A collection of papers covering topics of local historical significance.
General
Airfields of Washington Township (PDF) — From their start in 1911 to their final days in 2006, Washington Township had a number of airfields. Tim Swenson researched and wrote this article about the airfields located within Washington Township, Alameda County, California.
Chinese Flower Growers – The history of one Fremont family in the flower growing business. Written by Allen Chan.
Crash of Flight 615 (PDF) — The crash of United Airlines flight 615 in 1951 remains one of California’s worst air disasters. Researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Know History Brochure (PDF) — A printable (8.5in. by 17in.) brochure for our local history buffs. This document includes locations and contact information for historical groups throughout Washington Township–Fremont, Union City and Newark.
Researching & Writing Local History (PDF) — Most people research local history because they want to know more. They want to know more about who, what, and when. Once they know this, it is a short step to writing about it and documenting what was discovered. Writing it down can help organize the history that has been discovered. Written by Tim Swenson
Guide to Mormon Historical Sites in Washington Township, Alameda County, California by Lorin K. Hansen. (see Store to order a hardcopy).
Historical Markers of Washington Township (PDF) – Historical markers have been used to designate locations of historical significance for many years. Different groups have placed historical markers in Washington Township, reminding the public of the historic nature of different locations. This paper documents all of the historical markers in Washington Township as of the date of publication.
Philip Holmes – May 25, 1924 – November 16, 2018 – Philip Holmes, our beloved founding/ life member and prime historian for the museum and all of the Tri-City area passed away in his home at age 94 on November 16, 2018.
Tri-Cities Women of Influence Historical Coloring Book – In celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and Women’s History Month, three organizations have collaborated to introduce you to some of the Tri-Cities’ local influential women in a coloring book style. You can purchase the book in our store, and can also download a PDF of the coloring book at no cost.
A tale of two junctions: the birthing of Niles, 4 June 1869 to 28 April 1870 (PDF) by Victor K. Wong (12/2020).
A brief tale of three Chinese gangs (1865-1869): How three different railroad gangs of Chinese workers helped build the last leg of the first transcontinental railroad to the Pacific, from Sacramento to San Francisco Bay (PDF) by Victor K. Wong (12/2020).
Chinese & Chinese American Genealogical Resources Handout (PDF) — List of resources including websites, presentations, and workshops.
Western Message Petroglyphs: A Faux Indian Picture-Writing Project in the American West by Leigh Marymor — Keywords: Western Message Petroglyphs; Native American picture-writing; pan-cultural symbols; “Faux-Indian” historic inscriptions
Building Alameda Cañon’s first iron road: How Niles Canyon’s first transcontinental railroad was built by three different gangs of Chinese builders in two acts, 1865-1866 & 1869 (PDF) by Victor K. Wong (02/01/2023)
First Chinese New Year celebrations in North America (PDF) by Victor K. Wong (02/2023)
Hidden Histories – Local History Collected from DPR 523’s from Fremont, California (PDF) — Edited by Timothy Swenson
1868 Earthquake
1868 earthquake — Damage in the East Bay and Centerville
Hayward Earthquake — Great Quake of 1868 (PDF) — California experienced many quakes before the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire. The 1868 quake was a major earthquake on the Hayward Fault that changed the history of Alameda County, California. This article was researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Fremont
Lost Wineries and Vineyards of Fremont, California (PDF) — At one time southern Alameda County was a premier wine region of California with thousands of acres of vineyards and scores of wineries.
Historic Context of Glenmoor Gardens and Mission Ranch Subdivisions and Ranch House Architecture, Woodruff Minor. Thomas Rex Hardy, AIA Historical Architect, May 12, 2009. (90-page report)
Fong Family History — Recollections by Joshua Fong, O.D., 1999
Ghosts of Drawbridge by Bruce MacGregor – From the July/August 2020 edition of The Hotbox, a newsletter from SPCRR and the Railroad Museum at Ardenwood.
Centerville
Centerville Walking Tour (PDF) — A self-guided tour of Fremont’s historic Centerville district, by Timothy Swenson
Back issues of The Hatchet, the student-run newspaper of Washington High School
View issues from 1924 – 2019 in full (Web PDFs)
Irvington
Clark’s Hall, The Big Brick Building at the Bend in the Road in Irvington (PDF) — As Fremont Boulevard traverses the length of Fremont it makes a bend in the Irvington District. Joined there by Bay Street, Washington Boulevard and Union Street, the bend is known as the Five Corners. Called that because of the joining of the streets, it also reflects the early names of the area: Washington Corners and The Corners. Prominent at the corner, at 4000 Bay Street, is a large brick building, the oldest documented commercial building in Fremont.
