George Gunn, 1945-2024

The Alameda Museum lost its beloved Curator, George Gunn, in July. He had charge of the museum for more than 50 years until his recent retirement. COVID-19 had already closed the museum and the Meyers House and Gardens , places he loved as though they were his own.

His health had been declining so much that he moved from another place so dear to his heart, his Queen Anne-style home on the East end. He took up residence at Oakmont of Mariner Point where he could be among those who could better care for him. He fell while in residence and broke his hip.

This spelled a sad end to a man who, in the span of 50 years, saw the museum through the tasks of moving, first from the Carnegie Library, then from Alameda High School . He also ushered the museum through the “The Great Flood.”

I always thought his love for his job shone the brightest when he transformed the museum’s art gallery and his office into the showplaces they are today.

I will never stop using the two books he wrote enumerating every single house and building that arose from 1854 to 1910 and still stand in Alameda today, Buildings of the Edwardian Period, City of Alameda, 1905 to December 31, 1909 and Documentation of Victorian and Post Victorian Residential and Commercial Buildings, City of Alameda, 1854 to 1904 . They are the only books that I have three copies of: one at home, one at work, and one in my to car (in case I see something of interest along the way). He even included a fence in the book, the one at Lincoln Park along High Street.

Over the years, whenever I had a question about Alameda history, I knew where to turn. My question would start a conversation, and often a project. I already miss that. I also miss going by the Meyers House to see if George was there. He often was. He was proud of his relationship with the Myers family and especially with “the sisters.”

George had a special place in his heart for one of Alameda’s founders Gideon Aughinbaugh . He knew that Gideon’s grave at Oakland’s Mountain View Cemetery was unmarked. He took on the task of making certain the founder’s resting place received a polished stone made of red granite.

George also approached Doric Construction when they were building Harbor Bay Isle and convinced them to name one of the longest streets in the development “Aughinbaugh Way.”

Alamedans who walk along the north side of Taylor Avenue will notice a plaque in the sidewalk that commemorates the home where Gideon passed away . George made certain that was done as well.

The westernmost neighborhood on Bay Farm Island has streets whose names recall early Alameda architects. Denis Straub, David Brehaut, George Leonard and August Denke are among them. Not far away, Creedon Circle on Harbor Bay Isle recalls Alameda Hospital founder Kate Creedon. There are more. My favorite from George’s list: Parfait Lane, not for the French dessert, but for early Alameda settler Peter Parfait. All these street names remain as part of George’s legacy.

My favorite memory of George?

He would often visit me when I had the Alameda Sun . We had the place fixed up so people couldn’t just barge in on me. Most of them wanted to tell me what I was doing wrong.

After a couple of nasty incidents, the Alameda Police Department recommended that we put up a bookcase as a barrier with a sign at eye level in big capital letters: “EMPLOYEES ONLY.” A second sign confronted anyone who got passed the bookcase: “AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL BEYOND THIS POINT.”

George always waltzed past both signs as though they were not there. He was the only person the people at the front desk would let by. “He just ignores me,” one of them said.

That was George for you.

Farewell, my friend.

Dennis Evanosky is the award-winning Historian of the Alameda Post . Reach him at dennis@alamedapost.com . His writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Dennis-Evanosky .

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