Concord Historical Society

On September 21, 2010, members of the Concord Historical Society’s Board of Directors and representatives of the City of Concord held a ceremonial transfer of the keys to the Galindo House, an 1857 Nationally Registered Historic House located at 1700 Amador Street at Clayton Road.

This ceremony marked the culmination of a 10 year effort by the Society to obtain control of this historically significant building and begin efforts to refurbish it for public access and display of the Galindo family’s furniture and furnishings.  Those present were Board members, President Lloyd Crenna, Chuck Gabrysiak, Lind Higgins, David Galiardi, Jackie Fontaine, Carol Longshore, Paul Larson, Judy Trette,Kay Massone, and Gloria Mattson.  City of Concord Mayor Guy Bierke and Council Persons Bill Shinn and Laura Hoffmeister represented the City.

The Galindo House is currently being refurbished and projected by the Society’s project manager, Chuck Gabrysiak, to be open to the public as an historic house museum by Spring 2011.  It is located on 1.5 acres which is the last remaining land of the original 1,500 acre Spanish land grant made to Don Salvio Pacheco.  It was built for Don Francisco Galindo and his wife Maria Dolores Manuela (Pacheco). At that time it was one of the only Victorian ranch homes in Contra Costa County and was lived in by four successive generations of the Galindo family until 1999 when it was gifted to the City of Concord by the last of the family, Ruth Galindo.

The Society has a plan to develop the land into a Resource Center and Concord History Museum by moving another historically significant building, the 1928 Masonic Temple now located on Galindo Street.  Under an agreement made with the City, the Society has three years to complete the studies, plans and permits needed to move it across Clayton Road and onto the Galindo property.  The Masonic Temple will then be refurbished and used as a combined Concord History Museum and Resource Center.  It will house and display all the Society’s collection of artifacts, photos and documents.  In addition, it will be  used by the public, scholars, school children and the media as a local history resource.

The Masonic Temple was Concord’s dance hall in the 1930,40′s and 50′s, having a full dance floor and bandstand.  It was also the site of  native son musician Dave Brubeck’s first public appearances.  The Society plans to resume the use of the dance floor and bandstand for public music events.

The cost of this 10 year project is projected to be 2.8 million dollars, of which the Society has received $300,000. in gifts and bequests, $250,000. in grants and has a loan commitment of another $250,000.  Any one interested in making a gift or bequest in a Will or Trust can contact President Lloyd Crenna at 415-453-4999 /

On September 19, 2010, members of Concord Historical Society’s Board of Directors attended a ceremonial transferring of the ownership keys to the Mt. Diablo Women’s Club building located at 1700 Farm Bureau Road, Concord.  It was also attended by the membership and officers of the Women’s Club.

The Club had been in existence since 1915 and was originally formed to lobby the City of Concord to build sidewalks. It was instrumental in the decision to plant wisteria on the Todos Santos Plaza pergola. Wisteria later became the City flower.

In 1922 the Club became a member of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs and the International Federation. Over the years, the Club raised funds for many civic projects, primarily benefiting the women and children of Concord.  This year the Club determined to cease its operation and decided that the Concord Historical Society was a deserving organization to receive their property.

The building was originally built in 1919 by the Concord Farm Community Clubhouse, an organization formed by the local farm families as a place to discuss farm issues and to socialize.  It was sold to the Club  in 1975.  Over the years it has become known as the “Farm Bureau Hall”.  The Society plans to move some of its operations into the building after some minor renovation.