ORAL HISTORY IN PARADE
LEO ALVELAIS
Former Mayor of Union City
For a person who was schooled in Spanish and could not speak a word of English when he arrived in the United States in l943 with his family, Leo Alvelais made it to the top. He became a City Councilman and Mayor of Union City.
In addition to his busy schedule as a city official, Mr. Alvelais has been involved in all phases of community and civic affairs.
Mr. Alvelais was born on January 31, 1918, in Chihuahua, Mexico. In order to provide better educational opportunities for his children, he left his native country and moved to California in the early l940's accompanied by his wife Emilia and their small children, Leo Jr., Luis Raul and Emilia Esther.
In Oakland in 1943, Mr. Alvelais became involved in the war effort, working in various shipyards in the East Bay. Two more children were born in California; they were Michael, in l946, and Roberto,s in l959.
His community involvement were numerous; he is a Member of the Board of Directors of the Southern Alameda County Economic Opportunity Agency, which administers the antipoverty program in the area comprised of Union City, Fremont, Newark, San Leandro, Hayward, Pleasanton, Livermore and certain unincorporated territory of Southern Alameda County; he is a member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Assistance Center, which provides legal counsel to low-income persons who otherwise could not afford such service; he was President of the Latin American Club of Union City; Treasurer of Central Social Mexicano of Union City; Public Relations Officer of the Union City Taxpayers League, Member of the Commission Honorifica Mexicana of Union City; Member of the Union City Chapter of the Mexican-American Political Association-MAPA-delegate Member of the California State Central Committee, Member of Advisory Committee on Mexican Affairs to the State Department of Employment; and Member of the Union City Improvement Association.
During his term as Mayor, his office took several major steps. Among them were: a model cities application submitted to the Federal government which was an ambitious and comprehensive step toward planning and implementing solutions for many of the problems facing Union City; a "Stamp Out Unemployment Crusade" in Union City, which has developed into an intensive employment drive in cooperation with the National Alliance of Businessman, State Department of Employment, Economic Opportunity Agency, and others. As such, Union City received national publicity as the first city in the Nation to formally endorse and cooperate in a new way with NAB in their program to place unemployed persons in private industry.
He also launched a Mexican plaza project for the Decoto area to be funded by the Federal Government to provide a recreational and cultural gathering place to enhance the Mexican heritage of Union City and also appeared before the Board of Supervisors to ask for a commitment for the improvement of the Alvarado area on flood control and drainage improvements, the establishment of special assessment districts in Alvarado to provide curb, gutter, sidewalk, street and other improvements.
Mr. Alvelais traveled to Washington, D.C. and appeared before the Congressional Appropriations Committee to secure funds for the Flood Control project, and before the Army Corp. of Engineers to secure their commitment to move up their schedule and give Union City top priority. The work that subsequently was done to build the flood control channel opened up the Alvarado area for development. And this is what Alvarado is today.
Mr. Alvelais has also been active in BARTD (now called BART) affairs including support of recent sales tax measure necessary for financing BARTD completion, execution of the Union City BARTD station agreement and development of the central business district which will adjoin the BARTD line and station in Union City.
Vitally concerned with the needs of the people, Mr. Alvelais was instrumental in the city's entry into the Section 243 leased housing program whereby Union City became the first city in Alameda County to join with the Alameda County Housing Authority to improve and provide local housing under which privately-owned dwellings will be leased to occupants with low incomes who otherwise could not afford such housing. He was also instrumental in spearheading a sound and acceptable recomposition of the governmental portion of the Board of Directors of the Southern Alameda County Economic Opportunity Agency.
Mr. Alvelais worked for a living too. In addition to his extensive activities as a city official, community leader and member of civic organizations, he had a full time job as the head of the Printing Department of Fruitvale Canning Co. in Oakland.
For a person who could not speak English, Mayor Leo Alvelais made it to the top. He was able to communicate well in English, was able to lead the people of Union City to the betterment of their lives and was able to accomplish all of these dreams.
Leo Alvelais will be remembered in the Union City history as one of the city mayors who had accomplished a lot for the city.
