HOME FOR THE UNION CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Union City Historical Museum will be housed in the old brick fire station located on Smith Street.
On March 14, 2000, the City Council members, Mayor Mark Green, Vice-Mayor Manny Fernandez and Councilmember Ben Elias voted to allow the Museum into the old brick building. Councilmember Richard Valle, who is a member of the Historical Museum and also of the Union City Chamber of Commerce, abstained and Councilmember Carol Dutra Vernaci voted against it.
Susan McCue, the Deputy City Manager, said that the work on preparing the museum would begin very soon. It needs about $80,000 in upgrades to improve access for the disabled and for seismic safety.
A lot of artifacts are housed throughout Union City and neighboring cities. The residents are holding them pending the moving in of the museum in the building.
The Hayward Historical Museum gave the Union City Historical Museum a dozen glass shelves to be used in the display of artifacts.
The Union City Library gave the museum the responsibility of taking care of the historical articles and periodicals that are presently maintained in the Union City Library. All these historical artifacts will be transferred to the museum.
If the city will expedite the work, the Museum will have an opening day of July 4th, 2000.
FIRST COUNTY SEAT OF GOVERNMENT OF ALAMEDA COUNTY NEEDS FACELIFT
Fate and history had not been kind to the First County Seat of Government of Alameda County. The stone monument located at Union City Boulevard and Smith Street looks like a discarded piece of stone. This monument was meant to be a sparkling piece of artifact and be an art deco centerpiece in the historic Alvarado District. It is supposed to be surrounded by beautiful flowers and greens and a nice fence. It is supposed to be tended periodically by the city workers. It is supposed to be shown to the community as one of the State of California landmarks.
It hasn't exactly worked out that way. Even those who have researched its history and love the monument admit that today it looks like it has been forgotten for many, many years. Now the forgotten and old artifact sits very lonely in a dusty road. People don't even know what it is. The plaque designates the site of this First County Seat of Government of Alameda County as State of California Registered Landmark No. 503. It is very historical for Alameda County and for the State of California.
A little bit of history of the First County Seat of Government of Alameda County:
Alameda County was born on March 25, 1853. In the Legislature Act itself, Section 11 states. ``The said Commissioners (of the Court of Sessions) shall meet in the town of Alvarado on the first Monday of July, A.D., One Thousand Eight Hundred and Fifty Three, which shall be known as the seat of Justice, Alameda County.''
Two paragraphs later, Section 13 states, ``The County Seat of Alameda County shall be known as the town of New Haven.'' At this early time the two competing towns at the elbow of Alameda Creek were beginning to compromise and use Alvarado as the name of their combined communities.''
In this Pioneer Era, year 1853, H. C. Smith built a store across from Union City and called it New Haven. New Haven was reused as the name of the Union City School District. The first county seat for Alameda was then in Alvarado, on the second floor of Smith's store. The store burned down later.
Two years of 1854-56 when New Haven was the county seat of infant Alameda County, it brought the town several hotels, boarding houses, law offices, stores and shipping wharves. A blacksmith shop, livery stable, gambling saloon and men's furnishing store occupied the downtown section.
The question is: Should the monument be restored to its original grandeur or should it be just left alone in a forgotten corner by the dusty roadside. Myrla Raymundo, President and Founder of the Union City Historical Museum, thinks that the City of Union City needs to get the historic monument cleaned and restored into a historic piece and be shown to, not only the Union City residents, but to people around the county.
Myrla went to the March 14TH 2000 meeting of the City Council and presented this issue to them at the Oral Communications portion. Up to this
time, we are waiting for the action of the City. After all, it is the First County Seat of Government in Alameda County.
RICHARD VALLE
Councilmember - Union City Council
Councilmember Richard Valle won the election when he first ran for Union City Council in 1997. Because of his genuine passion for the community, where he lived for 40 years, he got into a seat in the City Council very easily.
His campaign promise of looking at the city's ``GENERAL PLAN'', because it was not looked at since 1986 became a reality, when the city started the works and now we have a most current General Plan for the city. He had other issues that came into fruition and benefited the community.
