Laguna de Santa Rosa –
Index of the microfilm files of the Sebastopol Times 1895 – 1965
by
John Cummings
December 2003
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved 2
Introduction
Three weekly newspapers started in early Sebastopol – the Analy Standard, the Sebastopol Journal, and the Sebastopol Times. Mary B. Williams, editor of the Standard is credited with suggesting the name, “Gold Ridge,” in the late 1800s. The Standard apparently became the Journal. The earliest reference uncovered to date cites a Journal article in 1896. An early 1903 promotional article for the new Town of Sebastopol in the Times, states that the town had two newspapers at the time. The Journal was purchased by the Times and merged into one paper at the beginning of 1929. Unfortunately only the Times is now locally available on microfilm.
The date of the first addition of the Sebastopol Times was not established with certainty. The August 18, 1897 issue notes that the paper was nine years old (1888). An article in the August 9, 1902 addition states that the paper was entering its fourteenth year and provides the early history of the paper since it was first published on August 8, 1889. An article in the November 30, 1923 addition summarizes interesting extracts from the first year of the paper’s existence in 1890. The November 30, 1929 addition of the Times includes numerous quotes from the paper’s first addition dated July 2, 1890. An article in the November 14, 1930 addition states that A. E. Scammon, then a resident of Oroville who settled in Sebastopol in the mid-1870s, had subscribed to the Times since it was first published in 1889. The 50th anniversary and the 75th anniversary additions of the Times are dated October 13, 1939 and October 8, 1964 respectively, indicating that the paper dates to early October 1889. The Golden Jubilee Souvenir Addition magazine published by the Times is dated September 20, 1940 and at the time of writing the souvenir addition, the oldest copy of the Times available was dated December 1889. The Times became the Sonoma West Times and News in 1995.
The first addition of the Sebastopol Times available locally on microfilm is dated April 3, 1895 indicating that at least the first five and one half years of the paper are not available. In addition, there are a number of totally missing years and other years with only scattered, damaged, or incomplete microfilm issues available. The dates in this index are in the usual month/day/year format. For convenience the index is divided into articles specific to the Laguna, articles specific to sewage and garbage in the Laguna, Sebastopol’s airport, and other miscellaneous articles with important information relevant to the Laguna. Also for convenience, the letter case in the title of the article listed reflects the actual case used in the title of the published newspaper article.
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved 3
Laguna de Santa Rosa
08/28/95 – Miscellaneous Items (pantaloon thief was captured in the “hobo’s resort” on the Laguna)
08/28/95 – Coon Hunt on the Laguna (successful hunting with Otis Allen’s hound )
01/22/96 – LOCAL AFFAIRS (the Laguna overflowed to about four feet below the railroad trestle)
04/08/96 – Fish for the Laguna (introduction of black bass in the Laguna to get rid of the carp)
02/10/97 – DROWNED IN THE LAGUNA – A Young Man Meets His Death In The Raging Torrent
03/09/98 – A SUMMER RESORT (Capitalists visited laguna lake below Gannon’s as a possible site for a resort)
03/09/98 – The Bohemian Girl (25 passenger boat launched on the Laguna)
04/20/98 – GUARD THE TOWN (recommendation that boats with torpedoes should be stationed on the Laguna)
06/22/98 – BLOWING ‘EM UP – Black Bass Being Slaughtered in the Laguna (with giant powder)
11/09/98 – LOCAL JOTTINGS (a large black bass was caught in the Laguna)
11/30/98 – LOCAL JOTTINGS (ducks are quite plentiful along the Laguna at present)
03/29/99 – A GREWSOME [sic] DISCOVERY – Dead Chinaman Found Floating in the Laguna
05/03/99 – Bass in the Laguna (now many thousand)
05/17/99 – JIM JOHNSTON MEETS THE LAGUNA TERROR
03/06/01 – MAN MET DEATH IN THE LAGOON (body found on edge of the Laguna)
