USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 27
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Johnson street is a continuation of Center street to the north. Bradford Bell has recently built a small dwelling, at a cost of about four hundred and fifty dollars, on the east side of the street, and just north of Piper street. On the south-east corner of Johnson and Lincoln streets, Patrick Ryan has just commenced a two-story residence, with wing, which will be hard-finished
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throughout, and will cost about two thousand dollars when completed.' Across the street to the north, W. I. Robinson has rebuilt a small house, making the residence worth about four hundred dollars. On the west side of the street, a little further north, Abraham Chrantz has rebuilt a dwell- ing-house, making it worth about one thousand dollars.
East street runs parallel with Center street, and next to it on the east. Near the Methodist Church South, on the west side of the street, Dr. Dain- gerfield has rebuilt a small dwelling, making a residence now worth about five hundred dollars. W. S. Canan has recently purchased a dwelling on the east side of the street, south of North street, and is rebuilding the same. It will cost not less than twenty-five hundred dollars when completed.
Fitch street runs parallel with East street, through the original town plat.
Sheridan street is a continuation of Fitch street to the north, through Knaack's addition. Opposite the Baptist church, north of the slough, J. W. Terry is now erecting a neat residence, which will cost, when completed, one thousand dollars. Just north of this, Mrs. Mansfield built, last Summer, a small residence, at a cost of about five hundred dollars. On the north-west corner of this and Piper street, G. J. Wieberts has built a business house, cost- ing six hundred dollars; and adjoining, on the north, a residence, costing four hundred dollars. On the same side of Sheridan street, William Maxwell, last Fall, built a small dwelling-house at an expense of six hundred dollars. A little further north, Mrs. L. A. Rawson built a small house, costing three hundred dollars. Nearly opposite, A. H. Ingham built a two-story dwell- ing-house, with wing, hard-finished throughout, costing about eighteen hundred dollars.
University street constitutes the greater portion of the eastern bound- ary of the corporation. George Cook built a small dwelling on the east side of University street, north of Matheson, costing about three hundred dollars.
Public Improvements .- The only public building erected within the cor- poration during the year is the Public School House, on the north side of Tucker street, between East and Fitch streets, which cost about seven thou- sand dollars. The county, last Fall, built a wagon bridge across Russian river at this point, of the Howe Truss pattern, which cost twenty thousand dollars. Smaller bridges have been repaired, but none built.
Railroad Improvements .- During the past year the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad has been built past the town, and a railroad bridge of the Howe Truss pattern built across Russian river, just above the wagon bridge, which cost twenty-three thousand dollars. A depot building was erected by the company, at a cost of about seven thousand dollars, which is one of the finest on this line of road.
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Miscellaneous .- Canan, Hutton & Smith are now engaged in erecting their bank building, on the north side of the Plaza, which will be fire-proof, and will cost, when completed, about forty-five hundred dollars. Walter Fields, last season, built a residence on Dudley Avenue, north of Piper street, which cost about nine hundred dollars, and a small house near it costing one hundred more. In the grove, north-west of town and just out of the cor- poration, Aaron Hassett has built a very fine two-story residence, at a cost of three thousand dollars, and is surrounding it with the comforts of a home. His barn has cost about a thousand dollars. In the eastern edge of the grove, just across the railroad, Henry Boyle has built a one-story residence which cost about seven hundred dollars. These last two buildings are located in what might be termed a Western extension of Grant street. In the northern part of the grove, James Mitchell built a residence costing about three hundred dollars; William Ball built another which cost about two hundred and fifty, and Robert Ball built one which also cost two hundred and fifty dollars. Just east of the railroad, near the north end of the grove, Charles Stewart built a small house costing two hundred and fifty dollars. North of the grove, Matt. Hale has completed a fine residence costing about two thousand dollars, and a barn, at an expense of seven hundred. Mrs. Currier has erected a small dwelling on First street, south of Matheson, which cost about three hundred dollars. Dr. Priest has built a handsome residence, on the street leading to the brick-yard, at a cost of about two thousand dollars. Dr. M. G. Kellogg has erected a residence east of Sheridan street, north of Piper, at a cost of six hundred dollars.
Thus it will be seen that during the year 1871 the total number of build- ings constructed or in course of construction was seventy-nine, at an aggre- gate cost of about ninety-six thousand and fifty dollars ; the price defrayed for the building of bridges being forty-three thousand dollars. Few towns in the State can show greater proportionate improvement than this.
