Email  Print

Remember When Week of October 14

Tidbits from the Sonoma Index-Tribune files

91 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 2, 1920)

Wine making started this week in the big wineries of Sonoma Valley holding permits to make and ship wine for sacramental, medicinal and scientific purpose. The vintage will be almost the normal amount and all available cooperage will be filled. In addition to the wine grapes purchased from the local growers, grapes are being shipped in from various localities and crushed at the local plants. Some of the wineries are working day and night to handle the tonnage. … A romantic moonlight wedding in which the principals were Irving Sheppard, nephew of Jack London, and Miss Mildred Ranker, pretty Glen Ellen girl, took place Monday evening under the stately oaks at the Justi place, Judge Leopold Justi officiating. Although the wedding was scheduled for Sunday Oct. 4, the young folks journeyed to Santa Rosa last Monday to procure their marriage license, and having the wondrous document in their possession and thrilled with the romance of one of Sonoma’s most beautiful moonlit nights, it was suggested as they sped down the Valley toward home, that they stop off at Judge Justi’s and have the knot tied then and there. …  In order to avoid any question as to the right to refer to a map of Sonoma in the drawing of deeds, the city trustees have decided to act on the advice of the District Attorney and have one formally placed and on record. It appears that the original map of the old Pueblo of Sonoma drawn in 1850 and apprising a plot to 6,035 acres has disappeared and the ones in use are copies thereof. When the municipality was formed the old map setting forth all property within the city limits was adopted. All deeds of town property refer to this map.

 

88 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 20, 1923)

Activity in Boyes Springs real estate was evident this week when J.W. Minges consummated a deal with Miss Ann Isador of Boyes for the sale of 137 feet of his property facing the highway, the price is said to be in the neighborhood of $6,000. The land is the former site of the restaurant owned by Mr. Minges and is a corner. The purchaser intends to erect a concrete garage to be leased to Eric Blomgren, well-known auto mobile man, and she may also build a restaurant with apartments above. …. Dave Eraldi has opened  his new store for men, The Toggery, and is now doing business at the temporary home of the up-to-date shop, opposite the Don Theatre. The opening was most auspicious, many friends and customers calling in to congratulate Sonoma’s young merchant and wish him success. Despite a broken arm, which Dave sustained while fixing up his new shop for the opening, the live wire businessman is handing out a nice line of goods to the trade and declares business starts off real good. … Miss Eugene Froment celebrated her birthday Thursday evening with a delightful party at her home. Cards and other games preceded a delicious repast. The young lady was the recipient of many pretty gifts and congratulations from the 18 guests present. … The Reciprocity Day program put on by the Sonoma Valley Women’s Club at Petaluma on Tuesday was greatly enjoyed by the Petaluma club members. About 12 ladies motored over from here, the program being led by Mrs. Ida Hotz, who read a paper on McCormick, the great singer. Elocution numbers given by Paloma Williams, great-granddaughter of the late Gen. Vallejo, created much enthusiasm and won for the talented little lady great applause.

 

66 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 5, 1945)

The 1945 grape crop in Sonoma Valley vineyards where white and dark varieties of wine grapes are grown for white and red wine, is being harvested. The crop is a good one and prices are averaging around $100 for white grapes and $75-$90 for other kinds of choice varieties. The grapes are being delivered to Valley wineries including the Sebastiani cellars, and Sonoma Wine Company, Pagani Bros. and Julius Pagani of Kenwood. The De Martini cellars in Napa county, are handling the crop from their ranch above Agua Caliente, formerly the Goldstein vineyard. Grape pickers are being paid 25 cents per box, it is reported. …  Sunday, Oct. 14, at 3 o’clock, there will be dedication ceremonies at the new Youth Center building on First Street East above Spain. The Boy Scouts, Camp Fire Girls and Kiwanis Club will participate. The building was a project of the Kiwanis Club and paid for by the club and a few outside donors. Money from paper drives added to the fund.  Mayor Picetti will accept the building in behalf of the city. … The beautiful new parochial school, St. Francis of Sonoma, which opened recently with an attendance of over 100, will be dedicated Sunday, Oct. 21, by Archbishop Mitty. There will be many visiting Catholic clergymen and an augmented choir will participate in the ceremonies. The late Samuele Sebastiani of Sonoma whose generosity and interest in the education of the children of the parish, made possible the modern and beautiful school and convent will be paid appropriate tribute. His picture is to be hung in the auditorium and later a bronze plaque is planned in memory of the wealthy wine man who attributed much of his success to this faith and religious teaching.