Note: Interviewed in June 1997
JAMES W. CELCER
Former School Board Member
One of the many long-time residents of the Alvarado-Decoto Districts, now named Union City, James "Jim" W. Celcer, talks about the old Decoto district when everything was green, the pleasures of raising his children in a quiet neighborhood, his life in Union City politics and the upcoming new development in Union City.
Mr. Celcer had lived in his impeccable house at 233 Tamarack Drive for 40 years. He moved from Chicago in l953 to Oakland, California and worked for Sears in a contractor capacity with a water heater company.
He designed his own "oasis." It's all about being able to transpose oneself. He did it. On February 16, 1958, which he vividly remembers, he decided to go to a place where it is a big span of greenery, where he could breath some fresh air, and where he could raise his three children. The children are daughter Dolores, 51, a teacher in Oxnard, California, teaching first grade, son Ruben, 42, who lives in Hayward and son Jim, 40 years old, who resides in Union City. The place where he settled his family was called the old Decoto. He came to Union City when Decoto had a population of 2,000 and Alvarado, 1,500. He said that the railroad portion, where the homes are being built right now, was a dead-end way. He saw the Holy Rosary Church burned down in l960 and rebuilt into a beautiful church today. His house is just across the Barnard White elementary school, which was later had an addition, the Manuel White elemental school. His children went to this school and then to Logan High School.
Jim was a school board member of the then called Decoto School Board (Board of Education.) Alameda County officials appointed him with a four-year term from l959 through l965. He served for a total of 6 1/2 years. He was also active in the Alameda County Unification Committee.
Jim ran for City Council, when the city hall was in the "green" building at the corner of Central and Whipple Road. He remembers some of the issues he, together with some of his activist friends, fought for. One was the selection of a site for the State College. It was planned to be built at Whipple Street by the Hayward side, which is now the Reynolds Aluminum site, just across the street from Union City. The group fought hard to have this be approved by the City Council, but four council members, which included then council member Tom Kitayama, did not approve of the site. the council members wanted the area to be industrialized; hence, the industries lined up in that area at present. The State College that they fought so hard to get is now called the Cal-State University Hayward. The thought right now is, what could have happened if that was approved? A big change in our city? On July 13, Jim will turn 75, a magic age. His wife Nelly is 76. As a retiree, Jim seems like a man perpetually on vacation. He plays golf at Skywest and at Sunol Valley with his friends. He enjoys his family especially his one and only granddaughter, age 16. He said he liked the progress that he sees happening in Union City. He wants to be a part of the Union City History.
Note: Interviewed in June of l997.
LANDMARK AND HISTORIC PRESERVATION OVERLAY (LHP) ZONING DESIGNATION ON HISTORIC PROPERTIES IN UNION CITY
The Union City Historical Museum encourages preservation of historical buildings. and it takes the lead in selecting the homes and buildings for preservation based on the Ordinance on Preservation and presenting them to the Planning Commission and the City Council for approval.
On December 7, 2000, on behalf of the Union City Historical Museum, the City of Union City initiated the A-1-00, Zoning Map Amendment to apply the Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay (LHP) Zoning designation on properties within the City for purposes of promoting the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of such structures as potentially historic and architecturally significant structures.
The Planning commission adopted a Resolution for A-1-00 and recommended that the City council approve the Zoning Map Amendment A-1-00 for the following seven properties 30947 Vallejo Street 3995 Smith Street 3880 Smith Street 3938-3940 Smith Street 3939 Smith Street 31014 Union City boulevard 30971 Watkins Street
These properties will still retain their existing and respective underlying Zoning and General Plan designations. This project only entails an additional Overlay Zone that will designate the structures on these properties as potentially historic and architecturally significant. One of the homes was built and owned by the first banker of Union City, August May.
The Museum wanted to preserve the historic Alvarado District as an entry to the City. There is a lot of history in this City. The Museum will start working on the Decoto District to determine which buildings should be submitted for preservation.
