HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESOLUTIONS - 01012003 - 2003-419 godta ~;ql
IN THE MATTER CELEBRATING RES®LI.ITION NO. 20031419
CITY OF PINOIFS CENTENNIAL
1903-2003 HONORING THE PAST,
EMBRACING THE FUTURE
WHEREAS, Contra Costa County original and sole inhabitants were Santa Clara and possibly Saklan Indians
belonging to the Costanoan group of the Penutlan Family. The Costanoan group, the "Costanos""
known as the "coast people" In Spanish, Inhabited an area roughly from Monterey north to San
Francisco. Of this division, four tribes lived In the land of "Contra Costa" and were called
Jucheyiones, Alcalanes, Bolognes and Carquinez; and
WHEREAS, the Costanoans were a fishing people, and subsisted on mussels, clams, oysters, sea lions,
whale and salmon; and
WHEREAS, the Costanoans lived on one of the most beautiful bays in the world, and
Whereas, a description by Don Jose de Canizares In 1775, pilot of the ship "San Carlos", were
recorded man's first Impressions of the Pinole Valley; and
WHEREAS, In Don Jose de Canizares first encounter with the Indians of the Pinole area were described In
the following terms: "A rancherla of about 400 souls, they presented us with exquisite fishes
among them salmon, seeds and "pinole;"and
WHEREAS, Rancho El Pinole derived Its name from the parched corn, ground up, known as "Pinole" and the
Aztec name of"pinolll;" and
WHEREAS, In the early days, Pinole was considered a delicacy In the food line. It was also a form of
substance for Spanish soldiers In the area that was obtained on the shore of the San Pablo
strait; and
WHEREAS, In 1824, Don Ignacio Martinez, Commandante'at the Presidio of San Francisco, applied for and
received from the Mexican Government a grant of land comprising four square leagues, over
17,776 acres and know as Rancho El Pinole and Included other lands, Hercules, Rodeo and a
portion of Martinez; and
WHEREAS, Don Martinez built his first adobe hacienda In Pinole Valley about three miles from the San
Pablo Say and planted a vineyard, a pear orchard and built corrals for his horses and cattle; and
WHEREAS, after his death In 1848, the huge rancho was divided among his widow and their eleven
children. The portion which Is now the City of Pinole became the property of a daughter, Maria
Rafaela Martinez; and
WHEREAS, Maria Rafaela Martinez married Dr. Samuel Tennent, an English physician from the Sandwich
Islands (Hawaii); and
WHEREAS, around 1850, Pinole was recognized as a landing place on the inner waters of the bay; and
WHEREAS, Bernardo Fernandez, a Portuguese sailor from Oporto, Portugal, came to California In 1853 and
settled In Pinole the following year; and
WHEREAS, In 1854, he owned a schooner and started a freighting venture on the bay, carrying provisions
and freight from Plnole to San Francisco; and
WHEREAS, In 1856, he purchased a small tract of land on the waterfront and In 1894, with his wife, Carlota
Cuadra from Valparaiso, Chile, built a fine residence for this family overlooking the bay; and
WHEREAS, modem development of Pinole and the coastal region started when the railroad laid Its lines and
opened a station about 1878; and
WHEREAS, In 1.879, the California Powder Works located near the railroad, adjacent to the town (known as
the Hercules Powder Company), began to grow and prosper; and
WHEREAS, at the turn of the century, the population in Plnole was 1,000; and
WHEREAS, on June 25, 1903,elected members of the Board of Trustees, Clerk, Marshall and Treasurer, met
in the Pinole School House, town of Pinole, and duly qualified before Notary Public Jasper
Garrity; and
WHEREAS, on a motion made and duly seconded, Mr, Thomas Shimmin was unanimously elected President
of the Board of Trustees and the meeting was called to order at 7:45 p.m. with all members
present, Mr. John Barrett, Mr. Thomas Stats, Mr. Joseph Walton, Mr. George Fraser, and Mr.
Thomas Shimmin; and
WHEREAS, Town Clerk, Edward M. Downer, was empowered to purchase a seal and such books and
stationary as rewired for keeping of records and transactions of business of the town, not to
exceed $20, and Instructions given clerk to procure same carried by unanimous vote of Board.
No further business before the Board, motion to adjourn carried; and
WHEREAS, June 25, 2003 marks the City of Pinole's 100th year of Incorporation as a city; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pinole has over 19,000 residents, who represent the diversity of Contra Costa
County, and the StAte of C.allfomla, whose contributions to the community are vital to its
character.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County hereby
recognizes and honors Pinole's proud history and invites the residents of Pinole and Contra Costa County to
join the City of Pinole's Centennial Celebration throughout the year honoring its past and embracing its future.
PASSED by vote of the Board of Supervisors members present this 24th day of June, 2003
INTRODUCED BY:
MARK DeSAULNILR
Chairman,Supervisor,District IV
j0 GIO +GA KEMA
Supervisor,Districtupervisor,District II
FERAL D.GLOVER
Supervisor,District V
T hereby.ccrtiPy that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of an Order
entered into the minutes of the Hoard of Supervisors on the date aforesaid.
John Sweeten,County Administrator and Clerk of the Hoard of
Superviso
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