"Our beautiful San Francisco, our pride and joy; and now, what remains?" pined Alamedan Emilie Gibbons Cohen after the great 1906 earthquake. Steve Gorman examines the letters Emilie wrote in the aftermath of the quake, gaining a rare view into the daily life in Alameda following the disaster.

As the 118th anniversary of the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906 approaches, Steve Gorman examines a remarkable firsthand account from Alamedan Emilie Gibbons Cohen. She writes, "The constant boom boom of the dynamite sounded and echoed in our ears; a black pall hung over the city."

A number of early, individual visionaries had grand ideas for what Alameda and Bay Farm Island could become, but land changed hands many times, each dream fizzling out with it. Dennis Evanosky introduces the out-of-state giant, Utah Construction, that ultimately shaped Alameda.

In this sequel to last week's history article, Dennis Evanosky unravels the timeline of Alameda, from Old Town Alameda to the City of Alameda we know and love today. He also answers the question, "Why are there both a county and a city by the name of Alameda?"