When Richard came to Union City in the early part of 1959, he was nine years old and the place was contrary to what Union City is now. There was a lot of open spaces and lots of dirt roads and few neighborhoods had sidewalks. As a young boy, he would take long hiking trips from his parent's house on 13th Street to the hills and toward south Hayward. He had the first paper route in his neighborhood and he delivered the town's newspaper, the Daily Review.
When he was 10 years old, he marched in the Union City National Little League parade down ``H'' Street, a tradition that still takes place today. He is now a member of the Board of Directors of the National Little League. He played for Holly Sugar and graduated from James Logan High School in 1968.
Richard and wife Barbara, whom he met when they were at Logan High School, and children Monica and Andrew, live in a historical home on 13th and ``G'' Streets in the Decoto area. The Swanson Family who emigrated from Sweden built the home. The father was a carpenter and built the home around 1910. The family raised chickens and traded eggs with neighbors for vegetables and fruit.
Richard's many works in the community include being a Board Member of the Union City Lions Club. He and his wife are now in charge of the annual Lions Club Thanksgiving Dinner for seniors.
Richard is a Vietnam Veteran, U. S. Army, Medic, an experience he will never forget; Past President of the Union City Police Activities League (PAL), instrumental in helping create the first PAL in the history of Union City. He was the founder of the Union City Science, Earth and Health Festival that is now in its 5th year and is held at Logan High School annually. He is a member of the James Logan High School School Site Council, a former member of the Union City Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, he and his wife were the Registrars for the Union City Youth Soccer league, Advisor, to Centro de Servicios, Board of Directors, a non-profit charitable organization and now a proud member of the Union City Historical Museum, another non-profit organization in the city. He was also one of the founders of the Materials For the Future Foundation located at the Presidio in San Francisco and is currently the Treasurer of the Board of Directors.
Richard is the Founder and President of California's largest non-profit recycling company, the TRI-CED Community Recycling, a non-profit corporation, that employs youth and provides union jobs for local residents many of whom are low income residents.
Richard has a Masters Degree in Public Administration, Cal State University, Hayward and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology, also in Cal State University, Hayward.
His wife Barbara works in Administration at Cal-State University,
Hayward, daughter Monica goes to James Logan High School and will be graduating this year and son Andrew is a freshman at James Logan.
His parents Raul and Olivia still live on 13th Street just three houses down the street from Richard and Barbara.
A dedicated husband and father, who grew up in Union City, a professional and successful businessman, an intelligent and honorable and dedicated councilmember, Richard Valle is committed to his work and philosophy of ``Building Community.''
FRED CASTRO
Former Park and Recreation Commissioner
Fred Castro and wife Lorraine now live in Las Vegas, Nevada. He came to the Decoto area in July of 1959, moved in their home in December of 1959 and lived there for 37 years. He reminisced that when he first visited Union City, there was no Union City. There were two separate communities named Decoto and Alvarado and two separate school districts. The first City Council was starting to operate with an incorporated city. In 1964, the city council decided it was time to start forming City Commissions to help in advising the City Council the needs of a new incorporated city. The first commission that was formed was the Park and Recreation Commission.
Fred said that he was fortunate to have been living in Union City to see the Holly Sugar Plant and its outstanding smoke stake just prior to the start of phasing the plant out. The Holly Sugar Company Mansion was the home of the General Manager of the Holly Sugar Company. It is still there and is located in the corner of Smith Street and Vallejo Street in the Alvarado area. When the sugar plant closed, they gave Union City the opportunity to buy the mansion at a reasonable cost as long as it would be used for some form of city activity. The city used it as a Community Center as at that time the city was in dire need of a recreation center. It is now the Filipino Community Center.
