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Remember When Week of October 28

90 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 22, 1921)

The stretch of road abutting the Northwestern Pacific right-of-way between Batto’s and Vineburg which was improved by the railroad some tim eago is in good shape after the rain and is a boon to travelers. The company sent six carloads of gravel to fix it when their obligation in the matter was pointed out through the efforts of Messrs Ring and Oscar Studley who had it brought ot the NWP‘s attention. … Mrs. J. C. Shofner is the recently elected treasurer of the Pacific Baptist Assocation at the meeting in Petaluma Friday of last week. The speaker was Prof. Earl Lindsey of Mills College. … A new promotion organization which promises to be very successful is the Caliente Park Improvement Club, organized Thursday of last week. Forty enthusiastic residents of the Springs section signed the roll and many more members have signified their intention of making this one of the livest bodies in Sonoma Valley. The territory in the new jurisdiction of the lcub is situate between Caliente and the Highlands and from the hills to Sonoma Creek. … At the Business Mens’ Association meeting Monday night a committee was named to expedite progress on the Schellville-Santa Rosa highway project, Messrs. Burris, Duhring, Chas. LaTorres, Ed Lindley and W. L. Murpy were appointed. They were requested to wait upon the Valley of the Moon Chamber of Commerce and ask that a committee from that orgnization be appointed to work in conjunction with the Sonoma body. … Never was a day more beautiful than the October sunshine ushered in as the wedding day of Miss Emile Poppe and Allen Rae Grinstead last Sunday. The spacious home of th brides parents had been transformed into a blower of beauty for the happy occasion and it lent itselt ideally to the ceremony and all that was attended upon it.

 

89 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 28, 1922)

Otto Rufus is the proud possessor of a letter writen in 1844 to his faterh, Capt. Ernest Rufus, an army officers of pioneer California by Gen. John A. Sutter. … Leonard Talbot of San Francisco addressed the Sonoma Valley Womans Club Friday of last week against Amendment 19, the Water and Power Act to be voted upon Nov. 7. Mr. Talbot gave a concise, strong arguments against the porposed measure and declared no taxpayer should favorite it. The act would delegate unlimited and dangerous power to a commision of five men. It would permit them to venture into state ownership and give them authority to confiscate and operate utilities. … The Castex property on Napa Street has been sold for $5,750 to Redwood City parties who will conduct the bakery and take possession Nov. 1. … Sonoma Council No. 45, YMI, have perfected plans for the grand benefit ball, to be given Thanksgiving eve for the rebuilding of St. Francis church. The six piece Agnetian Orchestra of San Francisco has donated its services for the dance and will be a big drawing card.

 

88 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 27, 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 purchaser, who has been connected with the Boyes Hot Springs Hotel for the past eight years, intends to erect a concrete garage to be leased to Eric Blomgren, well known automobile man of the Springs section. She may aso build a restaurant with apartments above. … A jolly serenade and surprise party was given Mr. and Mrs. Otto Rotermundt at the Hall Ranch Tuesday evening. The newlyweds were rurpsied to find their cozy home surrounded by a large crowd of relatives and friends who treated them to an impromptu concert, musical and otherwise, under the light of a pretty October moon. After harmony and discord subsided the merrymakers were invited into the home of Mr. and Mrs. Rotermundt, where they were hospitably entertained. … Mrs. E. T Casson who ahs conducted a dress making shop on Broadway for the past year, has retired from business, much to the regret of her many customers. Mrs. Casson, who is a clever designer, found the work too arduous and so decided to give up the daily grind of buiness for her pretty ranch home east of town.

