T MISSION STATEMENT
The Union City Historical Museum is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation, maintenance and protection of, and the education of the public about the architectural, cultural, natural and historical heritage resources of the City of Union City.
MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT MYRLA RAYMUNDO
Happy New Year To All Of You....
The Union City Historical Museum is dedicated to the community to continue the history being developed as the years go by. It allows many generations to reflect side by side. This means that the interest of the Union City residents across the life span can be explored and renewed over time. It can be transmitted to others and will never be exhausted from the beginning of life to our old age.
It also means that the young and the old generation can gather together to tell the stories stimulated by words, homes, structures and things.
This coming new year, the Museum officials and volunteers promise to work together to make the Museum a better place to record, preserve and tell the history of Union City.
Come and poke your heads to the interesting artifacts in the Museum and the continuing stories that it tells.
The Museum is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10:00 AM -4:00 PM. It is located at 3841 Smith Street in the old Alvarado area and has an educational program that includes the early homes, churches, commercial and industrial uses in the area, development patterns of the first settlements, construction of railroads, the first county seat in Alameda County, the previous city councils and the business people and lawmakers of the city, and also the present times in Union City.
The educational program is now available to all city residents and schools. For more info, call the Museum at (510) 324-3298 or 489-0133.
Please continue to support our Museum.
UNION CITY PROFILES
One of the many tasks of the Union City Historical Museum is to write stories of the people and the City. Here are the stories written by the Museum roving reporters.
ERMA ANDRADE By Barbara Friedrich
Erma Andrade was born in March 26, 1921 and came to Union City in l939 to work in a cannery, the Pierce Canning Company, during the cannery season. After her marriage to Joseph, they moved to Union City in l940. Erma grew up in rural Central Valley, so Decoto seemed more like a city than the place where she came from. It had quite a few houses. The cannery was on H Street between l0th and the railroad tracks. Nearby was a shoe shop, a bakery and a store. Packing sheds were along what is now the BART right of way. Tenth and E Streets were the main streets that time. There was a theatre on E Street, where a church is presently located. The fire station on 10th Street, which was a volunteer fire department, is still in the same location as before. Across l0th Street from the cannery was a hotel with a "bad reputation". The Catholic Church, which later was burned down, was at l3th and H Streets.
Erma's husband's family bought four lots around 12th and H Streets before l925. Her house was built in the l930's and was later added on.
Asked if she knows of any historical structures in Union City, she said the old grocery store, the Hernandez Grocery located at 33809 11th Street is an old structure and is still standing. It is now a residence and may have some additions to it. During that time, the store gave out thermometers with calendars attached to it. She donated one to the Union City Historical Museum. When the Hernandez family sold the store, it became a two family unit residence. The house on 1204 H Street is also an older house built before l925 on the Andrade property.
Her husband Joseph Andrade died in l983. They have two sons. Her husband and her sons attended the old Decoto School. The building was later condemned and was sold to Our Lady of the Rosary Church and is still in use as a school.
Erma nowadays is still very active in the COR program of the Our Lady of the Rosary Church and she can also be seen frequenting the city council meetings doing advocacy work. Erma can be classified as a living history of Union City, particularly the Decoto area.
BEATRICE FIELDS ROSE by Barbara Friedrich
A few weeks ago, two women in their late 70s visited the Union City Historical Museum. While passing through aisles and aisles of historical memories, they stopped and poked their heads into an old Alvarado School picture. They remembered posing for that picture, but they seemed to not have the photograph anymore. They looked at each one of the young students and lo and behold, they saw the two of them seated side by side in the old photograph. The picture was taken in l934 and is now neatly framed and on display at the Union City Historical Museum. One of these two women was Beatrice Fields Rose.
Beatrice Fields Rose, who was born in Union City on September 10, 1924, had lived in Union City from 1924 through l945 in the old Alvarado area at Veasy Street. She attended Alvarado School and graduated in l938 and attended Washington High School and was in the graduating class of l942.
She married Gene Rose in l945 and had two children, Bruce and Holly. After marriage, they moved to Hayward. She worked for four years as J. A. Ratekin's secretary at Holly Sugar during the time when Union City was being formed. Later she moved to Fremont where she still lives. Her husband Gene Rose died a few years back.
