Pinole Historical Society


		About the Pinole Historical Society The Pinole Historical Society was incorporated in 1974, with current board member Dr. Joe Mariotti and Director Emeritus George Vincent as charter members. They provide a wonderful background and inspiration for us to achieve our mission. Since revising and updating our bylaws in 2008, the Pinole Historical Society has strived to meet its mission of promoting awareness and appreciation of history through preservation and education, and chronicling the city’s heritage for current and future generations. Our board of directors is working hard to deserve its viable charitable, private, non-profit organization classification, capable of negotiating meaningfully with the city of Pinole for a location for a municipal museum, and deserving of needed sustained financial support from foundations, grants, bequests, etc. As a “museum without walls,” PHS volunteers are inventive in bringing history to the community outside the walls of a museum building. We accomplish this in several ways: • We began a community outreach program where PHS volunteers introduced Pinole history to fourth graders in five elementary schools in 2009. George Vincent, Marcia Kalapus, and Jeff Rubin prepared a one-hour program about the history and experiences of children in early Pinole schools at the turn of the 20th century. The program is still being presented. Our outreach activities include talks illustrated with PowerPoint presentations from our now vast collection of photos to Pinole Rotary, AARP, the Pinole Library, St. Joseph Church Seniors, Sons in Retirement, and the Pinole City Council. • We hold our annual Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony on November 11, commemorating those who served in the military, past and present. Participants include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Pinole Valley High School Marching Band, Pinole Police Explorers color guard, and hundreds of school children and folks from the community. In addition to speeches from veterans, city officials, and youth leaders, attendees share in the solemn ceremony of the retirement of worn flags by the Boy Scouts. The event draws some 500 people to Fernandez Park. • The PHS has conducts a successful essay contestin Pinole schools every spring. In 2009 and 2010, students answered the question “What does the American flag mean to you?” in our Flag Day Essay Contest. In 2011, for our Pinole History Essay Contest, students were asked to write about Pinole’s history or their family’s history. With the sponsorship of Mechanics Bank, the contest winners receive $50 savings bonds and other prizes. The children have written some wonderful essays. • PHS Newsbriefs, our newsletter, begun in 2008 as a two-page information sheet, has expanded to 16 pages. In addition to historical articles about Pinole, the newsletter includes ads from nearly 50 businesses. The newsletter reaches several thousand people via more than 2,500 printed copies placed in more than 60 locations in Pinole, Richmond, El Sobrante, Hercules, and Rodeo—and countless more via our website and e-mail database. • PHS members/authors George Vincent, Jeff Rubin, and Dr. Joe Mariotti wrote—and Arcadia Publishing published *Images of America: Pinole, which chronicles the city’s history from its pre-settlement days to the present. We had four book signings and, as of June 1, 2010, had sold 714 books. Including books sold at retail outlets and bookstores, more than 1,800 have been sold. • With the help of Pinole Community TV,* our cable-access station, we produced and aired interviews with several prominent present and former Pinole citizens—Charlotte Shea, daughter of Dr. Manuel Fernandez, and granddaughter of Bernardo Fernandez, two of our city’s most famous citizens; former Fire Chief Alex Clark; former Mayors Jack Meehan and Tom Cutino; and longtime citizen Ed LeFebvre. Additionally, PHS Historian George Vincent led a walking tour of historic downtown Pinole that was taped and aired by Pinole Community TV. We are planning more interviews. • Our first exhibit at the Pinole Library for National Preservation Month (May 1-31, 2009) was so successful and received so much public attention that the library asked the PHS if we were interested in an indefinite exhibit. We’re already had several exhibits that have rotated in and out of the librar every three to four months. All this in addition to membership meetings that focus on interesting people, events, architecture, and industry in Pinole. In 2009, the PHS worked with the city of Pinole and museum consultant Kathleen Brown on a feasibility study to determine if a city municipal museum is feasible and could be sustained—it is, and it can! This was very good news for the city and our membership. We are working on funding for our museum.