We now take up the official doings of the civil authorities of Healdsburg. On January 2, 1872, the following resolution was passed. " Resolved, That from and after this date we will prosecute or cause to be presecuted all viola- tions in this town of the law against gambling-that is to say-the law against faro, monte, rouge-et-noir, lansquenet, rondo, or other banking games at cards or dice. " It was also ordered that the town Attorney draft a charter for the city to be submitted to the Legislature for enactment; while, Commis- sioners were at the same time appointed to lay out Piper street and assess damages that should accrue upon straightening said street, and that the prop- erty-holders claiming such be apprised of their meeting. West street was declared established, on February 5th, from the quarter-section line, in a straight line, or as near as may be, into the extension of said street, as trav- eled, north of said quarter-section line, and D. F. Spur was directed to make the necessary survey. The following resolution was also adopted: "Resolved
fol. A. M Mar
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
That the Attorney be instructed to draft and send to our Representative or Senator, a bill for an Act exempting town Elections from the force and effect of the Registry Law." February 19th, the Maxim Gas Company of Cali- . fornia presented a petition to the Board of Trustees which was followed by one on the succeeding day from the Premium Gas Company of California, both of which were placed on file. After the merits of the two companies had been personally presented by their representatives, on motion of Trustee Peterson, it was unanimously ordered that a contract be entered into with the Maxim Gas Company to supply the town with gas. Messrs. Peterson, Wright and Melton being nominated a committee to draft such contract, an Ordi- nance granting right of way and franchise to the Gas Company being at the time read and adopted by sections. On March 11th, Josiah Brown was appointed Street Superintendent vice J. E. Stewart resigned; and on May 6th, the following elections took place: L. A. Norton, R. H. Gilman, N. W. Bostwick, William Gilmore, Isaac Gum, President, Board of Trustees; A. M. Church, Recorder; S. P. McManus, Assessor and Collector; T. P. Maxwell, Marshal; C. K. Jenner, Clerk; H. K. Brown, Treasurer; on the 27th, Trustee Gum, however, resigned the chair, R. H. Gilman being elected to that posi- tion. An ordinance was passed July 1st, directing all sidewalks to be made uniform with, where the street is sixty feet wide, and where less, to be eight feet, and on 5th of August the vote of the corporation tax was fixed at thirty cents on each hundred dollars.
In this year as heretofore the history of Healdsburg had been that of pros- perity; we have neither time nor space to continue a yearly report of its general chronicles; sufficient will it be therefore to record the doings of the city Fathers as they have been annually filed.
1873 .- A. M. Church resigned his position on the 7th January, and Henry Sargent was appointed in his stead: on the 8th, the bid of Proctor & Hogle for building a fence round the plaza was accepted and the work commenced; while on May 5th the following gentlemen were elected to the government of the Town: T. W. Hudson, President; George Miller, C. E. Hutton. R. Powell, I. N. Chapman, Board of Trustees; H. Sargent, Recorder; S. P. McManus, Assessor and Collector; H. R. Brown, Treasurer; J. W. Clack, Marshal. August 4th, Trustee Chapman filed-notice of a motion for the amendment of Ordinance No. six, so that one per cent should be the maxi- mum rate of taxation for Town purposes, instead of one half of one per cent, as the law demands. On the 18th, the minority report, viz: the allowance of five hundred dollars to H. Dudley and eighty three to I. N. Chapman, for damages-of the Commissioners to view and assess damages on Piper street was adopted; which street, on motion of Trustee Powell, was ordered to be sixty feet in width; the street Commissioner being instructed to proceed to open said thoroughfare through the premises of I. N. Chapman and -H Dudley, upon receiving notice from the Clerk of the Board of Trustees that.
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the amount of damages awarded to each has been tendered to them. On Sep- tember 1st, Trustee Chapman objected to the approval and passing of the min- utes of the meeting held by the Board on August 18th ( that noted above) on the ground that Trustee R. Powell had vacated his office by neglecting to qualify for more than ten days after election. Upon this action R. Powell presented himself and refused to serve as a Trustee until the question raised by I. N. Chapman had been decided. How the matter was arranged the Records do not state; but in future meetings we find Messrs. Powell and Chapman voting side by side. John Mulligan, John W. Clack, and W. S. Canan were appointed a Committee to investigate and report upon the advisa- bility, practicability, and probable cost of draining the slough; it being at the same time ordered that the Plaza should be laid out with walks and shrubberies under the superintendence of Trustee Miller. On this same date H. Dudley was allowed two hundred dollars additional on account of damages, etc., on moving buildings for the opening of Piper street.