She remembers a library right behind the bank where the Smith Convenience Store, that used to be the Matsumoto Grocery Store, is now. Beatrice is very much part of the history of the old Alvarado area.
MATTIE ROUSSEAU By Myrla Raymundo
Mattie Rousseau, the longest serving Commissioner in the City of Union City as of this date, January 2002, came to live in Union City 33 years ago. The family lived in the same house at Ascot Street since that time. Mattie and her husband Gentry, who passed away in l993, have 4 children. They were an air force family; he was with the air force. They lived in Germany for 5 years, kids went to school there, and then they moved to Massachusetts and lived there for 3 years. They then moved to California at Hamilton Air force Base.
Mattie is enjoying life now as a retired person. She retired from BART in l994 after working for l4 years. She worked for the Police Department.
Mattie served in the Alameda County Grand Jury for one year. She said they needed a black person in the Grand Jury, so they chose her. She served in the Washington Hospital on the board in the 70's. She was asked to sit there by then Mayor Tom Kitayama to help build the building. She was so busy registering people to vote in Casa Verde during election times. She knew everybody that time.
Mattie was a Park & Recreation Commissioner for 7 years and a Planning Commissioner for 14 years. When she finally retired as commissioner in l994, Myrla Raymundo took her place.
Although the now big sprawl of new developments became a reality, Mattie said that the then Planning commissioners started the legwork. In June 2000, Mattie was part of the Task Force to return the Union City Fire Department to Union City. Barry Ferrier kiddingly told this writer that Mattie was the very first one to use the services when she put the pot on the stove without water.
It's in the blood, she says, now she is still busy with community work. She is a member of the Fireworks Task Force, a group of people helping to raise funds for the 28 groups who were making sales of fireworks for their fundraising.
She is a member of the Senior Groups in Union City that makes trips to Reno, Jackson and Las Vegas. They also do exercises, walks and parties.
Mattie and her very close friend, Gertie Corchero, enjoy life doing all the things that they can get happiness from.
JOSE M. GONZALES By Jose A. Gonzales
In l961 John Nichols Dry Wall Construction offered jobs for many construction workers from El Paso, Texas.
Jose M. Gonzales along with other families migrated to Union City in l961 to prosper in the industry. John Nicolls Dry Walls was located at 33716 llth Street. My dad remembers the materials being delivered by train.
It wasn't easy, some families went back to Texas but for most of us Union City "Decoto" was to become our home.
Jose M. Gonzales also loved music. He remembers seeing Vicente Fernandez singing at the Newark Pavilion along with other now famous artists. I remember my dad bringing me to the movie house here in old Alvarado, which was located at Union City Boulevard.
My dad bought me an electric guitar at age seven and he would sing and I would play. Don Pedro was a Mariachi music teacher that would soon take me under his wing and teach me Mexican music. We played at the Our Lady of the Rosary Church and other Mexican functions. At 19, I joined the Combo Universitario de Rudy Baca, Soon after I started my own band called "Extremo" and performed all around the Bay Area for 15 years.
I now have a wife and two kids and am living here in Alvarado.
Ed's Note: Jose A. Gonzales business card says: "EXTREMO" Productions Jose A. Gonzales Singer/Guitarist/Composer Live Band or DJ Entertainment For Any Occasion Info: 510-489-0934
His dad's old pair of shoes, now displayed in the Museum with his dad's helmet, was resoled three times. He and his wife Rosa have two daughters Joanna and Jacqueline. He works for CBC Coast Business Communications, an audio video installation
ELEANOR MECLING YIP By Eleanor Mecling Yip
Note: Eleanor Mecling is a 32 year resident of Union City.
I moved into the above address on December 6, 1968 and am still residing there. There's only once more original neighbor across the street at 2159-Hartford Drive and they're Mr. & Mrs. Pentti Teranen. They are from Sweden and Finland.
I remember the great fresh corn and strawberry stands we had back in the 60s and 70s. My daughters, Sabrina Caren and Audry Catherine were only four and not quite two years old when we moved to Union City from Oakland.
I retired in February of 2000 after being employed by the New Haven Unified School District. I spent most of my years with the Alvarado Elementary School on Fredi Street.
