FEBRUARY 1922

CONTRACT TO HAUL PUPILS TO HIGH SCHOOL FROM FREESTONE

Arthur L. Williams was the successful bidder for the contract to transport high school pupils to and from Freestone to the Analy Union School.  Should the number of pupils to be carried prove too many for the capacity of the bus line, preference will be given to those residing farthest from the school.  This is the first bus to be operated by the local school, but it is hoped to have additional machines in operation shortly.

FEBRUARY 1947

RAILROAD WIRES REMOVED FROM MAIN STREET

Railroad wiring on Sebastopol’s Main Street was removed completing a project announced here last summer by C.A. Veale, vice-president and general manager of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company.

Elimination of the overhead wiring followed installation of diesel powers locomotives on the entire line of the Petaluma and Santa Rosa Railway Company, completing a plan made by the Railroad Company. 

The railroad first placed a diesel locomotive in operation in Sebastopol last summer and at that announced its plans to convert the entire line to diesel power in place of the electric locomotive system.

While removal of the wiring was hailed by local businessman, complaints are still heard throughout the city about the condition of the roadbed on the Main Street right-of-way of the railroad company.

FEBRUARY 1972

BANK BUILDING COMES DOWN

The temporary headquarters of the Bank of Sonoma County was removed from Sebastopol’s landscape.  Built shortly after 1930, the structure was considered substandard.  The first known occupant of the building was Schlaughterback, who operated a used merchandise shop, followed by the Ace Hutton Cabinet Shop until 1961.  Weeks Hardware until 1969, and Bank of Sonoma County until last August.  As the bulldozer chipped away, it revealed the wall of what was once Central Meat Market, which went out of business in 1929.  Painted on a portion of that wall was an advertisement for Carnation Mush.  Now the location of Bill’s Key Shop and Ray’s Barber Shop, the old Central Meat Market building proudly displayed an advertisement for 20 Mule Team Borax Soap Chips.  The advertisement also carries the nostalgic slogan, “wash without a washboard.