On July 24, 1873, J. W. Clack was shot by Ham Briggs, when on official duty. Briggs was arrested, tried and sentenced to pay a fine of two thousand dollars or be imprisoned for one thousand days. Of Briggs we learn that he was afterwards slain by a man named Chambers in Mendocino city in 1875 or '76. Mr. Clack is now the genial and popular landlord of the Soto- yome House in Healdsburg.
1874 .- January 5th the President was instructed to appoint a Committee of three to draft a new charter for the Town of Healdsburg, to be submitted to the Board; these were Messrs. L. A. Norton, Charles K. Jenner and W. S. Canan; Mr. Jenner reported on the 2nd February that a majority of the Committee were adverse to framing such an Instrument at the present time ; they were therefore discharged, and their report accepted. On motion, C. K. Jenner and Isaac Gum were formed into a new Committee for the same pur- pose; a draft being submitted on the 17th, it was read section by section and adopted as a whole by the Board. On this date a petition signed by L. R. Giles and others for the opening of Center street on its former line was read and placed on file, as were also the claims of William Milton for five hundred, and H. Dudley for three hundred dollars, damages accruing from the above, when it was moved by Trustee Chapman that three Commissioners be appointed to investigate. The motion was lost. The Deed of certain land from H. Dudley to be used in the extension of East street, was accepted on March 16th and, on April 18th the undermentioned Municipal officers were elected: T. W. Hudson, President; George Miller, G. J. Turner, W. S. Canan, H. R. Brown, Board of Trustees; George Mulligan, Treasurer; S. P. McManus, Assessor and Collector; Henry Sargent, Recorder; Thomas Stevenson, Street Commissioner; C. K. Jenner, City Clerk; E. L. Whipple, City Attorney; S. B. Martin, Marshal. On August 3d A. Blackington was elected to fill the unexpired term of Assessor and Collector vice S. P. McManus failing to qualify,
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and on the 7th of September Josiah Brown was appointed Street Com- missioner in place of Thomas Stevenson; while on November 16th the Ordin- ance instituting a system of drainage in the city of Healdsburg was adopted.
1875 .- An Ordinance, supplementary to No. 2, to prevent minors, under the age of seventeen years, from being on the streets after certain hours, was read, and, on motion, passed, on the 2d February ; while, on March 15th, the resignation of S. B. Martin, City Marshal, was accepted, he being succeeded by J. W. Rose. April 12th, C. Muller appeared before the Board and remonstrated against the adoption of the report of the Committee on the extension of Grant street; it was therefore resolved that the report be recon- sidered and the matter referred back to the Commissioners for further inves- tigation ; on the 19th, they filed their amended report, awarding one hundred and sixty-two dollars as damages to C. Muller. on the opening of said street, and assessing benefits to the amount of one hundred and eight dollars. It was then, on motion, ordered that a warrant in favor of John D. Hassett, for fifty-four dollars, as a tender to C. Muller, for the one-third due him under the charter, from the city of Healdsburg, upon the opening of said street which was ordered to take place within twenty days from date, be drawn. On May 10th the following officers were elected to serve on the Corporation: T. W. Hudson, H. K. Brown, President, G. J. Turner, H. Fried, T. C. Caruthers, Board of Trustees ; C. K. Jenner, Clerk; George Mulligan, Treasurer ; H. Sargent, Recorder ; A. Blackington, Assessor and Collector; J. W. Rose, Mar- shal; E. L. Whipple, City Attorney; the following committees being then appointed: Finance, Trustees Turner, Fried and Carru thers; Plaza and Streets, T. C. Caruthers. June 7th, the Commissioners on the proposed extension of Mason street, filed their report, together with a plat of the same, recommending that H. Hutchins be required to open a thoroughfare through his property without compensation, which, on- being received was placed on file and the report adopted. This resolution was afterwards rescinded, and damage allowed, to the extent of twenty-five dollars. On the 21st, Charles K. Jenner was appointed City Attorney; and, on the 18th of August, the clerk was instructed to notify the Marshal to have the sidewalks on West street, from North street to the north side of the Plaza, widened, as well as upon the north side of the Plaza, from West to Center street. The clerk reported to the Board, on September 24th, the decision of Judge Temple, in regard to the assessment of mortgages upon property outside of the corporate limits; in pursuance of said decision the trustees proceeded to assess the mortgages held within the corporation, upon property situated without its limits. On the 27th, John N. Bailhache appeared before the corporate body, sitting as a Board of Equalization, and presented a petition, adopted at a mass meeting of the citizens of Healdsburg, asking for a reconsideration of the action of the Board in raising the assessments, so as to leave them as near as possible the same as that returned by the City Assessor. On motion, said
