We tresspass into someone's historical home! (oops!)

A caboose donated to the Pinole Historic Society and Museum.

July 25, 2007 Wednesday
On the drive home from work, I decided to enjoy the sun and the outdoors with Kai, so I stopped in Pinole at the Bayfront Park. Near the entrance was this gated grounds with antiquities on display in the front yard. And behind them loomed, apparently, a very old mansion.


Ruins from a ship raised in 1976.

This was not easily seen in the overgrowth. Sorta creepy this plaque dedicated to the mayor of Pinole who had long passed away in 1999.

I was a bit confused if this mansion was open to visitors, due to the odd cars on the driveway, the unkempt grounds and the antique display. But then I saw a sign that indicated this was the Fernandez Mansion erected in 1894, Pinole city's birthplace. And this house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

So we made our way up the stairs through the yard. Kai didn't mind- he had a snack of goldfish crackers to keep him busy.

And I saw the front door was open and clarinet music was drifting through. We climbed another flight of stairs to the front door and walked into the foyer. I could see old decor and antiques were everywhere, interesting cluttered as it was. A watchful cat sat at the end of the hallway, and Kai excitedly called out "BALL", to which he pointed out a globe sitting in an adjacent room. I turned around and a young teenager stood there with eyes wide and looking at us while with clarinet in hand.

.

I asked if she was hired to play music as part of the show or if she lived here. She confirmed the latter- she had lived here for 5 years now. I apologized and she said it was OK- a lot of people had walked through the door thinking it was open for viewing and that they only show the house once a year.

.

Hmmm...then maybe she should keep her front door shut?

After leaving the premises, we took a stroll at Bayfront along the waters edge and enjoyed the acrobatic feats of the swifts that flew all around. I'm surprised we didn't get bird crap on us. And we stopped to watch the trains go by, as Kai appears to be mesmerized by it.