building just completed. The bonds were voted two years ago by the citizens. The building is designed in Romanesque style of architecture, walls of reinforced concrete, with red tile roof. The auditorium will seat 850; the main building is 250 feet long and two stories high.
January 28, 1922 .- After three months, the wheels of heavy traffic will cease rolling over the concrete slabs at Pittsburg. The testing will continue in the spring. The ditches around the road will be kept flooded and be drained in the spring when tests are resumed.
Former records for snowfall were broken here Sunday, January 29, when snow fell the entire day. In some places in the county it was ten inches deep. Old trees on the highway were broken by the weight of the snow. The fall was general throughout the county and in the bay cities. In Berkeley it was a foot deep in places, and in Martinez about eight inches on the average.
On March 21, ground was broken for the $12,000 Women's Club building at Las Juntas and Mellus Streets in Martinez.
348
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
May 6, 1922 .- Concord voted 117 for and 1 against the issue of $70,000 bonds for the construction of a new grammar school building.
On May 14, 1922, Martinez was accorded the honor of having broad- casted the first complete Sunday religious service from a radio station on the Pacific Coast. The services were conducted by Rev. N. F. Sanderson, who delivered his sermon from the Rock Ridge Station in Oakland. In the Congregational Church a magnavox had been installed, and the en- tire services were enjoyed.
June 3, 1922 .- By a vote of 166 for and 15 against at Brentwood, and 11 for and 2 against at Deer Valley, the bond issue was carried to build a $40,000 grammar school at Brentwood.
June 24, 1922 .- The Shell Oil Company has purchased, for $4500, one and one-half acres of land from James Dent, adjoining their present holdings.
July 8, 1922 .- The board of supervisors purchased the Fernandez Estate on Court and Ward Streets in Martinez for $12,500, as a site for the prospective Hall of Records.
July 22, 1922 .- Construction was started by Cahill Brothers on the first $125,000 unit of the half-million-dollar warehouse and processing plant for the California Bean Growers' Association. It will be 80 by 326 feet, part of it five stories high. It is located on a four-acre tract purchased by the Association between Antioch road and the bay, west of the Red- wood Lumber Yard. The association has a private wharf with 104 feet frontage.
Work has begun on the enlargement of the Pioneer Rubber Company's Mills of Pittsburg, it being a part of the $500,000 development program authorized by the directors.
Pittsburg will have the first Junior High School in the county with the completion of the $12,000 building, which will be ready for occupancy September 1. The equipment will cost $7000.
On July 29, 1922, two thousand acres of range land was swept by flames on the eastern side of Ygnacio Valley and the south side of Mount Diablo. There was serious damage to cattle ranges.
August 5, 1922 .- On August 3, at a meeting of the directors of the First National Bank and the San Ramon Valley Bank in Walnut Creek, the two banks were merged and the stock liquidated. Officers and direct- ors : E. B. Ensign, president; Arthur Burton, vice-president ; W. S. Burpee, C. R. Leech, N. S. Boone and F. A. Marshall, directors.
August 19, 1922 .- The almond crop of Contra Costa County for 1922 is valued at $2,500,000 and has been signed to the California Al- mond Growers' Exchange by 110 growers. Contra Costa County is third in the State in almond production.
The First National Bank of Richmond has merged with the Mer- cantile Trust Company of San Francisco. The banking-house of the old Bank of Richmond at Macdonald and Eighth will be closed, but the
,
349
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
parent bank at Point Richmond will be maintained. C. S. Downing and W. K. Cole have sold their interests.
Fifteen hundred Klansmen from all parts of Northern California were initiated into the K. K. K. on Saturday night in West Pittsburg, in the marsh lands between Mount Diablo and the Carquinez Straits.
W. K. Cole committed suicide in San Francisco on September 14, 1922, when sixty years of age. He had been in ill health for some time and had spells of despondency. He was a prominent druggist of Martinez at one time, but sold out his drug business and engaged in banking; he was a di- rector of the Bank of Martinez.
December 9, 1922 .- E. A. Majors, president of the First National Bank of Martinez, announces that the controlling interest in the bank has been sold to the American Bank of Oakland. There will be no change in the directorate or in the personnel of officers. The bank will be con- ducted as a National bank ; later it may be changed into a State bank.
December 23, 1922 .- Crockett and Valona vote $240,000 bonds for the purchase of several acres of land and the erection of a grammar school building.
