Mark Read/Pages From The Past
The ‘Bean Feed’ may be past its prime
100 Years Ago
July 1920
— The Novato Utilities Company, according to its financial report for 1919 filed with the railroad Commission, received a gross operating revenue of $8,427.90, operating expenses totaled $7,289.49, leaving a net operating revenue of $1,134.41. Deductions, which included rent, interest, uncollected bills. Etc., less non-operating revenues, amounted to $253.26. The report shows a net income of $885.15 for the year.
— Coming Events – July 24 – Grand ball by Novato Grove of Druids, No. 113, Loustanau Hall. Floor managers, William Nave, J.H. DeRosa and H. Pini. Admission 50 cents.
75 Years Ago
July 1945
— Mr. and Mrs. Roy H. Wendelken, of Youngstown, Ohio, took possession of the Quality Bakery on Tuesday of this week, having purchased same from Clara Meyers and George Schillings. The new owners announce the official opening as Saturday of this week and hope to meet many of the Novato folks on that day. The former owners wish to express their appreciation for the staunch support given them during the long years they were in business, and extend to the new owners best wishes for their success.
— A.S. McGlamery, former owner of Mac’s Cafe at Ignacio, until that village was taken for governmental purposes, has purchased the property of Frank Pinheiro, comprising the triangle piece north of Atherton Avenue and 101 highway intersection. If rezoning of the property from agricultural to a commercial status can be made, Mr. McGlamery plans to construct a restaurant on the site.
50 Years Ago
July 1970
— The Novato Lions Club cooks who prepared food for 600 people served only 150 picnickers at the July 4 annual Bean Feed Saturday at Lions Park. Robert Eddy, the club’s president, said the group broke even in the venture. He said the whole idea of a bean feed will be re-evaluated. He said he thinks it is a “program out of tune with the times” because the “days of mass picnics are fading away.”
— SPECIAL THIS WEEK – Giant Burger on an English Muffin, Spuds, And a Cold Drink $.69 – GRAND OPENING SUNDAY, JULY 19th – MEET BEN DAVIDSON OF THE OAKLAND RAIDERS-FREE AUTOGRAPHS – FRENCHI’S – HWY. 101 AND FIRST STREET AND FRONT
25 Years Ago
July 1995
— In a dramatic change from 20 years of toil and turmoil, they came to praise Hamilton Field and not to bury it last week. Close to 200 Novato community leaders joined Army and other federal government officials at groundbreaking ceremonies Thursday, July 6 for a development project that will bring 920 new homes and 825,000 square feet of new commercial space to the former Air Force base. The development ends 20 years of local, regional and federal funding over how best to convert the military base to civilian use.
— Park & Rec commission leaders – The Novato Parks and Recreation Commission has appointed Bradford R. Beedle its chairperson. He has lived in Novato for eight years. Serving as vice chairperson is John Reuscher. Reuscher has been very active in baseball and senior programs in Novato.
— The Novato Chamber of Commerce is in the initial phase of drumming up business for local stores through a new Shop Novato campaign. Based on the successful Shop Antioch program, the campaign will encourage Novatans as well as people from other cities to shop in Novato.
— William C. Haigwood, publisher of the Novato Advance for the past six years, is leaving the newspaper to join the staff of the Buck Center for Research in Aging as director of community relations. Haigwood will officially leave the Advance Aug. 11 and begin his new job Aug. 14. Haigwood replaces Kathie Graham, who directed the Buck Center’s community relations for more than five years.
— The race is on. Carole Dillon-Knutson, who finished a close second in last June’s special election for one open seat on the Novato City Council, has announced she will try again when three seats are up for grabs this November. “At the urging of persons in both the environmental and business communities, I have decided to declare for the Novato City Council,” Dillon-Knutson said. The terms of Dennis Fishwick, Bernie Meyers and Cynthia Murray — all first-time council members — expire in November. There are still more than two years remaining on the terms of Ernie Gray and Pat Eklund. Only Fishwick has stated definitely that he will seek re-election.
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