Email  Print

Remember When Week of April 6

68 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of April 7, 1944)

While there has been considerable apathy concerning the city election, rumor persists that a write-in candidate for city trustee is popular choice for one of the two places on Sonoma’s board. There are three nominees for the city council whose names will be printed on the ballot. There are Fredrick Franklin, David W. King and Leo Murdock, all running for four-year terms. … 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 terms did splendid work. … After viewing the progress being made on the restoration of the chapel and other work at Sonoma Mission last Saturday, representatives of Altimira Assembly, Knights of Columbus, revealed plans for services there July 4 in connection with dedication ceremonies being worked out by the state of California’s Park Commission. Plans are tentative and will depend on the completion of the restoration work which is going forward on schedule. … The annual public speaking contest sponsored by the Native Sons of the Golden West will be held this year at Sebastiani 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.

 

 

67 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of April 6, 1945)

In order to increase Sonoma city’s water storage particularly for fire protection the trustees will build a 45,000 gallon capacity reservoir on its property above the old Vallejo home. The foundation is to be laid shortly. The supply will give Sonoma water for all fire fighting purposes for five continuous hours and may reduce insurance rates. … At the election in the firehouse at Boyes Hot Springs Monday the voters named Joseph Udvie, well-known resort proprietor of El Verano, as fire commissioner. He had been filling an unexpired team. … Sonoma Grove Druids on March 28 was represented by A. Beretta, B. Mori, Mike Mulas and H. Castagnasso at a big Druid initiation at San Rafael. Sonoma candidates were Phil Pozzi, Frank Caluffetti and Robert Wicks. … Dr. William G. Paden, city superintendent of the Alameda City School system, will be the guest speaker at a student body assembly on Friday, April 27. On this day, the high school will observe Educational Week by having the eighth grade pupils and teachers of the valley as their guests. … Representative of three engineering firms met with the Recreational District trustees Wednesday night. The proposed sewage disposal system was discussed and plans made for the engineering of the project.

 

65 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of April 4, 1947)

Mr. Burton R. Ogilvie, for the past two years director of public relations for the George T. Thompson hotels, last week took over as managing director of the Sonoma Mission Inn at Boyes Hot Springs. Mr. Ogilvie replaces Harry Price who has assumed the managerial duties at the newly opened Shasta Springs Lodge at Dunsmuir for the Thompson interests. … Easter will be celebrated at all Sonoma Valley churches Sunday, April 6, climaxing Holy week and bringing the ever beautiful story of the Resurrection. Appropriate sermons and special music will mark the day. …

Complete approval for U.S. Army participation in Sonoma Valley’s spectacular California Military Centennial celebration and Sonoma Rodeo weekend festivities scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, was given this week by U.S. Sixth Army and Army Air Forces offices following conferences held in San Francisco and Hamilton Field with representatives of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce. … That the City of Sonoma needs more money to be properly run, was an apparent fact here Wednesday night when the City Council held their regular monthly meeting at the city hall. With general and water fund expenditures far exceeding estimated amounts for the current fiscal year, the council will meet in special session next week to discuss possible ways of raising additional revenue so that a score of necessary projects can be carried out in Sonoma. … As an added feature at the 18^th Annual Membership Banquet of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce to be held Friday, April 11, at the Sonoma Mission Inn, the first presentation of the Chamber’s Annual Award for Outstanding Citizenship will be made, it was announced by President Armand Franquelin. … Mr. Burton R. Ogilvie, for the past two years director of public relations for the George T. Thompson hotels, last week took over as managing director of the Sonoma Mission Inn at Boyes Hot Springs. Mr. Ogilvie replaces Harry Price who has assumed the managerial duties at the newly-opened Shasta Springs Lodge at Dunsmuir for the Thompson interests.

 

63 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of April 1, 1949)

At a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce held Friday, March 25, it was decided that the chamber would contract with Foster and Kleiser for a billboard on Highway No. 101, south of Ignacio. This is to advertise the “Valley of the Moon Scenic Route.” … The Acme Leather Products firm, for many years well-known makers of hand bags, brief cases, albums and pictures in San Francisco, will move their entire factory to Sonoma in the immediate future. This announcement was made Wednesday by the Industrial Committee of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce who divulged that the firm as purchased five acres of land from Mr. Joe Caponotti and Mr. Dante Martinelli adjacent to the NWP right-of-way – the former Sorini property. … Don Cossi, well-known Seaside products distributor, will open the new Seaside Service Station across from the St. Francis Church on West Napa Street today. Ralph Short, a former resident here, will be associated with Mr. Cossi in the operation of the modern new station. … The modern and complete chicken and dairy ranch belonging to Henry Best and operated by Frank Burghardt, located on W. 5^th St., Sonoma, was sold this week to Sato Kutner, a newcomer to the Valley from Bohemia.

 

63 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of April 8, 1949)

Backing up the recommendation made by the city planning commission earlier in the evening, the Sonoma city council Wednesday night voted to amend the present zoning ordinance to allow the extension of the Industrial Zone to include the property soon to be built upon by the new Acme Leather Products firm between First and Second Streets East. All but a small section of the building site is in the Industrial Zone. … John F. Picetti, prominent Sonoma resident, was this week named to fill the Sonoma Grammar School trustee vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. William J. Newman. At the same time it was also announced that Mr. Picetti had filed as a candidate for the trustee’s post at the May 20 election. A former mayor of Sonoma and member of the city council for several years, Mr. Picetti is presently chairman of the city planning commission and a member of the county planning commission. … James Manning, of Boyes Hot Springs, for the past seven years county deputy sheriff in Sonoma Valley, has resigned from Sheriff Harry Patteson’s force, effective April 1. Taking his place will be John O’Brien, former Sonoma city policeman and for the past year and a half a patrolman in Santa Rosa. … There is another new wine bottler in our midst, Virgil Cerruti, co-owner and manager of the Golden Eagle Wine and Liquor Co. of San Francisco since 1933, has now come to Sonoma to live and to operate the Sonoma Wine Co., the winery owned by him and his ex-partner since 1942, and which he received from the dissolution of said partnership. … A former U.S. Navy lieutenant, Rodney Whitten, a veteran of 16 years naval service, has replaced Charles Lavin on the Sonoma Police Force, Police Chief Boyd Miller announced this week.