Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
March 1922
– Mrs. Boileau and Frank, Mrs. Bear and Mr. Beau have now recovered from the flu. The whole family were ill in bed at the same time. Mr. Beau is still having trouble with his ears.
– There are several cases of diphtheria in Petaluma, and some deaths caused from it. Now that our little community has just recovered from the flu, we hope nothing worse will come to us.
– Poor old Dave Rose, who has been ill for many weeks, passed on Tuesday morning. His death was caused by pneumonia. Mr. Rose was an old timer in Novato at one time his family lived on the Gnoss ranch. He is survived by only one sister, Mrs. Moore.
75 Years Ago
March 1947
– Judge Herman Rudolff Dies Suddenly At Novato Home – Ending a career that was unusual in the fields of banking, diplomacy, business and as justice of the peace of Novato township, Judge Herman Rudolff died Monday afternoon. The end came to the prominent Novato resident while he slept at his home on Railroad Avenue, in the northern Marin County town, at 2 o’clock. Death came suddenly to the man whose direct and precise life spanned the most colorful town’s life. Coming from Germany in his young manhood with his brother-in-law, Herman Schultz, the late Judge Rudolff, an expert cheese maker, became associated with his relative in operating the Novato cheese factory which is now situated across from his home in Novato.
– Contractor E.R. MacDonald has the foundations laid and the framework started on the addition to the office of Dr. R.J. Weseman and Dr. Paul Johnson. The property which is owned by H.H. Graham is to be a one-story stucco building, 33-foot frontage on Grant Avenue, with a depth of 56-feet and will provide additional office space for the two doctors.
– The 15th annual dance of the Novato firemen was a success with close to 1,000 guests attending and enjoying the music of Paul Laws orchestra. All concessions were sold out as well as the refreshments served by members of the ladies’ auxiliary. A nice sum is assured for the benefit of the sick and injured firemen of the department.
– Plans for the county’s fourth and northern Marin’s first drive-in restaurant were on file with the county planning commission. Expected to be completed in time for the summer tourist trade, the restaurant will be built at Novato by Fred Morrow of Cotati, owner of Morrow’s drive-in, San Rafael, at an estimated cost of $40,000. Fronting on Highway 101, between Cherry and Plum Streets, the dining room proper will be semi-circular with office, kitchen, lockers, rest rooms and utility rooms to the rear. The parking area will be flooded-lighted. The site covers a 325 by 2,350-foot area, the building will be 43 by 54 feet. Lloyd A. Rasmussen of Novato is the architect and Phillip Merritt of Larkspur the contractor.
50 Years Ago
March 1972
– Rolin Trusses, invented and patented by San Rafael engineer Etienne Rolin, are lowered into place to form a roof for an addition being constructed to enlarge Aaero Heating on Sweetser Avenue owned by Dave Milano Paul Scheller is the contractor. The wood and steel trusses, manufactured in San Rafael, have been used in a couple of other buildings in Novato.
– The Sanitary Market, which has been open for business at 818 Grant Avenue for 26 years, has closed. According to Babe Silva, owner of the building, market owner Phil Pachel plans to retire soon and spend some time traveling. The Walt Goldsmith Saddlery opened Monday in the quarters that formerly housed the market. Goldsmith was in business on East Grant Avenue for a number of years before moving his operation to Rancho Olompali.
– Six teenage boys representing Novato’s highs, junior highs, and Our Lady of Loretto schools will have the distinction of being “founding members” of what will likely be a membership of over 1000 youngsters when the proposed Novato Boys Club opens its doors late this year or early in 1973.
– New owner of Marin Landscape Materials, located at Highway 101 and Atherton Avenue, is Martin Corbett. Corbett was employed by the RCA Corp. for 17 years. He was an executive in the Broadcast Division of the company. Bill Koenig will continue to act as manager of Marin Landscape Materials, according to Corbett, and will continue to have full responsibility for the operation of the business.
25 Years Ago
March 1997
– The Kiwanis Club of Novato celebrated 40 years of service to the community last Saturday night. Perhaps best known for its annual Novato Fish Derby which attracts hundreds of youngsters for a fun day of super fishing in Novato Creek, the Kiwanis Club of Novato has through the years helped the community in a multitude of other ways. The Kiwanis Club was one of the founders, and through the years has been one of the strongest supporters, of the Marin Museum of the American Indian in Miwok Park.
– Peggy Jean Morris, a gifted photographer who donated her time and talent to helping to preserve Novato’s history. Mrs. Morris was 66. Mrs. Morris was a professional photographer and processor. She worked for Mack Photo. In Novato, she put all three skills to work. She became a charter member of the Novato Historical Guild, which at that time was the sole owner and operator of the Novato History Museum. “Without Peggy we wouldn’t have had our photo lab,” said Jacqueline Moore, former director and curator of the museum. And without the lab, the museum would have had to pay dearly to have local families’ priceless photos reproduced. Instead, the sepia-toned photographs were entrusted to Mrs. Morris for copying. She handled hundreds of photographs as the museum’s collection grew.
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