Doc Weseman dies – Novato Hospital founder

Mike Read/Pages From The Past

(Editor’s Note: Pages From The Past is compiled from the historic Novato Advance by the Novato Historical Society.)

100 Years Ago

November 1923

– H. Pini & Co. are preparing to enlarge and extend their business. The old Community House has been rented and is being overhauled. A large and well-equipped room is being made for the post office, which will be moved in as soon as permission is granted, and the building is ready. The remainder of the building will be used by H. Pini & Co. to carry their stock of heavy hardware. The present quarters of the company will be used for a large stock of light hardware. The grocery and vegetable department will occupy the building now being used by the post office. These changes will give H. Pini & Co. ample room for the different departments of their business and be convenient for their customers. 

– Sparks from a burning chimney ignited the shingles on the roof of A. D. Scott’s home Wednesday night. The blaze was discovered and extinguished before much damage was done.

75 Years Ago

November 1948

–Mrs. A.H. Andersen, who has resided in Novato for the last 18 years, has moved to San Rafael. Mrs. Andersen has been conducting a real estate and insurance business for a number of years.

– Doug’s Fountain on Grant Avenue has been leased to Mrs. Nellie and son Charles and wife. They took possession and will continue with the same line of business.

– Harriet’s Portrait Studio of Petaluma opened a branch on Grant Avenue, next to Dahlgren’s drug store.

– The Chinese restaurant owned by Mrs. DeBorba, which was recently destroyed by fire, will be remodeled.

– General “Hap” Arnold, with Mrs., Arnold, and their daughter, who recently returned from Chile, were among those dining at Maison Marin last Monday evening,

50 Years Ago

November 1973

– Dr. Ralph J. Weseman, a Novato physician since 1935, died this morning at Novato General Hospital following a long illness. He was born 67 years ago in Orfino. Idaho, and later moved with his family to Mountain View. He received his medical degree at Loma Linda University. In the late 1940’s he served on the steering committee which founded Marin General Hospital, and in 1955 he and a number of associates who had joined him here built the Twin Brook Medical facility at Grant Avenue and Fourth Street. Dr. Weseman was instrumental in establishing Novato General Hospital in 1960 and until earlier this year, served for some time as president of its board of directors.

– The long-awaited expansion of Novak Square on Novato Boulevard is due to begin the First week of December. All but 500 square feet of the 80,000 feet of new construction has been leased and the new stores should be ready for occupancy. The new tenants include Pay and Save Drug store, a Seattle based chain which has stores throughout the west coast; Martinizing dry cleaners and laundry; Ernie’s Liquors, Radio Shack, Fashion Fabrics (a firm based in Salt Lake City), Kayser’s Pastries, Kurt Roesner, proprietor; and an ice cream store to be operated by Thomas Stalbaum of Novato.

– The opening date for Goodman’s Home Center has not been set yet but it will be before the end of the year, according to Jack Clumeck Jr., who will be manager of the Novato store. The former Lee Bros. Market at Seventh Street and Grant Avenue is being remodeled to house Goodman’s. The store will sell building materials for the do-it yourselfer.

25 Years Ago

November 1998

– A man who has done much to shape the future of his community is Novato’s 1998 Citizen of the Year. Jeff McAlpin, who sat in the hot seat as President of the Novato Community Hospital Board of Trustees during the controversial planning of a new hospital, and who has helped guide the Novato Unified School District through both triumph and trouble, was the surprised recipient of this year’s prestigious award. McAlpin was honored at a special Community Awards Night held last Wednesday, Nov. 18 in the Hamilton Field Community Center.

– A dedicated and determined group of Novato Community Hospital, Sutter Health and Novato community leaders have been butting their collective head against pessimism, skepticism and controversy for more than a decade. Last Thursday, Nov. 19, the dam broke, and pride, excitement and joy poured through as ground was broken for a new Novato Community Hospital. Novato’s new hospital will be a two-story, 65,000 square-foot, acute-care hospital with up to 50- patient beds. A 58,000 square foot medical office building will be built adjacent to the new hospital. It will be located on Rowland Way, on the east side of Highway 101.