USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 26
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1868 .- The city records tell us that on the 31st March of this year the resignation of Trustee Daniel Shorr from the Board was accepted and Joseph Albertson duly elected to the vacancy; at the same time J. D. Hassett was
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chosen President of the Body for the unexpired term in place of W. A. C. Smith, who resigned that position as well as his scat at the Board, the latter position being filled by the appointment of J. N. Bailhache. On April 6th, L. W. Boggs was appointed City Clerk, and the office of Marshal declared vacant by the removal of F. E. Poor outside of the incorporated limits, John W. Clack being delegated to fill the office as well as that of Pound Master. The Clerk was directed, on this date, to post notices in conspicuous places, informing the inhabitants of the town that the acts of the Board of Trustees having been legalized by the Legislature, the laws would be enforced in ac- cordance therewith.
1869 .- March 10th, John N. Bailhache was appointed Clerk to the Board and on May 3d the following Corporation officers were elected: D. Bloom, J. E. Fenno, J. Mulligan, Joseph Albertson, James Thistle, Board of Trustees; S. M. Hays, Recorder; J. G. McManus, Treasurer; J. W. Clack, Assessor; W. B. Reynolds, Marshall; the new Board electing on the 8th, John Mulligan, President and John N. Bailhache, Clerk. On June 28th repairs were ordered on the foot-bridge to North Healdsburg, the contract to be awarded to the lowest bidder, proposals being received from H. Tiddle and J. Cook, the first with specifications showing a cost of fifty-six dollars, and the latter fifty- eight. The repairs were reported completed in accordance with the tender of J. Cook, who had put on more labor and material than the other. W. A. C. Smith was elected City Clerk on the 19th July, and on September 13th the Marshal presented a report extending from June 15th to September 15th inclusive, showing that he had received forty dollars for licenses, fines, etc., which was placed on file. On the 20th, the clerk was ordered to advertise for sealed proposals to repair the foot-bridge on East Street, the contract for which was granted to E. W. Hendricks and reported completed November 15th. Captain L. A. Norton was appointed City Attorney on this date. October 4th, occurs the following minute: Owing to the sudden and untimely death of James Thistle, a member of the Board of Trustees, resolutions expressing the known sentiments of the remaining members were ordered to be drafted relative to the sad affair.
Throughout the year 1869, Healdsburg had shown a steady and permanent growth. Houses had sprung up here and there, all of a more substantial character than those hitherto erected. Neat and ornamental fences had been built, porches spread out, barns constructed, other out-buildings of various styles and sizes projected and completed, wings and ells, backs and fronts, attached to the original houses, while its schools, churches, and other publicinsti- tutions were all in a flourishing condition. In this regard, the Russian River Flag, of December 30, 1869, informs us that Healdsburg is an incorporated town, of about sixteen hundred inhabitants, and has a public school with four teachers, one Academy with two teachers, eight churches, four saloons, two hotels, one Masonic, one Odd-Fellows, and one Good-Templar's Lodge, one
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Brass band, one Singing Society, one Literary Society, five dry goods stores, four grocery and provision stores, one clothing store, two drug stores, two jewelers, three livery and feed stables, three lawyers, two poultry dealers, four physicians, one undertaker, one exchange dealer and broker, two tailors, five blacksmith's shops, four wagon shops, two saddler's shops, two paint shops, one meat market, two lumber yards, one newspaper and job printing office, two book stores, three millinery stores, three shoe shops, two barber shops, two glove manufactories, one telegraph office, one express office, two dentists, one brick yard, two nurseries (near town, ) one chair factory, two stove and tin shops, one photograph gallery, two gunsmiths, one flouring mill in town, and one within three miles, and three saw-mills within eight miles.