07/17/01 – HERE TO WORK IN THE CANNERY – TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE CAMPED ON LAGUNA
08/14/01 – BOY DROWNED IN LAGUNA – BOAT CAPSIZED AND HE COULD NOT SWIM
08/21/01 – Fell Into The Laguna (the baker, while riding his wheel on a narrow plank across the Laguna)
08/09/02 – CAUGHT ON THE RAILROAD BRIDGE – FIVE SONGSTERS HAVE ... NARROW ESCAPE
08/16/02 – DOUGHTY CHIEF MAKES A CAPTURE (truant boy found in Laguna underbrush by cop)
08/30/02 – EVERYONE GOING TO HOP FIELDS (hundreds pitch tents next to the Laguna)
09/03/02 – STRUGGLE FOR LIFE IN LAGOON (men nearly drown in the Laguna back of Scammon’s farm)
09/03/02 – LOCAL NOTES (Ruble Opera Company enjoyed picnic on the banks of the lagoon)
01/02/03 – THE BEST PART OF THE COUNTY (includes a description of Lake Jonive)
01/02/03 – Metropolis of the Thrifty Gold Ridge (includes a description of Lake Jonive)
04/24/15 – A MATTER OF GREAT LOCAL INTEREST (a proposal to drain Laguna and reclaim useless land)
05/05/15 – LAGUNA DE SANTA ROSA DRAINAGE PROJECT (lengthy description and history of project)
06/05/15 – Editorial – Concerning Laguna Drainage (support for proposed Laguna drainage project)
09/21/17 – PLANING ON BRIDGE ACROSS THE LAGOON (on Santa Rosa Avenue)
09/26/19 – Editorial – Sebastopol is Neglected (Laguna bridge a disgrace and needs to be replaced immediately)
09/26/19 – COMMERCIAL CLUB ... MANY MATTERS (a new Laguna bridge is a priority)
01/21/21 – STORM WORST FOR THIS SEASON (2.88 inches of rain fell in 24 hours)
06/17/21 – LAGUNA BRIDGE ORDERED BUILT (county supervisors order)
08/05/21 – GEORGE LEIBY IS DROWNED IN LAGUNA WATERS (40-year-old man drowns while swimming)
11/25/21 – LARGE CAR RUNS OFF ROAD AND TURNS OVER IN DITCH... NEAR THE LAGUNA BRIDGE
12/02/21 – DOINGS OF THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS (order change of plans for the Laguna bridge)
03/17/22 – CHAMBER TO ERECT NEW HOME SOON ... (“dangerous but passable”signs to be placed on the
approaches to the Laguna bridge) 03/31/22 – LAGUNA BRIDGE LIGHTS TURNED ON TUESDAY 09/01/22 – Officers Seek Vandals Who Smash Lights (on the new Laguna bridge) 11/30/23 – (Extracts quoted from the July 2, 1890 issue reporting that work stopped on the new Occidental and
Santa Rosa road bridge because of right-of-way problems.) 01/04/24 – MAY RECLAIM LAGUNA LAND (preliminary survey for draining the Laguna north of Sebastopol)
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved 4
01/18/24 – PRELIMINARY REPORT ON DRAINAGE (Laguna drainage project considered feasible)
03/14/24 – LAGUNA DRAINAGE MEET TO BE HELD HERE MONDAY (a Sebastopol C. of C. meeting)
04/18/24 – DRAINAGE PLAN PRELIMINARY WORK BEGUN (C. of C. committee circulates petition)
08/01/24 – LAGUNA DRAINAGE PLANS PROGRESS (preliminary survey work and plans underway)
08/15/24 – LAGUNA DRAINAGE REPORT AUG. 16 (C. of C. committee report)
08/22/24 – DRAINAGE COST ONLY $12,000 (estimated cost for Laguna drainage project)
04/16/26 – FALLEN TREE IS CAUSE OF INJURY TO MOTORISTS (fallen old tree near the Laguna bridge)
06/24/27 – DRAINAGE MEN HOLD MEETING (to organize a Laguna drainage district)
07/01/27 – DRAINAGE PLAN IS EXPLAINED (all central county should help solve Laguna drainage problems)
09/02/27 – AID IS ASKED FOR DRAINAGE PROJECT (private Laguna drainage projects need help)
06/28/29 – DEVELOP LAGUNA URGES SPEAKER (the Laguna near Sebastopol should be developed as a park)
07/19/29 – ENRAGED BULL ATTACKS LAGUNA DAIRY RANCHER (Ritz G. Gianai)
11/08/29 – LAND IS DRAINED BY LAGUNA DITCH (description of private Laguna drainage project)
09/11/31 – Sportsmen Plan Bass Pond for Russian River (possible rearing pond site next to the Laguna)
09/25/31 – Man Found Dead in Laguna Camp (itinerant laborer in his Laguna camp)
10/09/31 – Local Sites for Black Bass Pond To Be Inspected (to include possible site next to the Laguna)
11/20/31 – Co. Sportsman Pledged Aid for Local Bass Pond (state aid pledged)
11/20/31 – Game Reported Plentiful Here as Season Opens (makings of quail and snipe pie found along Laguna)
12/04/31 – Among the Sportsmen (snipe reported to be plentiful along the Laguna)
