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Remember When Week of June 17

71 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 14, 1940)
Lee L. Staffle, Noble Grand Humbug of E. Clampus Vitus Society of San Francisco, that organization which was founded in the mining camp days and still flourishes in good fellowship mellowed with age and steeped in tradition came to Sonoma Valley Sunday on a survey of importance. He announces that E. Clampus Vitus will make its annual pilgramage in September and this historic region will be the mecca for 100 of the members of the organization. … Commencement exercises will begin this evening, Friday, at eight o’clock in the high school auditorium. Fifty seniors will receive their diplomas. … Mrs. Vivian Bean Driver came up from Glendale by plane this week for a brief visit with her folks, Mayor and Mrs. C. C. Bean. … Dedicating the 1940 high school annual to Miss Dorothy Godward “fine teacher and good friend,” the fifth number of “El Padre” came out Wednesday. The book with “in memorium” to Louis H. Golton, was a sincere tribute to the late principal. … Chief of Police Ries has been instructed to see that all auto drivers get a new drivers license by July 1 or else. … On the peaceful hillside above Glen Ellen at the entrance of the ranch were Jack London so often drove his teams homeward, a sturdy rock marked with a bronze tablet commemorates the author and his famed “Valley of the Moon.” The Native Sons of the Golden West gave and dedicated the plaque, gathering at the spot last Sunday morning for the ceremonies and unveiling.

67 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 16, 1944)
The Sonoma Assembly of Rainbow girls, No. 60, held their installation on Friday, June 8. Miss Marylin McGimsey, past worthy advisor of Sonoma Assembly, was hostess. … Clarence Oswald is returning to Sonoma and will be full-time pastor at the Methodist Church. He has been attending the Methodist Conference in Sacramento. … The Fifth War Loan drive got under way Monday, June 12, with a bang at a general pre-drive meeting held in Sebastiani Hall on the eve of the drive, called by General Chairman Ed. Graves. A large and enthusiastic number of committee men and solicitors were on hand to receive their final instructions. … The Wrightman Amusement Company and its many shows, thrills and rides opens admission free at the Sonoma baseball park in Sonoma Wednesday and will be here up to and including the rodeo weekend. … The Retail Beverage Dealers of Sonoma Valley are joining in the drive to sell 10 percent of the Sonoma County Fifth War Loan quota. The beverage industry led the nation in subscriptions during the last war loan campaign.

64 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 13, 1947)
Sonoma Valley’s hard-working Red Cross chapter tomorrow embarks on their large-scale Water Safety Campaign for the school children of the area when more than 200 students will register at the Boyes Hot Springs plunge. … The cream colored 1947 Pontiac sedanette which for several weeks was a familiar sight fronting Sonoma Plaza last Sunday night found a home. After members of the Sonoma Valley Junior Chamber of Commerce had spun the ticket-laden “squirrel cage” little Janie Marks of Sonoma, blindfolded, reached in to selection ticket No. 6647 bearing the name of 14-year-old Dick Bolling of 2205 Sacramento St., San Francisco – for the second straight year a San Franciscan’s one dollar investment had paid off. … In a weird softball league opener Tuesday night that ended with a basketball score, the Rustic Inn batsmen of manager Oren Tremonti came from behind in a last inning shuffle to overwhelm the gobs from Skaggs Island 19 to 18. … There will be a Juvenile Grange meeting on Saturday, June 14 at the Grange Hall at 2 p.m. … Commencement week in Sonoma Valley will be climaxed tonight (Friday) with the always impressive graduation exercises at Sonoma Valley High School. The graduation of Valley grade schools was held at Golton Hall Wednesday with diplomas conferred on graduates from El Verano, Flowery, Huichica, Tule Vista and Watmaugh districts. County superintendent of schools Chas. Wiggins presented the diplomas. … The Stars and Stripes of 1847, a flag fashioned in replica of that day by the Navy Yard at Mare Island was raised over Sonoma Plaza last Saturday morning. The occasion was the opening of the Military Centennial and Rodeo, a celebration commemorating the arrival here of Co. C, Stevensons N.Y. Volunteers a hundred years ago.