There were only 6,000 people living in Union City in l968. Wow, what growth and progress Union City has made. I remember Alvarado Niles Road as a one lane road and being able to bike it to Alvarado Elementary in 12 minutes! Can't do that anymore with all the traffic we have now! I remember the "Flea Bus" and the great corn and strawberry stands we used to have.
We also had a small newspaper called the Leader in the 70's.
Now we have BART, new Library, Police Station plus many other great things like the Union Landing Shopping Center on Dyer Street.
What a great city to be in!
The stories below are from people whom Myrla Raymundo met and interviewed at the Museum.
ERNEST MACHADO
Ernest Machado was born in the Alvarado area in l925. And Ernest is still single. His brother was the late volunteer firefighter William Machado. William has two boys. Ernest vividly remembers, " The Apostolic church in Smith Street used to be a blacksmith shop run by Manuel Silva. The present Video Store used to be a Beer and Wine and the Real Estate Office used to be a barbershop run by his father Matthew Machado. The downtown Chinese section was burned down way before his birth. Tony Mello used to run a bar band barbershop at the building across the Post office. There was a Filipino restaurant. Behind the restaurant were a Post Office and a library.
Mr. Machado has lived in his Mobile Home since l972. He worked for Friden, mechanical calculator for 29 1/2 years, then to Caterpillar in San Leandro and then became a custodian at Hayward High School for 6 1/2 years until his retirement in l987.
ROBERT & LUCY WADDINGTON
Lucy Phillips Waddington lived in 3722 Smith Street since she was 4 years old. Walter Phillips is her grandfather, who worked for U. S. Pipe in Union City. Her sister is married to Stanley Rose, Al Rose's son.
CONNIE RUIZ
Connie Ruiz has lived in her house at 4238 Horner Street. Her husband Arturo Ruiz passed away five years ago. Together they have five children, Connie, Carmen, Art, Danny and Helen. They have 15 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In 1963, her house cost only $17,500. She worked for Alameda County from l982 through l991 when she retired at the Housekeeping Department.
Connie and her children were active in the community. They lobbied for Cesar Chavez and the Labor Union. She recalled running a recall of the Union City officials to get the Labor Union in the Nursery. They lost by 300 votes.
DON & ANN MARIE BRUNE
Don Brune has this history to relay. Fred Joyce owned a house at Granger & Smith Street. It was then owned by Mr. Ralph and eventually by Alvina Brune, his mother. It was then owned by May Santos, later owned by Joe Dutra and Genevieve Dutra, sister of May Santos. The old post office was a Pizza place. Vernon Perry owned the Loyola property. Don's dad worked for Leslie Salt in l957 through l959 and he bought the house.
VICTOR MANAGA
Victor Managa, grandfather of Arnold and Larry Quintana Managa, was the first garbage man in Union City in the year l930. The business, named Township Garbage Disposal, was started in Centerville. Arnold and Larry's mother, Dolores Quintana grew up in the corner of Whipple and Mission Streets.
JOEL DOTY
Joel Doty, 32409 Crest Lane, was born and raised in Union City. He gave an artifact, RevivAll record for display in the Museum. He went to Alvarado School in l976, then to Cesar Chavez School and finally to Logan High School.
Thoughts! Thoughts! Thoughts! by Myrla Raymundo
SORTING THROUGH THE REMNANTS OF HISTORY
As I wandered through the different places in the City of Union City, I began to search for the common thread of the lives of the City's past residents, great leaders and traditions. How can I focus my attention to the huge area that I was in? After I spent my moments sifting and sorting through the beautiful, the useful and the useless, I wondered how I can do all these in my lifetime. Like an archeological dig with small stacks of artifacts, the archeologist would separate them according to their domestic categories and importance. I am doing the same ritual.
I also wondered what a late century anthropologist considered the juxtaposition of junk and precious mementos would tell the world about, particularly our city.
The sun is shining now, the air is clear, I feel a sense of renewal, joy and inner peace. I had found some remnants of the past. The artifacts that are displayed in the Union City Historical Museum tell us the story of our city. The stories of our residents featured in this issue and in past issues tell us the way people lived.
Help me complete my search of Union City history by coming to the Museum and helping in way of artifacts and telling us your stories. I will be waiting for you.
