January 20: Schellville area hard hit from recent rain and wind

72 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune of Jan. 22, 1943)

The storm accompanied by heavy rain and wind hit Sonoma Valley Wednesday. The Schellville are was largely underwater, creeks boomed and ran bank high with muddy water and many trees fell, including two big gum trees near Shainsky’s. ... Flowery School is now flying a “Minute Man” flag, which was granted it by the United States Treasury. Only schools which have more than 90 percent of the pupils regularly purchasing war stamps and bonds, are entitled to fly this flag. ... Sonoma city is going ahead with new curb and gutter installation around the Plaza. Bids are being advertised for a portion of the work in this week’s Index-Tribune. The city has increased its insurance to meet present replacement costs and now carries $49,300 instead of $36,000 on the city hall, fire equipment and the library. ... It has been definitely decided by the Sonoma State Home that it will relinquish two pieces of Sonoma Valley properties no longer needed by the institution. The Reynolds ranch of 1,500 acres and the Buena Vista unit of 500 to 600 acres, formerly the Delinquent Women’s Farm and hospital will be leased. The Reynolds place is in demand as a stock ranch but the rocky terrain in the foothills of Buena Vista is unfit for farming. ... Joe Mazza, of Sonoma, brother of John Mazza, has written his friend, Bob Robinson, telling of his merry Christmas in Cario, Egypt. He is with the army in the African campaign but came in from the desert for the holiday in the color capital. Joe says he had the time of his life – “everything a man could wish” beside seeing one of the most picturesque and bizarre cities in the world.

71 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune of Jan. 21, 1944)

Joseph Mazza with our army in Italy has so far seen little that he likes there. Coming from Africa with our forces he has been in many little towns whose streets are so narrow you can hardly pass except in single file and whose people are all very poor. “It’s no wonder they all wanted to come to the U.S.A.,” says Joe. ... The state owned mission church built in Sonoma by the padres in 1823 and named for St. Francis Solano will at last have its chapel restored by the State Park Board and in this laudable work they will have the cooperation of Altimira General Assembly, Knights of Columbus in an authentic reproduction of the adobe interior. ... Another fine property has changed hands in Sonoma Valley. The 54-1/2 acre vineyard and home of Joseph Signorelli has been sold by him to Santina and Domingo Gallo of Boyes Hot Springs. The acreage adjoins the Sonoma Golf Club and has been the home of Mr. Signorelli for the past 23 years. ... George Sehlmeyer, master of the California State Grange, urged Gov. Earl Warren to issue a proclamation “without delay” turning the state’s clocks back one hour to standard time. “We are confident,” Sehlmeyer said in a letter to the governor, “not only the rural section of California, but a large majority of all the people in the state would welcome a return to standard time.” ... The Bank of America, the Sonoma branch, will have a new manager about Feb. 1, Clem Forni having been promoted to the position of assistant manager at Salinas at a higher salary. Forni has been very successful in Sonoma Valley as the bank’s representative and will leave a host of friends here who will miss his friendship and interest in community affairs.

70 YEARS AGO

(From the Index-Tribune of Jan. 19, 1945)

The new owners of the beautiful baseball park at Boyes Hot Springs, are doing much work on the field and also painting and otherwise improving the entrance and grandstand preparatory to the opening of the 1945 season. The ball park has been called the “Santa Anita of Baseball.” ... Emrys Williams has been appointed manager and David W. Crane, assistant manager of the Sonoma office of the American Trust Company, according to an announcement made this week by James K. Lochead, president, from the bank’s head office in San Francisco. Williams, who has been assistant manager of the bank for the past year, succeeds Edwin C. Graves. ... The sale of Fetters Hot Springs Hotel, the third deal on this valuable property in the last year or so is announced. Lombard and Morrison, chain hotel people of the East Bay who owned the former holdings of Geo. Fetters, have sold it to Mr. and Mrs. Ray Cook of Oakland. The Oaks baseball club will train in Sonoma Valley this spring and has engaged quarters at Fetters during the last of February and March. ... A circulating oil heater caught fire in the store formerly occupied by the Monson drug store Tuesday and brought both Sonoma fire engines to the Union Hotel block. The blaze was promptly controlled by Fire Chief Scribner and his men although there was some damage from smoke which poured from the store and upper hotel windows. ... Sonoma Parlor Native Sons of the Golden West laid the ground work for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the raising of the Bear Flag in Sonoma by naming a planning committee Monday night. Those appointed were J. P. Serres, August Pinelli, Roy Pauli and Louis Pellandini.