 

59 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 10, 1952)

Expressing dissatisfaction with the present system whereby telephone bills must be paid at a local bank, several citizens have asked the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce to solicit petitions asking for the return of a telephone company business office to Sonoma. Chamber secretary Lois McVeigh said that several complaints stemmed from the fact that people coming into town on Friday or Saturday were forced to wait an exceptionally long time in line at the bank window, attempting to pay their telephone bills. The Pacific Telephone  Office was closed down here a month ago, after more than 20 years in existence. …  Chairman Harry Johnson of the Methodist Church building fund campaign committee revealed yesterday that over $20,000 has been collected in the current drive for $50,000. Johnson praised local business firms and organizations for their strong support of the project and expressed confidence that the ultimate goal would be quickly reached. The building committee plans to break ground for the modern new structure this winter. … A four-unit frame guest cottage adjoining the stone Agua Caliente Springs Hotel building was completely destroyed by a swift-moving fire, shortly before noon on Wednesday. Nino Vailetti, owner of the property, said that no one had occupied the building since Sunday, and that he had no idea how the fire started. Each of the units was completely furnished, said Vailetti who was working nearby when he spotted the flames.

 

36 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 9, 1975)

Two Sonoma Valley wineries won the only gold medals given in the judging of Sonoma County wines at the first Harvest Festival Fair in Santa Rosa at the fairgrounds last weekend. The Hacienda Winery of Sonoma, owned by Frank Bartholomew, won two gold medals and Chateau St. Jean, Kenwood, won one.  Hacienda’s medals were earned for its 1974 pinot chardonnay and its 1973 zinfandel. It also won a bronze medal for its 1974 French colombard.  Chateau St. Jean won its gold medal for its 1975 Johannisberg riesling. It also got a bronze medal for its 1974 sauvignon blanc. … The Sonoma Valley United Way campaign is ahead of all others in Sonoma County, it was reported this week. The Valley drive has collected approximately $14,066, 30 percent of its 1975 quota of $45,993. Co-chairmen of the drive are Nancy Beterbide and J.P. Smith. They received a plaque honoring Sonoma Valley for its United Way showing at the report meeting Monday at the Holiday Inn, Santa Rosa. The plaque is made of nuts and bolts and shows a little man pushing a wheelbarrow. It is made every two weeks to the leader of the United Way campaign in the country.  …  While only a handful of trees diagnosed as being infected with the Dutch Elm disease remain standing in the entire county, state crews will follow through with plans to eliminate some 500 elms in the Kenwood area to “make sure” the disease does not spread. The trees to be taken down in Kenwood have been exposed to the highly contagious disease, although no laboratory diagnoses have been made on them to determine contraction. “We want to clean that area up, and make sure that the disease won’t spread,” commented Lyn Hawkins, CalTrans Department of Transportation agency.

 

23 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 11, 1988)

Sonoma County Transit officials say they will not divulge the two or three sites they will recommend for a Valley bus depot or park-n-ride until this week’s community meeting. Bryan Albee, project specialist, would not say which properties are the top contenders, but had previously mentioned that property across from Paul’s Resort and at Leveroni and Broadway were being studied for park-n-rides. The half-acre property near Paul’s Resort was intended for use by Maxwell Farms Park visitors and the land at Leveroni and Broadway is privately-owned and more than an acre is size. Linda Viviani of Sonoma, a strong critic of the Verano Triangle proposal, believes the triangle remains the top choice for a transit center. … People committing misdemeanor crimes in Sonoma have been much more likely to face charges since the city began prosecuting its own cases, according to deputy city attorney Robert Smith. Prosecutions of misdemeanor and felony crimes are generally handled by the county district attorney’s office. Smith stated he had a feeling that the city would be more effective and according to Smith, Sonoma is the only city in the county and among only a handful in the state that prosecutes misdemeanors.  … Pacific Gas and Electricity is blaming opportunistic blackbirds for two power failures in the western hall of Sonoma Valley this weekend. On both Friday and Saturdays mornings, up to 2,500 PG&E customers from Schellville to Boyes Hot Springs experienced a total of two and half hours without electricity. PG&E spokesman John Fanucchi said blackbirds feeding on “vine droppings” from the grape harvest often perch on high voltage wires and take off en masse, causing lines to flop around, make contact and short out.