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Remember When Week of April 8, 2011

Tidbits of yesteryear

67 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 7, 1944)
Exceeding its quota by $1,300 the Sonoma Valley committee in the recent Red Cross drive raised $7,600. Under the able direction of A. J. Rathbone every district was organized and the active and energetic captains and their teams did splendid work. … Elizabeth Reynolds and Catherine Coops were the chief speakers on the Americanaization program given at the high school last Friday under the auspices of the Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club. William McCarthy welcomed the members of the club who were the specials guests of the afternoon, and Mrs. Carson Mitchell, president of the club, responded with a short speech. … A taxpayer group has started a write-in campaign for Dr. Warren More as city trustee. In urging his election at the polls next Tuesday it is pointed out that other candidates whose names are on the ballot are not taxpayers. Dr. More has consented to serve on the city council if chosen. … The annual public speaking contest sponsored by the Native Sons of the Golden West will be held this year at Sebastani Hall on April 17, Marie Pagani will represent Sonoma Valley Union high school with the topic “Fort Gunnybags,” dealing with the colorful period of the Vigilance Committee in 1856. Maries’s opponent will be a pupil from Petaluma high school.

65 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 12, 1946)
H. G. Makelim, public spirited Kenwood resident, has presented Dr. Carroll Andrews with an “oscar.” The “academy award” is a wrought iron sign, likeness of an old country doctor of horse and buggy days. Mr. Makelim saw the clever handicraft while in the East and bought it for his friend, the Sonoma physician. … The public meeting held in Sonoma last Friday night to discuss the site of a proposed sewage disposal plant for the Valley of the Moon Recreation district’s new system was well attended. The meeting was called by residents of the Schellville area who protested a site which they believed would be detrimental to their property and offensive. … One of the most productive and beautiful ranch properties in Sonoma Valley, was sold this week. Picetti Bros. Confirmed the news that Bernard Davitto of the National Distilling Co., New York, had purchased their 240 acres on the Sonoma-Napa highway. The ranch is planted to fruit and is highly improved. The Picetti family purchased the T. S. Glaister property in 1906. … The Valley of the moon airport, the first in Sonoma Valley, is in operation and soon the 2,000 foot runway will be completed. Due to the rainy weather, progress has been slowed but the ex-servicemen operators are ready for landings from other airports. So far the Sonoma field is operating only daylight service but eventually hopes to offer 24 hour service. … Mr. and Mrs. I. Shainsky entertained the Community Hospital directors at a fine dinner in their home at Schellville lat Friday night. A meeting of the directors followed.

63 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 9, 1948)
Gaining entrance through a rear window after sawing through a three-fourths inch pipe and breaking the pane of glass, a thief entered the L. S. Simmons drug store on East Napa Street early Sunday morning and made off with a quantity of narcotics and some $14 in cash. … Feeling that they were “getting nowhere fast” with their plans for a complete sewage system for the Springs and upper valley areas, three representatives of the Boyes Springs Booster Club appeared before the Sonoma City Council meeting Wednesday night to seek means of “tying in” with Sonoma’s proposed new sewage extensions and treatment plant as advised by C. Youngberg, authority on proposed Sonoma County sewer districts. … A large crowd is expected to attend the grand opening of the Blue Room at the Fetters Springs Hotel tonight when the popular manager, Jimmy Marks will present his newly-remodeled cocktail lounge to the public. The widely-known Tune Masters orchestra will provide music for dancing and entertainment and delicious refreshments will be served. … The Jack London Post, American Legion will honor two Sonoma Valley men with awards for outstanding service to veterans of World War II at a meeting to be held Wednesday evening, April 14 at the Sonoma Valley Improvement Club, Fetters Springs. Selected for the awards were Dr. Fred Butler, superintendent of the Sonoma State Home and August Pinelli, prominent Sonoma businessman and civic leader.

90 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 9, 1921)
At 3 o’clock last Sunday morning, the Rotenburg family was awakened by the crackling of fire and looking out, saw the tank house, within a short distance of their home, ablaze. A high wind was prevailing at the time, and fearing the spread of the flames to the residence, help was summoned to fight the fire and confine it to the outbuildings. … Mrs. Altimira, who has been in San Francisco several weeks at the bedside of her daughter, who had undergone a capital operation, is expected home very shortly. The Altimira bought the Husson place and are the well-known Spanish caterers and makers of tamales and enchiladas. … T. H. Corcoran, prominent San Francisco businessman, has leased the Agua Caliente Springs hotel and mineral baths and will conduct it this season. Mr. Corcoran is preparing for many guests and plans many new and up-to-date features at the hotel and baths. He is a clever businessman and has a wide acquaintance. … The presence of a citizens delegation at the City Trustees meeting Wednesday night to urge action on our street work was not necessary, for the board, upon recommendation of Howe and Peters, consulting engineer, decided to advertise for bids at once, Mr. Howe declaring that he thought better bids would now be received than last year and that with the expected state aid he believed all our street program could be completed.

89 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 8, 1922)
The promotion organizations of Sonoma county have decided to have the old Mission San Francisco de Solano reproduced as an exhibit to the ’49 day celebration in Sacramento. A fiesta day and relics display will be featured and Sonoma county films will be shown in one wing of the building. … Thursday night, seven new directors were elected and will control the destinies of the Valley of the Moon Chamber of Commerce the coming year. Those who received the highest number of votes cast and were declared elected were as follows: T. H. Corcoran, Agua Caliente, Louis Lamotte, El Verano, R. C. Specht, Schellville, Leo Justi, Glen Ellen, A. Maffei, Sonoma, Mrs. Eliza Shepard, Glen Ellen, and Wm. Clewe, Sonoma. … The Valley of the Moon May Day celebration which opens Saturday, April 29, at Boyes Springs, will feature one of the best carnival companies playing on the coast. The big aggregation known as the Groff Carnival Company will arrive with their many concessions including a ferris wheel several days before the celebration. The attractions are clean and high class, personally vouched for by Chief Cause, chairman of the fiesta committee. … Tonight is the Confetti Ball at Fetters Springs Theatre. There will be jazz music by a five piece orchestra and refreshments served in the ice cream parlor throughout the evening. … In order to encourage cleanliness in the city and that all our streets public places and private premises may be cleaned up and present a neat and well kept appearance, before the great Easter festival, it has been decided to have a clean-up week for Sonoma.

87 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 5, 1924)
E. A. Wagner, former postmaster and merchants of Boyes Springs who is now in the real estate business in Sonoma Valley, is a candidate for supervisor of this district. Mr. Wagner announced Thursday that his hat was in the ring and he planned to make a whirlwind campaign for the important office. … When the new Board of City Trustees of Sonoma has been seated and organized, it is to be hoped that the onerous business license tax will be repealed. This was enacted as an emergency measure and should not remain a minute longer than necessity compels. … A spirited fight on the issue of a consolidated school in the upper Sonoma Valley was won by Leo Justi and Milton Johnson who were elected trustees over Thomas Johnson and Alice Behler. Judge Justi and Milton Johnson favor the building of the consolidated school and ran on that platform. … More than 25 Young Ladies’ Institute members and as many of the Sonoma Council, YMI, motored to San Rafael Monday night where they were entertained at an initiation and banquet by the Marin county councils. … A meeting called in the interest of the Kitchen Incubator Company was held Wednesday evening in Woodmen’s Hall, and was attended by representative businessmen of the town and Valley. Reports of program toward incorporation of the incubator company were made. … Mrs. Pauline Hays accompanied her son to San Francisco Sunday and has been visiting in that city with her sister, Mrs. Theo Nauman.