How Do You Know If You're From Benicia?

Rita Martinez August 9, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Solano Square used to be a Catholic convent

Robert Livesay August 9, 2011 at 02:53 pm

Try being able tell you where all the houses where located. iIdo not mean residential houses. Old High School Gym. ferry slip, Chet carr and many others.

Rita Martinez August 9, 2011 at 03:15 pm

ok Old High School Gym is next to the Police Department. The ferry slip was at the bottom of East 5th Street. Do you know where the first stop light was?? What used to be in the Botton of the Fifth? Old Safeway was at First and H Street.

Robert Livesay August 9, 2011 at 04:22 pm

I am from Martinez. Came over here for a different reason on the Ferry on Friday and Saturday night.

JB Davis (Editor) August 9, 2011 at 07:06 pm

OK Rita, what used to be in the Bottom of the Fifth?

JB Davis (Editor) August 9, 2011 at 07:07 pm

Bob,
This is a family newspaper.

Robert Livesay August 9, 2011 at 07:38 pm

JB it may be a family newspaper but facts are facts. You do know this city had wide open gambling and under age drinking. Would there be any another reason to come over for that I am missing? Remember she asked, I answered.

Rita Martinez August 9, 2011 at 08:43 pm

the Bottom of Fifth at one time was a church

Don DeCosta August 25, 2011 at 12:13 am

I didn't grow up in Benicia, I grew up in Riverside and have enjoyed Riverside's "You know you're from..." group a great deal.
Even though the best memory I could share was, "Remember when Char's was in the Tannery?" I enjoyed reading Benicia's group until it vanished! Does anybody know where it went?

JB Davis (Editor) August 25, 2011 at 01:26 am

Try this url: http://www.facebook.com/BeniciaPatch#!/groups/218144268232711/
It worked for me.

Don DeCosta August 28, 2011 at 02:09 pm

Thanks, JB. Interestingly the URL you sent is for a different group. This new group's description does hint at the drama that led to the original group's disappearance though.
In the short time I was reading the original group I noticed the "strong suggestion" by some to only share happy memories. The original group also had some sad and surprising, but interesting, posts on the history of racism in Benicia. Hopefully I'll get some time to catch-up on this new group and share my memories of Frankenburger.

Olivia Gomez January 15, 2012 at 03:29 am

The first stop light was at East Fifth and M St. It was to regulate the flow of traffic at starting and quitting time for the old Arsenal.

Olivia Gomez January 15, 2012 at 03:37 am

My family moved to Benicia in 1953. I went to school here, went to church, and did most all our business downtown on First Street. I never was aware of any brothels or a bad reputation during all those years. Benicia had working class families and life was pretty mellow back then. I never heard about those houses of ill repute and my parents never warned me about places to avoid. At Holloween we could go trick-or-treating from one end of town to the other without a worry. I only heard that Benicia had had brothels in the 1970's when talking to someone in S.F. about where I grew up. I am insulted that that subject comes up in every discussion of the town's past. Each time the stories get more and more exaggerated. I would like someone to provide substantial proof that my hometown was that bad back then.

RidinLow January 15, 2012 at 04:19 am

When you realize people around you have NO Sense OF Humor! EvER!!!!!