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
petition was received and placed on file. It was thereupon moved by Trustee Turner that the prayer of the petition be adopted. There being a tie vote, the President exercised his prerogative and cast in favor of the motion. Trustee Turner, after some discussion, stated that he had voted in favor of the motion under a misapprehension, he therefore moved to reconsider said motion, which, having received a seconder, was duly reconsidered, and, on a vote to adopt the prayer being taken, it was declared lost. On the 28th, the assessment for the city of Healdsburg was fixed as follows, to wit: All parties not raised by the Board of Equalization was fixed as shown by the books of the City Assessor ; all parties raised by the Board who do not appear, to have their assessments fixed as raised; all parties who were raised and did appear, to have their assessments fixed according to their state- ments of the two-thirds value of their property. On motion, the rate of taxation for the fiscal year ending May 1, 1876, was fixed at fifty cents on each one hundred dollars. The City Attorney, on October 18th, was instructed to draft an ordinance licensing hawkers, peddlers, and itinerant venders of goods, etc., and auctioneers and auction houses, which was pre- sented and adopted on the 20th. November 6th, W. W. Moreland was appointed City Clerk; on the 15th, the Healdsburg Gas Company was granted the privilege to lay mains, etc, through the streets of the town, provided they leave no holes, nor excavations exposed or uncovered, without a signal or light thereat. A Committee, consisting of Trustees Fried and Turner, were also appointed to procure a plat and survey of a proposed change in West street, power being given to the same committee to employ a surveyor.
1876 .- February 7th, an ordinance granting to E. M. Morgan et al., the privilege of laying water pipes in the city of Healdsburg was read and passed; and on the 21st a petition was received from forty-six property holders on West street asking for its straightening in accordance with the survey recently made by C. K. Jenner; on motion, C. E. Hutton, Jirah Luce and Anson Goodspeed were appointed a Committee to appraise damages and benefits to said owners. March 20th-On motion, F. T. Maynard, John Fritsch and Mr. Bowman were granted the privilege of laying iron water mains and pipes throughout all the streets of Healdsburg, they agreeing to furnish to the city, free of charge, water for the extinction of fires; the said boon to be granted for the term of fifty years. The City Attorney was, on this date, authorized to draw up amendments to the charter in reference to the jurisdiction of the Police Court and forward the same to the Member of Assembly from Sonoma county to be passed upon by the Legislature ; while on the 22nd the auctioneers' license was fixed by the Board at five dollars per quarter. The following city officers were elected on May 8th: George Law- rence, H. Fried, President, T. C. Caruthers, R. Powell, C. E. Hutton, Board of Trustees; George Mulligan, Treasurer; John W. Clack, Assessor and Collector;
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
H. Sargent, Recorder; J. W. Rose, Marshall. July 17th, a remonstrance of property holders on West street against the proposed straightening of the same was received and filed. It appearing from the said document that some of the remonstrants had signed the petition for opening the street through a misrepresentation of facts, the Clerk was directed to summon said parties to appear before the Board to testify in regard to such, which resulted, on the 19th, in the passage of the following resolution :-
Resolved, That all acts of this Board in reference to the straightening of West street be, and the same are, hereby rescinded and annulled. On Sep- tember 4th, tees were ordered to be placed in the pipes of the Water Com- pany at the following places: on Tucker street, at or near the residence of A. Blackington; corner of South and Fitch streets; corner of South and Centre streets; corner of South and West streets; corner of West and Powell streets; corner of North and East streets, and two on West street, in North Healds- burg, while on the 18th, hydrants were directed to be placed in position. On November 20th a contract was entered into with the Water Company as under : the Board agreeing to pay said company forty cents per foot for four- inch iron pipe, from Matheson to Tucker street, also sixty dollars for one hydrant at the corner of Fitch and Tucker streets. On this date Anson Goodspeed was appointed Street Commissioner, in place of Josiah Brown.
