Mike Read/Pages From The Past
(Editor’s Note: Pages From The Past remembers Novato through the years via the pages of the historic Novato Advance.)
100 Years Ago
November 1922
– At the next election another precinct, and probably two, will be added in this township. Thirty straight hours of work is not in harmony with political unionism nor humanity.
– E. R. MacDonald has just completed a new addition of three rooms to Miss Lulu Sutton’s home.
– The Community Council, at a meeting held Wednesday night, opened bids for the construction of the new building, and awarded the contract to Chas. F. Schuetz, of San Francisco. The bid was $18,894 and provides for a completed building.
– The old Community House on Grant Avenue has been sold, and delivery agreed upon December 1st, but the new owners will rent the building to the community organization until the new building is ready for occupancy.
– Community Contract About to be Let. THE REVISED PLANS GREAT IMPROVEMENT. These final plans, although costing less than the original, are a distinct improvement. The wing to the main building will be on the north side and face the schoolhouse, giving a much more imposing frontage. The basement will be under this Wing, which will include furnace room, boys’ room and locker room with shower baths. The kitchen will be on the main floor, convenient to all parts of the building.
75 Years Ago
November 1947
– Novato Lions Club Sea Scout Troop was organized last week in the Community House, when nine boys were signed up. Loyd Rasmussen presided at the meeting, and Danny Wise was elected skipper of the troop. Dick Reece was named treasurer and Kenton Struve, scribe. Plans for building a treasury were under discussion.
– Novato Sea Scouts were aground for seven hours in their boat, the “Sea Wolf” until the rising tide lifted it from the mud flats at the mouth of Novato creek last weekend.
50 Years Ago
November 1972
– Five young people (under 30) have formed a partnership to open a new business called “Henry’s Old World Bakery” at 1209 Grant Avenue. (In between Pauline’s dress shop and Peter’s Barber Shop.) The bakery includes a tearoom featuring herbal tea to alp along with the natural breads and pastries which will be the bakery’s mainstay.
– Dick Matthews, owner of Novato Glass and Sash Company, 700 Grant Avenue (across from Jim’s Sports Shop) is expanding his building to provide an additional 50 square feet of space. The new construction is to accommodate a larger selection of sliding glass doors, windows and a variety of mirrors, according to Matthews who has been in his present location for the past four years.
– The planning commission voted 3-2 Monday night to turn down a use permit for the Goodyear Company to build a retail tire and appliance store at the corner of Redwood Highway and Vallejo Avenue (across from Grand Auto). Helping to defeat the proposal was new commissioner Leroy Syrop, who was attending his first meeting. He was joined by Chairman John Schoonover and Gail Wilhelm while Ben Edwards and Beverly Ehreth favored the proposed store. Chairman John Schoonover said he could support the project if it were to be retail only, but not if it would include “working on cars.”
– Marlon Brando’s padded cheeks give him a new and menacing appearance for “The Godfather,” now playing at the Ignacio Theatre. Al Pacino scored a hit as his college-educated son, Michael.
– One of Novato’s oldest and one-time more stately mansions was destroyed in a fire late Saturday night, bringing to an end another link with the city’s past. The Wilson property at 716 Lamont Avenue, known to old-time Novatons at the Reichert Villa, had fallen into disrepair and been unoccupied for nearly three years. Several smaller fires had broken out over the years, but they had been quickly controlled. “The main building was totally involved by the time we arrived,” said Novato fireman Vern Toepfer, “so all we could do was contain it.” One of the wings of the building was saved, and the fire did not spread to the rain-soaked ground.
25 Years Ago
November 1997
– Threatening and sometimes dripping skies failed to dim the enthusiasm Saturday morning as Novato Mayor Pat Eklund led a groundbreaking ceremony to install field Lighting and other improvements to the Gary Gates Memorial Field at San Marin High School. Show piece of the new construction at the softball field will be Gates Tower, a two-story building which will house a snack bar, announcer/scorekeeper’s booth and restroom facility. Construction should be completed by next spring on what will be Novato’s first lighted softball field for Bobby Sox, high school and adult women’s play.
– Santa Claus is coming to town. Santa Claus will arrive in Novato on Saturday, Nov. 29 as part of Downtown Novato’s big Christmas opening. The fun begins at 4 p.m. with caroling down Grant Avenue beginning at Seventh Street. Carolers will be led by high school choir groups and will pause at selected locations to light Christmas trees as they make their way to the railroad depot on the corner of Grant and Railroad Avenue. Santa is expected to arrive by fire truck at about 5:30 p.m. After Santa lights the tree at the railroad depot, visitors are invited to enjoy refreshments provided by the Salvation Army and to visit Old Town and Downtown businesses holding special holiday open house events.
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