01/01/32 – Bass Pond May Be Established At Sebastopol (club considers old city water supply site)
01/08/32 – Sportsmen Given Lease for a Bass Pond by Council (council leases city site on Calder Creek to club)
04/14/33 – JAPANESE YOUTH IS DROWNED IN LAGUNA (11-year-old boy found dead)
07/14/33 – County Drainage Plan Discussed At C. C. Lunch (the Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce)
07/13/34 – Laguna Work Considered As a Project for SERA ( State Emergency Relief Administration)
08/10/34 – $30,000 Set as Cost of Laguna Drainage Plan (estimated cost of draining the Laguna)
08/17/34 – County Chamber Approves Laguna Drainage Plan (unanimous approval of plan)
12/14/34 – TWO NEW MEMBERS NAMED ON LAGUNA DRAINAGE BOARD (by county supervisors)
03/27/36 – SIX-POUND FISH GIGGED IN SMALL POND AT CUNNINGHAM (in Laguna overflow)
01/01/37 – Freak Storm Razes Property Here Saturday (man in his Laguna “jungle camp” is only storm victim)
07/02/37 – Boy Drowns In Laguna (a 14-year-old student at Analy High School)
08/13/37 – Contract Awarded for Three Laguna Bridges (on Molino Road)
12/17/37 – Ford Wrecking Yard Submerged By Flood Waters (wrecking yard on Sebastopol’s old airport site)
02/18/38 – Photo – MOTIF FOR SEBASTOPOL’S ENTRY (Santa Rosa Highway Gateway and Laguna bridge)
08/18/39 – Girl, 14, Drowns in ‘Laguna Grove’ Death Trap Hole (at “Cooper Grove”)
03/01/40 – Marooned Sheep Rescued by Boat (from a Laguna island during a flood)
03/08/40 – SPRING CLEANING IN FLOOD AREAS OF COUNTY (including in the bloated Laguna)
06/23/44 – Soil Conservation District Accepts Laguna Addition (Gold Ridge extends to east side of Laguna)
07/20/45 – BLACK BASS FISHING IS REPORTED GOOD (in the Russian River and in the Laguna)
01/04/46 – PLANS MADE TO RECLAIM LAGUNA LANDS FOR FARMS (Gold Ridge district completes
plans)
01/25/46 – MEETING CALLED TO DISCUSS LAGUNA DRAINAGE PROJECT (cons. district calls meeting)
01/25/46 – LAGUNA DRAINAGE DISCUSSED BY SOIL CONSERVATION GROUP (Gold Ridge district)
02/08/46 – Drainage of Laguna Topic of Soil Group (Gold Ridge Soil Conservation District)
07/26/46 – County News Review – LAGUNA DRAINAGE PROGRAM (supervisors receive petition)
08/02/46 – County News Review – BUSINESS IN BRIEF (sups. adopt master drainage plan for the Laguna)
08/23/46 – COUNTY TO HEAR PLANS FOR LAGUNA DRAINAGE (supervisors set date of public hearing)
09/06/46 – Laguna Drainage District Hearing Set As County Takes Action On Problem
09/06/46 – LEGAL (legal description of Laguna Storm Water District properties)
09/27/46 – County News Review – LAGUNA PLAN DELAYED (error in legal description of district properties)
09/27/46 – LEGAL (description of corrected Laguna Storm Water District properties)
10/25/46 – County News Review – (first public hearing on formation of Laguna Storm Water District)
11/01/46 – Laguna Storm Water District Plan Approved By Board of Supervisors
11/29/46 – Frati, Whitlach, Renner [Denner] Win Election as Laguna Drainage District Heads
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved
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03/28/47 – Storm Water District May Be Dissolved (petition filed to dissolve Laguna Storm Water District)
04/04/47 – Storm Water District Vote Is Postponed (inadequate notice of special election to dissolve district)
04/18/47 – Voters To Determine Fate of Storm Water District At Special Election Monday
04/25/47 – STORM WATER DISTRICT TO BE RETAINED ON 11-VOTE MARGIN
11/21/47 – Allotment of $60,000 ... To Reconstruct Laguna Bridge (state Division of Highways makes allotment)
03/12/48 – Soil Conservation District Reviews Six Years Activity (District includes 40 farms along the Laguna)
03/21/48 – Laguna Storm Water District to Elect Trustees June 4
06/04/48 – Storm Water District Votes For Directors
06/11/48 – Denner, Richman, Kobler Win Laguna District Election
02/10/49 – Bids To Be Opened For Laguna Bridge (says state highway engineer)
04/21/49 – Abshire Answers C.of C. Protest Against Bill (proposed state bill for dissolving storm water
districts)
05/05/49 – Construction Work Starts on Bridge (widening the Laguna bridge on the Santa Rosa Highway)
08/25/49 – County News Review (controversial Laguna Storm Water District dispute.)