1870 .- We find in the proceedings of the Board of Trustees for this year that on January 26th, the petition of R. Hertel and others for widening Matheson street, from Mrs. Thoroughgood's corner, east, was received with the verbal assurance from Mr. Liddle and others, that the parties owning lots on said street, were willing to waive all claim to damages, with the exception of the above named Mrs. Thoroughgood, who demanded that the town furnish the material necessary to build a substantial fence on the line of her lot. The petition was, on motion, received and ordered filed, the verbal conditions and agreements acceded to, and Mr. Hendrick appointed a Committee to superintend the building of the fence. On the same date W. B. Reynolds, resigned the office of Marshal and was succeeded by John W. Clack on February 28th, when was also carried the resolution that the Town Attorney be instructed to take such steps as will secure the county road-tax, assessed against the town of Healdsburg, to the use of said town. North street, between East and Fitch streets was declared open, on the 25th March, and a vote of thanks tendered to Mr. Dunne, for his liberality in regard to the widening of it. April 22d, permission was granted to J. M. Vaughan to dig a well to supply water to sprinkle the streets, such well to be placed in the slough in such a position that it should be no inconvenience to the public; it was also then ordered that the Town Marshall should receive a fixed salary of forty dollars a month, in lieu of fees. The Clerk was directed, on July 25th to notify the inhabitants that the poll-tax became due on the 1st instant, and that if not paid within the time provided by Section three, of Ordinance No. six, collection would be made according to law. Mr. Albert- son tendered his resignation from the Board, at this meeting, which was not accepted.
In the month of February of the year 1870, the President of the Board of Trustees in his semi-annual report, took occasion to congratulate the citi- zens of Healdsburg on their present and prospective prosperity, while as a proof of this, if such were needed, private dwellings, stores, and a church were being erected. This last was being undertaken by the Baptist body who had, since June, 1868, been holding their meetings in the Academy
Que &hooper
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chapel. The building as it stands to-day is a handsome one, being thirty- four by fifty-five feet, the front having a low tower on the north-east corner and a graceful spire on the south-east. Private schools had been opened by Miss Northcutt and Miss Forsman, which were receiving a fair share of patronage, while the want of a public hall suitable for the accommodation of from six to eight hundred people was much felt; the only detracting influence was felt to be the want of proper street accommodation. A writer in the local prints of the time calls for a new survey in these words: The town of Healdsburg was first laid out by Harmon Heald. He little dreamed then that it would ever become a town of even its present proportions. He took no thought as to its distant future, and had no visions of its coming glory that those of us here now think we see. He, therefore, began at & point at or near a big tree, and ran two parallel streets about north by east, until they brought up against the southern shore of the slough. Two other parallel streets were made across these at right angles; the square thus formed being the plaza. Two other streets were added, making three each way. This was the original town plat. Since then Hayden's, Knaack's, Jacob Heald's, Willson's, Matheson's, and perhaps other additions, have been appended with a variety of "dips, spurs and angles;" no two having the same bearing. Some of these additions were made without a correct survey, and some have never been recorded. Now that the railroad is coming, (for the subject of the railroad had been then attracting great attention throughout the length of the valley from Petaluma to Cloverdale,) and we may expect a rapid increase in the value of property, would it not be well to have an official survey of the town, and a full and correct plat filed and recorded in the county records? It will be cheaper to do this now than at any time hereafter. Streets need straightening, some want to be made wide, and others ought to be extended through what, in some instances, is now private property. The chain of title to property and an accurate description of it will at some time require this, and the sooner it is attended to the better. It is a great pity that a town on so beautiful a natural site should present such a labyrinth of ungainly streets, twisting and squirming in all directions, some wide, some narrow, and others running against some man's fence and ending at his front door.