March 3, 1923 .- The Bay Point business district was damaged to the extent of $35,000 when several stores and other buildings were destroyed by fire.
March 10, 1923 .- A large section of the business district of Byron was destroyed by fire. The loss is estimated at $200,000. The buildings des- troyed were the Byron Times, postoffice, Santos Hotel, L. V. Plumley's merchandise store, Ellis Howard's butcher-shop, barber-shop and shoe- shop in the S. M. Cabral building.
April 28, 1923 .- The Pioneer Rubber Company of Pittsburg has doubled its capitalization, raising it from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000.
One of the heaviest and finest fruit crops in Alhambra Valley and Pleasant Hill in years, is reported this year. The pear crop alone is val- ued at $187,000; and the total valuation of the crop, for all fruits, is nearly $500,000.
July 14, 1923 .- "One of the best auto-camp parks in the country," is the verdict of the motor-tourist campers that enjoy the privileges of the Martinez Auto Park, operated by the Chamber of Commerce.
The people of Martinez have spent about $600,000 for new streets in four years.
Richmond expended a total of $132,461.38 during the past fiscal year, ending June 30, for the paving of streets.
July 20, 1923 .- Ground was broken in Pittsburg by the C. A. Hooper Company for the first twenty of 250 bungalow-homes to be constructed by that firm.
July 24, 1923 .- The Pacific Cellouis Mills at Walnut Creek, makers of artificial silk, received a car of machinery from Germany this week. It will be installed at once, and they expect to begin operations September 1.
350
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
August 2, 1923 .- Without interruption in business, the American National Bank ceased to exist today and became the American Bank, under a California charter.
September, 1923 .- The grape crop in Alhambra, Ygnacio, San Ra- mon and other valleys in this part of the county, will be worth $250,000.
September 15, 1923 .- Thomas Carneal, who owns many acres of land in the Tassajara district, conceived the idea of providing an up-to-date school building for the pupils of the community. He set aside an ample tract of land for playgrounds, then had a fine concrete building erected, and equipped the building throughout with the latest in fixtures and fur- niture, and also an automatic player-piano. The whole investment amount- ed to $13,000, which he donated to the district. The Highland district is in a rather isolated section, and Mr. Carneal thought the school children would like to know what was going on in the outside world; so he added a modern radio-receiving set to the equipment.
On September 17, 1923, a terrible fire in Berkeley burned over thirty square miles. A number of Contra Costa County families reside in Berk- eley. Local students attending the University of California were victims of the fire, which destroyed sixty blocks.
October 7, 1923 .- The fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Bank of Martinez was observed fittingly today by the bank's officers. On October 7, 1873, the Bank of Martinez opened for business with a capital stock of $50,000; L. I. Fish, president; W. M. Hale, secretary and cash- ier ; H. M. Hale, teller and accountant ; L. I. Fish, William W. Cameron, Simon Blum, Henry M. Hale, and W. M. Hale, directors. The town then had a population between 500 and 600. On May 26, 1875, the capital stock was increased to $100,000. L. I. Fish was succeeded by L. C. Wittenmyer in 1890. James Rankin succeeded to the presidency in 1899, and in 1902 W. S. Tinning. W. M. Hale was cashier from 1873 to 1883; H. M. Hale, from 1883 to 1899; W. A. Hale, from 1899 to date. The original building burned in 1904; an annex was added in 1915.
October 13, 1923 .- The Bank of Concord held a meeting and Albert Smith was elected vice-president, succeeding B. G. Ensign, resigned, he having purchased Ensign's stock. J. H. DeMartini, also a new stock- holder, was elected cashier.
Over 2000 attended the institution of the Pittsburg Lodge of Elks on October 20. The lodge was instituted by District Deputy Exalted Ruler George Rucker, of San Jose. After the ceremonies of institution the of- ficers took their chairs and initiated seventy-one members.
Over 700 autos have registered at the auto camp since the opening on June 1. Figuring four passengers to a car, this makes 2800 people who spent from one night to a week here. Of this number twenty have bought homes in Martinez or have made permanent homes in the county.
November 24, 1923 .- The consolidation of the Contra Costa County Bank with the Mercantile Trust Company of California has been ap- proved. By this act the bank will become a unit of an institution with re-
351
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
sources in excess of $130,000,000, with offices in thirteen San Francisco Bay cities. Officers and directors of the Bank are : W. E. Creed, president ; WV. J. Buchanan, vice-president; A. S. Sbarbaro, vice-president; G. Todaro, cashier ; Armand Stow and N. Canevaro, assistants; C. J. Wood, Otis Lov- erage, W. E. Creed, A. S. Sbarbaro, W. J. Buchanan, G. Todaro and N. Canevaro, directors. The resources of the bank are over $1,300,000.
