
Even though Hercules wasn't laid out as a traditional town, with a town square surrounded by a central business district, an area for social gatherings would eventually emerge -- Triangle Park.
The park was, oddly enough, a triangle-shaped piece of land bordered by what was Park Street and the current Santa Fe Avenue. It maintains its shape today, a nicely manicured open space next to the Hercules by the Bay community swimming pool.
The area was first used as a gathering place by the women of Hercules, who were not allowed in the town's only other social spot, the Clubhouse. A Community Center was built in the park in 1918. The center was used for dance classes, town meetings, a polling place, a library, and eventually a Kindergarten. The park became such an important space to the town that in 1923 the townspeople appropriated $1,000, not a small sum of money at the time, to add a playground for the children to use after school.
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As the automobile became more prevalent, and people could travel further distances for their activities, the center would eventually fall out of use. However, unlike most of the old company town buildings, it would be rescued and given new life. It was sold and moved to St. Joseph's Church in Pinole, where it stands today as a parish hall.