Opening of the Union City Historical Museum

The Union City Historical Museum, located at 3841 Smith Street, Union City, California, 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. The Museum was founded in 1998 by Myrla Raymundo.

The Museum officially opened on February 23, 2001 at an evening reception at the Museum. The following day, February 24th, Saturday was the Cutting of the Ribbon Ceremony.

A lot of dignitaries and longtime residents of the city attended the opening night. To name a few, they were City Officials Mayor Mark Green, Councilmember Carol Dutra Vernaci, Mayor Emeritus Tom Kitayama, Past Mayor Dick Oliver, Commissioners John Tester, Gina Lewis, Rosemary Savage, Georgia Megue Santa Maria, Phil Verzola, Eva Kamakea, Josephine Pando, Hugh McNamara, Miles & Rita Price, Tony & Rita Vierra and City Manager Mark Lewis, who presented a gift to the Musuem, Deputy City Manager Christine Tien, and department heads Police Chief Randy Ullibbarri, Fire Enginner Ty Wilson, who brought the antique firetruck, Valerie Crawford, Mark Leonard, Larry Cheeves, Linda Harris of the Union City Library.

We were also visited by local historians and writers Philip Holmes, Regina Dennie, Lila Bringhurst, and James de Mersman.

Back in times, there was a reunion among previous city officials and dignitaries Leo Alvelais, Irv & Margaret Williams, Bernie Morales, Jess & Ruth Orozco, Frank Borghi , Al and Jean Rose, Al and Marcella Roderiguez, Dan Rose, and an 86 year old little lady Mrs. Strickland, wife of Harold Strickland.

There were many more guests too many to mention, but we thank them for coming to the reception and ribbon cutting.

Dr. David Coffin of the USS Hornet Museum provided the music for the evening.

The Museum’s goals are to: 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.

The Union City Historical Museum has three components. They are the Museum, the Oral History and the Historic Preservation Ordinance.

The Museum collects and displays historical artifacts and documents and holds presentation of the history of Union City to residents.

The Oral History interviews longtime residents and writes stories about them. The stories will be woven from the mouths of hundreds of long-time residents of Union City. Some of these residents reside in neighboring towns; some left for other far-away places and some still resides in Union City. But though far away, they are still very much a part of our history.

The Union City Historic Preservation Ordinance buildings and homes in Union City. The ordinance calls for a Landmark and Historic Preservation Overlay zone. Owners of buildings and houses in the zone would submit plans for major additions and new buildings to the Union

The following Museum officials were instrumental in making the Museum Opening a success:

Myrla Raymundo - President/CEO Timothy Swenson - Vice-President Eva Kamakea - Secretary Hugh McNamara - Treasurer Miles Price - Director 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 Reiner Glausch - Director Sheryl Glausc - Director Bruce Hevelin - Director

Please call us if you need presentations on the history of Union City. We meet on the first Monday of each month at the Museum and sends out a bi- monthly Museum Newsletter. Hours of operation are 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Thursday through Saturday The group gives presentations on Union City History 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 & Leila Verzola
John & Cathy Tester
Timothy & Catherine Swenson
Eva Kamakea
Georgia Megue Santa Maria
Ligfinio (Ray) & Myrla Raymundo
Gina Lewis
Reiner & Sheryl Glausch

Kenny Garcia

Kenneth Caravante Garcia, Ken Garcia in short, was the first Fire Chief of the City of Union City after incorporation in January 1959.

During those times when the City was just a vast land with a total population of only four figures, Ken was very busy in the community.

He was one of the Alvarado & Decoto Citizen Committee members who petitioned for incorporation to become Union City.

He organized the Union City Little league.

Ken was Past President of the following organizations:

Alameda County firemen’s Association Decoto/Alvarado Chamber of Commerce Decoto Chamber of Commerce Union city Chamber of Commerce Charter President of Union City Lion’s Club National Little League – Union City American Little league – Union City Tiburcio Vasquez Medical Clinic – Union City Tropics Mobile Home Association – Union city Washington Township Democratic Club Alvarado Area Order of Eagles

Ken became Union City Citizen of the Week several times, Union City Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year for several times and Argus Man of the year.

Ken was a member of the Our Lady of the Rosary Men’s Society, Alameda Elks Club and the Niles Rotary and the Union City Sister City Committee for Santa Rosalia, Mexico.

He was honored in the Kenny Garcia Little league Field – Alvarado district.

He retired as Fire Chief on January 1985.