TEPCO Ordered to Clean Up Its Act – Today's News in '45

The front page of the weekly El Cerrito Journal for today, Aug. 2, in 1945 reflects a 28-year-old city contending with homefront concerns and impacts of war as the nation begins to hope that World War II might soon be over. Here are some of the actual headlines from the paper's front page, followed by our brief summaries of the articles:

City Fathers Agree They
Have Power to Enforce
Pottery Works Clean Up

Long-simmering city frustration with John Pagliero, owner of the Porcelain Technical company on Kearney Street just behind City Hall, came to a head Monday night when the City Council instructed Chief of Police Floyd Gilbert to draw up papers, in the interest of public health and safety, to serve on Pagliero to compel him to clean up the lots behind his plant and to provide proper disposal of the waste water from the business. Contaminated water now flows from the factory down the Sante Fe right of way into a natural water way. The president of Central El Cerrito Improvement Club, Rodney Glazier, filed new protests at the council meeting that the factory is creating unhealthy conditions, including a mess behind St. John's church, despite numerous clean-up orders.

Cerrito City Club to Be
49'er Camp on Thursday
Evening, August Ninth

The list of ten "Super Prizes" to given to the lucky winners at an old-fashioned 49'er camp at the Cerrito City Club will be topped by full case of whiskey, with a case of wine bringing up the rear and some hams and bacons sprinkled in. It's an adults only affair with games of chance run by some tough-looking "hombres" in cowboy attire. Ladies too are invited to join the evening's fun, which includes Gold Rush-era games at the club, located on Potero Avenue near San Pablo Avenue.

Bicycle Day
August 16 in
El Cerrito

The city's Recreation Department is sponsoring a "Bicycle Day" for children on Aug. 16. The event begins at 12:30 p.m. with a "Grand Parade" of decorated bicycles with awards to be given for best decorated, most comical, largest and smallest. Children will compete also in skill and precision-riding events. The program lasts until 3 p.m. and will take place on the Fairmount school playground, while other playgrounds in the city also will participate.

Lt. Miller Sends
Souvenirs Home

Newly promoted Lieutenant Lawrence Miller sent his mother, Mrs. Stanley Miller, a large box of Japanese souvenirs that he collected on Okinawa and other islands. The items included Japanese money, flags and clothes among a variety of other articles. Mrs. Miller said she hung the items on the line for an airing.

Click  for other vignettes we've published about El Cerrito history. Click the Keep the Keep me posted button below for alerts to future articles in this series. You can find some back issues of the El Cerrito Journal at the Shadi Historical Room at City Hall, open to the public on the third Thursday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.