The last subject worthy of attracting attention in the year 1870 in regard to local history, was the decision of the case, The Inhabitants of Healdsburg versus B. C. Wright. This was an action brought by the Corporation of Healdsburg to enforce the payment of Poll-tax for town purposes. The case was taken up from Justice Hays' Court to the County Court on appeal, L. A. Norton for plaintiffs and D. F. Spur for defendant. After a full hearing on the following points, to wit .: First-Are the present Board of Trustees legally holding office, not having been elected at the time appointed for electing officers, there being no election held, and the present incumbents
15
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holding over ? Second-Was not the collection of a poll-tax without an assessment of a property-tax a fraud upon the people? The Court held that the officers were legal officers of the town and that the collection of poll-tax was legal and proper. The following story we glean from the Flag of June 30, 1870: " Last week, while a son of Mr. Cobb was digging a hole in the rear of Cobb's new building on West street, he came upon the bones of a human being. They were decomposed enough to be easily broken in the hand. The jaws contained nearly a full set of teeth, which were worn down as they often are in a person of from forty to fifty years of age, and several of the back ones were much decayed. The skull was thin, indicating that it was that of a white person. " The body had been buried about three feet deep and was probably tumbled in without any care, as the bones ot the head, breast, arms, and hips were not as far a part as if the body had been lying stretched out. There were no indications of a coffin or clothing. About seven years ago a man who had come from up the country with a load of wood was seen in company with some suspicious characters then stopping in Healdsburg. The next morning large quantities of blood were discovered about a wagon bed and a threshing machine which were in the rear of Mr. Downing's shop-about a hundred feet from where these bones were found- and the man was never seen again, although dilligent search was made for him. It appears that no one here knew him or any of his friends, and the matter soon blew over, yet there were many who believed that two certain men had committed a murder and had effectually hid the body of their victim. Since the finding of these remains the old circumstances are revived, and there is a general belief that the original suspicions were well founded. One of the supposed murderers was long since sent to his final account, and the other is now a fugitive outlaw, the last heard of him being his flight from the State on a stolen horse. "
In January, 1870, a party of men started to jump the Geyser springs; another party representing the claims of one Pollack, who had a possessory claim on the property for years, were fully armed and sent from San Fran- cisco to the seat of the trouble. The case was afterwards taken to trial before the County Court, and on the 19th of February was decided in favor of Pollack, when damages to the amount of five hundred dollars were awarded him.
1871 .- At the meeting of the Board of Trustees held on 2d of February, R. Truitt was appointed road master, and directions given that the residents should be notified that the county road-tax would be collected by him. A petition from H. H. Hurd and fifty-one others, for straightening Main or West street, between North street and the Healdsburg Brewery was pre- sented on the 20th, and on motion referred back to the petitioners, with the request that they prepare a plat of the proposed change showing the amount of land that each property owner would lose or gain, with the sum that each
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claims or is willing to pay for damage or gain in consequence of the pro- posed change. The petition was rectified, and on April 3d, read, explained, and trustees W. A. C. Smith, J. G. McManus, and J. B. Beason appointed a - committee to review the matter in accordance with the ordinance. On' the 17th this committee was discharged, the majority refusing to serve, when W. A. C. Smith, George Haigh and Aaron Hassett were appointed, with instructions to make examination relative to the cost of bridging the slough, the clerk being directed at the same time to enter into a correspondence with Lindsay Carson with the object of obtaining a deed for West street in North Healdsburg. February 25th, the resigna- tion of Recorder Hays was tendered and accepted, Henry Sargent being appointed to the office for the unexpired term. The result of the last election was, on May 4th, declared to be: William Melton, H. W. Smith, B. C. Wright, A. M. Church, G. H. Peterson, Board of Trustees; Henry Sar- gent, Recorder; J. G. McManus, Treasurer; T. P. Maxwell, Marshal; S. P. McManus, Assessor and Collector; Trustee Church being elected to the Cor- poration Chair. On the 8th, a committee consisting of B. C. Wright, W. Melton. and H. W. Smith, having been appointed to select a suitable place wherein the Board should hold their meetings, reported on the 15th, that Firebaugh & Watson had tendered the use of a room for that purpose, which was duly accepted. At this session W. A. C. Smith was appointed Town Clerk, while on the 22d, Trustee Peterson presented to the Board a deed from Mrs. Matheson and Jessie Seaman, conveying to the town the title to certain lands to be utilized in the extension of Tucker street, which, on motion, was duly accepted