Comments on: Share your story for Hayward museum exhibit

By: priscilla aka franklim

priscilla aka franklim — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:12:56 +0000

i was born in oakland ca. move to russell city with my family when i was very young, grew up there mostly poor family, moved to d st, across the st from which is now the public library, watch it being built. went to winton school, and just loved

By: Michael Archuletta

Michael Archuletta — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:43:58 +0000

wow! This is the coolest thing I have read in a very long time. I love Hayward. Honestly I got kind of emotional reading this. Hi there my name is Michael Archuletta or ( TATTOO MIKE ). I’m 33 yrs. old. Born and raised right here in Hayward. Kaiser hospital on Tennyson Rd. to be exact. I grew up on the other side of town in a sub division called Schafer Park. My neighborhood is still there but definately not the same, . I attended St. Bede’s school. Now i know 33 isnt the oldest age but boy do i have Hayward memories. As a little guy I remember going for walks with my mom to good ol’ Alphabeta. It was an old grocery store on Tennyson. I think it was where that DD’s clothing store is now. I remember how from, my house on Westwood St., right around dinner time the smell of REAL CHICKEN , from the Kentucky Fried Chicken, would fill the air. Mmm so good. . . . you dont smell anything now. Anyways I remember walking with my aunts or sometimes my grandfather to VENTURE MARKET. Venture’s, located on Gading Rd. and is now Yayo’s, was owned by Steve and Dennis. These guys also lived in the neighborhood so it was a very personable store. I remember when you were driving east on Harder Rd. you would drive over the train tracks not under. Sometimes if you were lucky, you would be able to look up at Cal State on the hill and see the letter “H” glowing from the building. They used to turn on certain lights in Cal State to make an “H”. I wish they still did that. I remember when Southland Mall was all dark brown tile under where the food coury is with an ice skating ring. I could go on an on hahaha. But now Im a Perfesional Tattoo Artist. Im currently in the process of opening my own shop here in Hayward. Maybe someone can get back to me on this, but I have drawn a Hayward California Mural and had it framed. It has things like Cal State with the “H” lit up, BART, Big Mike, Holiday Bowl, The Boulevard bridge, etc.. I would like to put it up in the museum if possibly. It’d be my picture donation.. . .Hayward was an awesome place to grow up. I miss old Hayward but definately excited about the new one

By: Judy Battles

Judy Battles — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:20:47 +0000

I was born in the Hayward Hospital in 1948. My dad was born in Russell City in 1928. I spent my entire childhood thru high school in Hayward. I have such fond memories growing up. Hillcrest Elem. Bret Harte Jr, Tennyson HS. Would get dressed up and walk to town and meet my friends where we would get a 10cent coke at Woolworths….take our pics in a booth..all the old stores, Capwells, Lerners, Hartfields, Anitas. My mom took us to put our school clothes on layaway every year at Penneys. You could buy a new pair of Keds in all these beautiful colors for $3.11. Casper’s Hot Dogs on C St, the Ritz Theatre. I grew up on a dead end street which was later pushed thru to go to the college. The drive-in on Tennyson Rd, the A&W on Harder Rd…driving down Mission Blvd, waving to my friends working at the Christmas tree lots. Having a sundae at Prings at one end of Hayward..cruising the strip to the other end. Going to the club mtgs at the Library with Miss Conklin who would teach you how to preserve “bugs.” I loved growing up in Hayward…I wish it was still “that” Hayward. So many great memories…and a great childhood!

By: Patricia Henrie

Patricia Henrie — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 17:04:44 +0000

It was called Hayward Hospital located on A Street this is where I was born in the 1950′s. I believe it is now called The Baker Building.
You could see the building from the Wiener Schnitzel which was across the street where the Lucky’s now stands.
As a child my fondest memories where the walks to town with my mother.
With my allowance in hand the first stop would be the toy store on Foothill to buy Barbie and Skipper clothes. Or maybe the 88 Cent store to buy a nick-knack for my room.
Grants was a favorite of mine to buy summer clothes. There you could buy shorts, tops and flip-flops for less than $5.00 and still have money left for barrettes or a head band.
I remember the lunch counter they had where they served the best hot dogs.
But none could compare with the Doggie Dinner on C and Mission. You could smell the hamburgers, hot dogs and the mustard from blocks away. They would hand you a burger nicely wrapped in white paper, I can still smell it.
As I got older,one of my favorite hang outs was Pro Lanes Bowling Alley on Mission. I would used my baby-sitting money on the pin ball machines or take in a movie at the Hayward or Ritz Theatres.
I still live in Hayward, this is where I grew up, this will always be my home.

By: marjorie engelage

marjorie engelage — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 18:29:01 +0000

Getting together fond memories of Hayward. Am 78 years young and still, live within 10 miles of my birth place. Wernt to old Markham, Bret Harte and the class of 1950 Hayward High. Will tell all my old friends about hayword. Thanks for what you are doing.

By: Sherry Blair

Sherry Blair — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 01:37:28 +0000

We need to bring back the elders to tell the stories that help guide the tribe into the future. At least the ones who aren’t already totally engaged in grandparenting and serving the community in other ways.

By: Kathi Booth

Kathi Booth — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 21:34:53 +0000

Diane,
Please don’t encourage me too much. I have many stories of “old” Hayward, before the freeway cut it in half. My husband was born and raised in Hayward, maybe I can convince him to relate some of his stories. In fact, I believe his parents donated an old portrait camera that they used in their studio..Les Booth Photography on B Street. This is really fun. Hayward “newbies” really don’t know what they missed before “modernization” moved is way into our little sleepy town.

By: Sherry Blair

Sherry Blair — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:25:14 +0000

Diane, This is so much fun. I think you could create a Historical Society blog like this one that people could come to and share their stories with other people. It is so much more rewarding in a group than sending letters up the hierarchy to an impersonal organization. (No insult intended.) Or maybe you already did. I haven’t checked.

By: Sherry Blair

Sherry Blair — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 19:19:08 +0000

I love that story Kathi and agree with everyone here today.

I was born in Oakland and came to live in what we knew as Hayward, actually Ashland, when my dad came home from WWII. Our house was in a new subdivision on Clinton Ave where the westbound onramp to the 238 freeway is now.We were forced to sell by eminent domain. My parents were helped with an FHA loan. My dad and uncle built the garage themselves. I remember my brother jumping off the garage roof with a parachute Dad had brought home. There were five apricot trees in the back yard. My brother and I went to Ashland school. My mother worked as a nurse.

By: Diane Curry

Diane Curry — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:26:49 +0000

Kathi,
That is exactly the kind of story we’re looking and, just the right length! It would be great if you would send it in for inclusion in the exhibition. I’ll find the perfect photo of the restaurant to go with it!