Benicia Historical Society

B OUR CEMETERY COMMITTEE - Every year our own Cemetery Committee conducts a free guided tour of our historic Benicia City Cemetery. Always well rec- eived, the 2003 tour was no exception! Guests from all over the bay area learned of the notable city and state pioneers who were laid to rest in our very midst such as Paul Hubbs, Senator in the very first California State Legislature and elected the second Superintendent of Public Instruction, Captain Edward Von Pister, Captain Walsh, Captain Blyther, Addison Mizner who became famous for his Spanish Colonial inspired buildings and his resort architecture in Florida! This year the committee, along with the City of Benicia, identified and marked the lost grave of a former slave, Mary Lane. Dedication date to be announced! THE GAZETTE Fall 2003 Our city cemetery has famous inhabitants! In this issue... Who's buried here? Did you know... Our Fall Meeting! 2003 Historic Home Tour THE CHINA PALACE - The China Palace Restaurant, formerly the Royal Bakery, located at 718 First Street, is a "kit" building ordered from the Sears & Roebuck catalog! POW'S AT THE ARSENAL? - Many people don't realize the length and depth of the history of our own Benicia Arsenal. Active since before the Civil War, its cemetery is the final resting place for prisoners of war from Italy, Germany, and Mexico! THE COMMANDANT'S RESTORATION IS ONLYA STABILIZATION - Many of us, who were thrilled that grant monies had been given to restore the Commandant's residence in the historic Benicia Arsenal, were saddened to discover that the funds are only sufficient to stabilize the building. This historic treasure will require funds in excess of 2 million dollars to fully restore her to her pre-civil war era glory. WHAT IS A "SALT BOX" HOUSE? - Did you know.. . Historic Home Tour 2003... Whose Buried Here? BEST TURNOUT EVER! - Our 2003 Historic Home Tour was one of our most successful in recent years. This annual fund raiser will go along way to promote and continue the work of the Benicia Historical Society, including the development of a downtown walking tour, (co-sponsored with Benicia Main Street) complete with a new brochure to promote heritage tourism on First Street (look for more details in our next newsletter)! Our Fall Meeting! Thursday, November 13th - 7 pm Senior Center - 1205 East 2nd Street Benicia, CA (next to our Public Library) Special guest speaker will be Stephen Mikesell, Deputy Director of the California State Office of Historic Preservation. Mr. Mikesell will discuss the role of the State Office of Historic Preservation in assisting local groups in preserving local history. He will also share tips on how other preservation groups through out California have been successful working with the State Office and local governments as well as property owners to successfully preserve and promote local history. This meeting is a "must attend" for serious preservationists! Don't miss it! It's been a bit of a controversy around Benicia for some time as to whether or not the house at 145 West "D" St. is truly a "Salt Box" House. The American Heritage diction- ary defines a "Salt Box House" as: "A frame house with two stories in front and one in back, having a pitched roof with unequal sides, being short and high in front and long and low in back giving it the shape of a medieval salt box - hence the name." The house at 145 West "D" Street is only a single story home and features a porch - these are non-traditional elements for a Salt Box House. However, the basic shape of this structure is of a medieval salt box which no doubt influenced experts, such as the Historic American Building Survey in 1979, to deem it a Salt Box House!