and ordered recorded. Hereafter the subject of raising revenue for town purposes was brought forward, when it was ordered that the poll-tax of one dollar per capita, levied under the provisions of Ordinance No. 6, be considered assessed against and collected from the inhabitants for the ensu- ing year, and that due notice of the fact be given in the Russian River Flag. At the same meeting was also appointed a committee, consisting of B. C. Wright, W. Melton, and H. W. Smith, to act as Street Commissioners, whose duty should be to ascertain the wants and necessities of the Corpora- tion in street matters. June 5th, the alley west of West street was declared to be a public thoroughfare, and the Marshal instructed to clear all nui- sances therefrom. On July 7th, S. P. McManus having failed to qualify, the office of Assessor and Collector was declared vacant, and J. W. Clack appointed thereto; on the 17th, D. F. Spur was appointed Town Attorney, while, on the 22nd, the office of Street Superintendent was created and J. E. Stewart appointed thereto. The Marshall was instructed, on August 11th, to notify the two political clubs of the town to make their flag-staffs secure against falling, or other accident; the deed of land from J. J. Piper for street purposes being accepted on that date, the bid of said Piper to build the fences on either side of such land being then acknowledged-said street to be
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opened before the new year; while on the 14th a tax of one day's labor was levied on each male inhabitant for the purpose of working the streets of the town. The office of Clerk becoming vacant on the 2nd October, Thomas P. Maxwell was appointed to the position; while on the same date, the Assessor was instructed to assess all solvent notes and accounts not secured by mortgage. November 20th, the Street Superintendent reported having sold a dead tree on the plaza for two dollars and fifty cents. On the same date James Mitchell was appointed Deputy Marshal, in accordance with the terms of Ordinance No. 6, and on December 18th, D. F. Spur was delegated to fill the office of Town Clerk, F. P.vice Maxwell resigned.
The following remarks are taken from the Russian River Flag, and are here produced as being most apposite: During the past year (1871) Healdsburg has been looking up, and permanent improvements have been quite numerous-more so than ever before in a single year. During the past few weeks we have taken great pains to ascertain the location and cost of every new house erected within the corporate limits (and a few just over the line), together with their owner's names. Below we give a list of improvements by streets. It is quite probable that some omissions have been made, and that mistakes have crept into our figures, but we give the list in as correct a shape as possible.
South street extends from the south-west corner of the plaza, in an easterly direction, past three blocks to Fitch street, where it is continued under the name of Matheson street. The Odd-Fellows own a lot, fifty feet front, on south side of the plaza, on which they have erected two small buildings, one of which is occupied by John Call as a shoe-shop, and cost two hundred dollars; the other is occupied by Lockwood & Van Slyke, as a bookstore, and cost two hundred and twenty-five dollars. Drs. Rupe and Seawell own a lot adjoin- ing the Plaza Church on the west, upon which they erected, last Summer, a two-story frame building-hard-finish-at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. The first floor is occupied by themselves as an office, and the second story is used as a dentist's office by Dr. J. N. Wiley. East of Center street, Silas Peter has just completed a two-story building, with forty feet front, hard- finished throughout, at a cost of sixteen hundred dollars. It is suited to business rooms, but is too far out. It is now used as a tenement house. Adjoining this Mr. Peter has erected a small shop, at a cost of two hundred and fifty dollars. Nearly opposite, James E. Fenno has rebuilt a small house, at a cost of about two hundred and fifty dollars, and uses the same as a jewelry shop.
Matheson street is a continuation of South street, to the east. Dr. Max- well's house, on the south side of the street, cost six hundred dollars. Still further out, Jesse Seaman has erected a residence, one and one-half stories high, at a cost of twelve hundred dollars. On the north side of the street, Mrs. Thurgood has a new residence, costing one thousand dollars. A little
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beyond, C. C. Wheeler has rebuilt an old house, expending thereon about a thousand dollars, making quite a cozy residence. To the east of the Univer- sity, on the north side of Matheson street, we find D. Grove's new two-story residence, costing sixteen hundred dollars; J. W. Brown's one and one-half story residence, costing fifteen hundred, and a barn three hundred dollars; Mr. Whitney's small dwelling, erected at a cost of five hundred dollars.
Tucker street runs parallel to Matheson street, and next to it on the southi. Jesse Seaman purchased one of the old public school buildings, moved it in to a lot on Tucker street, and converted it into a dwelling house, at a cost of about five hundred dollars. Hugh Liddle erected a residence on the south side of this street, one and one-half stories high, at a cost of about sixteen hundred dollars. Adjoining Mr. Hogle's, on the west, E. H. Gates built a small residence, costing about four hundred dollars.
