Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
August 1923
– Mr. and Mrs. Frank DeLong, old friends of judge Herman Rudolff, and former Novato-ites have taken up their summer residence in San Rafael.
– Novato Canal Nearing Completion – The canal being cut through the Wright & Owens track is nearing completion, and in a couple of more weeks will be ready to accommodate any kind of river vessels. The length of the canal is a fraction over two miles from the Petaluma creek, and it terminates at the Northwestern Pacific railroad tract and the redwood State highway two miles north of Novato. This waterway is 100 feet wide, ending in a 500-foot turning basin, which is of a T shape. The depth of the canal is eight feet below low tide. This waterway will provide deep and short water transportation to San Francisco, Stockton, Sacramento and all river and bay points.
75 Years Ago
August 1948
– A.J. Dahlgren, owner of the Dahlgren Drug Store in Petaluma, announced today that he will establish a drug store in Novato in the Simard Building on West Grant Avenue. Dahlgren said this morning that he hoped to open the new store about September 15. Larry Dean will manage the store and. be a part owner. Mr. Dahlgren owns one other store, the one he now operates in Petaluma.
– Formal announcement of the engagement of Miss Esther Knutte to Danny Wise was made by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. L. R. Knutte, at their home on Indian Valley Road. The occasion also honored Esther’s eighteenth birthday, and immediate members of both families gathered for the dinner party and double celebration. Danny is the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan K. Wise, and both young people are June graduates of San Rafael High School, Danny has the Hobby Shop on Grant Avenue, Wedding plans are indefinite as yet.
50 Years Ago
August 1973
– Five bids were opened for the first phase of construction of Indian Valley Colleges in Novato. The apparent low bidder is Jasper Construction Company of Santa Cruz with a bid of $4,689,000. Target date for completion of the first phase is January 1975, with the first classes on the new campus to begin with the spring term of that year.
– Western Oaks, the townhouse community on Redwood Boulevard in South Novato, marked the completion of its first phase. Stalled by bankruptcy proceedings involving the original developer, Western Hosts, it has been completed and reopened. There are two basic floor plans, the Sequoia with three bedrooms and the Laurel with two bedrooms. The sales agent for Western Oaks is Frank Howard Allen & Company, with seven offices in Marin County and over 85 sales associates. According to Bruce Pohoriles, project director for Western Oaks, over 70 townhouse homes are now available, with prices from $27,250 to $31,750.
– City Manager Charles Brown canceled his subscription to the Advance last week. We were hoping this was an indication he would be moving soon from the community. But no such luck. Brown told the carrier boy he was mad at the paper. We think we can survive without Charlie Brown’s subscription; the question is, can Novato survive Charles Brown any longer?
25 Years Ago
August 1998
– Novato’s Lucky supermarket became part of the largest grocery chain in the country this week when Albertson’s Inc. purchased Lucky, Acme and Jewel stores. The $8.3 billion deal combines 2,470 stores in 37 states. The company’s corporate headquarters will remain at Albertson’s headquarters in Boise, Idaho. Stores are expected to retain their current names. There are no Albertson’s markets in Marin County, but Lucky stores are located in San Rafael, Mill Valley, Larkspur and Fairfax. In addition, a new super Lucky grocery and drug store is under construction at Hamilton Field.
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