Remember When: Gov. F.W. Richardson dedicates Dawson Memorial Hall

90 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of Oct. 25, 1924)

The dedication of the Dawson Memorial Hall at the Sonoma State Home Wednesday evening was a brilliant occasion with Governor F. W. Richardson and many other prominent state officials and friends of the institution in attendance. The entrance way of the beautiful brick building recently completed as an annex to the Home was banked with handsome floral pieces in memory of Dr. J.G.W. Dawson, the late superintendent of the institution. … Paving of the Schellville-Beltane Sonoma Valley highway unit was recommended by the San Francisco Down Town Association Highway Committee at a recent meeting of the club and the recommendations were forwarded to the highway Committee of Nine, which is to make highway paving recommendations to Governor Richardson and the legislature. … The Sonoma Grammar School trustees on Monday formally accepted the new annex and approved the $30,000 addition to the school, recently completed by Contractor C. C. Bean. The school now has an attendance very close to the 300 mark. … W. F. Clewe shipped several carloads of dried fruit, mixed varieties, this week from Sonoma Valley. … Mrs. Isabelle Colquhoun has sold her ranch on lower Broadway to Benjamin E. Penturf, of Clarksville, Texas, who has already taken possession. W. W. Carter made the deal.

86 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of Oct. 26, 1928)

For the 22nd consecutive weekend the Sonoma Mission Inn has been completely sold out, and for some weeks to come, reservations are piling up. Sunday night the “Good News” company, playing in San Francisco, at one of the leading theaters, will dine and dance at the Mission Inn. … Mrs. Berthiaume and son, H. F. Berthiaume, have sold their beautiful country home adjoining the Bundschu vineyard, to William Orzdorf, who will come here to reside with his wife, son and daughter. The Orzdorfs formerly lived in Sonoma and have long anticipated returning to the Valley. … The Boy Scouts of Troops 9, 16 and 18 were hosts to the Petaluma troops at the Court of Honor on last Friday night. A grand march, music by the Kiwanis Orchestra, drills, a quartette and a play were features of the program. … One of the greatest demonstrations in the history of Sonoma Valley was that of Monday night when the Smith-Robinson Non-Partisan Club of Sonoma Valley held a rally, street parade and meeting at the Sonoma Valley High School. Sonoma never saw such an outpouring of its people, nor the display of more enthusiasm.

83 YEARS AGO

(From the I-T of Oct. 30, 1931)

A calf having two fully developed heads and two hearts was born on the John L. Erickson place Friday, when his family cow, a Holstein-Jersey, gave birth to this monstrosity. The heads were perfect and joined several inches back of the ears. The calf lived but a few seconds after birth. … Daniel Ruggles, who was one of the successful contestants in the Atwater Kent audition in this county, several weeks ago, was here again Monday night in the district audition held in the studios of KPO, San Francisco. … James Baines and Dr. A. M. Thomson the first of this week began taking stone from their quarry in the Boyes Springs Park property. Slabs taken from the quarry average from three to four inches in thickness and pieces as large as three by five feet have been found. … Last Sunday the home of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Claus, on Broadway, was the scene of a wedding dinner, given by Mrs. Claus, in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Claus, who were married in San Francisco Monday, Oct. 19. The bride is the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Yaeger of Sonoma.