Hayden street runs parallel with Tucker street, next south of it. Charles Hassett last Fall, built a small dwelling on the north side of this thorough- fare, east of the Methodist Episcopal church costing about two hundred dollars.
North street is the first one north of Matheson and parallel to it. Within the last year Mr. Fields has built himself a neat residence, on the north side of the street, at a cost of about two-thousand dollars. Next to him W. B. Reynolds is now erecting one of the finest residences in the place; a two-story, frame, hard finish, plate glass windows, and to cost when complete, four thousand dollars. Still further east, corner of Sheridan, John Marshall has just completed a large two-story dwelling, with a wing, at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. The next dwelling to the east was erected last Fall by Joseph Rosenthal at a cost of about eight hundred dollars. Just north of this street, and away from any street now opened, the Advent Society built a house of worship last Summer, at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars.
Piper street is an extension of Dow street, and is located north of the slough, parallel to North street. On the north side of the street, west of Sheridan, Matt. Hays built a dwelling house last Fall, one and one-half stories high, with wing, costing about eight hundred dollars. Just west of this I. N. Chapman built a neat residence, at a cost of one thousand one hundred dollars; built a new fence and otherwise improved his grounds. Across the street Messrs. Canan & Hutton erected a dwelling house at a cost of eight hundred and fifty dollars. On the north side of Piper street, east of Sheridan, John Rien has erected two small dwelling houses, valued at four hundred dollars each.
Grant street is next north of Piper. W. S. Canan rebuilt a small dwelling house on the south side of this street, west of Sheridan, and made a very cosy residence, at a cost of eight hundred and fifty dollars. Next west of this, Nicholas Ward has just completed a similar building, at a cost of eight hun- dred and fifty dollars.
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Lincoln street comes next, north of Grant street. Mezota, an Italian, erected a dwelling-house during the past Summer, ou the north side of this street, at an expense of about one thousand dollars. It is now occupied by Mrs. Pugh. A little further to the east, on the south side of the street, W. T. Garrison has rebuilt a small residence costing about six hundred dollars.
West street is the most westerly one in the town, and is the main busi- ness street. It is a continuation of this street to the north that leads up Russian river and Dry creek, and a continuation to the south that leads down Russian river on the west side. At the southern extremity of the busi- ness portion of the street, Messrs. Heald and Guerne, last Summer, built a two-story business house, using the lower story as a lumber office, and the second story for a residence. It cost about two thousand dollars. To the rear of the Flag office G. L. Cobb built a paint shop costing two hundred and fifty dollars; and adjoining the Flag office, on the north, he has just completed a gun shop, at an expense of one hundred and seventy-five dol- lars. On the lot north of this, Andy Skillman built a blacksmith and wagon shop, at a cost of five hundred dollars. B. C. Wright, last Fall, enlarged the Sotoyome House by adding a third story and repainting the whole building, at a cost of four thousand six hundred dollars. Last Summer, Mrs. Thurgood rebuilt the business house now occupied by Charles Mitchell, at a cost of two hundred dollars. Last Fall, Luke Barlow rebuilt what is now known as the "Eagle Saloon," at a cost of three hundred dollars. North of the slough, on the west side, J. W. Clack has completed a small'residence, at a cost of five hundred dollars,. Just north of this, J. H. Mccluskey has erected a small dwelling, at a cost of about two hundred and fifty dollars.
Eli Walker, last Fall, built a two-story boarding-house on the west side of the street, at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars, and rebuilt a stable adjoin- ing, at a cost of two hundred dollars. A little further north, Mrs. Thistle built a new residence at an expense of about seven hundred dollars. Tur- ner's Bakery, built by Turner & Son, is also located on the west side of the street, and cost about one thousand dollars. A little further north, William Williams erected a small shoe shop, which cost one hundred dollars.
Center street runs parallel with West street, east of the plaza. One of the most prominent buildings of the town-the Skating Rink-was erected last Summer by Ransom Powell and John and Samuel P. MeManus, on the west side of Center street, north of South street, at a cost of seven thou- sand dollars.
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