1877 .- January 3rd, Trustee Fried was authorized to proceed to San Francisco to purchase six hundred feet of carbolized hose and couplings, as well as a pipe and hose carriage, for the use of the fire department; on the 24th, precautionary measures against small pox were ordered to be taken by Doctors Ely and Foreman; while on the 14th May the election of civic officers took place with the following result: H. Fried, R. Powell, C. E. Hutton, J. S. Bell, T. W. Hudson, President, Board of Trustees; W. W. Moreland, Clerk; George Mulligan, Treasurer; Henry Sargent, Recorder, A. Blackington, Assessor and Collector; J. W. Rose, Marshall. On the 18th June, Trustee Hutton tendered his resignation, which was accepted and A. H. Ingham appointed in his stead. Ordinances prohibiting the hitching of horses to shade trees, and the playing of base ball in certain portions of the city, were adopted on July 16th; on August 6th, Messrs. Gum, Howard, and West were appointed a committee to ascertain the feasibility of draining the slough, and on September 17th, the contract for performing that work was accorded to G. W. Burrus.
1878 .- A. H. Ingham resigned his position as Trustee on February 18th, and was succeeded by N. A. Young. On April 6th, John Turner was nomi- nated to the position of Street Commissioner; and on the 13th May were appointed the following city officials: D. Thompson, J. S. Bell, T. W. Hud- son, John Moffet, Peter Greist, Board of Trustees, T. W. Hudson being Presi- dent; W. W. Moreland, Clerk; J. M. Patrick, Marshall; J. G. McManus Assessor and Collector; Henry Sargent. Recorder; George Mulligan, Treas-
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urer. On August 5th, Trustees Thompson and Moffet were appointed a committee to purchase a town lot for the use of the city; on the 21st Octo- ber an ordinance for the better protection of the fire department was adopted as also one for the prohibition of houses of ill fame, and punishment of persons visiting them. November 18th, W. S. Kerr was appointed City Marshal, vice J. M. Patrick; and, on December 17th, Trustee Thompson, having been appointed a committee to confer with the Fire Department, reported that a tower had been erected, wherein to hang the bell.
1879 .- Elijah Vaughan was appointed City Attorney on the 3rd February, in place of W. W. Moreland, resigned; on the same date Trustee Thompson was deputed to take charge of the Plaza and superintend the sanie, keeping it in repair and good order. May 12th, the following gentlemen were elected to fill the several corporation offices: John Moffet, T. W. Hudson, Thomas Riley, W. P. Miller, D. Thompson, President, Board of Trustees; N. W. Bostwick, City Marshall; W. W. Moreland, City Clerk; H. K. Brown, Treasurer; J. P. Emerson, Assessor and Collector; Jirah Luce, Recorder; Elijah Vaughan, City Attorney. An ordinance authorizing the taxation of dogs, was adopted on June 2nd; and July 21st, the resignation of Trustee Greist was accepted, and Charles York appointed in his stead. September 23rd, the Trustees sitting as a Board of Equalization, adopted a resolution to reconsider their action in reference to the "raising" of property, and agreed to adopt the assessment of the Assessor, and that a tax of one-half of one per cent. be levied in the city of Healdsburg.
The source from which Healdsburg derives its prosperity are the rich agri- cultural lands, of unsurpassed fertility, of which it is the center, divided as they are into small farms of from twenty to a hundred acres each. The climate is all that can be desired, neither too hot nor too cold, the hills which environ the city protecting it from the blustering winds which are so rudely felt at places situated near to the coast. She is well supplied with beautiful water brought from the Fitch mountain, from whose bosom flows a limpid, gurgling stream, whose waters find their way into the city, where it is used for domestic and other purposes. All in all, Healdsburg is a lovely locality, almost compassing the poet's fancy of,
" Cataract brooks to the ocean run, Fairily-delicate palaces shine
Mixt with myrtle and clad with vine, And over stream'd and silver-streak'd With many a rivulet high against the Sun, The facet of the glorious mountain flash Above the valleys of palm and pine."
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