About the Pinole Historical Society

The Pinole Historical Society was incorporated in 1974, with current board member Dr. Joe Mariotti and Director Emeritus George Vincent as charter members. They provide a wonderful background and inspiration for us to achieve our mission.

Since revising and updating our bylaws in 2008, the Pinole Historical Society has strived to meet its mission of promoting awareness and appreciation of history through preservation and education, and chronicling the city’s heritage for current and future generations.

Our board of directors is working hard to deserve its viable charitable, private, non-profit organization classification, capable of negotiating meaningfully with the city of Pinole for a location for a municipal museum, and deserving of needed sustained financial support from foundations, grants, bequests, etc.

As a “museum without walls,” PHS volunteers are inventive in bringing history to the community outside the walls of a museum building. We accomplish this in several ways:

• We began a community outreach program where PHS volunteers introduced Pinole history to fourth graders in five elementary schools in 2009. George Vincent, Marcia Kalapus, and Jeff Rubin prepared a one-hour program about the history and experiences of children in early Pinole schools at the turn of the 20th century. The program is still being presented. Our outreach activities include talks illustrated with PowerPoint presentations from our now vast collection of photos to Pinole Rotary, AARP, the Pinole Library, St. Joseph Church Seniors, Sons in Retirement, and the Pinole City Council.

• We hold our annual Veterans Day Memorial and Flag Retirement Ceremony on November 11, commemorating those who served in the military, past and present. Participants include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Pinole Valley High School Marching Band, Pinole Police Explorers color guard, and hundreds of school children and folks from the community. In addition to speeches from veterans, city officials, and youth leaders, attendees share in the solemn ceremony of the retirement of worn flags by the Boy Scouts. The event draws some 500 people to Fernandez Park.

• The PHS has conducts a successful essay contestin Pinole schools every spring. In 2009 and 2010, students answered the question “What does the American flag mean to you?” in our Flag Day Essay Contest. In 2011, for our Pinole History Essay Contest, students were asked to write about Pinole’s history or their family’s history. With the sponsorship of Mechanics Bank, the contest winners receive $50 savings bonds and other prizes. The children have written some wonderful essays.

• PHS Newsbriefs, our newsletter, begun in 2008 as a two-page information sheet, has expanded to 16 pages. In addition to historical articles about Pinole, the newsletter includes ads from nearly 50 businesses. The newsletter reaches several thousand people via more than 2,500 printed copies placed in more than 60 locations in Pinole, Richmond, El Sobrante, Hercules, and Rodeo—and countless more via our website and e-mail database.

• PHS members/authors George Vincent, Jeff Rubin, and Dr. Joe Mariotti wrote—and Arcadia Publishing published Images of America: Pinole, which chronicles the city’s history from its pre-settlement days to the present. We had four book signings and, as of June 1, 2010, had sold 714 books. Including books sold at retail outlets and bookstores, more than 1,800 have been sold.

• With the help of Pinole Community TV, our cable-access station, we produced and aired interviews with several prominent present and former Pinole citizens—Charlotte Shea, daughter of Dr. Manuel Fernandez, and granddaughter of Bernardo Fernandez, two of our city’s most famous citizens; former Fire Chief Alex Clark; former Mayors Jack Meehan and Tom Cutino; and longtime citizen Ed LeFebvre. Additionally, PHS Historian George Vincent led a walking tour of historic downtown Pinole that was taped and aired by Pinole Community TV. We are planning more interviews.

• Our first exhibit at the Pinole Library for National Preservation Month (May 1-31, 2009) was so successful and received so much public attention that the library asked the PHS if we were interested in an indefinite exhibit. We’re already had several exhibits that have rotated in and out of the librar every three to four months.

All this in addition to membership meetings that focus on interesting people, events, architecture, and industry in Pinole.

In 2009, the PHS worked with the city of Pinole and museum consultant Kathleen Brown on a feasibility study to determine if a city municipal museum is feasible and could be sustained—it is, and it can! This was very good news for the city and our membership. We are working on funding for our museum.