December 11, 1923 .- Pittsburg business property was sold by James Fitzgerald for $22,000, according to the deed filed in the office of the county recorder. The property included a building in the business section.
December 15, 1923 .- The furnaces of the Mountain Copper Company at Bay Point are closed down, throwing 125 men out of employment.
January 5, 1924 .- Richmond has a population of between 22,000 and 25,000. East Bay Water Company has 4800 services. The manager of the company estimates that the total number of connections in the town is 5300. The phone company has 2975 connections. The Western States Gas & Electric Company has 6353 consumers. The average daily attend- ance in school is 3924.
Bulding permits in Pittsburg for 1923 totaled $190,723 ; seventy-five per cent of this amount was for homes. This is exclusive of Creed Tract No. 2, where buildings represent $150,000.
The Pinole Times is twenty-nine years old. It was established by E. M. Downer and Dr. M. L. Fernandez and was the third paper in the county. Downer & Fernandez published it till the latter withdrew. John Birmingham took his place, continuing until 1916, when Ed. Ebsen bought the paper.
The Union Ice Company starts work on their $30,000 ice plant at the corner of Escobar and Pine Streets.
Property loss by fire in San Ramon Valley: Total alarms, 56; loss, $53,500; inside limits, $11,525 ; outside limits, $41,975.
January 19, 1924 .- Rural free mail delivery began at Brentwood, extending to Marsh Creek, Deer Valley and Antioch Road, 25.6 miles. The service includes 115 homes. Will Coates is the temporary carrier.
W. A. Hale, was made president of the Bank of Martinez, to succeed Mr. Tinning, deceased; F. R. Jones, cashier; A. B. Tinning, director.
February 2, 1924 .- The Pacific Gas & Electric buys thirty acres of the Amos Graves ranch at Antioch, where they will establish a substation.
February 9, 1924 .- Mrs. Flora Irene Hurley was appointed by the board of supervisors to fill out the balance of her husband's term as county recorder.
On June 18, the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Congre- gational Church in Martinez will be observed by a three days' program.
March 22, 1924 .- The plague of the hoof and mouth disease in sev- eral parts of Contra Costa County is discovered, and immediate steps taken to quarantine the places where discovered. Some of the most valu- able herds in the county are in San Ramon Valley, and extra precautions are being taken to protect the stock.
352
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
March 22, 1924 .- Every herd in Pinole Valley is to be killed in the hoof and mouth disease war. There are twenty-seven exposed herds near Richmond; 266 cattle were killed and put under the ground today. It was then decided by Government experts that every animal in and around Richmond and Pinole has been exposed.
Protective quarantine was placed on ranches from Danville to the county line.
A charter for the National Bank of Martinez has been granted by the comptroller of currency, and steps are under way to establish the new bank by April 15. It will have a capital stock of $60,000, and has 100 per cent local capitalization. The plans include the erection of a building on the Joost property, at Main and Mill, and until the building is completed the bank will be housed in the rear of the library building. The officers are: R. B. Borland, president; Primo Ferrarini, vice-presi- dent; A. J. Heald, secretary and cashier.
The Contra Costa Golf Club was organized on Wednesday, April 2. A. B. Tinning was elected president; George Nees of Crockett, vice- president; C. A. Withington of Martinez, secretary; W. A. Hale, treas- urer. The board of directors: Dr. E. Todd, Concord; R. V. Davis, Antioch; H. Lamond, Pittsburg; W. H. Hanlon, Martinez; Mrs. H. T. Silver, Walnut Creek. M. W. Joost was chosen chairman of the member- ship committee. A site near Pacheco was decided upon, 311 acres for $21,770. The membership fee is $100. A nine-hole sand-green course can be constructed for $3000.
April 12, 1924 .- The largest cofferdam in the world has been sunk in the Carquinez Straits for the construction of the Carquinez bridge by the American Toll Bridge Company.
Mount Diablo High School takes many first prizes in the Fifteenth Annual Track Meet of the Contra Costa High School League, with a score close to 100 points over Alhambra High of Martinez.
April 19, 1924 .- Oscar Olsson was appointed to succeed J. P. Casey, deceased, on the board of supervisors.
