OLD HOME TO BE THE CITY MUSEUM

The old yellow house by the park was meant to be a historical home. The Union City Council eyed the house as a future site of the Union City Historical Museum. The house is situated at 30940 Watkins Street and is adjacent to Old Alvarado/Cesar Chavez Park. This house may be used to house artifacts and historical materials that tell the story of Union City's past. It already started telling its story.

Daryl Lewis was having coffee with a friend at a local coffee shop when he saw a picture of an old house at the Local Section of The Argus. "It looked exactly like the house where my father was raised." He told his friend. He immediately called his father and other relatives, They confirmed that it was the house owned by their family matriarch, Mary B. Rose.

Daryl and his father, Joseph Lewis, who grew up in that house, attended the city council meeting that historic night to see what was happening. True to their expectation, that old historic yellow house in the historic Alvarado area was the subject of a discussion at that meeting. Then, it was meant to be. The house was picked to be a museum by a unanimous vote by the City Council. Mary B. Rose will be very happy. Her spirit will help enliven the old house. People of all walks of life will come and visit the house.

Mary B. Rose, of Portuguese descent, bought the house on Watkins Street in the year 1938. Mary worked as a housekeeper for many years at the mansion of Mr. Ratekin of the Holly Sugar Mill. Mr. Ratekin became one of the community leaders in Union City. The mansion still exists; it is now the Filipino Community Residence in the Alvarado District. During her employment, Mr. Ratekin gave Mary some aerial photos of the early Sugar Mill. Those photos are now in the hands of the local historian, Myrla Raymundo, for display at the museum.

Mary brought six children to the world, Adam Lewis, now 77 years old, lives in Oregon. Adam and wife Grace have 3 children. Joseph Lewis, 69, lives in Hayward with his wife Frances. Mary was preceded in death by her other children, Frank, Edward, Joseph and Andrew Pimentel. Mary was 80 years old when she died 10 years ago.

Joseph Lewis remembers vividly living in that house. He remembers that there was a bathroom in the back porch, moldings around the ceiling and the house has a beautiful front porch. Growing up in Alvarado when times were tough, Joe spent many hours riding his bike or skating. Joe and his brothers attended Alvarado School and then went on to Washington Union High School in Fremont. He remembers that Alvarado flooded a lot and people have to walk on wooden sidewalks. He worked at Sam Densmore's hardware store as a teenager. The building now houses Bronco Billy's Pizza. Joseph left that house when he married Frances in 1949 and they moved to the City of Hayward. For many years, Joe and Frances lived near All Saints Catholic Church. They raised eight children in that area and now reside in a mobile home located in Hayward. Joseph worked in various jobs before going to work for the City of Hayward. Joe worked for the City for 32 years and is now retired. The couple will celebrate their golden Wedding Anniversary, 50 years of married bliss, on November 16, 1999.

One of Mary's thirteen grandchildren, Daryl Lewis, was the connecting point of this story. He called to tell this writer, Myrla Raymundo, that his father grew up in this would-be Union City Historical Museum. Daryl is married to Kristine of Palo Alto. They also reside in Union City. They have one son, 29, who lives in Napa. Also adding to the store were Daryl's sisters, Judy Wallace and Jill Gonsalves.

The history of Union City is being woven through the stories of residents who had lived in the area for many, many years. Mary B. Rose's story is a beautiful story. Now the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren will continue telling her story. Mary is embedded in the minds of the people who will read her story and she will be remembered as the pioneer of the Lewis' family, who will continue to multiply as the years go by.

Mary B. Rose, we salute you for whispering to us to continue living your history and the history of your clan and the history of Union City through the Union City Historical Museum.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Union City Historical Museum is a non-profit organization that is dedicated to recording and preserving the history of Union City, California. The organization's primary goals are to record an oral history from people living in the community, identify and encourage preservation of historical buildings and maintain a museum containing artifacts, historical documents, and historical books.

Officers 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.