 

82 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 25, 1929)

The pre-Halloween dance given by Mission Circle, UAOD, was a social as well as financial success. The hall was crowded with dance lovers and with the decorations of Halloween favors an autumn foliage, the whole scene was one of beauty and colorful carnival effect. The dancers were given little hats as favors and these added to the fun and frolic. … Last Friday afternoon the Sonoma Valley Woman’s Club had the honor of a visit from California’s poet laureate, Dr. Henry Meade Bland, of San Jose, and from a delegation of Sonoma County Penwomen who sponsored an entertaining program of original literary work. Mrs. Shirley Weise sang one of Mrs. Wilson’s poems set to music, a gem of sentiment. … At the Sonoma Mission Inn on Saturday Night, Nov. 2, there will be a big Halloween jamboree, with marvelous favors, a dinner dance and clever radio stars in person. Dobbsy and 15 of the Shell Happy Time artists will be on hand for the frolic. … Dunbar Union School District is advertising for bids on a new school building to be erected between Glen Ellen and Kenwood on the property purchased some time ago. … R. C. Bancroft has returned from the Masonic convention at Los Angeles and a trip through the Imperial Valley to San Diego, where he visited old friends. Mrs. Bancroft leaves for Philadelphia Sunday on a visit to relatives and will be away five months. … Chief Solano, a convert of the Sonoma Mission and before that known as Sun-Yet-Ho, “The Mighty Arm,” is to have a monument erected for him near Cordelia. When Gen. Vallejo came to the northern frontier as commandante, Chief Solano proved his friend and ally.

 

72 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 27, 1939)

This Saturday and Sunday will be the last chance for residents of Sonoma Valley to attend the Fair at Treasure Island and view the many fine and interesting exhibits – unless enough money is collected by a committee now working to raise funds to reopen the Exposition in 1940. … With reports flying thick and fast that the San Francisco Seals are to make Boyes Hot Springs their training camp in 1940, word comes from the local baseball committee of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce that as yet Charlie Graham has not signed on the dotted line – but there is every evidence at present that Manager Lefty O’Doul will lead his Pacific Coast League team to this Valley next spring. … Mrs. Alma Spreckels Awl, who has done so much for this Valley in the way of beautification work and advertising and where she has a palatial home and owns vast acreage including the championship 18-hole Sonoma golf course, was feliciated at a banquet held Wednesday evening at the beautiful Sonoma Golf and Country clubhouse. Many local business and civic leaders, as well as well-known personages of the San Francisco Bay Area, were at the affair to pay tribute to the honored guests and also congratulate Mr. Frank Weaver and associates on their Country Club Manor project. … That the new subdivision at Boyes Hot Springs – Sonoma Country Club Manor – would be a popular residential tract and will soon be a mecca for homeseekers, was evidenced last weekend when hundreds of interested parties attended the official opening and inspected the new completed homes. Every visitor was enthusiastic over the new development, not one adverse statement being heard in regard to location, to the houses, or to the modern furnishings with which they have been provided.

 

62 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune files of Oct. 28, 1949)

The handicapped will dance in wheelchairs tonight so that today and tomorrow’s youth of Sonoma Valley may soon enjoy the benefits of a modern, well-equipped recreation park. Tonight at 7:30 p.m., the Boyes Hot Springs Casino will be the scene of one of the most outstanding an courageous exhibits ever to be performed in Northern California when a group of paralysis victims from the Kabat-Kaiser Institute of Vallejo present their famous “Round Wheel Square Dancing” under the sponsorship of the Sonoma Valley Business and Professional Women’s Club. This feature, plus folk dancing exhibitions by the Sonoma and Boyes Springs folk dancing groups, plus popular dancing for all to a three-piece orchestra, plus the tastiest refreshments available in the Valley, will highlight this evening from which all proceeds will be given to the new Sonoma Valley Athletic Field on the Veterans Memorial property. … The newest member of the Index-Tribune staff is Mr. Philip E. Peningroth, formerly of Iowa City, Iowa. … Although the weather barometer was falling during the past weeks, the Athletic Field Bond Drive thermometer kept climbing and more names were added to the list of bond purchases as of yesterday. The new bond sales amounted to $1,020, making total of $5,040 to date. No new members have been added to the four “$500 Club” charter list of Dave Eraldi, Don McNay, Art Wilson and Lois Fassio, but several people in the Valley are expected to soon join this select and welcome group. … Starting out early to aid Santa Claus is George Honey, assistant fire chief of the Valley of the Moon Fire Department. George is issuing a call to all Sonoma Valley residents for any old or broken toys so that he and his helpers can fix them up “like new” for needy kiddies at Christmas time.