MUSEUM'S STRATEGIC PLAN FY2000-2001 (July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001)
Accomplishments for FY2000-2001
* Opened the Museum to the public on February 23, 2001.
* Around 800 guests visited the Museum.
* In accordance with the City's Building Preservation Ordinance, initiated the preservation of around 400 historic homes and structures in the City. Around 20 homes were approved for designation as historical.
* Upgraded the Museum's website.
* Released six issues of the Museum Newsletter.
* Produced a new brochure featuring the new home of the Museum.
* Attended twelve Chamber of Commerce mixers to promote the Museum.
* Advocated for the maintenance of the historical landmarks in the City.
* Participated in different events in the city.
* Trained volunteers to be docents.
STRATEGIC PLANS FOR FY2001-2002
We are proud to say that the above accomplishments were the result of the previous strategic plans.
The Board of Directors will start planning the strategic plans for the next fiscal year. If you have ideas on how to enhance the operations of the Museum, please contact any of the members of the Board
NEWS! NEWS! NEWS!
MUSEUM AUDIT
The City conducted a comprehensive financial and operational review of the Union City Historical Museum and made a report to the City Council on December 11, 2001. The report contained the background information, the financial and operational review and the Resolution adopting Reimbursement Guidelines.
CITY OF UNION CITY SPECIAL MEETING
The City of Union City held a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Union City on Monday, December 17, 2001 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 34009 Alvarado Niles Road, Union City. Said special meeting was for the purpose of considering the following:
1) Confirmation of action taken on December 11, 2001 to suspend the lease between the Redevelopment Agency and the Union City Historical Museum;
2) Consideration of Interim Management Transition Agreement reached between officers and members of the Union City Historical Museum.
The Board of Directors participated in the meeting by presenting the Board of Directors' Mutual Agreement for the Union City Historical Museum.
At the end of the meeting, the City Council voted 4-0 to unfreeze the suspension of the funding and to unfreeze the suspension of the lease of the building. The lease is 5 years. The motion was carried. The Museum will open on Thursday, December 20, 2001.
After a 1 1/2 week hiatus while the president and directors worked out their differences, the Union City Historical Museum has reopened. The Museum reopened on Thursday, December 20, 2001 for normal business hours, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS' MEETING
The Board of Directors met on January 8, 2002 at the Museum. The President welcomed back the returning directors.
The Board of Directors' Mutual Agreement for the Union City Historical Museum that was approved and signed on December 11, 2001 at the City Hall was presented to the whole board for information and compliance.
It was agreed that the agreement will be followed and that the members of the Board will work together towards a common goal.
The members of the Board will meet monthly. The regular meetings of the Museum Board of Directors are held on the first Mondays of each month at 7 PM at the Museum. Meetings are open to the community.
MUSEUM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Myrla Raymundo, President
Timothy Swenson Vice-President
Eva Kamakea Secretary
Hugh McNamara Treasurer
Directors Miles Price, Rita Price, Ligfinio Ray Raymundo, Mike Christ, Jess Garcia, Frank Borghi, Jr,. Al Rose, Bruce Hevelin
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Elmie A. Shahab, Maggie C. Islaya, Guada M. Alonsalon, Gilbert Prevette
MUSEUM NEWSLETTER
The following are now part of the Editorial Board and are helping in the proofreading and editing of the bi-monthly Museum Newsletter:
Barbara Friedrich, Editorial Assistant
Mike Christ, Proofreader
Ray Raymundo, Layout Artist
Anybody who is interested in helping out in producing the Newsletter can call Barbara Friedrich at the Museum at 324-3298.
MUSEUM DOCENTS
We're calling on the Museum members to help us. If you're available in any of the days that we are open, please come by and help.
The training for Museum Docents is on Thursdays and Fridays at 10:00 AM and at 2:00 PM. You will feel fulfilled knowing that you are helping in the preserving and recording of the history of our city. You will also have a full knowledge of the history of Union City. Museum Docents man the Museum, do library work, conduct tours of the Museum and make educational presentations.
We'll wait for your call at the Museum (510) 324-3298 or call Myrla Raymundo, President, at (510) 489-0133 or e-mail at RAYMYR@aol.com. |