Visit our Website at http://members.xoom.com/ucmuseum/

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 November 1999:

Patti Adams, Secretary Carson Adams Alice Arce Elvamae Borghi Frank Borghi, Jr. Alison Buenaventura Mike Christ Gertrude Corchero Regina Dennie Barry Ferrier Mrs. Barry Ferrier Carmen Jaramillo Jaime Jaramillo Eva Kamakea Heide Kitayama Tom Kitayama Jeanne Larson Elaine Martin Hugh McNamara Dennis Olsen Mary Olsen Larry Orozco Jess Orozco Ruth Orozco Miles Price, Treasurer Rita Price Myrla Raymundo, President Ligfinio Raymundo Emilio Re Marjorie Re Georgia Santa Maria Leonard F. Silva Lupe St. Denis Norman Shepard Margaret Shepard Carmen Smeester Estelle Starr Timothy Swenson, Vice-President Midge Thornton Richard Valle Tony Vierra Rita Vierra

How you can help

Historical Material or Information - The Museum is interested in any donations of historical materials or talking with anyone that has lived in Union City for many years.

Volunteering -The Museum is looking for people interested in volunteering some of their time to support the Museum. Once the Museum opens, volunteers will be needed to man the museum, keeping it open for guests.

NEWS BITS........

Museum - The City's historical museum soon will have a home now that the city council unanimously approved 5-0 to purchase an old historical home. The home, in Alvarado, is one of two adjacent to the Old Alvarado/Cesar Chavez Park. The City has budgeted $400,000 to purchase the home.

Union City's General Plan - The City of Union City is preparing a Youth, Family, Seniors and Health Strategy and an Economic Development Strategy, to guide the preparation of its updated General Plan. The purpose of the Youth, Family, Seniors and Health Strategy is to assess the need for additional facilities and services to address the needs of youths, families, and seniors, to set out an overall policy framework for addressing the needs of these groups, and to identify strategic actions for addressing these needs.

The Museum officials are proud to report that the City of Union City had recognized the presence of the Union City Historical Museum in Union City and had included it as one of the many community services being offered by the city.

The following is an excerpt from the Draft General Plan:

"Union City Historical Museum

In 1998 the Union City Historical Museum (UCHM) was incorporated as a non-profit organization. UCHM is dedicated to recording and preserving the history of Union City. The organization's primary goals are to 1) record an oral history from people living in the community, 2) collect artifacts and maintain a library for books and historic documents, and 3) identify and encourage preservation of historical buildings. The organization meets monthly and prepares regular a newsletter that covers historically relevant activities, events and news items. UCHM also boasts a website.

The Union City Historical Museum will be developing an educational program that includes the early homes, churches, commercial and industrial uses in the area; development patterns of the first settlements and construction of the railroad; the first people of Union City; the first county seat in Alameda located in Alvarado District; the creation of the school district, the old city councils, the old city hall, the early business people and lawmakers of Union City. The educational programs will be available to all city residents. UCHM is also writing a book about Union City."

Union City Arts Council - The city council unanimously approved a $5,000 grant as seed money to get the Community Arts Council off the ground. It will be made up of five citizens as well as one council member and one school board member acting as nonvoting members. The council members hope that residents would come forward, start a nonprofit, form a board of directors and take control of the council. The Arts Council was also included in the General Plan.

Mayor Emeritus - One of our members and former Mayor Tom Kitayama was declared Mayor Emeritus by the city council. He served the city for 32 years as a planning commissioner, councilman and mayor.

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT/CEO

Dear Friends and Supporters of the Union City Historical Museum,

I an excited to tell you that much had happened since the last issue of our newsletter. These days had offered me the opportunity to look back and reflect on what we have accomplished and look forward to what we are about to embrace. It is astonishing and satisfying to see that the Union City Historical Museum had grown into such a vibrant organization that continues to record the history of our city.

The biggest news is that the city council had unanimously approved the musuem home, which we will occupy in June 2000. Our Vice President Tim Swenson had created our website to create awareness of our cultural heritage and history. Our Treasurer Miles Price continues to recruit members. Our representative to the Chamber of Commerce, Hugh McNamara, continues to represent us at the different Chamber activities.

As we continue to expand and prosper, let us not forget to thank our members and our supporters who are making this museum a reality.

May they continue to help us in this very important venture.

Thank you,

Myrla Raymundo, MBA President/CEO

The history of the City of Union City is embodied in its old homes, buildings, structures and objects and in places that show us our collective past. These historic structures and artifacts are tangible links to people and events that have shaped the lives of Union City residents. The early homes are significant part of our history and are worthy of preserving.

We welcome and encourage everyone, who has an interest in local history, to join and participate in an ongoing progressive organization, the Union City Historical Museum.