Streetlight and Pothole Complaints – Mayor Says City Strapped (in 1949)

If you go to the Shadi Historical Room at El Cerrito City Hall and turn to the now yellowed front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, March 17, in 1949, you can find a snapshot of our community in its post-war growth years. Here are some of the actual headlines from the paper's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles:

Council Hears
Protests From
Liberty Ave.

Residents of the 900 block of Liberty Avenue appeared at the City Council meeting to protest the night-time darkness and the many chuckholes on their street. The council was told that the darkness may have contributed to the recent tragedy. Mayor Millard E. Bostock responded that the city's financial resources are limited and that it strives to allocate its spending according to the greatest good. He reiterated the city agreement for dedicated streets, noting that the city pays for paving half the street – the central 50 percent – with property owners on either side responsible financially for the quarter strips in front of their homes.

New Dancing Class to
Commence at Harding

A beginning folk-dancing class begins Friday evening, from 8 to 10:30 p.m., in the Harding school auditorium. The class will offer basic instruction in traditional American and European folk dances, including the schottische, polka, American waltz, two-step and mazurka. Also offered will be American steps in the Paul Jones, Virginia reel and squares.

Best Sellers on
S. F. History
At Local Library

The list of 96 books received by the newly built El Cerrito Library includes two best-sellers about San Francisco: This is San Francisco by Robert O'Brien and San Francisco Book by Herb Caen. Historical fiction fans will enjoy Wine of Satan by Laverne Gay, while mystery fans will want to check out Manning Coles' Not Negotiable. Those daunted by Lecomte de Nouy's disquisition on evolution, Human Destiny, may enjoy the lighter Sake Well Before Using by Bennett Cerf.

Talented Students
Will Present Show
At El Cerrito High

The annual PTA student talent show offers a range of performances at the El Cerrito High School gym tonight at 8 p.m. Admission is 25 cents. The dramatic class will perform two skits, "Still Alarm" and "The Obstrictive Hat," and the girls gym class will demonstrate folk dances. Herbert Villa and Esther Fragora will perform "The Mexican Hat Dance," while the A Cappella choir will sing. The quartet, "The Uncalled For," also will perform. 

Click  for other vignettes of El Cerrito history. You can find some back issues of the El Cerrito Journal at the Shadi Historical Room at City Hall, open to the public on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.