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Remember When Week of April 15, 2011

Tidbits from yesteryear

61 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 14, 1950)
The people have spoken and by their vote Sonoma city has three new councilmen. “Nib” Maffei, August Pinelli and Dr. Warren More are top timber and the residents of our city will expect big things from them. All are property owners, have been civic leaders and are long-time city residents. … In spite of threatening, overcast skies and an occasional splattering of raindrops, an estimated 1,000 children, along with many parents, gathered in the Sonoma Plaza Saturday afternoon, April 8, to participate in the annual Easter Egg Hunt sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sonoma Valley. Within 10 minutes every egg had been gathered. … School trustee elections will be held May 19, 1950, in all elementary and high school districts in the county except in the cities of Petaluma and Santa Rosa. Persons who have filed declarations of candidacy for school trustee in Sonoma Valley are: Dunbar Union, Milton E. Fraser; El Verano Union, James R. Gordon and Emmett R. Danieli; Flowery, Arthur D. Pheland, Frank f. Bachbauer and Arnold E. Griewe; Huichica, Philipse Iselin; Tule Vista, Louis Couso. Sonoma Valley Union High, Darrell Huff and John Franklin. … Sonoma Valley’s bond selling campaign to raise $25,000 for the establishment of the “Hap” Arnold Memorial Athletic Field was still some $9,000 short of its goal as purchases for the week were totaled yesterday.

60 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 13, 1951)
Loudly protesting the request of the Sonoma Water and Irrigation Co. for a raise in water rates, members of the Sonoma Valley Improvement Club have called a mass meeting for tomorrow night at their Fetters Hot Springs clubhouse. Edgar Perkins, spokesman for the club, said that members feel the minimum rate increase (from $2.25 to $3) is uncalled for, since the company rates were increased only two years ago. … The Sonoma Water and Irrigation Co., owned by R. Kyle of San Francisco, last week asked permission of the state Public Utilities Commission to raise water rates in Sonoma Valley. The company supplies water for the majority of resident sin the Hot Springs, El Verano and Sonoma Vista areas. The company wants to increase minimum charges from $2.25 to $3. … Ruth Whitehead was on Wednesday night elected president of the Sonoma Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club. Succeeding Virginia Gilcrest, she will assume her new post on May 24. … Meeting in regular session Wednesday night the Sonoma Valley Union High School district trustees received the resignation of three of the school personnel – Lorraine Kellner, English teacher; Harold Jenkins, shop instructor and “Pop” Harrah, custodial employee. All are leaving the community. … A City Livestock Ordinance which will require residents to have a permit for the keeping of poultry or animals, aside from domestic types, was introduced Wednesday night at the meeting of the Sonoma City Council.

58 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 10, 1953)
The board of trustees of the Sonoma Valley Union High School District on Wednesday night gave tentative approval to repair and remodeling plans for the present high school administration building, estimated to cost $150,000. Structural strengthening, demanded by the state, replastering, painting and general refinishing of the two-story building is planned. … Tom Polidori, chairman of the Grand Parlor Native Sons of the Golden West convention dance committee, announced yesterday that Freddy Martin and his famous orchestra, one of the finest musical aggregations in the nation, has been obtained to play at the Grand Ball to be held at the Sonoma Valley Veterans Memorial Building. … A new garbage collecting service will be offered in Sonoma city and Valley, starting next week, by Holley W. Shelton, a local resident for the past 11 years. W. L. Williamson, Sonoma, heads the only scavenger service now serving the Valley. … Meta C. Stofen, for more than 15 years librarian at the Sonoma Public Library, has retired. A devoted servant to her position, she is known by hundreds of school children and other library users throughout the Valley. Prior to becoming city librarian, Mrs. Stofen served for a number of years as Postmaster in Sonoma. … More than 175 pieces of farm equipment, ranging from hand tools to tractors and large trucks, will be on display; one of the most exciting competitions ever witnessed here will be stage on Saturday, April 11, when the Farmers’ Day and Tractor Rodeo takes place at the Sonoma High School grounds, starting at 9 a.m.

57 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 15, 1954)
J. C. Sims, Edward Smith and Frank Indelicate were named Sonoma city councilmen Tuesday in an election in which eight men were candidates for the three posts. A proposal that the office of city clerk be made appointive instead of elective was defeated, 231 to 218. … Sonoma Valley may be the starting point for a county-wide house numbering project, if a proposed master plan for the program is adopted by the county. The plan uses highways emanating from Santa Rosa in four general directions as base lines for the systematic assignments of address numbers.

56 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of April 14, 1955)
A new gymnasium, approximately 90x110-square-feet in size, plus at least two additional classrooms, are hoped for at Sonoma Valley Union high school – if district voters approve the $189,000 bond issue which will be voted on Friday, May 13. Board chairman A. L. Ford pointed out that the present small gymnasium, built in 1922 to serve an enrollment of 250 students, is no longer adequate with approximately 560 pupils present attending high school. … A postal card poll of Sonoma business people, asking whether they approve or disapprove of the present city parking limit signs, will be taken by the Sonoma Merchants Association, it was decided at a directors meeting on Friday night. The merchant directors also went on record as favoring the Trinity Partnership Plan, under which the PG&E company would join with the Federal Business of Reclamation in developing power and water supply from the Trinity River. … First and second grade school children of Sonoma Valley will receive initial inoculation with the new Salk anti-polio vaccine on Thursday, April 21, it was announced yesterday. Approximately 500 local school children are scheduled to receive the vaccine, which was officially license for public use by the United States Department of Health on Tuesday. … Mayor Hilton Taylor recommended at a Sonoma council meeting Monday night that the office of mayor be rotated annually among members of the council. Taylor said that other cities, including Santa Rosa and Burlingame follow that procedure. … A new gymnasium, approximately 90x110 square feet in size, plus at lease two additional classrooms, are hoped for at Sonoma Valley Union high school – if district voters approve the $189,000 bond issue which will be voted on Friday, May 13. This basic desire was explained Thursday night at a meeting called by the board of trustees at the high school library. … A postal card poll of Sonoma business people asking whether they approve of the present city parking limits signs, will be taken by the Sonoma Merchants Association, it was decided at a directors meeting on Friday night.