Mike Reed/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
August 1921
— One hundred volunteers from Novato and Black Point, co-operating with the fire departments of the two towns, and with section crews of the Northwestern Pacific railway, today were fighting a forest fire which broke out yesterday near Black Point. Thus far the blaze has burned over 150 acres of thickly wooded country and destroyed six country places, some of them owned by San Francisco people. None of the residences were occupied.
— It appearing to the Board of Supervisors of Marin County and the Board hereby determines that the population of the several townships of the County of Marin is as follows: San Rafael Township 14,170 Sausalito Township 9,000, Novato Township 1,193, Tomales Township 957, Nicasio Township 693, Pt. Reyes Township 628, Bolinas Township 362 San Antonio Township 334 .
75 Years Ago
August 1946
— Julius Zunino, has received his honorable discharge as sergeant in the U.S. Army and with his wife is home again from his station in North Carolina.
— James Elmo Lierly, 36, shipwright employed at the basalt shipyard in Napa, was burned to death in his home here. Firemen said he apparently had fallen asleep while smoking and had set fire to his chair. He was alone in the house at the time. His wife and children were reported attending a theater in Petaluma at the time of the fire.
— Rocco Ghisletta died in Sonoma Community Hospital. One of the organizers of the Marin Deli creamery with headquarters in San Francisco, he served as vice president of the concern for years and was a large stockholder. He also held stock in the Pini & Co. and had other interests in business concerns. Born in Switzerland, he was aged over 70 years and lived a useful and busy life.
— Alvaro Braz has sold his Novato garage on the Redwood Highway, the former Gordon Anderson garage, to John A. Garratti of San Rafael who will take possession on August 6.
— Novato Sanitary Board met. Ways and means were discussed as to the best procedure of making application for a grant of federal in-employment funds to match the funds to be raised by bond issue. A mass meeting will be called for the need for a sewage disposal plant, rights-of-way to it, sewer mains, etc.
50 Years Ago
August 1971
America’s Latest Outdoor Sport – The Garage Sale Is it the current passion for recycling? Is America trying to erase its image of conspicuous consumption—use it once and throw it away? Or is it just plain profitable fun that accounts for the epidemic of garage sales sweeping Novato (and the rest of the country)? Whatever it is, more and more people are selling their unwanted or superfluous belongings. Sometimes a whole block gets together for the event — which was the case last weekend when eight families trotted out their white elephants to the garage and front lawn of the Martin Karlovics, 412 Alameda de la Loma. The neighbors not only netted about $600 between them — but had a ball doing it. “It was quite a festive occasion,” reports Mrs. Dennis Fauss, who said the abundance of merchandise flowed over onto the Karlovics next-door neighbor’s lawn (Mr. and Mrs. Hans Summer). Among the more unusual items were a motorboat, ski equipment, sleds, color TV, stemware and unused linens.
— The kickoff dinner at the Community House of the $100,000 Boys Club building fund campaign will feature the combined entertainment talents of Renaissance Pleasure Faire players and a trio of Novato Community Players. They will contribute their talents for what campaign leaders predict will be “a great show.”
— This weekend marks the 20th anniversary of Roger Wilco Markets which started operations in Novato 20 years ago. Bill and Adele Jonas opening up in 1931 what was then called Novato Market on Front Street next to where Wardrobe Cleaners is now. In 1953, a new store was built on the adjoining site and operated for 8 years as Food Fair. When the new market in Ignacio was opened 8 years ago the name was changed to Roger Wilco which was the name the Jonases used when they opened their first market in Petaluma 14 years ago.
— Mayor and Mrs. Joseph Gargiulo will celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with a buffet and reception for 125 guests August 22 at the San Marin Club. The mayor reports he made a valiant effort to find and invite everyone who attended his wedding in San Rafael on August 18,1946. He still has the registry from that date and managed to track many down. He estimates 80 per cent of the guests will be from San Rafael. The Gargiulos were high school sweethearts — having met at San Rafael High in 1942. The mayor, in a romantic mood, reports that his wife’s maid of honor, and one of his ushers met at the Gargiulo wedding rehearsal and subsequently were happily wed themselves.
25 Years Ago
August 1996
One of the most respected members of the Novato Community Hospital Board of Trustees has resigned from the board in protest over plans for the new hospital. “I couldn’t morally support the recommendations made by the task force,” said William Eckhoff. “This thing (the task force report) has been well orchestrated. Marin General Hospital called all the shots.” Eckhoff knows Novato Community Hospital literally from the foundation up. After working hard to win approval for the hospital in 1961, Eckhoff was part of a volunteer labor crew that actually dug the foundation for the current facility on Hill Road. He is the oldest active volunteer participant in the history of the hospital, serving 20 years as a trustee and 17 years in other volunteer capacities.
— Westamerica Bank is pulling some 250 employees from its administrative and accounting offices in Bel Marin Keys business park and relocating them to Solano County, according to a bank spokesman. The relocation began this week and should be completed in just a few days, said Joe Bowler of Westamerica’s offices in Fairfield.
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