I’m Angelene Smith. Fifteen years ago, I moved to Alameda and was immediately charmed. Since then, I’ve walked, ran, and biked most of its streets, and often I found myself wondering about the histories behind the buildings and neighborhoods I would pass. And so I’d look them up.

Eventually, with this passion for local history, and a background in writing and research, I decided to turn my nerdy obsession with old newspapers, city directories, and census records into something that maybe other people could enjoy as well. And so, the Town podcast was born.

Other pertinent info? I’ve lived in the Bay Area (San Francisco, Oakland, and Alameda) since 1994, I double majored at UC Berkeley in English and American Studies (where the seeds of this were planted, with a monster of a thesis on the history of one SF neighborhood) and I currently have a day job as a marketing manager. I love Alameda. And if there’s a building you have always wondered about here in town, let me know, and I’ll get the story on it. Keep well.