Mike Read/Pages From The Past
100 Years Ago
December 1921
– A petition of bankruptcy for J. Gambetta Jr. a prominent rancher of the community was heard in the San Francisco court December 1st. His liabilities, are $l7,000 and his assets $5 000.
– The contractors for the new school started excavating December 12th.
– Geo. Oliver reports his traveling meat route so good he has had to put two machines on in order to get out his Saturday deliveries.
– Henry Pini is in the hospital following an operation on his ears. His friends hope for the early recovery of his hearing and that he will be with us again shortly. During his stay in the hospital Jean Tracy is taking his place in the store.
– The heavy increase in egg production for this district has become so marked that the shipments cannot be handled at the local Railroad Station, and a separate depot will be maintained in town to facilitate rapid handling. It is the idea of the producers to have the station in one of the stores downtown, with a man in charge. It is understood that most of the eggs will be shipped by auto truck.
– Sunday Henry Bros. Circus came to town and camped in the lot in front of the Rose Place. Their few animals and ponies were a great attraction to the youngsters who were over there every opportunity.
– While Deputy George S. Tones was chasing four men in a Studebaker car for reckless driving, said car turned over twice while making the turn near the Black Point cut-off. No one was hurt but the machine was badly damaged.
75 Years Ago
December 1946
– A.W. Bowman, president of the Novato Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed one of the directors of the Marin County hospital district.
– Frank W. Heidinger, 69, plasterer of Novato, was arrested in Petaluma on a charge of disturbing the peace involving what police said was his argument with Montgomery store management over changing an article which he had previously purchased. During the argument Heildinger knocked down C.P. Chalker, the store manager, who fell against a glass show case, breaking it and tearing his clothes.
– R.A. (Rube) Thompson of Novato, member of the Marin County board of supervisors for 14 years will end his service with the board on December 31. Thompson who was reared here will be succeeded by his relative Robert H. Trumbull, of Novato. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have purchased a home at Paradise Cove where they will reside to be near Mrs. Thompson’s son-in-law and daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Loren Tanner. Mrs. Thompson is an attorney known professionally as Natalie Holly.
50 Years Ago
December 1971
– Next year’s Western Weekend celebration may be held two weeks earlier than usual. According to Max Maxwell, vice president of Western Weekend Inc., the earlier weekend—June 3 and 4—is being considered because the traditional Father’s Day weekend, June 17 and 18, is too late for local high school bands to participate. The WW board is making every effort this year to restore the traditional Western Weekend parade. The parade will depend on local musical groups because a parade with trophies that would attract out-of-town groups is considered too expensive. “We want this to be a hometown parade,” said Maxwell.
– The Advance has learned that the U. S. Coast Guard is actively studying potential use of Hamilton Air Force Base for its 12th District air station instead of present facilities next to San Francisco International Airport. Coast Guard spokesmen yesterday, replying to an Advance query at 12th District headquarters in San Francisco, confirmed they are “exploring the possibility of using a portion of Hamilton Air Force Base facilities,” but they said candidly that “the status of the study at this time is unknown.” An early decision could be pending.
25 Years Ago
December 1996
– Anne Welter died Nov. 24,1996 at her home in Novato. Mrs. Welter, who was 76, fought a long battle with cancer. She had made her home in Novato for 36 years. She was born in Thann, France and graduated from the University of Strasbourg at the age of 17 with a degree in English. She married her husband, Laurent Welter, in 1937 and they came to America the same year. The Welters lived in Burlingame, San Francisco and Nevada before coming to Novato in 1960. She and her husband opened Grant Avenue Meats in Novato in 1969. Mrs. Welter worked in the shop and did all the bookkeeping. The couple sold the business in 1983. Mrs. Welter continued to do bookkeeping for several other local businesses until this year.
– The old A&W at 1531 South Novato Blvd. in the Nave Shopping Center has gone the way of the stegosaurus. In its place is California Grill & Rotisserie, which opened last Friday, Nov. 29. You won’t recognize the old place: It’s taken several hundred thousand dollars to gut, redesign and outfit the restaurant in a contemporary California style. A labor of love for Ken Steffen and his son—also named Ken—of San Rafael, the restaurant will combine the best of both worlds: fine coffees and pastries in the morning and great grilled chicken, steaks and burgers on the lunch and dinner menus. The younger Steffen is the chef. He was a chef at the Hard Rock Cafe in San Diego and the five-star Resort at Squaw Creek.
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