Pinole History, One Patch at a Time!

When I grew up in Pinole there was one signal light in town and it was located at Tennent Avenue and San Pablo Avenue. San Pablo Avenue was stilled called U.S. Highway 40 and it was the first transcontinental Highway, running from San Francisco to Atlantic City. The locals knew to slow down driving through downtown because local law enforcement loved catching folks exceeding the speed limit on the downslopes at either end of town.

The Pinole Food Center was the only grocery store and Three Bros. Hardware was where my folks shopped for ranch tools and seeds for the garden. The Shell Gas station and Chevron Station were the two gas stations in town and sat across from each other at the southeast and southwest corners of San Pablo and Tennent Avenues. And of course, the Antlers Tavern is an institution at the northwest corner of that intersection.

When I started kindergarten Miss Collins was my first teacher, her sister Margaret Collins was the principal, brother Martin was the Postmaster and brother Francis was the City Attorney. Everyone in town knew the Collins family and vice versa.

Living on a ranch west of town, I rode the school bus every day. Mrs. Nunes was the bus driver and kids would sit quietly on the bus. Mrs. Nunes was a petite woman, very calm, and the children that rode her bus were well-behaved. (I think maybe out of deference to her and/or because of good manners.) 

More to come. Be sure and stay "Patched in."