Mike Read/Pages From The Past
(Editor’s Note: Pages From The Past remembers Novato through the years via the pages of the historic Novato Advance.)
100 Years Ago
November 1922
– The canal to the State highway, across the Cobb, Wright & Owen ranch, will soon be open. The dredger is making rapid progress and landings and buildings will be constructed sufficient to handle all the business of water transportation to Novato.
– The contract for the construction of Mrs. Nielsen’s cottage has been let to J. W. Crow. Work has already commenced and will be rapidly pushed to completion.
– The committee appointed by the dairymen to look into the matter of establishing a creamery here called a meeting in the Community House last week and reported what had been done. Judge H. Rudolff, chairman of the committee, had a creamery supply representative address the meeting and outline in detail the cost of the various articles needed in the equipment of a 1,200 cow capacity creamery, along with an ice plant that would supply the needs of this district. It was stated that the total cost would amount to something like $13,000, in addition to the building and the ground.
– Work on L. Nave’s new garage is progressing, cement pouring having been commenced. Work will be pushed forward as rapidly as possible, and when completed this building will be an ornament to the entrance to Novato from the State highway.
75 Years Ago
November 1947
– More than 260 kids and grownups had a merry Halloween parade down Novato streets. It was sponsored by the P.T.A. and the chamber of commerce.” Virgil Hill, master of ceremonies, directed from the loudspeaker in a car parked in front of the Novato theater. The well rouged Sweater Girl “his” identity concealed by a mask, held the little tots above his head for the applause of the crowd, Caryl Askim made a fetching Spanish Senorita. Horns and other noise makers were deafening. Each child was given a bag of popcorn and serpentine. Otherwise, the town had a mild Halloween.
50 Years Ago
November 1972
– The California Historical Landmarks Advisory Committee has approved a request that Rancho Olompali, located north of Novato, be designated as a historic site and be listed with the National Registry of Historic Places. The action was taken last week at a meeting of the advisory committee held at the state Donner Park Museum. Representing the county were Mrs. Gail Wilhelm and Dolores Cannon of Novato, members of the Novato unit of the Marin Conservation League. In the Olompali presentation made to the committee by Mrs. Wilhelm, she explained that the site has state-wide significance historically especially because of a battle which occurred there during the Bear Flag Rebellion, and it was rare for a Mexican Indian to receive a land grant as was the case when Camilo Initia, last headman of the Miwoks was given the Olompali land grant by the Mexican government in 1843.
– The Human Needs Center, still without a permanent home, has attracted a number of new volunteers and is better prepared to provide emergency help to needy persons than ever before, according to Annette Smail, volunteer coordinator. Even though the Center is officially open only two mornings a week (Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. until noon) in the United Methodist Church, volunteers are working out of their own homes on a daily basis.
– Nixon was the popular hero on yesterday’s ballot for most Novatans. They gave him more votes than any other candidate or issue. The President received a 65 per cent vote of confidence from local residents.
– The local Masonic lodge Hamilton Lodge No. 751—has announced plans to build a Masonic Temple in Novato. Expected to cost about $60,000, it will be constructed on the south side of Novato Boulevard west of McClay Road. The site was purchased nine years ago. The lodge hopes to have it completed by next summer. A contractor is to be selected soon. Present plans call for erecting a 5500-square-foot shell which will be completed by lodge members, who include carpenters, electricians, tile setters and other members of the building crafts. The lodge will seek donations of material as well as labor.
25 Years Ago
November 1997
– Ernie Gray was honored for 20 years’ service to the City of Novato Tuesday night by being named the city’s first “Mayor Emeritus.” The honor Gray was bestowed on the outgoing councilmember in recognition of his five terms and 20 years’ service on the city council, including four times as mayor. Next Tuesday, Gray will officially be replaced on the council by newly elected Jim Henderson, a candidate who had the long-term councilmember’s endorsement during the campaign that culminated with his election on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
– A vote on the Black Point Golf Links project initiative sponsored by the project developers will come Feb. 10—maybe. Both the initiative and a referendum against the Novato City Council approval of the project sponsored by opponents will be on the same ballot as the initiative—maybe. Because of differing state laws governing initiatives and referendums, the only date the two could be on the same ballot would be Feb. 17. The Novato City Council, responding to the developers’ initiative enforced by more than 6,000 signatures already verified by the Marin County Clerk, Tuesday night agreed to a Feb. 10 election. However, the council left open the option of switching to a Feb. 17 vote if enough of the 4,250 signatures turned in by project opponents Tuesday are valid to qualify their referendum for the ballot. The council will decide at its Tuesday, Nov. 18 meeting whether or not to put the dueling proposals on the same ballot, thus pushing the special election back to Feb. 17. At issue is a proposal for an 18-hole championship golf course and 53 luxury homes on the Renaissance Faire site in Black Point.
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