Point Pinole Regional Park - Dotson Family Marsh — Attraction in Richmond

In 1991, John Nichols alerted me to the existence of the last know CAM SIDED BLACK POWER PRESS located in Hercules, CA. Hercules City Donated the Black Powder Press to Point Pinole Regional Parks District in Spring of 1991. All existing Cam Sided Black Powder Presses had blown up or were cut up as scrap metal. This one that I acquired with the help of the San Pablo and Hercules Rotary Club's members is the last one known to exist!

Thanks to John Nichols and the Rotary Club's efforts, the East Bay Regional Parks District was able to secure this Donation. Biggi Crane Service donated one of it's huge cranes to pick up the Black Powder Press in Hercules, CA and put it on an East Bay Regional Park District heavy transport trailor. That same day the crane came to Point Pinole Park and then was lifted it off trailor. I personally made quick modifications with a chainsaw to the wooden support structure so the Black Powder Press could be successfully lowered into place and positioned on it's newly constructed wooden support frame at present location!

The concrete foundation for the original, Point Pinole Cam Sided Black Powder Press was lost, covered over with three to four feet of dirt! The Point Pinole Park Partners Group and I researched location of the original foundation on maps and found it's approximate location and unearth it's remains. This original concrete foundation now supports the wooden support structure and the Black Powder Press today!

Norman Monk donated $ 2,000.00 to the East Bay Regional Park District Parks Foundation for the construction of the protective open air wooden structure seen covering the Black Powder Press. Norman Monk was a retired employee of the Point Pinole Atlas Powder Company.

I was the first permanent Park Supervisor to serve exclusively at Point Pinole Regional Park, 1986-1994. During these 8 years, the Park Staff, Oral Historic Contractor and I collected Oral Histories from 95 former Giant and Atlas Powder Companies employees to form what later became the application for State Historic Status, for Point Pinole Regional Park. The Brass State Historic Plaque can be viewed on the landscape mound at the center of the Point Pinole Park Shuttle starting location overlooking San Pablo Bay.

Special Thanks to Jim Cook, former Atlas Powder Company employee and later East Bay Regional Parks employee. Jim Cook supplied me with endless stories of working at Point Pinole during the Manufacturing of Nitro Glycerin, Dynamite and Black Powder! Mr. Cook instilled in me the importance of history under our feet as we worked together in the early years of 1976-77. On weekends, Jim and I worked as Park Rangers with the juvenile work crews at Point Pinole Park. During this period Jim would relate to me the rich history of The "Old Powder Works" operations and maintenance at Point Pinole. As a tribute, we later named a trail in honor of Jim Cook, COOKS POINT TRAIL.

In my 30 plus years working for the East Bay Regional Parks District, I would of never guessed at my privilege to work with and meet with such extraordinary people!

As I have retired in 2006, the stories, the memories of these extraordinary people continue to accompany me! I only provide here a small part that I can put to words for your education. Thank you!

Bryan Mortenson Retired Parks Ranger Retired...

Great little shoreline park. No shade, but morning or evening walks are great here. Dogs on a leash only and pet owners we saw were quick to obey this rule.

The front gate closes really early compared to most parks. However, we parked in the roundabout directly outside of the gate and used the park anyway .. along with others.

I have no idea why this park closes 3 hours before sunset, but it's the only downside.

Sunsets here are probably epic. We did not stay long enough to find out, but the view is...

Beautiful, peaceful and quiet. You can enjoy yourself or a group sitting next to the water, go bird watching near the marsh lands, go biking through the trails, walk your dog or walk alone and take in the views, there is also an area for picnics and BBQs near the entrance and a climbing structure that looks fun for kids. Currently, there are lots of ducks in the water and goats grazing for fire prevention. Just a heads up there is a parking and dog fee on weekends and holidays,...