Irvington Memorial Cemetery Walking Tour (PDF) — A tour and background of the cemetery and some of its pioneer burials.
Mission San Jose
Driscoll Road – It’s the Berries (PDF) — Driscoll Road was named for the Driscoll brothers of strawberry fame. Donald and Richard Driscoll came to California from County Cork, Ireland, in the 1890s. They started raising strawberries in the Watsonville area and soon expanded into Washington Township. Conditions were ideal in both areas because of a long growing season.
Galindo-Higuera Adobe (PDF) — A history of the Galindo-Higuera Adobe prepared as a joint project by the Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, the Washington Township Historical Society and the Museum of Local History.
History in the Vines: Fremont’s Wine Legacy— A history of winemaking in Mission San Jose — “There is no more important vineyard district in California, all things considered, than that which lies around the old Mission San Jose. …The best wine vineyards are around the Mission and Warm Springs, and on the roads to Irvington and Niles — in other words — on the spurs of the great mountain that rises above the district.” –Charles Howard Shinn, 1889
Niles
California Nursery Company — The story of John Rock and the California Nursery Company by Newark student Nick Kirk.
California Nursery Company History (PDF) — The site of the California Nursery originally formed part of the vast grazing lands of Mission San Jose.
The Garden of Allah Music Hall (PDF) — A Rock and Roll and Country and Western Music Hall that was built in 1929.
The Poppy Nymph (PDF) — Sculpture by Jo Mora.
Shinn Family Contributions to the Community (PDF) — Pioneer agriculturalists and nursery owners, in 1856 James and Lucy Shinn were at the forefront of Alameda County early settlement after California statehood.
Stroll & Roll Through History: Brief history of Niles Canyon (PDF) — Read about and view the history of Niles Canyon as you stroll or roll through Niles Canyon. Some of the historical locations are demarcated by how many miles they are from the start of Niles Canyon Road at Mission Blvd.
Veterans Memorial Building (PDF) — A Museum sponsored page about the building of the Veterans Memorial Building in the Niles District of Fremont.
The Story of the Shinn Ranch, by Kathryn Kasch (PDF) — The story of the Shinn Ranch presents an interesting mixture of ordinary and extraordinary history. In many ways it was a typical early farm in Alameda County and yet this ranch made original contributions to the development of horticulture in the region and it also “produced” family members whose achievements were significant. The ranch was continuously farmed for 110 years by three generations of a family who had a keen interest in their own history and the history of their community. As a result, this history is well documented and the family decided to donate the houses and four and a half acres of land to the City of Fremont so that some of the common and uncommon history of this place would be preserved for future generations.
Eden Journal of the California Garden, Vol 18, No. 3
Nursery Order for the Avenue of Palms, by Janet Barton, pg 14-15
Newark
Newark Walking Tour (Alan Nagy)
Union City
Anthony Gualco’s Alvarado History Website
Early Families of Union City (PDF) — Paper detailing the early families of Union City from the 1850’s until about the 1940’s. Written by Timothy Swenson.
History of African-Americans in the Union City Area (PDF) — Report that covers the limited history of African-Americans in the Union City area, from 1850 to about 1950.
Looking Back — Early Glimpses of Union City (PDF) — What did early Southern Alameda County look like? How did its people live? Who were some of the settlers in the communities of New Haven, Union City, Alvarado and Decoto? Each chapter is a story of families or events in those communities. Published by the City of Union City, Copyright 1978
Union City History Blog (PDF) — Tim Swenson’s Union City History Blog — A year’s worth of a weekly history blog from unioncity.patch.com
Union City History Collection (PDF) — Union City History Collection — A collection of articles on Union City history. Histories of the founding of Union City in Washington Township, Alameda County, California. Researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Union City Pioneer Genealogical Database (ZIP) — The Union City Pioneer Genealogical Database is a single GEDCOM file with 340 early residents of Union City (both Alvarado and Decoto). This is a ZIP file which will be downloaded to your computer.
