In 1952, Alvarado still had the feel of a small town. Highway 17, the route from Oakland to San Jose, ran through Alvarado and sometimes backed up at the light where it turned from Union City Boulevard to Horner Street. Suburbia was just starting to develop in the Bay Area, but it was many years away from coming to Alvarado. The days of the horse and buggy were long gone, but farming still remained an important industry.
Alvarado was surrounded by farmland. As Alvarado was coming into the modern times, there was still a reminder of the old days.
An article from the June 24, 1952 issue of The Daily Review provides details:
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An impromptu cattle round up was staged here yesterday morning when a herd of some 25 cows wandered from their pasture on Marsh Road, a mile south, and strolled in for a Monday morning look at town. Residents were awakened as the sometimes-galloping herd turned right and left on V Street, wandering wherever they desired. They were rounded up and herded back into their pastures.
Marsh Road is now Union City Boulevard south of Horner Street and V Street is Horner Street.