EL SOBRANTE HISTORY CENTER
COMING EVENTS
Tuesday, September 10, 6:30 pm, Library
"Rebels at the Gate: Civil War San Francisco and the Confederate Sea-Borne Threat"
Think that nothing happened in California during the Civil War? Think again. ESHS president and historian Donald Bastin will present a slide-show highlighting the history of our local Bay Area during the Civil War, with emphasis on the military preparations against possible attack from the sea. Find out what happened and what historical sites from this period can still be seen.
Stroll! Sunday, September 15, 2024. We will be there. Come by our booth and share some history.
PAST EVENTS
Update!
If you missed it or were unable to attend Saturday's event at the El Sobrante Library, I have uploaded and shared the Rancho History Presentation. It's in pdf format (26 pages) and you can view it at the following link:
https://1drv.ms/b/s!AuMdUBHx1AlmhuUhoyCRppDCV7UxHg?e=IznY5y
Saturday, July 13, 1-2 pm, El Sobrante Library
"Our Rancho History"
Roxy Miraválle, historian and ESHS board member, will discuss the history of Ranchos San Pablo and Pinole and its relation to Rancho El Sobrante. Roxy will cover little-known and fascinating stories of people and events in our area.
💥GRAND OPENING Update💥
The El Sobrante Library opened to the public (25% capacity) on April 26, 2021.
We opened to the public a few weeks later on May 8.
We have been open ever since, every Saturday, from 11 am to 3 pm.
The Nancy Fahden House is now completely renovated and occupied by the Friends of the Library, and the El Sobrante Historical Society.
Opening Ceremony, Rancho Line Markers
We met at 11 am on Saturday, January 26 to unveil and celebrate the installation of two interpretive exhibits showcasing the exact boundaries of the San Pablo and El Sobrante Ranchos, based on research carried on by our late President, Maurice Abraham. We gathered on the south side of San Pablo Dam Road, a block or so west of the intersection with Clark Road. After the ceremony, our new History Center was opened for those attending interested in viewing the progress we have made.
L-R: Marci Abraham, Maury's daughter; Glenna Nash, Maury's sister; and Jean Grant, Maury's wife.
L-R: Steven James; Donald Bastin; Lyle Miller; Emil Munkres.
El Sobrante Library Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
We are excited about the return of the El Sobrante Library which opened before a huge crowd with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on November 23, 2019. A devastating fire in February 2018 had prompted officials to shutter it. The damage from the fire, smoke, water and mold made it difficult and expensive to salvage any of the old library, so the building has been completely remodeled, modernized and improved. The full story can be found in our Winter 2020 Newsletter.
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. From left: Donald Bastin, Acting President, ESHS; District 1 Supervisor, John Gioia; Deputy County Librarian, Gail McPartland; County Librarian Melinda Cervantes; President, Friends of El Sobrante Library, Martha Booz. [Photo courtesy of Contra Costa Library Facebook Page]
The new and improved El Sobrante Library
Also, the El Sobrante History Center-Museum was opened to allow visitors a quick tour and catch a glimpse of the interior. At the entrance was a display table with a fraction of the artifacts that will be at the center once it is officially opened. The official name of the building is the Nancy Fahden House.
