Martinez Historical Society

Can you help the volunteers at the Martinez Historical Society renovate the Research and Storage area at the back of the Martinez Museum?   The volunteers will do as much of the work as possible themselves, but need nearly $10,000 to purchase materials.  Funds are also needed to hire craftsmen to perform that part of the work which is beyond the skill level of the volunteers themselves.

The Martinez Museum is located at the corner of Court and Escobar Streets in the 1890 Borland House.  Overall, the building is in good condition.  A new foundation was placed under it in 2015 with the help of the College District.  Structural repairs were made at the same time.  In 2016 the interior was renovated and was repainted by a team of volunteers from Shell (now the Martinez Refining Company).  And the hardwood floors were beautifully refinished that  same year.

However additional work to the building was put off so as not to interfere with museum operations.  But now is the time to undertake it – while the Museum is closed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.  This is what needs to be done:

1.       The linoleum in the Library area is cracking, is worn through to the floorboards in several places and is curling up at the edges.  Aside from its terrible appearance, it constitutes a tripping hazard.  So it needs to be replaced.

2.       The ancient galvanized plumbing is so corroded that rust flakes are clogging the pipes.  So the old galvanized pipes must be replaced with copper piping.  Not only will the new pipes allow water to once again flow through the pipes unimpeded, copper is virtually immune to corrosion.

3.       The flat roof section in the back of the building over the “kitchen” has been leaking.  Not only must the roof be repaired, floor sections in the room below must be replaced due to dry rot.  In the process, the kitchen is being converted into much-needed storage space for a portion of the Museum’s collection

4.       Winter dampness has caused the back door to warp.  It is also delaminating due to age and exposure to rainfall.  As a result, it must be replaced.

The Historical Society expects to use the $9,500 in funds raised as follows:

1.       $3,000 for replacement of damaged linoleum with hardwood flooring.

2.       $1,500 for replacement of damaged linoleum with new resilient flooring.

3.       $1,500 for replacement of the damaged back door and the porch overhang.

4.       $3,500 for replacement of the corroded galvanized pipe with copper.

All contributions to this campaign will be entirely tax deductible.  Since everyone who works at the Museum is a volunteer, none of the contributions will go to salaries or overhead.  100% of the funds raised will be used for the projects listed above.  

As one of the few remaining Victorian homes in downtown Martinez, the Borland House is one of the community’s treasures.   In addition, the building houses the museum, a local history library and an archival vault.  Taken together these facilities constitute a wonderful public resource, operated by volunteers at no expense to the taxpayer, and open free of charge to everyone in Martinez.

 Martinez Historical Society
P.O. Box 14
Martinez, CA 94553

Website:   www.MartinezHistory.org

Over $9,500 has been raised to-date to cover the costs of moving the Train Car to Martinez!  That includes donations made through GoFundMe plus checks mailed directly to the Martinez Historical Society or dropped off at the Martinez Museum.

We came very close to our goal of $10,000.  So once again, the Historical Society would like to THANK YOU for your generous donations which have made it possible to keep the historic Vic Stewart Train Car here in Contra Costa County -- and more specifically in Martinez.  Your help was greatly appreciated!

To see photos of the move, click on the update button above and to the right which says 18. 

The Arrival of the Train Car in Martinez

Enroute from Walnut Creek to Martinez

The Car is Loaded Up and Ready to Leave Walnut Creek for the First Time Since 1973.

The 75 Ton Crane Lifts One End of the 90 Ton Train Car

The Crane -- Poised over the Train Below.

Preparing to Lift the Train Car with the  Crane

The paneled interior of the train car's Observation Room.


The train car in its former Walnut Creek location behind the Vic Stewart Restaurant.
Since 1973, Contra Costa County has been home to this historic train car.  The beautiful, paneled car was attached to the well-known Vic Stewart Restaurant in Walnut Creek.  The restaurant has now been demolished -- except for the portion that was the 1891 Walnut Creek Train Station) -- to make way for a new building.     The Historical Society hopes the car can eventually be attached to the Old Train Station in downtown Martinez where the public can once again enjoy this historic train car, one of the finest of its type in the USA.  The Society is working with the City of Martinez on the project.

Here is the unrestored Old Train Station in downtown Martinez where the Society hopes the train car can one day be placed.


These are two contrasting views of the Old Train Station.  The first photo was taken before 1915.  The second was taken 100 years later -- in 2015.  The building lost its second story in a 1940 fire.


Your donation will be received by the Martinez Historical Society.  The Martinez Museum is the Society's home.