Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
September 1922
– The community was shocked yesterday morning by the sudden death of Fred Mahlstedt, one of the oldest residents of Novato. Deceased conducted a chicken and dairy ranch just east of town. He was driving in the cows yesterday morning about 6 o’clock when he dropped dead. Mr. Mahlstedt was a native of Germany and about 65 years of age. He is survived by a widow and a brother.
– Marin county should establish some method for the control of “varmints” that annoy the leghorns. Trappers of skunks, coyotes, badgers, weasels and hunters of hawks, crows and other predatory life that take a heavy toll from poultry men should be encouraged. The number of pelts and scalps secured would soon prove the need of such control.
– The poles have arrived, and the Cain brothers are extending their electric light service to the Sweetser addition, much to the satisfaction of the people living in that section.
– A.H. Mills has resigned his position with the H. Pini & Company and on Saturday left for Lodi. Mr. Mills has not been in good health for some time, and it is hoped a change of climate will be beneficial.
– Novato has a bakery added to its industries, Firenze & Serafino having opened for business: NOVATO BAKERY Having opened a Bakery in Novato, we are prepared to furnish families Bread—the best that can be made A Baker of wide experience and well known for his culinary art has been engaged Eat Novato-made Bread NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS A Local Industry Cakes and Pastry A trial solicited FIRENZE & SERAFINO, Prop’rs Grant Avenue Novato, Calif.
75 Years Ago
September 1947
– When the school bell rang Wednesday morning on the first day of the fall term at Novato Grammar School, there were approximately 285 pupils answering roll call, 47 of which were registered in the first grade. Each of the eight teachers has an enrollment reaching or exceeding capacity, with Mrs. Katherine Hulme’s first graders heading the list. The third grade, taught by Mrs. John Olsen, the third-grade pupils will board the Black Point school bus for transportation to the Black Point school house where they will hold daily sessions as a temporary measure until the 2-room unit purchased from the Richmond shipyards in early summer can be set up in Novato. Other members of the faculty are Miss Bacchus, Miss Mazzola, Miss DeLassi, Mrs. W.H. Busher, Mrs. Katherine Steele, and Miss Lulu Sutton, principal.
– Charles Reindollar of San Anselmo will again be present this evening (Friday) to instruct members of the Novato Folk Dancers in the intricacies of the square and round dances, polkas, two steps, etc. Anyone interested is invited to be at the Community House.
– Men’s heavy-weight black jean pants. Sanforized shrunk. Zipper fly. 32 to “42 waist. Special $3.95. J. C. Foisey, Railroad Ave., Phone 87-M.
50 Years Ago
September 1972
– Would Novato rather have portions of its creeks turned into concrete channels or face the possibility of a recurrence of the floods that have descended on the community periodically? That seems to be the choice, and it will have to be made soon, because the Army Corps of Engineers (whose plan offers maximum flood protection with concrete channels) wants an answer on whether to proceed with studies. The city council and Novato flood control zone board will take a look at the alternatives at a joint meeting.
– A settlement conference held last week to determine the value of a strip of land in front of Jack’s 66 gas station on Highway 101, which was condemned by the state for use as a frontage road resulted in the state buying the entire piece of property for $135,000. Jack Lepinski, who owns the building and has a long-term lease on the land from owner Robert Carrow, is filing suit to keep Phillips Petroleum Company from sharing in the funds.
– Novato attorney Clark M. Palmer Jr. stands unquestionably as Novato’s number one track fan. Since Novato school was organized in 1955, he has assisted as a track official at all its track meet, missing only one (while on a fishing trip) in that time. While he acts as judge, his wife serves at scorer. They attend most of the important track events in the Bay area.
25 Years Ago
September 1997
– The Hamilton Commissary, purveyor of millions of loaves of bread and cartons of milk in its decades as the supermarket for Novato’s military families, will close its doors forever this Saturday. In its place will be a “maximart” on Crescent Drive. But the scaled-down grocery store won’t open until 10 a.m. next Wednesday, Sept. 17. Retired U.S. Army Col. Jack Potter of San Rafael, who was instrumental in lobbying for the new facility, said he’s received “about two dozen calls” from commissary customers upset that the Coast Guard gave such short notice in announcing the closure.
– Edward Wyllis Scripps, publishing magnate and co-owner of the Novato Advance, died Thursday, Sept. 4 at his farm, “Eagle Hill,” in Charlottesville, Va. after a long illness. He was 88. Mr. Scripps was born in San Diego on May 21, 1909, to James G. Scripps and Josephine Stedem Scripps. He was the eldest grandson of Edward Wyllis Scripps, founder of the ScrippsHoward Newspaper empire. Mr. Scripps became chairman and president of Scripps League Newspapers Inc. in 1931. Under his leadership, Scripps League Newspapers grew to 51 publications throughout the United States, including the Hawaiian Islands, with distribution in Asia.
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