When Fred and family moved to Union City to their new home at 13th and F Streets, there were no sidewalks, curb or gutter. It was just a beautiful 40 acres fruit orchard that ran from 12th & F Streets and to what is now the expanded Searles Elementary School playground on 15th Street. Mr. and Mrs. Al George owned the orchard, located between ``F'' Street on the south side and ``Dry Creek'' on the north side and ran from ``12th Street on the east end to ``15th'' Street on the west end, part of what is now the playground of Searles Elementary School. At that time, Mrs. George was the postmistress of the Union City Post Office. Mr. and Mrs. George lived in a home located on the orchard grounds. It was a beautiful old home, probably as old as the orchard or older, but it was really kept up. Mr. & Mrs. George finally had to sell their orchard due to the rising costs of maintaining an orchard in a growing community and being surrounded by new homes development. It was a shame that our city fathers or the developers for that area did not make an attempt to preserve that home as a landmark
Also during that period of time, the city did not even own an acre of land for a city park and did not have the finances to fund it. In later years, a park bond was presented to the residents of the Union City, but was voted down. They tried again a couple years later, and they were better prepared and made a better presentation to citizens and it passed. After the bond issue passed and after many discussions, it was decided that the best area for a community center would be on Decoto Road going east from Alvarado-Niles road. That land, which belonged to the Meyer sisters, was a large vegetable patch. After many discussions with the Meyer sisters and many months passed, they finally agreed to sell Union City approximately 10 acres of land which still left them a very large portion of land, but the city was happy to get that much so that we could start building Kennedy Center which was named after Union City's first Director of Parks and Recreation.
A park located at 10th and ``G'' Streets in the Decoto District was named after Fred Castro as a tribute to this very energetic pillar of Union City. It was dedicated on April 26, 1997. Fred served as a Park and Recreation Commissioner for 32 years. He was instrumental in the acquisition and the development of Union City's seventeen parks. The Fred Castro Park honors his dedication to Union City Youth. Fred represents the finest example of the citizen volunteer and what can be accomplished.
Fred Castro and wife Lorraine send their good luck to us and told us to keep up this outstanding work for Union City. He said, ``We might not be living in Union City but it will always be part of our lives as all our kids went to school in Union City.''
THE MUSEUM'S SPEAKERS BUREAU
The Museum's Speakers Bureau is in full swing. We give presentations to groups on the city's history. Please call us if you need a presentation.
FROM THE MUSEUM TREASURER
Miles Price
We welcome the residents of Union City to become members of the very first historical museum in Union City. The following are the members as of this date.
Patti Adams, Secretary
Carson Adams
Alice Arce
Lamont Allen
Bertelson Pre-Cast Steps, Inc.
Braswell, Steven
Braswell, Norma
Elvamae Borghi
Frank Borghi, Jr.
Alison Buenaventura
Michael & Judy Caine
Fred & Lorraine Castro
Mike Christ
Celcer, James L.
Gertrude Corchero
Regina Dennie
Brian Eady
Barry Ferrier
Mrs. Barry Ferrier
Darlene Hicks
Carmen Jaramillo
Jaime Jaramillo
Eva Kamakea
Heide Kitayama
Tom Kitayama
Jeanne Larson
Elaine Martin
Hugh McNamara
Museum of Local History, Fremont
Dennis Olsen
Mary Olsen
Larry Orozco
Jess Orozco
Ruth Orozco
Gilbert & Paula Orozco
Josephine Pando
Antoinette Pinto
Miles Price, Treasurer
Rita Price
Myrla Raymundo, President
Ligfinio Raymundo
Emilio Re
Marjorie Re
Orlando S. Rivera
Elvin & Jean Rose
Georgia Santa Maria
Leonard F. Silva
Lupe St. Denis
Joan Schlaepfer
Norman Shepard
Margaret Shepard
Carmen Smeester
Estelle Starr
Timothy Swenson, Vice-President
John Tester, (Lifetime Member)
Midge Thornton
Underhile, Cindy
Richard Valle
Phil Verzola, (Lifetime Member)
Tony Vierra
Rita Vierra
JOHN TESTER
Park and Recreation Commissioner
Lifetime Member
Our second lifetime member is Commissioner John Tester of the Park and Recreation Commission. Thoughtful peoples like John measures the value of an institution. When community leaders visibly display their support of an institution, it multiplies their gift by challenging others to join them. We truly hope that other leaders will follow suit.
We gratefully acknowledge John's support of the Union City Historical Museum, and therefore his name will be part of our Lifetime Members Plaque, which will be displayed at the entrance
When I asked John if he had any recollection of Union City, he replied, ``No Union Landing bursting with activities, no houses on Union City Blvd, no Senior Center and no swimming pool.''
John came to the West Side of town, Casa Verde, on February of 1989. He and his wife Cathy and their five school aged sons live in 31362 San Andreas Drive.
