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0DUFK 6HUYLQJ $ODPR DQG 'LDEOR The Alamo Post Office By Stanley M. Piller The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news spread all over the world, and by 1849 people started flocking to San Francisco and the Northern California Gold Fields. The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial. San Francisco grew from a small settlement of about 200 residents in 1846 to a boomtown of about 36,000 by 1852. On November 1, 1848, the Postmaster General of the United States appointed William Van Voorhees a Special Agent, with instructions to proceed to San Francisco and to appoint postmasters in San Diego, San Pedro, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey en route. On arriving in Panama,
The original three members are clockwise top left, Don Martin, Don Unini, Russell Honsowetz, Jr. (in pink with Katy) and one of the newcomers (only a member for about 16 years) Ernie Alamillo. The other church members were not present.
The Church of Monday Night Football By Fran Miller Most every small town can point to at least one location that can be considered the heart of the community. For Danville and Alamo, that location might be the 20-foot-wide Iron Horse Trail which meanders through residential and business areas, schools, parks and open spaces, offering recreational and social An example of the return to a hand stamp. Here is a 2¢ 1887 stamp cancelled with a purple 3 ring activities for bikers, rollerbladers, runners, and walkers alike. target and a matching Alamo February 25, 1888 CALA. Postmark on a cover to Oakland. The Trail is a meeting place, a destination, and a respite from fast-paced Voorhees boarded the S. S. California which was sailing to San Francisco. lives. It is also a hub for memories – as evidenced by the commemoraBecause of a shortage in coal onboard, only one stop was made. On February tive benches that line the trail corridor. Each bench, while duly providSee Bench continued on page 27 23, 1849, in Monterey, Voorhees delivered mail to Capt. William G. Marcy and appointed him as Postmaster at Monterey. His appointment had been Be Aware, Keep Your Valuables Hidden approved in Washington on November 21, 1848. Thus, the first Post Office was opened by the United States in California at Monterey. It should be noted By Sharon Burke An Alamo couple had an unpleasant surprise when they returned to at that time, California was not a possession, territory, or state of the US. It their car after dinner at an Alamo Plaza restaurant on a recent February was an independent entity with a military form of government from June 4, weekday evening. Broken glass surrounding their car was the first sign 1848 until December 20, 1849. It had a local civil government from then until that something was wrong, and they discovered that a rear passenger September 20, 1850 when it became a state. window had been smashed, and the husband's briefcase was missing See Post Office continued on page 14 with a valuable hard drive inside. The Westside residents asked me not to publish their names, but they Clean Water Ballots – What’s This All About? were willing to share their story as they feel it is valuable for Alamo By Sharon Burke residents to know that crime occurs everywhere. Ballots went out in late February to Alamo property owners asking for their The wife told me, “We feel it was vote on the Contra Costa Community Clean Water Initiative. The election is stupid of us to leave a briefcase in required by Prop. 218, the Right to Vote on Taxes Act, passed by California votfull view in the car, but we tend to ers in 1996. The countywide initiative was ordered for election by the County Volume XII - Number 3 feel safe in Alamo Plaza. We were 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Board of Supervisors on February 7 on a 3-1 vote. A majority vote of property parked in a well lit area immediately Alamo, CA 94507 owners in the County is necessary to pass the fee. Critics have questioned the adjacent to the restaurant with the Telephone (925) 405-NEWS, 405-6397 See Vote continued on page 28 Sheriff's substation nearby. I want Fax (925) 406-0547 Alamo folks to know that we all need Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher PRSRT STD to be more aware and watching out Editor@yourmonthlypaper.com U.S. Postage Sharon Burke ~ Writer for each other.” PAID Local sburke@yourmonthlypaper.com Permit 263 The husband noted that he got a Postal Customer The opinions expressed herein belong to the writers, and do Alamo CA call a few hours later from an alert not necessarily reflect that of Alamo Today. Alamo Today is not responsible for the content of any of the advertising ECRWSS herein, nor does publication imply endorsement.
See Aware continued on page 22