Mark Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
June 1922
– Many visitors from the neighboring towns came to Novato last Sunday to celebrate the Holy Ghost. Considering the traffic at the intersection of the Highway and our Main Street there was very little trouble—two slight accidents.
– William Millmeister passed away at his home here last Saturday evening at the age of 67 years, after several years of illness. The funeral was held with the Rev. Christensen officiating. Mr. Millmeister is survived by a son William, and a daughter, Charlotte, His wife having preceded him in death some time ago. He had been engaged in ranching for many years. The family has owned property in Novato for thirty years and have lived here for over seventeen years.
75 Years Ago
June 1947
– Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred James Glass are receiving congratulations on the birth of a son born on Monday morning at the Cottage Hospital in San Rafael. Drs. Weseman and Johnson were in charge of the case. The infant has two sisters, Sandy and Judy, at home.
– Novato Grove of Druids met last night for their regular session. Noble Arch John Olson presided. Among other matters discussed was the Shasta City Druid convention to be held June 15 to 10. A number of the members signified their intention of attending the sessions. Noble Arch Olson appointed a committee of sixteen members to act as a social committee for the lodge during his term. A report on the Druids’ annual carnival was given by Chairman “Babe” Silva.
– At the regular meeting of the Novato Chamber of Commerce last Tuesday evening, the matter of incorporation of Novato was discussed. Although the scheduled speaker on the subject was unable to be present, Judge Geo. Faulkner outlined some of the preliminary steps to be taken in such a move. It is planned to go into the matter more thoroughly at the next meeting, when it is hoped that representatives from each organization in town can be present to hear the discussion.
50 Years Ago
June 1972
– “Reub Kaehler’s Dream House,” the colorful name given to the residence being built by the local contractor as a fund-raising project for the Novato Boys Club, will have a 16×35 foot swimming pool donated by Tropicana Pools of Ignacio. The installation will be completed, according to Mike DeVall, owner-manager of Tropicana by the time the residence at 3 Christopher Court is turned over to the purchasers, Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Gregory, on June 20.
– This was the scene at dawn Sunday as the “oldest house” in Novato headed up a lonely Highway 101 after sitting 120 years at 1468 South Novato Boulevard. The city doesn’t quite know what to do with it, but it did agree to rescue it from the bulldozer The house was probably built in the 1840s and was the home of Novato’s first postmaster, Henry F. Johnson. (He later was found murdered, lying in a trough in front of his house) The house now sits on stilts on DeLong Avenue, kitty corner from City Hall, waiting a permanent foundation. Meanwhile, back at 1468 Novato Boulevard, a 28-unit apartment complex will soon rise.
25 Years Ago
June 1997
– Hans S. Eide, who came to this country from Norway and settled in Novato more than 60 years ago, has died. Mr. Eide passed away Sunday, June 1, 1997, at the age of 95. He was born in Bergen, Norway on March 24, 1902. He attended high school and trade school and then served a stint in the Norwegian navy. He was working as a merchant seaman when he arrived in San Francisco in the early 1920s. He met his bride, Alma Hoiland of Norway, at the Norwegian Seaman’s Hall in San Francisco. They were married in Alameda in 1925. Mr. Eide lived in Oakland and worked as a machinist on the Richmond ferry boats until construction of the Bay Bridge put him out of a job. He and his wife came to Novato in 1935 and he began working on the Sausalito ferries. Construction of the Golden Gate Bridge again put him out of a job. In 1937, Mr. Eide bought Washburn’s Market on Grant Avenue in Old Town Novato. He operated the O.K. Meat Market until 1945, when he sold it to Buck Azevedo and Jim Burroni. He went to work as a machinist in Corte Madera, then bought back his business in 1948. By this time, the butcher shop was located in Ascherman’s Market, now the Pini Hardware building. Mr. Eide sold the butcher shop for good in 1952, made a trip home to Norway, then returned to Novato, where he worked on construction of the new Indian Valley Golf Club—and the elevator linking the 9th and 10th holes. Golf remained one of his pastimes for many years.
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