Around East County: Come to Brentwood’s 75th birthday party Jan. 21

The city of Brentwood has long celebrated its roots in many ways. From Native Americans to farming to historic properties like the Marsh House, the city has celebrated its proud heritage.

This coming year will be no different as the city officially celebrates its 75th birthday. The yearlong event starts with a community birthday party from 2 to 5 p.m Jan. 21 at the Brentwood Community Center.

“While Brentwood’s Post Office officially opened the town of Brentwood in 1874,” said Darin Gale, Brentwood’s assistant city manager, “we’re celebrating Brentwood becoming a city, which took place in 1948 (when it was incorporated).”

While a lot of press is given to Dr. John Marsh and the restoration of his 1870s home on the outskirts of the city, Brentwood’s history can be traced back even further. Archeologists at the UC Davis Anthropology Department found remnants of cooking fires, sites for making food and tools and nearly 500 human burials along Marsh Creek several years ago. Some artifacts were estimated to date back more than 7,000 years, but radiocarbon dates from more than 130 of the burials returned dates ranging from 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

While that might go back a little too far, the East County Historical Society offers insight into the Miwok and Yokut Native American tribes that once inhabited what is known today as the city of Brentwood. The organization also mentions Spanish explorer Captain Pedro Fages and his climb up the western slopes of Mount Diablo to become the first European to see the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta in 1772.

No matter how far one can go back to lay claim on when Brentwood first became Brentwood, there can be no doubt that the city’s founders laid claim to the area and legally made it their own in 1948. Then, a group of business owners and farmers formed the Brentwood Improvement Association and worked to collect the necessary signatures to sign a petition to incorporate into a city.

Within just two weeks, the group was able to get 170 property owners to sign the petition and present it to the county supervisors for approval. The election for cityhood was held and won on Jan. 15, 1948.

According to the Historical Society, the first mayor of the newly formed city was John Lane. He and a five-member City Council quickly hired a city clerk and set up a Police Department, Planning Department and city court. The rest, as they say, is history.

Gale said that after Jan. 21’s birthday party kick-off, city officials plan to incorporate the 75th anniversary into events and activities throughout the year. One special event will be an anniversary gala scheduled for Oct. 11.

“We’re also hoping to partner with other organizations that are hosting events as well,” he said. “For example, if a group is hosting a 5K run, we’re hoping they’ll change it to a 7.5K run and other ideas like that.”

The city is also looking for local families who might have old photos that tell the stories and history of Brentwood. Gale said they also hope to work with local residents interested in shooting a quick video about their family history in the community.

“We’re calling this our anniversary photo mosaics,” Gale said. “People can go online and add their photos. The photos will be displayed at events and added to the city’s social media sites.”

The website address to send the photos to is https://www.brentwoodca.gov/government/city-manager/brentwood-75th-anniversary-celebration/brentwood-75th-anniversary-photo-mosaic.

All are welcome to the free 75th birthday party, which will feature games, cupcakes the opening of a Brentwood time capsule and an opportunity to learn about the city’s history. The indoor party at the Brentwood Community Center (35 Oak St.) will take place rain or shine.

Roni Gehlke can be reached at oakleynow@comcast.net.