Western Sonoma County Historical Society

Preserving The Unique Heritage Of West Sonoma County

History Corner

The History Corner provides a monthly glimpse at the Western Sonoma County 50, 75, and 100 years ago. Click on the link to view each month’s edition.

history corner May 2022
1951 Sebastopol Apple Blossom Princesses taken at the California State Capitol, Sacramento by McCurry Foto Co. Men from L-R: Earl Warren – Governor of California (VP nominee with Dewey in 1948 and later Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court), Curt Stange
(Bank of Sonoma County), Harry Martin (Martin’s Nursery and Ed Herring (Best & Feaks Insurance). Young girls are L-R: Helen Inman, Kathleen Flaming, and Meredith Shelton.
Unfortunately Kathleen and Meredith came down with Chicken Pox and were replaced with Peggy Osborn and Linda Miller. Helen Inman became Queen.

See the full text history from 1922, 1947, and 1972.

history corner april 2022
Business on North Main Street, Sebastopol circa 1940. Seen are Fleming’s Market, Metcalf Hardware, Stan’s Clothing Store, Appleton Bakery, Real Estate and Insurance office, Starr Furniture, Sprouse Reitz, and Rexall Drug Store.

See the full text history from 1922, 1947, and 1972.

history corner march 2022
Lyons-Magnus Cherry processing plant was located at 6721 Sebastopol Avenue from 1953 to 1971.  There were 20 brine tanks each holding 28,000 gallons of locally grown Royal Ann cherries.  The cherries were put in a brine solution which takes out sugar and color and hardens the cherries.  The cherries then go to the firm’s San Francisco plant for cooking and sweetening into Maraschino Cherries.

See the full text history from 1922, 1947, and 1972.

history corner february 2022
 Analy High School Bus No. 1 parked in front of the Analy High School with students on board.  Circ. 1920’s

See the full text history from 1922, 1947, and 1972.

history corner january 2022
The Starland Theater, 175 North Main Street, Sebastopol built in 1911, owned by Albert Huntley.  In 1930 it converted to Vistaphone sound, becoming the first full-time sound theater.  It closed in 1932.  The building on the left is the IOOF hall and on the right is (partial) W.F. Fore’s Central Cigar, circ. 1926.

See the full text history from 1922, 1947 and 1972.

HISTORY CORNER DECEMBER 2021

The Sebastopol Lions Club added Christmas decor to John Spooner Park, at the intersection of Petaluma Ave and South Main Street, Wishing Seasons Greetings in 1962.  Members of the Lions Club involved were Jack Robinson, Jack Fore, Don Shatto, Sam Leighty.
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

HISTORY CORNER NOVEMBER 2021

This is a color transparency slide of the Jitney Stop at the corner of McKinley and Weeks Way, which would become the current town square site.  Circ. 1977. See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

HISTORY CORNER OCTOBER 2021

The Sebastopol Surplus, owned by Donald Reese Brown was located at 7775 Healdsburg Avenue from 1973 – 1978.
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

history corner september 2021

Boy’s Aid Society on the Barlow Berry Ranch 1910.
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

history corner august 2021

Green Valley Congregational Church 1920
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

history corner july 2021

SEBASTOPOL RODEO ASSN. began an annual rodeo in July 1976 and continued until 1981.
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971.

history corner june 2021

City Hall gets spruced up – 1967
See the full text for history from 1921, 1946 and 1971