Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
January 1924
— Miss Angelina Lafranchi succumbed to pneumonia Monday. Deceased was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. August Lafranchi, of Nicasio. She was ten years old.
— C.E. Carlile possesses a new Rickenback automobile.
— H. Pini & Co. expect to open their hardware store about the 15th.
— Who is your choice for P. T. A. carnival queen? Vote for her at DeBarba’s ice cream parlor or the drug store or Pini’s store, at one cent per vote. The contest has already begun with Miss Meta Hiribarren and Miss Margaret Schekenbach as candidates. It is hoped many more names will be put in the boxes. The more the merrier. The votes will be counted every two weeks, and the results published in the paper.
— While sitting in a chair on the porch of the Loustaunau Hotel, John J. Davis passed away of heart disease on December 18. “Shorty,” as he was familiarly known, was well known in Novato, having resided here for the past twenty years. He was of a quiet disposition, a native of England and liked by all who knew him.
75 Years Ago
January 1949
— A group of flying enthusiasts banded together and formed a club, to be known as the “Novato Flying Club.” The organizational meeting was at the home of Woody Binford, and those elected to hold office in the club were: President, W. Q. Wright; vice president, Gus Noel; secretary, Miss Louise Parker; treasurer, Roger Trumbull. The purpose of the club, which is fashioned after many others scattered around the country, is to bring flying within the means of pilots who would either have to purchase their own planes or rent one each time they wished to make a trip. Toward this end, the Novato group purchased the Piper Club Super Cruiser from Novato Airport and this will be for the use of club members.
— 14 Bids Received For Largest Single Unit Job In Novato History – Novato’s determined effort to get new housing for its rapidly growing school population took a long step toward success at the school building when bids on the new six room unit of the long range master plan were opened in public. The low bidder was a local contracting firm, Louis Bormolini and Son, with a bid, including all alternate bids of $83,001.00.
— The Novato Grove of Druids celebrate their 50th anniversary this month, and to properly commemorate the event, lodge members under the chairmanship of “Babe” Silva and Noble Arch Doug Reece, are planning a patty.
50 Years Ago
January 1974
— The city of Novato and Novato Chamber of Commerce will again hold an annual dinner dance Friday, January 18, to commemorate the city’s 14th birthday. A highlight of the affair will again be the presentation of an award to the “Citizen of the Year” as selected by a five-person committee appointed by Mayor Fred Ruegg Letters seeking nominations for the outstanding citizen went out last week to various service clubs and organizations, according to City Clerk Peggy Lehigh. Individuals are also welcome to make nominations, in writing, at the City Hall. The selection committee named by Mayor Ruegg consists of Lee Wise, Lee Gerner (who was last year’s winner), Gordon Lee, the Rev. Eugene Quinones and Florence Patrick
— The Novato Chamber of Commerce mustered about 70 people under the banner of Taco Bell and stormed the city council chambers last night. But once again, Ben Osllind’s proposal for a fourth fast food operation in Novato Square was shot down 3-2 after a lengthy and sometimes bitter public hearing. Chances are that’s not the end of Big Ben as the matter of Taco Bell threatened to become a hot issue in the upcoming council elections providing a sort of watershed that will divide the “pro-business” set from the “plan review” crowd. Councilman Wayne Sartain, the only incumbent facing reelection, joined David Price Jones and George Quesada in upholding the Plan Review Committee’s contention that the “pseudo mission style” architecture of Taco Bell was incompatible with other buildings in the square.
— Goodman’s Home Center opened quietly in the building formerly occupied by Lee Brothers market across from the Downtown Novato Shopping Center. A grand opening is planned “in about three weeks” but the exact day has not yet been set, according to Manager Jack Clumeck, Jr. The Novato store is the third outlet in Marin County for Goodman’s which offers a large inventory of cabinets, prefab shelving and other supplies for the “do-it-yourselfer” home owner.
— Firemen were called to Berkeley Farms restaurant at 7110 Redwood Highway when cooks grilling hamburgers in the kitchen noticed sparks falling out of the exhaust fan above the grill. Grease accumulated in the exhaust system had ignited by the time firemen arrived resulting in $7000 worth of damage to the building. The fire burned out the exhaust system and a portion of the attic. The building, which is owned by the Sabatte Brothers of Oakland, is now closed for repairs.
25 Years Ago
January 1999
— A plan that will bring 164 new homes and forever change the face of Novato’s northern entrance will soon be making its way through the planning process. The Atherton Ranch development is planned for 47 acres of what is known as the Pinheiro property on Redwood Boulevard just north of Olive Avenue. The property is currently occupied by one of Novato’s historic structures—the Atherton family home, built in 1893 by one of Novato’s pioneering families. The project takes its name from the house and the pioneer family- In addition to the homes, the plan includes small retail shops, a day-care center (to be operated by the North Bay Children’s Center) and professional offices.
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