Railroaders Once Called East End Home

Railroaders Once Called East End Home

Alameda Museum News, News
At least eighteen railroad men lived in the neighborhood that surrounded South Pacific Coast Railroad’s High Street Station. They included six brakemen. Charles Deal and his stepson Edward Hein both did this very dangerous job. They lived at 3227 Monroe St. (today’s Encinal Avenue). Brakeman Harry Pennock lived at 3214 Monroe St. just across the train yard from Deal and Hein. Pennock’s home just sold for more than $1 million (see Kane’s advertisement below.) Three locomotive engineers also lived near the South Pacific Coast’s train yard: John McCauley, William Thompson and Henry Jonas. Jonas lived on High Street between Briggs and Sterling avenues. He and his fireman, Edward Colson, were killed when his locomotive, No. 19, jumped the track on Jan. 31, 1899, at the Fifth Street Station on the…
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2015 Museum Luncheon

2015 Museum Luncheon

Alameda Museum News, Meyers House News, News
By all accounts, the 2015 Museum Luncheon was a huge success. More people attended this year than ever before, the newest board members were sworn in by Mayor Trish Spencer, and bidding on the silent auction items was fiercely competitive. More than 90 museum members, docents, and volunteers attended the delicious meal held on the fourth floor of the Masonic Hall. In addition, attendees were treated to a poem written and read by the City's Poet Laureate, Julia Park Tracey. Thanks to everyone who made this event happen, especially to former Board Presidents Diane Coler-Dark and Robbie Dileo, long-time volunteers Lisa Koltun and Debra Hilding, the helpful people of the Masonic Hall, Joanne McKay for her beautiful table decorations and centerpieces, the caterers, and all the other volunteers who gave their time to make the…
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The Year in Review

The Year in Review

Alameda Museum News, Meyers House News, News
As a part of our Annual Luncheon yesterday, Board member Jim Smallman created a presentation highlighting some of the accomplishments, achievements and advances at both the Meyers House and the Alameda Museum in the past 12 months, including repairing the fence and carriage house at the Meyers House, a new furnace at the Museum and much, much more. Download a copy (in PDF format) by clicking here.
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Museum Archive Inspires Local Author

Museum Archive Inspires Local Author

Alameda Museum News, News
[caption id="attachment_1712" align="alignleft" width="300"] Julia Park Tracey reading The Great Gatsby. Credit: Ed Jay[/caption] Alamedan Julia Park Tracey will hold a launch party in the Art Gallery of the Museum Friday, January 9, 2015, 7:00- 8:30 pm, for her new novel, set in a fictional version of Alameda: "San Pedro Island." The book is based on an old photo from the Alameda Museum showing early settlers digging up the shell mound on the island. It features Veronika Layne, a sassy tattooed, twenty-something newspaper reporter, who stumbles upon a big story — and has to beat deadlines as well as real estate developers before they destroy native burial grounds, all while mismanaging her love life. The launch party will feature a reading from the novel and a talk about the role…
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Shaken, Not Stirred

Shaken, Not Stirred

Lectures, News
How did you fare during the August 24 quake that shook us awake at 3:30 that morning? Did you ever wonder what it was like to be in largest earthquake ever unleashed by the Hayward Fault? Author and historian Richard Schwartz will offer riveting first-hand accounts of people who lived through the October 21, 1868 earthquake on the Hayward fault. It measured 6.8; the recent temblor clocked in at 6.2… [caption id="attachment_1692" align="aligncenter" width="768"] A mill in Hayward was destroyed by the 1868 earthquake on the Hayward fault. Seismologists believe that this fault is due any time for another major eruption of similar magnitude. (source: UC Berkeley Sunsite)[/caption] Schwartz will use many photos and illustrations to illustrate what happened in the Bay Area before, during, and after the 1868 Hayward…
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Profit From Down-sizing and Culling Your Treasures

Profit From Down-sizing and Culling Your Treasures

Alameda Museum News, News
If you are recovering from the loss of a loved one, moving to smaller quarters, or awash in clutter, the Alameda Museum has an expert estate and consignment sale team that can take care of everything for you. And when you engage us, not only do you keep more of the revenue than by utilizing a for-profit estate sale company; you also may be eligible for a tax deduction (please consult your tax advisor for information about charitable contributions). Each sale is personally orchestrated by Curator George Gunn and his team of experts in jewelry, books, art, collectibles, and tools. They also research items for up-to-date information about values and prices. Most notably, the team meticulously inventories your belongings to ensure your family treasures are not sold if you overlooked…
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Twenty-seven Years Aglow: How the Golden Gate Bridge Got Lit

Twenty-seven Years Aglow: How the Golden Gate Bridge Got Lit

Lectures
How many of us remember walking on the Golden Gate Bridge when it was turned into a temporary mall as a celebration of its fiftieth birthday? That event was then memorialized at the Oakland Museum in an enormous color print that seemingly showed a picture of every person who ventured there, estimated at half a million. [caption id="attachment_1466" align="aligncenter" width="768"] One of Richard Rutter’s working drawings for the tower lighting project.[/caption] Turns out that anniversary had a special Alameda connection. Local architect Richard Rutter spent most of the 1980s working for Bolles Associates in San Francisco. The Bolles firm was productive and wide-ranging, designing Candlestick Park, the General Motors Plant in Fremont, the San Jose Campus of IBM, Macys, Dayton Hudson, as well as Gallo and Paul Masson Wineries. Around…
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