El Cerrito Historical Society: 1975-2025
50 Years of Getting Things Done

Compiled by Dave Weinstein

During its 50 years the society has published books and pamphlets, produced films and oral histories, staged temporary exhibits and helped establish several permanent historical displays and markers. We have also put on hundreds of historical programs, luncheons and potlucks and swing dances, tours on foot, on bicycles and by boat.

The society has also successfully worked to preserve several historic places.

The society has assembled an extensive archive of photos and documents relating to our city’s history, including rare and unique items. Much of our material is available for perusal on our ever-growing website.

Notable events include:

1975: The El Cerrito Historical Society held its first regular meeting on Sept. 11, 1975 after informal meetings the previous year. Its goal was “identifying and preserving structures of historical (importance).” Other goals included compiling a history of the city. Among buildings identified as historic was the Mabuchi family’s Contra Costa Florist shop. Founders included Rich Bartke, who would serve as mayor and city councilmember, and City Clerk Lucille Irish.

1975: The society began collecting and preserving photos, documents and the occasional artifact relating to El Cerrito history. An early artifact was a clock from the original El Cerrito Library.

1977: The first-ever history of El Cerrito, “El Cerrito, Historical Evolution,” by Edward Staniford, was published by the society in an edition of 2,000 copies.

1978: The society published its first Forge newsletter, its title derived from the forge of city pioneer Wilhem Rust, a blacksmith from Hannover, Germany. Historian George Collier would edit and write much of the Forge for almost a decade.

1980: A related publication, Sparks, was published for the first time, its name derived from the sparks that flew from Rust’s anvil. Sparks included minutes of board meetings and such features as “Historic spots in El Cerrito.” Both publications have evolved and continue to be published today.

1980: Lucille Irish organized a historic fashion show at the city’s Open House Senior Center, the first of many senior-focused events over the years.