2023 PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS

In fall 2023, the El Cerrito Historical Society held its first-ever historic photo contest, inviting the community to submit images at least 50 years old. In all, more than 80 photos were submitted, from pictures of a backyard birthday party to scenes of the days before El Cerrito was a city to professionally staged architectural photos. These are the photos judged best in various categories. Thanks to all who contributed their pictures and associated memories.

OVERALL WINNER:
Virginia Burns' circa 1917 photo of her great grandfather, Dr. Breneman and his family with the car all loaded up for a camping trip to Mt. Diablo.

Additional Winners

OVERALL RUNNER-UP
Wendy Adachi's circa 1938 photo of her grandparents, Isaburo and Wakako Adachi, and her uncle Tosh Adachi, looking at Easter lilies in their greenhouse at the Adachi Nursery located on San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito.

SCHOOL LIFE
Virginia Burns' circa 1913 photo of Miss Breneman's class at Stege School. The teacher is Virginia Burns' great grand-aunt (however,.she doesn’t think the woman on the left is Fay Breneman).

BUILDINGS
Nancy Woodruff's circa 1948 interior photo (interior) of the Atwell House at 1411 Atwell Road, which was designed by Richard Neutra. This is one of a series of photos by Julius Shulman; the original photographs are archived at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.

PEOPLE
Charlie Soldavini's circa 1920s photo, also taken on San Pablo Avenue where Safeway is now located. It features his grandfather sitting on a barrel among other gentlemen and may have been taken when Prohibition was in effect.

EVENTS
Taylor Melton's circa 1949 photo of the Gauchos in action during an El Cerrito High School basketball game. Gaucho player no..15 (third from left) is Robert Volpi, who graduated from ECHS in 1950.

VEHICLES
Gregory Han's circa 1962 photo of him and his sister, Lisa Marie in front of his family's 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 station wagon parked in the driveway of their home at 1409 Norvell St. Castro Elementary School is in the background.