John is president of the Union City American Little league, Past Cubmaster, Cub Scout Pack 273 of Union City, Chairman of the Parks and Recreation Commission, Committee Member, Union City Skate Facility Committee an Member, Volunteer Recognition Awards Sub-Committee. His hobbies include camping, fishing, and all types of sports and volunteering at his kid's schools.
John is a busy person and became busy at one time when he ran for Union City Council. His platform that time was providing for our kids, protecting our community and planning for our future.
Thanks, John Tester, and welcome to the Museum.
PRESENT TIME HAPPENINGS
Two fast food restaurants added to the bustling activities at the Union Landing. Jollibee and Krispy Kr¨me were the center of activities during their opening in March 2000.
JOLLIBEE
Jollibee, the fast food giant of the Philippines, which dominates such corporate biggies as McDonalds, Burger King and Kentucky Fried Chicken, created long lines in the Union Landing. Jollibee marinates its burgers and chicken with a special combination of spices and herbs before cooking. The result is a taste that is distinct from their traditional American counterparts. The Filipino burgers were welcomed with long lines.
KRISPY KREME
Krispy Kreme next door also have around 100 people lined up to taste the highly anticipated doughnut. They were the first to sample doughnuts from the much-awaited Union Landing Krispy Kreme store. Featured in the store are viewing areas so customers can see the doughnut-making process while they wait. People buy boxes and boxes of the delicious doughnuts.
MILES J. PRICE HALL
Our Treasurer of the Museum and one of the charter members, Miles J. Price, was honored by the City of Union City and residents with a dedication ceremony last March 21, 2000 at the Ralph & Mary Ruggieri Senior Center.
The big hall at the Ruggieri Senior Center was named Miles J. Price Hall. Miles was one of the people who were instrumental in establishing the Ruggieri Senior Center. Congratulations, Miles.
JUDY CAINE HONORED FOR COMMUNITY SPIRIT
Judy Caine, one of our members, was honored with three other recipients for demonstrating leadership and giving back to the community. Judy is a 30-year resident of Union City and is an office specialist at Kennedy Community Center and has worked for the city for 26 years. Congratulations, Judy.
MASONIC HOME TOUR
Some of the members of the Union City Historical Museum were given a tour at the Masonic Home in Union City. The group learned the history of the home, toured the areas of the residents and had a nice welcome and delicious refreshment.
TRIP TO DRY CREEK
Tim Swenson, Vice President of the Museum, arranged a tour of the Dry Creek Cottage/Meyer's Estate, for the Museum members, on April 15, 2000 from 2:00 to 3:30 PM. The members enjoyed the history of Dry Creek Cottage, which is a part of the East Bay Regional Park District and enjoyed walking through the historical grounds and gardens. The members spent an afternoon touring this hidden botanical gem and enjoyed the refreshments prepared by Tim.
THE UNION CITY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
The Union City Historical Museum, founded in 1998 by Myrla Raymundo, is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to recording, documenting, and preserving the history of Union City, California. It also educates residents on history.
The Museum Officials are:
Myrla Raymundo, MBA - President
Timothy Swenson - Vice President
Miles Price - Treasurer
Patti Adams - Secretary
The Union City Historical Museum meets on the first Monday of the Month at the Union City City Hall at 7:00 PM. Please come and join us and talk history.
THE BOOK - ``UNION CITY AFTER INCORPORATION''
So many interesting people, so many stories, so many pages - this is the History Book on ``Union City After Incorporation''.
Myrla Raymundo is very busy interviewing and talking to residents and writing their stories. The stories of the residents are being published in our Museum Newsletter, as excerpts from the book
Everybody has a story. We want to listen to your story on how Union City was and how the present Union City is like and how do we envision Union City will be in the next ten or twenty years.
So if you have a story to tell, please call the author of the book, Myrla Raymundo at (510) 489-0133 or drop her a note at 3107 San Ramon Ct., Union City, CA 94587.
RENEWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
It is time to renew membership in the Union City Historical Museum for Fiscal Year 2000-2001. Please send your membership fee payable to the Union City Historical Museum, to our Treasurer, Miles Price, 369 Monaco Ave., Union City, CA 94587.
Membership dues are payable for Fiscal Year 2000-2001 - July 1, 2000 through June 30, 2001.
For new members who joined in February, March, or April, 2000 are paid for Fiscal Year 2000-2001.
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