Pinole Historical Society

The Pinole Historical Society promotes awareness and appreciation of history through preservation and education, and chronicles the city’s heritage for current and future generations.


 

May 17 Annual Membership Meeting
will honor Pinole Library

The Pinole Historical Society will hold its Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, May 17, in conference rooms 2A and 2B of the Kaiser Permanente Medical Office Building, 1301 Pinole Valley Road.

At this meeting all Life members, Honorary members, and Individual and Business members who have paid their 2012 dues will be eligible to vote for three candidates for the PHS Board of Directors.

The Board of Directors will also be asking members to ratify proposed changes to the PHS By-Laws. All mambers in good standing (who have paid their 2012 dues), have received these proposed By-Laws changes via e-mail.

Also at this meeting, in recognition of National Preservation Month, the PHS will presennt librarians Ian Richards and Tim Madigan of the Pinole Library with the Society's 2012 Historic Preservation Award for their extraordinary support of historic preservation activities in Pinole.



New library exhibit
celebrates “Pinole...
Then and Now”

The new PHS exhibit at the Pinole Library features photographs from Pinole’s past and present. This exhibit joins our permanent exhibit featuring artifacts, photos, and memorabilia from our city’s history. The PHS thanks the Pinole Library for the exhibit space.

Library hours are Monday (10 a.m. to 6 p.m.), Wednesday (2 to 8 p.m.), Friday (noon to 5 p.m.), and Saturday (noon to 5 p.m.).



Historical videos
on city's website

The city of Pinole’s website is featuring several historical videos of interest to Pinole residents, courtesy of Pinole Community TV.

These videos may be enjoyed on your computer from the City of Pinole’s website:

• PCTV Historic Walking Tour series
• Interview with Jack Meehan and Tom Cutino
• George Vincent’s 2010 walking tour of Historic Downtown Pinole
• George Vincent’s 2011 walking tour of Historic Downtown Pinole
• Interview with Ed LeFebvre
• Interview with Charlotte Shea
• Interview with Alex Clark
• Pinole Historical Society Book Signing Ceremony
• 2011 Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony
• 2010 Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony
• 2009 Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony
• 2008 Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony
• Growing up Pinole

Click here for a Powerpoint slide show from the 2009 Veterans Day event.



Listen to audio of
February 18, 2010
PHS meeting

Det. Sgt. Matt Messier of the Pinole Police Department gave a fascinating presentation on the history of the Pinole Police Department, with particular emphasis on the 1929 murder of Pinole Constable Arthur (Jerry) McDonald during the robbery of the Rodeo branch of the Bank of Pinole. Listen to Det. Sgt. Messier's presentation.



Public welcome
at monthly PHS
board meetings

The PHS Board of Directors meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Pinole Senior Center. At these meetings the board discusses policies and procedures, receives reports, and plans events and programs.

The public is welcome at these meetings and may speak on any item on the agenda. There is also a public-comment time at the beginning of each meeting for people to speak on items not on the agenda.



Police department
history page
premieres on
city’s website

See the new Pinole Police History page on the city’s website.

You will learn about Wild-West shootouts, cattle drives downtown, 1920s gangsters, World War II sabotage, Fiesta Del Pinole riots, and other historical events you had no idea had occurred!

Learn about Pinole’s first lawmen, like saloon-owning Constable John Collins and rough-and-tumble Arthur McDonald, who was killed during a shootout in 1929. See how the Pinole Police Department grew from one famous, ticket-writing motorcycle cop to a professional, modern police force. Read about the three officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for this community when they took on violent criminals.

The new Pinole Police History page is full of great, colorful stories and fun pictures! You will feel like you’re walking through time!



Historic Walking
Tour on
Google Maps

The PHS thanks supporter Tom Parsons, who was kind enough to make Google Map of the Pinole Historic Walking Tour. Check out Tom’s handiwork here.