DISAPPROVAL OF THE $1,500 CULTURAL GRANT
The Union City's Human Relations Commission, in its regular meeting of January 24, 2001 disapproved the Museum's request for a $1,500 cultural grant for the Grand Opening of the Museum on February 23 & 24, 2001. Commissioner Phil Verzola was requested to step down and was not allowed to deliberate and vote because he is a Museum Director.
THE MUSEUM'S BEGINNING...
On January 23, 2001, the City of Union City leased the Union City Fire Station in Smith Street, Old Alvarado to the Union City Historical Museum. The lease provides for the recording, preservation and protection of the city's incredible moving history and heritage for the next generations to come.
The Union City Historical Museum, founded in 1998 by Myrla Raymundo, MBA, is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to recording, documenting, and preserving the history of Union City, California. It also educates residents on the history of Union City.
Our goals are: Encourage the interest of the local citizens in Union City's history. Provide a place for students and enthusiasts to visit and conduct research. Provide residents with a place for historical books and documents and artifacts. Preserve history for future generations. What we do: Create awareness of our cultural heritage and history. Interview long time residents for recording of the history of Union City. Display historical artifacts and old photographs and documents. Publish a Union City History Book. Produce a monthly Museum newsletter. Sponsor Educational Forums on the history of Union City. Continuous presentation of the history of Union City to different groups. Continuous recording of history of Union City. Work closely with our City Government on the preservation of historical structures and homes based on the City's Building Preservation Ordinance.
Our recent accomplishments Created our Museum Web site, which contains information about the museum, past issues of the newsletters and a virtual museum, that has information on California State Historical Landmarks in Union City. Initiated with the City of Union City the Zoning Map Amendment to apply the Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay (LHP) Zoning designation on seven properties in the old Alvarado District for purposes of promoting the protection, enhancement, perpetuation and use of these structures as potentially historic and architecturally significant structures. Developed our Speakers Bureau to give presentations on the city's history to different groups. Collected artifacts and old photographs for the Museum. Given the responsibility to collect all the historic materials and documents from the Union City Library. Achieved a large Museum membership.
How you can participate: JOIN NOW! Join now and become part of the more than a hundred Charter Members. Your name will be inscribed permanently on "The Honor Roll" in the Museum. Charter membership is open only until June 30, 2001. We welcome and encourage everyone who has an interest in local history to join and participate in an ongoing progressive organization. Be a docent. Donate your artifacts and old photographs for display in the museum. Join the Speakers Bureau and help in the presentation of the Union City history to different groups.
MUSEUM OFFICIALS
Myrla Raymundo - President/CEO
Timothy Swenson - Vice-President
Eva Kamakea - Secretary
Hugh McNamara - Treasurer
Miles Price - Director
Rita Price - Director
Ligfinio Raymundo - Director
Phil Verzola - Director
Mike Christ - Director
Jess Garcia - Director
Frank Borghi, Jr. - Director
Alvin Rose - Director
The Museum's Speakers Bureau
The group gives presentations on history of our city to the residents. Please call us if you need presentations on the history of Union City.
The Museum's Web Site
Visit the Museum Web Site, which contains information about the museum, past issues of the newsletters and a virtual museum. The virtual museum also has information on California State Historical Landmarks in Union City.
MUSEUMS LIFETIME MEMBERS
Congratulations to our Lifetime Members, who are helping to support our Museum in its day to day operations.
Phil Verzola
John Tester
Timothy Swenson
Eva Kamakea
Georgia Megue Santa Maria
Myrla Raymundo
Museum Hours
Thursday. Friday, Saturday 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
For members and volunteers: Please sign up for the hours you want to help. Opening day and hours start March 1st, 2001 and thereafter. We need docents on March 1, 2 and 3, our first week. Call Myrla at 489-0133.
To recognize the effort of the Union City Historical Museum to record and preserve and display the history of the City of Union City and to celebrate the opening of the museum to the public, we invite you to join us for a reception.
February 23, 2001 Friday 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Union City Historical Museum 3841 Smith St. Union City, California 94587
RSVP (Regrets only) 489-0133 Message
February 24, 2001 Saturday 9:00 AM Cutting of the Ribbon Doors open to the community
Union City Historical Museum 3841 Smith Street Union City, California 94587 |
