July in Crockett

July began with summer temperatures in the 90's - a welcome relief from the winter weather for the past month or two. On the 4th the usual barbeque in Alexander Park including a concert by Billie Martin. (The concert is free, the barbeque is $10) Port Costa will also have a barbeque and a parade. Get there early. Main street will close at 6 pm to all but foot and local traffic.

On July 17 Crockett will host the annual SUGARTOWN FESTIVAL and street fair sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce. Admission is free. Check out the St. Rose of Lima booth with the chance to win a contest. This event will commence at 11 am on Rolph Avenue. On the same day Port Costa will present its world famous Car Show and BBQ. And, on the 17th, the Crockett Museum will have an "old fashioned" ice cream social. Between 1 to 3 pm, for $1 you will get a scoop of your favorite flavor with topping served by one of the Museum's world famous docents.

I could go on for pages but you can read all of this and much more in the Crockett Signal Monthly. This well illustrated "Voice of the Carquinez Strait" is available for $3. Nancy Reiser writes about her experiences with crew of the movie The Master - the second movie to be filmed in Crockett in as many years. Erin Mullen-Brosnan out lines Museum plans for the summer and announces the developing website at www.crockettmuseum.org. She also writes about the plans for the Museum to be open until 9 pm on the last Wednesday of July and August. She doesn't mention the ghosts of Crockett flitting about the old train depot after dark descends. http:\\www.crockettmuseum.org

Of course, I would be remiss not to mention my own article presented as Part III 1883 - 1934 of the Saga of St. Rose Church. With the exception of some introductory remarks and a closing paragraph the story was written by a member of the Sisters of the Holy Family who served the parish circa 1934. I am in the process of bringing together a number of histories of the Church as we prepare to celebrate our 100 year anniversary as a parish. One of these days I will learn how to include the entire article in one or other of my blogs.

Continual Search for Volunteers

The Crockett Museum and Historical Society depends on volunteers for everything and anything happening. Volunteers have been the life-blood of this institution since it opened in 1981 during the 100th anniversary of the founding of Crockett. At the present time we are seeking someone who will take on the responsibility for managing and updating our computers and, hopefully, a web page. In future blogs we will add more information about volunteers, the time involved, the Crockett connection and the "benefits." Call us at 510-787-2178 or stop by on Wednesday or Saturday between 10 am and 3 pm.  

The C&H Company House

The house, built by the California and Hawaiian Sugar Company in 1917, still exists but now is owned and occupied different owners. The home and the grounds have been completly renovated and remodeled by the new owners but still stands in a location overlooking Crolona Heights. The full story of the company house can be read in the Crockett Museum and Historical Society. Crockett writer and historian Diane Botini Thomas wrote about it in the Fall 1993 issue of the Alexander & Baldwin AMP&RSAND.

Dates to Remember About Crockett and C & H Sugar

For over 100 years the connections among Crockett, Hawaii and C & H Sugar have been intense and ought to be remembered. Some of them are:
1897 - Nov. 30, George McNear with Hawaiian and Calif. businessmen purchased the Edwards Ranch
1899 - June 14, the name of the firm changed from California Beet Sugar and Refining Co changed to California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company.
1906 - The first year sugar was produced - 74,000 tons - by the C & H Refining Company

In 2011 C & H is producing as much, or more, sugar as ever. The ownership of the company is different but the C&H building still attracts visitors to our town and we show visitors the C&H waterfront. With 100 plus truckloads of sugar in and out every day, Crockett still maintains a strong relationship. So stay tuned for more blogs about the towns major product.

Crockett Museum Hilights

The Crockett Museum and Historical Society has 55 annual members, 133 Life members and 26 Crockett Rocket members. "Crockett Rocket" is a special life membership for people under 18 years of age. They are folks how may be around to celebrate the 200th birthday of Crockett in 2081. We hope to see a significant increase in annual membership durinh 2011. Annual membership for a single individual is $10; for a family it is $15 and Life membership for an individual is $125. Crockett Rocket membership is $100.

Admission is free so come and spend several hours admiring a world record sturgeon or a really big wasp nest. Among our collections you will find the telephone switchboard used when we all had 2 or 3 diget phone numbers and an operator asked "number please" and then connected you. If you or a relative attended John Swett High School we have the class pictures for almost every year.

THE SAINT ROSE STORY the Saga of Crockett

Each month, for the Crockett Signal Magazine, I write an article about the history of Crockett and the Carquinez Strait. The story in April is mostly about the priests who have parstored the Catholic Church since the parish was established in 1912. The first mass in the Saint Rose of Lima church was held on Christmas 1892 when it was located on the Valona hill looking down on present day Port Street. In 1908 it was moved to the Starr Street location and became a parish served by Dominican priests from the from the Order of Preachers in Benicia. During the first 100 years the parish has had 18 parish pastors beginning with Father Edward B. Kenney, O.P. to our present day Shepard Father Ciaran Dillon, O.M.I. (Oblates of Mary Immaculate).

Next year in 2012 the Parish will celebrate its 100th birthday. It is my intent to write several more stories about St. Rose and its mission church in Port Costa, St. Patrick adding to the 5 or 6 already written. Visit me at the Crockett Museum and Historical Society on Wednesday or Saturday and share your memories.

TOWN WIDE YARD SALE

Each year dozens of homes have a yard sale on the same day. This year it will be on Saturday, May 14 from 8 am to 4 pm. The event is sponsored by our chamber of commerce and is a chance to convert stuff in our garage into cash. I suspect some of that cash goes to buying other peoples junk to sell next year. As you drive into town you will have an opportunity to purchase a map of yard sale locations. In your search you will drive by the Crockett Museum in the old SP depot at Loring and Rolph. Stop and explore some of the artifacts that made it to the Museum before leaving town in the yard sales.

In Search of Community Roots

If you are "struck" with a desire to learn more about your town of residence, or if your third grader is seeking information, don't overlook the resource of local museums. Of course I am biased toward the Crockett Museum and Historical Society but there are many in Contra Costa County. We are located in the old Southern Pacific Depot at Loring and Rolph at the truck entrance to C & H Sugar. Another local historical society is the Pinole Historical Society. Visit them on the web. Their site will suggest other great sites.

Saint Rose Fish Fry

Friday March 25, 2011 is the day to eat a great fish dinner in the St. Rose Church hall from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm. This is the 26th year for this major Crockett event. Tickets at the door are $15 for adults and $7 for diners age 12 and below. Take the Crockett off-ramp from I-80, follow Pomona to 2nd Avenue, turn north to Starr, turn right a block and you are there. Take any parking place and follow the crowd.

This event was started 26 years ago when the immediate past pastor was reassigned to Alaska. One of his parishioner caught the fish and sent them to St. Rose, Crockett. We held the dinner and split the profits with St. Rose, Alaska. It continues today as one of the two fund-raisers of the parish.

Crockett Historical Museum Events

The meeting of the Board of Directors highlighted several topics we will be addressing during the next few months.

1. The question of whether we will seek a broadband internet connection will be pursued. The Board decided it is a good idea.
2. We will develop a policy governing the use of the Museum's non-profit status in pursuing grants. A committee was established and will prepare something for consideration at the next Board meeting in September.
3. We will determine to costs of digitizing our microfilm of the Crockett Signal and other newspapers.

Nervous on the Hill

During the last couple of days there have been several small earthquakes in the Bay Area. This morning the small one was just 4.5 miles deep and on the fault that runs through Crockett. Well, if the "big one" hits, we are totally unprepared. Pray for us.