61 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 16, 1950)
An indication of how serious the water shortage situation can be in Sonoma Valley was brought to light Monday evening at a meeting of the Sonoma County Water Commission in the Board of Supervisors chambers in Santa Rosa with a report beginning “Sonoma city has increased its use of water 180 percent, and the resort area north of Sonoma by more than 400 percent since 1940.” … City Building Inspector H. E. Bell reported yesterday that John L. Novak, San Rafael builder had taken out a permit to erect seven new homes in the Sebastiani subdivision in the western portion of Sonoma. Construction costs are estimated at more than $48,000. … As an economy measure the state park board has issued an edict that would close the Sonoma Mission and Gen. Vallejo Home part time. Instead of being open every day, hours would be reduced and two instead of three curators retained here. The employee ordered transferred is R. R. Emparan, grandson of Sonoma’s founder Gen. Vallejo, and most recent to have been appointed from the Civil Service list. … With a purchase this week of $100 in Athletic Field bonds, Roy Graves, wholesale drug and sundries salesman added to his prior $400 purchase and became a member of the famed “$500 Club” made up of citizens who have contributed the latter amount by the purchase of bonds for the proposed new $25,000 “Hap” Arnold Veterans Memorial Athletic Field. … Official results of the vote east for members of the Democratic Central Committee, First District, are as follows: Roland Kruger, 1,091; Louis Martin, 969; L. E. Castner, 966; Sol D. Becker, 764 and Sene Bondelie, 628. The three highest won election.

59 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 13, 1952)
At an adjourned meeting of the Sonoma City Council, held last Friday night, a resolution was passed to advertise for bids for jail equipment. Completion of the new city jail adjacent to the firehouse on Patten Street has been going ahead the past weeks with day labor. A four-capacity cell for men and a single ladies cell is planned. The present antiquated jail is in the basement of the City Hall in the Sonoma Plaza. … Community Center opens officially tomorrow (Saturday, June 14) with an evening of entertainment for youngsters and adults alike. Newest attraction is an arts and crafts exhibit to which all creative people of the Valley are welcome to contribute. … Hanns Kornell, champagne master of the American Wine Company of St. Louis for the past few years, has leased the Sonoma Wine Company plant, West Fifth Street with an option to buy from Virgil Cerutti. Inspector Earl Martin of the Internal Revenue division was in Sonoma this week making arrangements for the transfer of the federal license. … Judge Newton Dal Poggetto of Sonoma on Wednesday night was elected president of the Sonoma County Judges’ Association at a dinner meeting held here. … On Friday evening, June 13, 16 eighth grade students of St. Francis Solano School will receive their diplomas. The graduation exercises will take place in the church. … House-to-house mail delivery in the city of Sonoma will begin on Tuesday, July 1. Postmaster Lucille Palmer received word this week from the Postmaster General’s office, Washington, D.C. setting the date for the new service – first in the city’s history. All houses and stores have been given address numbers through the city water department and those not having received notification of their number should contact Councilman August Pinelli.

57 YEARS AGO
(From the Index-Tribune of June 17, 1954)
How close to completion are the preliminary plans for the new Sonoma Valley District Hospital? At least eight steps closer than ever before. Eight is the number of times that the new hospital layout sketch has been changed since the hospital district board of directors, medical staff members, administrator James L. Doutt and the architects Russell Guerne deLappe and Michael Van Bourg initiated work on the plans following passage of the February board election. … California’s Governor, Goodwin J. Knight, with state park officials Joseph R. Knowland and Charles Kasch, highlighted an impressive plaque dedication ceremony here Sunday, which designated Temelec Hall, beautiful and historic home of Mr. and Mrs. Edmond D. Coblentz, as a registered state landmark.