Mike Read/Pages From The Past
(Editor’s Note: Pages From The Past is compiled from the pages of the historic Novato Advance by the Novato Historical Society.)
100 Years Ago
November 1923
– Paper and Rag Drive – The Novato P.T.A. will have a paper and rag drive, conducted by Mrs. Chas. Olson. The ladies ask for your help. A large sum of money may, thereby, be collected for school use. It will be greatly appreciated if you will tie your newspaper and magazines in separate bundles. Rags will also help to increase the funds. Notify Mrs. Olson, phone Main 362, and papers and rags will be called for. The drive will last until January.
– Wanted – Plow harness for two horses. Northvale Farm, end of Feliz Road, mile west of Novato.
– E. R. McDonald is preparing the old Community House for H. Pini &Co.
– Burglar in Town – A knight of the darkness got busy and on Saturday night entered the Novato Ice Cream Parlor and stole about $6 in cash and two packages’ cigarettes. Sunday night he tried the post office, but secured nothing, Constable DeLucchi is on the track of the thief and an arrest may soon be made.
75 Years Ago
November 1948
– Novato Advance – Mr. and Mrs. Court Harrington left for their ranch in New Mexico, after which they will sail for Honolulu to spend Christmas with their two daughters and their families. They will return to Novato around the first of the year. The Harrington place, the former Burdell property, north of Novato on 101 Highway, has been sold to the Jesuit priests of Loyola University for a retreat.
– The Press Democrat – The California Province of the Society of Jesus has purchased the 750-acre tract of the historic Olompali Rancho. In San Francisco, the Rev. Carroll O‘Sullivan, of the University of San Francisco house of the society, said the purchase was made for investment purposes. Portions of the rancho will be leased out to dairy and chicken farmers. Court Harrington had acquired the property some years ago.
– Stockton Evening Paper- A 750-acre tract of the historic Olompali rancho has been purchased by University of San Francisco. The announcement said the property would be used as a retreat for elderly Jesuit Priests and as a recreation center for the younger clergy. Included in the deal is a 14-room adobe house, reputed to be the oldest north of San Francisco. It was finished just after Mission Dolores in San Francisco was dedicated in 1776. The resident of the house was an Indian Chief, Camila Yanita.
50 Years Ago
November 1973
– Ed Roark and his wife Dorothea of San Anselmo are new owners of the Carousel Drive-in Restaurant at 7441 Redwood Highway. They bought the restaurant from Bob Doiron, who plans to concentrate on his drive-in in Sonoma. Roark is co-owner of another drive-in restaurant in Fairfax. He says he plans to add some new items to the Carousel menu in the near future.
– San Marin history teacher Joan Bowerman was explaining to her class how respect for policemen seems to vary from country to country. She pointed out that in England police commanded so much respect that they didn’t have to carry guns. “Yes,” observed student Galen Burgett, “but they carry whistles and if anyone tries to run away, they shout ‘stop or I’ll toot.”
– A new tire store, Tire Town, opened last week in the former United Rent-all building at 6979 Redwood Highway. According to Jess and Esther Katz, owners, the store will feature Kelly Springfield tires/and will offer a complete auto repair facility.
25 Years Ago
November 1998
– The schedule of events for the first Dickens of a Holiday in Novato has been set. The kickoff will be Friday, Nov. 27 at 4 p.m. when Santa Claus makes his arrival, traveling from Seventh Street to Reichert Avenue and on to City Hall on Sherman Avenue where Novato Mayor Mike Di Giorgio will open the festivities with a tree lighting ceremony.
– Parakeets and turtles, finches, tropical fish and—once—kittens, C.C. Manning and Sherry Strugnell have seen them all. The two Novato women have owned and operated Scooter’s Pet Shop on Grant Avenue for 25 years. Come Dec. 5, they will close its doors. They plan to retire. Scooter’s is Marin’s oldest pet store. For Manning and Strugnell, giving it up won’t be easy. “We’ve had some wonderful, delightful moments,” Manning said. Much of the joy in their business has come from helping two generations of animal lovers choose a first pet. Scooter’s was established by Betty Seiler in 1953; she named it after her pet monkey. Seiler sold the business to George and Molly Weatherstone, who managed it until 1974.
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