Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
May 1923
– A trip through the Novato valley is a pleasure at this time. Crops are immense, fruit most promising and prosperity and happiness evident everywhere. Truly this is a Valley of No Regrets.
– May Day, the anniversary of the entrance of Admiral Dewey into Manila Bay, ground was broken for the erection of a building to house Novato’s paper and job printing plant. G. Trabucchi a Novato contractor, is putting up the building, assisted by Novato carpenters, and all the material used will be purchased from or through local dealers as far as possible. When the Advance is settled in its new home, the latchstring will be hung on the outside of the front door, and all friends will be welcome to enter without knocking. Back of the printing office will be the editor’s domicile, where cordiality will be enthroned.
75 Years Ago
May 1948
– Mr. and Mrs. Hans Eide entertained at a Smorgasbord luncheon Sunday at their home on Canyon Road to present the bride of their son, Harry Eide, the former Jane Ruhlman, who was recently married in Reno, Nevada.
– Novato Calls For Mass Meeting – DOES THE COMMUNITY OWN THE COMMUNITY HOUSE? Up and down the streets of Novato this question is being argued by the citizens of Novato and its environs. On March 1, 1924, the Novato Advance printed this article: The Community House IS A LOCAL INVESTMENT, managed by and OWED BY THE PEOPLE irrespective of race, color or creed. Thursday evening of each week is set aside as moving picture night, the proceeds of which go toward the upkeep of the Community House. This being understood, we should avoid any counter attraction as far as possible, and thus help in a small way to maintain the splendid enterprise which stands to the credit of the Valley of No Regrets. The Novato Community House is, or should be, the social center for all community gatherings. It was built for that purpose and the citizens of Novato contributed cash and donated their labor and personal possessions to construct and equip and furnish the building, and to purchase the land upon which the building rests with that purpose in mind according to the treasurer’s report of 1924 to the Community House council. A MASS MEETING of all interested citizens is to be held Saturday evening, May 15, 1948, Community House, to elect a community council representative of the citizens of Novato, and also to adopt maintenance and conduct of this community center. NOVATO COMMUNITY, INC. By C FLUGGER, President.
50 Years Ago
May 1973
– When the Novato Advance yesterday called the residence of Mayor Fred Ruegg, the newspaper was told by Mrs. Ruegg that the mayor “had moved.” She said she did not have his new phone number, but suggested that the Advance call “Dorothy Young’s office; they should know there.” Mrs. Ruegg reportedly has talked to attorneys about divorce. If so, the Rueggs would be the second marriage casualty on the council this past year. Dorothy Young, who herself is an attorney, dissolved her marriage to her husband Ray last fall.
– There will be a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday for the new Masonic Temple to be built in Novato. The ceremony will commence at the new lodge site on Novato Boulevard near McClay Road. The $100,000 temple is to be completed by September 1, according to Carl Kilefner, worshipful master of Lodge 751. The contractor is Edward W. Burgar Inc. of San Rafael.
– A champagne reception will be held at the Novato Pre History Museum to acquaint the community with the museum, its collections and displays, its work, and its services. The open house event is being sponsored by Novato Republican Women, Federated. The prehistory museum is owned by the city of Novato and operated by the Marin Museum Society. John McBeath is the director, Teresa Miller the curator. A guild has been formed to help with the operations. The pre-history museum is located in Miwok Park at 2100 Novato Boulevard.
25 Years Ago
May 1998
– Novato’s Pleasant Valley School may help revolutionize the way children learn history. Pleasant Valley is the only elementary school in the United States chosen to participate in the National Digital Library Project. Beginning next fall, students will be able access online photographs, documents and sound recordings from the Library of Congress digital archives. “The support and training that we receive from this project will change the way we teach and the way students learn,” said Principal Sandy Kuzma. Access to the archives is anything but dull. “When people think of the Library of Congress, they think of government documents. But the kids will be able to see original manuscripts by Walt Whitman and letters written in Abraham Lincoln’s writing. They’ll listen to interviews given on WPA and hear the actual voices,” Kuzma said.
– Novato’s post office is undergoing a major facelift after 30 years at its current location, with construction work on the lobby curtailing mail service until the expected completion of renovation on July 7. “This project has been in the works for several
years,” said Post Office Administrator Larry Adams. “The (U.S. Postal Service) has been upgrading its facilities wherever possible to create a fresher appearance. Essentially, there have been no changes in this building since it opened in July 1968. Visually, it’s the same as 30 years ago. We want to become more user friendly.”
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