Up to date, $400,000 has been the loss in Contra Costa County in the slaughter of cattle in the hoof and mouth plague.
The State of California, on May 17, completed the payment of $180,000 to Contra Costa County cattlemen as compensation for herds destroyed in connection with the hoof and mouth disease. A like amount is yet to be paid by the United States Government.
May 24, 1924 .- Under the first apportionment of taxes collected from the sale of gasoline, Contra Costa County received $29,402. The total apportionment was $5,533,943.03. Los Angeles County drew $1,094,- 625.11, and little Alpine County $83.84.
The Richmond-San Rafael ferry boat City of San Rafael was launched at the Robertson Shipyards, Alameda, Saturday night. The City of San Rafael is the largest and fastest of the company's three ships; it has a 750-horsepower engine and a capacity of seventy automobiles. The ship
353
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
was christened by Miss Athalie Clark of Richmond. The launching was attended by many citizens of Richmond and San Rafael. The new slips, wharves and terminals at Castro Point are nearing completion. The boat and improvements represent almost a million-dollar investment.
May 31, 1924 .- The Pioneer Rubber Company of Pittsburg had a $20,000 fire on May 25.
Pier No. 1, on the Solano side of Carquinez Straits, is practically com- pleted for the big bridge across the Straits. It is on dry land and is of reinforced concrete. On the Crockett side the cofferdam, 150 feet long and 52 feet wide, is being driven deeper and deeper into the earth. The outer part of the dam is built like a ship and is water-tight. It will be driven 55 feet into the earth, after which 225 concrete piers will be driven inside. Each pier, reinforced, weighs fifteen tons. There will be four similar dams, forty feet square. There will be two spans, each of 1100 feet, the central tower pier 150 feet wide, anchor span each side 500 feet long, and 135 feet clearance for ships. The bridge will be completed early in 1927, when the six-minute ferry owned by the same company will be abandoned. For twenty-five years the bridge will be a toll-bridge, which will provide dividends on the capital stock.
The Contra Costa County Golf Club is now certain to become a reality. A large gathering of enthusiastic golfers met in Department 2, Tuesday evening, at which representatives from every part of the county were present. The limit of membership at $100 is 200.
August 16, 1924 .- Contra Costa stock losses from hoof and mouth disease amount to $426,844.57.
September 8, 1924 .- Contracts totaling $1,200,000, and calling for completion of the Antioch-Sherman Island bridge within twelve months, were let to the American Toll Bridge Company; $850,000 for concrete work and foundations went to Duncanson-Harrelson Company, of San Francisco; and $350,000 for steel, to the Golden West Iron Works, of San Francisco.
September 20,1924 .- California Wharf & Warehouse at Port Costa burned early this morning. The loss in grain is estimated at $450,000; and in buildings, $400,000. The concern is owned by the Balfour-Guthrie Company, who had just renewed their franchise for the wharf for twenty- five years.
November 1, 1924 .- Martinez was advanced to city delivery of mail on November 1, 1924. On March 1, 1924, it was allowed three carriers and given the status of a village delivery. There are still three carriers.
January 8, 1925 .- Cost of government in Contra Costa County has increased 81.28 per cent the last two years, but the duties of the various officers have been doubled in the same time, according to the report of J. O. Ford, grand jury expert, on file today with the inquisitorial body. According to Ford's report the offices of the district attorney, county clerk and probation officer have seen the greatest increase of duties. In- 12
354
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
crease in crime has been the cause of the bulk of the additional work demanded of the district attorney and the probation officer, according to the expert's report. A considerable portion of the increase in government cost is represented in the funds expended in enforcement of the prohi- bition law, the expert declares.
January 8, 1925 .- Two huge conveyor belts, weighing seven and one- half tons each, considered the largest on the Pacific Coast, were delivered to the C. & H. Sugar Refinery at Crockett, the past week. The belts, manufactured at the Pioneer Rubber Works near Antioch, are each 950 feet long, three feet wide, and one inch in thickness, made of seven-ply duck with a heavy coating of rubber on either side. It took three weeks to manufacture the conveyors, at a cost of $10,000. A single flat car was used in their transportation to the Crockett refinery.
January 8, 1925 .- The Delphian Club of Martinez, starting with thirty-one members, was brought into being last night at a meeting of the Martinez Woman's Club of virtually the entire membership.
