Mark Read/Pages From The Past
(Editor’s Note: This column recounts the news of Novato through the pages of the Novato Advance. It is compiled by the Novato Historical Society.)
100 Years Ago
February 1922
– We hear Dr. Ritter of Ritter’s Sanitarium at Ross has rented the Rescioni ranch and has put eight head of thoroughbred Holstein cows on same. The milk will go for use in his Sanitarium. We are certainly glad to see so much fine stock come into our section.
– Our high school pupils are enjoying an enforced vacation on account of sickness among the San Rafael High School teachers.
75 Years Ago
February 1947
– On a request by members of the Marin-Sonoma 4th Agricultural District, a map of the proposed new Fair Grounds on the present site in Kennelworth Park, Petaluma, is shown on another page in this paper. The architect’s drawing is complete with barns, building, track, etc. Marin Directors of the District are Wm. Gnoss and Al Bianchi, who is president of the Marin County Farm Bureau. The district plans their fair for August.
– The recent announcement that automobile insurance rates were rising is based on the high costs of casualty settlements. The higher cost of medical attention, hospitalization, etc. are all factors relating to the increase in rates. Property damage claims are also on the upward trend as materials and Tabor are higher, thus making the claims that much greater, it is claimed that the motoring public sets the rate, and it greatly depends upon their type of driving that makes the rate rise or decline. During the war years the rates went down with the restricted use of cars.
– A folk dancing group is being planned for Novato. Organization meeting is to be held Tuesday, February 25th, at the Novato Community House. Everyone interested is cordially invited to attend.
– Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sparrow and family have moved into their new home at the corner of Center and Eucalyptus Ave.
– Petitions on the widening of some fifteen Novato roads are now in the process of being circulated among property owners for the granting of a five-foot deeded easement to the County of Marin, to bring the road width up to the minimum requirement of 40-feet; for the County to legally expend gas tax money on these roads. District Attorney A. E. Bagshaw, who appeared at a Chamber of Commerce meeting in Novato on April 9, 1946, urged the road widening program to be instituted, due to the passage of an amendment to the State statutes forbidding individual counties from maintaining roads with less than 40 feet of deeded right-of-way, with the State gas tax money allotted to the various counties.
50 Years Ago
February 1972
– Harry J. Moore, principal of Hill Junior High School in Novato, has announced his candidacy for the Marin Sonoma Seventh Assembly District seat. Moore, a Democrat, has served on the Marin Community College board of trustees, the Novato parks and recreation commission and the Marin County Fair Board. He is currently campaign director for the Marin March of Dimes and vice president of the Forest Park Homeowners Association. Moore, if he wins the Democratic nomination, would face veteran Marin Assemblyman William T. Bagley.
– Planning Commissioner Gail Wilhelm and two members of the “citizens to preserve Novato’s historic landmarks” waited five hours last night, until 1 a.m. this morning, but got what they wanted: An on the-record statement by the city council that the city will make no final determination on development of the Bobo property on South Novato Boulevard until the fate of the historic building on the property, Novato’s first post office, is decided. Acting as spokesman, Mrs. Wilhelm expressed concern that the Bobo property might be developed and the post office building lost, even though Bobo has offered it as a gift to the city, because of the lack of a city council commitment to preserve the building. The council agreed that the historic edifice should be protectively girded in iron-clad guaranteed armor and instructed the city staff to investigate available sites suitable for the building. Cost of moving the structure is| estimated at $1,500 to $2,000.
– Stan’s Appliance Center, 868 Grant Avenue, will be moving across the street to larger quarters at 881 Grant Avenue (the old Crocker Bank Building) about March 1. Owners Robert Durham and Stan Orman plan on larger sales displays and expanded services in the new quarters which have been leased from the New Shoppers’ Furniture store.
25 Years Ago
February 1997
– An adamant group of Marion Park residents emotionally admit they do not want Novato’s planned new skateboard park, a first for Marin, in their backyard. Last week the Novato City Council approved building the skateboard park at Marion Park on Grant Avenue, as near as 50 feet to some of the 125 units of what the residents feel is the best apartment complex in the city. While the 4-0-1 council decision, with councilmember Carole Dillon-Knutson absent due to illness brought smiles and cheers from an assembled gathering of 50 or more young skateboarders, it brought chills and concerns from the residents who will have to endure the noise and whatever else the skateboard facility may bring to their neighborhood.
– Daikin Industries of Tokyo, Japan has leased the Downtown office building at 999 Grant Ave. Daikin will move its U.S. subsidiary into the 8,750 square-foot building on the corner of Grant and Redwood Boulevard. The lease was arranged by Keegan & Coppin. Daikin creates premastering tools for digital versatile discs, the next generation electronic media format. Daikin had been leasing space from SonicSolutions on Rowland Way. The new location will allow it to expand and add employees.
– The Rotary Club of Novato Sunrise has moved. The club now meets Tuesday mornings at 7:15 a.m. at Moylan’s Restaurant. Moylan’s owner Brendan Moylan and manager Eric Relmer were on hand to welcome the Rotary Club to its new home. Preparing for the move were, Rotarian Ralph Schneider, Reimer, Club President John Reuscher, Rotarian Jim Byrne and Rotarian George J. Silvestri, Jr.
– Plans for a new 123-room hotel will be discussed by the Novato Planning Commission when it meets Monday, March 10. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at the Novato Community House. Planned is a new Hawthorn Suites to be built at 250 Entrada Drive at the site of what is now the Alvarado Inn. It will include a 5,000 square-foot restaurant.
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