Benicia Historical Society

buildings on this historically rich property, the two most historic structures remain, the Pacific Mail Steamship office and the Foundry. Though in need of restoration, they are virtually unaltered since they were constructed in 1852 of local bricks. If any of you have information about the history of the Yuba we want to hear from you. You can call us at 925-360-9590. Thank you! It’s spring and that means we are gearing up for our 2007 Vintage Home Tour . Mark your calendar for Saturday, May 12th - that’s the day before Mother’s Day -for one of the best ways to spend a Saturday - touring the beautiful historic homes of Benicia! See all the details in the enclosed flyer. Please join us for the Benicia Historical Society’s annual Memorial Day Ceremony at the Historic Benicia Arsenal Cemetery. Mark your calendars for Monday, May 28th at 10 am for one of the most moving and memorable ways to honor our men and women of the military. The first anglo-american child was born in Benicia on August 28, 1848 - his name was John J. Bryant. The Bryant’s were among the first settlers in our town in 1847 and they lived on East B Street - John died in 1930. The first talking motion picture came to the Majestic Theatre in April of 1930. The title was “The Girl Said No!” A Mickey Mouse cartoon was also on the bill and thirty cents was the price of admission. The first train to cross the new Martinez- Benicia railroad bridge left the city of Martinez in October of 1930 enroute for Sacramento and all points east. Aboard that very first train was Mrs. Harold Estey and son Vernon. The Benicia Historical Society is looking for interested persons to serve on the Historical Society Board of Directors. If The Yuba History Worth Remembering Despite arson and neglect - what remains is the most historic structures of the old Yuba. The Yuba District’s impact on California history is immeasurable. The various industries that occupied this area and the products they produced profoundly effect- ed the industrial and cultural landscape of California. The legacy of the Yuba district will be presented to the public in a 30 minute presentation by the Benicia Historical Society on Sunday, April 29th at 3pm at the Benicia Library’s Dona Benicia Room. Don’t miss this chance to learn about the history and impact of such industries as The Pacific Mail Steamship Co., the Benicia Agricultural Works and The Yuba Construction Co. You’ll get to meet some of the Yuba employees that still live in Benicia today, view historic photos, artwork, ephemera - most from private collections - of the historic ships and items used during the Pacific Mail Steamship Company’s years in Benicia. You’ll learn about the Yuba collection at the Benicia Historical Museum, some of which are on continual exhibit. Despite the loss of the majority of the THE GAZETTE you are currently a member of the Society and would like to discuss your possible participation as a board member of our organization please contact Larry Miller at 707-290-4377. Thank you. Peggy Dunbar Martin, 69, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2007, after a brief ill- ness. A native of Asheville, N.C., she was raised in Pensacola, Fla. She lived for a time in Southern California, then moved to Benicia where she became deeply involved in the com- munity. She was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. At one time she served as the executive director of the Benicia Chamber of Commerce. She was a former president and long-time board member of the Benicia Historical Society. She served on the board of the Benicia Historical Museum and was a member of the Benicia Yacht Club. Peggy, a historian, could trace her roots on her mother's side to pre-Revolutionary times. She was dedicated to the preserva- tion of all aspects of Benicia's history. She purchased property on West E. Street and restored a portion of the 1880's stables, naming the building Peregrine Landing. There was an ark on the property, a relic of the Fish Patrol era, which she renovated and made into her home. Working under a state grant, Peggy spearheaded a survey of historic Benicia homes, directing the vol- unteers and coordinating their findings. This project became the catalyst for the Downtown Historic Conservation Plan. She served on the Benicia Historical Society's committee for the restoration of the City Cemetery. She helped locate and document the sunken hull of the whaling ship Stamboul at the Matthew Turner Shipyards on West 12th Street. She joined Charline Erwin, another Benicia historian, in researching Commodore Catesby Jones and worked with other community mem- bers to develop a plaza at Commodore Jones Point. The Benicia Historical Society deeply appreciates the contributions Peggy made toward the documentation and preserva- tion of Benicia’s history. Marnell Lloyd Spring 2007 We Need You 2007 Vintage Home Tour www.beniciahistoricalsociety.org Memorial Day Ceremony Welcome! Our New Members... Did you know?.... It was 1930 Pacific Mail Steamship Co. c 1865 Pacific Mail Steamship Co. Office Today Workers at The Foundry in Yuba’s “Heyday” - courtesy of the Benicia Historical Museum Remembering one of our own...