January 13, 1925 .- The regular and annual meeting of the East Contra Costa Chamber of Commerce was held in the banquet room of Hotel Brentwood, January 13, more than fifty members being present, among whom were a number of ladies. The dinner served by Landlord Crawford was greatly enjoyed.
President Roy Davis called the meeting to order and the minutes of the previous meeting were approved as read by Secretary George Upham. Roy Davis was reelected president and Paul Anderson, treasurer. At this time three directors from each of five towns were elected as follows : Antioch, M. B. Veale, Thomas Milan, A. Flaherty; Oakley, Jim S. Cran- dell, O. M. Champlain, Bill O'Hara; Knightsen, D. D. Watson, Ed. Sellers, W. A. Fotheringham; Brentwood, Jerry O'Meara, C. B. Weeks, George Shafer; Byron, L. Z. Richardson, Harry Hammond, H. C. Han- num; and in addition, from Lone Tree, O. C. Prewett; from Live Oak, E. J. Vieria; and from Knightsen, G. Somerhalder.
January 17, 1925 .- Growth of Richmond from a few scattered shacks on an expanse of wheat fields and marshland in 1900 to a thriving indus- trial city of approximately 30,000 inhabitants in 1925, was reviewed in a pioneer day program given yesterday by the Richmond Rotary Club. Dr. C. L. Abbott and Walter T. Helms made fifteen-minute addresses concerning the early history of Richmond. Dr. Abbott told of coming to the old town of San Pablo in 1900, when Richmond was just starting, of the struggles to get Richmond incorporated, and how a committee composed of Frank Hull, J. Q. Black, Frank Crichett and himself finally arranged a plan that won out, resulting in the election of E. J. Garrard as the first mayor of the little city. Walter Helms narrated how he came here while studying law, to take over the schools of the San Pablo school district, which included what is now San Pablo, Richmond and El Cerrito.
Among the pioneers of Richmond who were present as guests of the Rotarians were Ben Boorman, Harry Ells, A. C. Lang, Lee D. Windrem,
355
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY
C. A. Odell, Robert Fernald, Rebus Lipe, Edward Hoffman, V. A. Fenner, O. L. Wright, Chris Theis and Dr. P. C. Campbell.
January 31, 1925 .- Of the scores of chamber of commerce secretaries in the thickly populated bay region, only half a dozen are women, and two of these reside in Contra Costa County. They are Miss Catherine Beam, secretary of the Martinez chamber, and Mrs. Jessie Higley of the Danville chamber. In the Association of Bay Chamber of Commerce Secretaries both women are known as "live wires," always looking out for the interests of their communities.
January 31, 1925 .- The Rodeo-Vallejo Ferry Company, holder of the franchise to construct the Carquinez Straits bridge, has sold two lots and a tract of 2.71 acres at the bridgehead at Crockett to the American Toll Bridge Company for $40,500, according to a deed filed yesterday with the county recorder. The Toll Bridge Company was organized for the purpose of constructing the bridge.
Almond blossoms in January is the record of Martinez this year. A tree resembling a huge popcorn ball burst into bloom last week on the ranch of L. Brackman.
February 7, 1925 .- During the year 1924, $14,264,000 was spent in Contra Costa County for major building.
Walnut Creek's new Memorial Hall will be dedicated Sunday after- noon, February 8, when Supervisor C. H. Hayden will make the memorial address. A large program has been planned by the American Legion Post at Walnut Creek. All ex-service men and the general public are invited to attend the ceremonies, which will be held in the main auditorium.
The contract for the construction of the Brentwood Memorial Hall was awarded to George H. Field Company of Antioch by the board of supervisors, on their bid of $16,860. This contract covers the construc- tion of the last of the seven memorial halls to be built by the county. The Brentwood building is being erected under the direction of the Roy Frerichs Post of the American Legion.
Antioch's celery-shipping season, through Santa Fe docks, is about ended, with a total of 1550 cars. Last year 1628 cars were shipped, but in dollars and cents this year's crop will bring greater returns.
A forty-eight-room three-story annex is to be added to Hotel Oehm in Martinez, the new addition to cost between $50,000 and $75,000. It will be built on the 50 by 100-foot lot adjoining the hotel on Alhambra Avenue.
Diablo Air Mail Terminal will be formally opened this afternoon. Mayor Klein of Concord has declared a holiday for business houses and schools of that city. C. A. Richardson, manager of the western division of the transcontinental air mail service, will be present.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.