Historic Martinez Postcards

A Presentation to the City Council by

The Martinez Historical SocietyJune 27, 2012

Please use your PgDn key to click your way through this slide show.

Historic Martinez Postcards

• Locations depicted in postcards are still recognizable today.• Original postcards are from the Martinez Museum.• Thousands of historic photos are stored in the Museum vault.• The photos are available to researchers during Museum hours.• Museum photos can be reproduced upon request.

Fishing Nets Dry at Waterfront

Fishing nets are laid out to dry along the Martinez waterfront in this circa 1910 photo. A 3-masted bark is anchored in the harbor.

Veterans Memorial Hall

A 1936 Ford Cabriolet with rumble seat is parked in front of Veteran’s Memorial Hall. The Hall was completed in 1926 -- with a public pool in the basement.

The Old Train Depot

The Depot was built in 1877. The waiting room was added to the Ferry Street side around 1915. The 2nd story station master’s quarters was partly removed after a fire in 1940 -- and the building was clad in the shingles still visible today.

The Old Train Depot

Prior to World War II, freight arrived in and was shipped from Martinez via the Old Depot’s freight platform -- raised to facilitate transfers to local trucks.

The Martinez-Benicia Ferry

Before construction of the vehicle bridge over the Carquinez Strait in 1962, motorists made the trip to Benicia and points beyond via the Ferry boats.

Alhambra Union High School

This beautiful Mediterranean Revival building was constructed in 1921. It was demolished and a seismically safe replacement was completed in 1994.

Main Street in Martinez

In the 1930s, Martinez was the retail and service hub of Contra Costa County. This is a view looking west from the intersection of Court and Main Streets.

Muir Train Station

Martinez had two train stations. Muir Station burned down in 1941. It was on today’s Burlington Northern Santa Fe Line -- between the John Muir Inn and the trestle. It gave its name to the street which remains today: Muir Station Rd.

View of Martinez and its Harbor

Sailing ships abound in the town’s deep water port after the Gold Rush began. Later, silt from hydraulic mining in the Sierras converted the port into marsh land.

Allen’s Garage on Pacheco Blvd.

By 1925, garages such as this had replaced the earlier blacksmith shops. This building at Pacheco Boulevard and Shell Avenue looks almost identical today.

The Martinez-Benicia R.R. Bridge

The Railroad Bridge was completed in 1930. Trains must wait when the elevator section between the two towers rises to allow large ships to pass under the bridge.

The Martinez-Bay Point Highway

This is the Martinez – Bay Point Highway. Today this road is Marina Vista. Through the eucalyptus trees, we see the Railroad Bridge in the background.

Postcards of Historic Martinez

Postcards are now available at the Martinez Museum. Hours are as follows: • Tuesdays: 11:30 to 3:00 pm.• Thursdays: 11:30 to 3:00 pm.• Sundays: 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

We recommending calling first (228-8160) to verify that the Museum is open and that docents are on duty.