Controversy in New Haven — The New Haven Unified School District was formed in 1965 by combining the Alvarado and Decoto School Districts and James Logan High School from the Washington Union School District. The joining of the school district was fairly harmonious. The only issue in the local newspaper, the “Union City Leader”, was the name of the district. The “Union City Leader” was advocating for the Union City Unified School District and was disappointed about the name “New Haven.” Two years after the founding of the school district, a huge controversy erupted in the district, leading to large public attendance at meetings, calls of illegal activities and a resolution by having a recall election. This paper documents the controversy in a chronological style.
Weldon Mead Kennedy – Union City “Vampire” – Researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Union City Police Department – 50 Years of Dedication and Service – Researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Where in Union City? A Pictorial Puzzle Book, by Timothy Swenson
Alvarado
Alvarado Boy (PDF) — A historical fiction about growing up in Alvarado in the 1880’s. Researched and written by Tim Swenson.
Alvarado’s Chinatown / Little Tijuana (PDF) — An in-depth look at the final days of the seedy section of Alvarado as it was shutdown by the authorities. Written by Anthony Gualco.
Alvarado Elementary – History Presentation (PDF) — Slide presentation of the history of the Alvarado School District and Alvarado Elementary School.
Alvarado Elementary – History Presentation (PowerPoint)— Slide presentation of the history of the Alvarado School District and Alvarado Elementary School.
Alvarado Elementary – History Report (PDF) — History of the Avarado School District and Alvarado Elementary School, from 1850 to about 1965.
Alvarado Elementary – Study Guide (PDF) — Study guide for the history of the Alvarado Elementary School.
Alvarado in 1850 (PDF) — A detailed history of Alvarado (Union City & New Haven) from it’s beginning in 1850 until 1870.
Alvarado Sugar Beet Factory, and the Dyer family that founded it (PDF) – For just over a hundred years a factory existed in Alvarado that took simple sugar beets and turned them into refined white sugar.
Analysis of Census Records of Alvarado, California (PDF) — Analysis of Alvarado’s Census Records between the years of 1860 to 1930. Alvarado was one of the five large unincorporated towns in Washington Township before becoming part of Union City.
Charles S. Eigenbrodt Civil War Hero (PDF) — Charles Eigenbrodt was a Civil War hero who lived in Alvarado, Washington Township, Alameda County, California. Researched and written by Tim Swenson
Homes of Vallejo Street (PDF) — From 1860 on, the west side of Vallejo Street, in Union City, was the place to own a home. This paper documents the homes and their well-known owners.
Scandinavian Oystermen of Alvarado (PDF) — The commercial oyster industry in the San Francisco Bay area started in 1869 with the importation of eastern oysters and the establishment of oyster beds on the bay. Written by Tim Swenson
Two Courthouses (PDF) — In-depth analysis of two pictures of the Alameda County Courthouse in Alvarado.
Alvarado Walking Tour (Timothy Swenson) (PDF) — A self-guided tour of Union City’s historic Alvarado district.
Decoto
Adventures of Peter Decoto (PDF) — In January 1938, the Hayward Daily Review published a series of 5 articles on Peter Decoto and his adventures during the Alaskan Gold Rush of 1898. These articles have been digitized and presented in this paper.
Biography of Ezra Decoto (PDF) — Ezra William Decoto Junior was the son of local pioneer, Ezra Decoto, and part of the family that gave its name to the town of Decoto. Ezra Decoto Jr. served the University of California, Alameda County and the State of California from 1900 to 1948. Although forgotten now, during his days, he was a well known figure in Oakland and Alameda County.
Dry Creek Cottage & Gardens Tour (PDF) — Dry Creek Cottage & Gardens Tour: This self-guide tour covers the history of Dry Creek Cottage & Gardens, part of Garin/Dry Creek/Pioneer Regional Park, and details the different buildings on the property.
In Search of a Rainbow, by Florence Paniagua Sanchez (PDF) — An immigrant family comes to Decoto. This is a rare detailed story of the experience of the Paniagua. Immigrants were told of “gold in the streets” and how easy life was in America. As many immigrants found out, life was not easier. In the end, most families did fairly well for themselves and this is true of the Paniagua family.
Decoto Bicycle Tour, by Timothy Swenson (PDF) — A self-guided tour of Union City’s historic Decoto area.
Horticulture and history meet at Meyers Garden, by Victor Carvellas