09/22/49 – Highway Crews Finish Work On Highway 12 (stare crews widen highway)
03/09/50 – Soil Conservation In Sonoma County (Laguna area was first annexation of Gold Ridge district)
08/03/50 – Hearing To Cover Laguna Drainage In Santa Rosa (a state Assembly committee hearing)
09/13/51 – Drainage Group Meet Airs Problem Of Fund Disposal (before the district’s possible abolition)
12/06/51 – Sebastopol Feels Impact Of Weekend Downpour (flooding, crashing trees and power failures, etc.)
12/06/51 – Downpour Brings 12 Inches of Rain To This Area (total rainfall to date highest recorded in 24 years)
03/12/53 – Photo circa 1908 – This Lake Was A Familiar Scene.... (boating on Lake Jonive)
01/21/54 – 5.82 Inches Rain Fell on Sebastopol During Storm (no damage in Sebastopol but Russian River floods)
11/18/54 – Conservationists Will Decide Bodega Bay Problem Tonight (Laguna channel now being dredged)
12/29/55 – Sebastopol Too Got Its Share From The Floods ... (major flooding of Laguna, Sebastopol and R. R.)
12/29/55 – 6.63 Inches Of Rain In One Day Here (establishing a grim Sebastopol record)
12/29/55 – Photo – (flooded) SANTA ROSA AVENUE PHOTOGRAPHED FROM A ROW BOAT
10/04/56 – Council Voices Approval Of Proposed Freeway (Highway 12 – Kenwood to Sebastopol)
02/15/62 – Photo – Sebastopol Lake? (Laguna flood taken on High School Road)
10/18/62 – Photo – ( flood at trailer park alongside of the lagoon)
03/14/63 – Photo – Sebastopol Avenue (peak high water in the Laguna after a late January storm)
01/23/64 – Laguna development seen as boon to recreation (Laguna from Sebastopol to Trenton roads as a park)
12/30/64 – WATER HIGHER THAN IN 1955 FLOOD – Sebastopol flood damage slight
12/30/64 – Photos – (numerous photos of flooded areas in Sebastopol)
01/07/65 – SEBASTOPOL PREPARED – City Manager report on flood (storm damage in Sebastopol)
01/07/65 – Photos – (flooded Laguna, Sebastopol Ave. and campground – rumor of county plan for Laguna lake)
08/05/65 – LITTLE MONEY, BUT A RICH LIFE – All is not poverty among Laguna’s tent, shacks
Sewage and Garbage (Sebastopol unless otherwise indicated)
01/19/98 – CITIZENS MEET (to discuss the poor sanitary conditions of the town)
01/26/98 – TWO MEETINGS (further discussion about the poor sanitary conditions of the town)
12/12/00 – Editorial (city needs sewage system, present conditions deplorable)
12/12/00 – WEST SIDE PROPERTY OWNERS WANT A SEWER (plight of new Main Street brick block)
05/21/02 – Editorial (promoting incorporation, sewage conditions are a disgrace)
01/14/03 – EXTRA MEETING OF TOWN BOARD – SESSPOOL [sic] MATER DISCUSSED
06/06/19 – CITY TRUSTEES HOLD ... MEETING ... (agree to settle the suit of the Cameron Septic Tank Co.)
08/06/26 – City to Have New Plan at Sewer Farm (to dump garbage at sewer farm)
05/10/29 – ORDINANCE NO. 255 (banning cesspools, septic tanks, and privies in the city)
07/19/29 – PLAN FOR NEW SEWAGE DISPOSAL (to replace antiquated septic tank)
08/28/29 – COUNCIL ADOPTS NEW TAX ROLL (to consider a new septic tank with a series of ponds)
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved
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09/06/29 – COUNCIL IN MOVE FOR EXTENSIONS (report on septic tank and system of ponds)
09/20/29 – TO VOTE FOR CITY IMPROVEMENTS (bonds for new City Hall and new septic tank/pond
system)
10/25/29 – COUNCIL TO HEAR REPORTS TONIGHT (Tracker system better than septic tank/pond system)
11/08/29 – To the Voters of Sebastopol (urged to vote yes on the city improvement bonds)
11/08/29 – COUNCIL ADOPTS BUILDING PLAN (authorization for a bond election)
11/29/29 – SEWER BONDS WIN; CITY HALL LOSES (big majority approves modern sewer plant)
01/17/30 – COUNCIL ORDERS NEW STREET WORK (to sell bonds, “chicken shack” requests sewer hookup)
01/24/30 – NOTICE TO BIDDERS (RFP to clear new sewer plant site of garbage)
02/21/30 – TEN NEW LIGHTS FOR SOUTH MAIN (all garbage clearing bids at sewer farm rejected)
03/14/30 – STATE BOARD HAS APPROVED PLANS (for new sewage plant)
03/21/30 – SEEK BIDS FOR NEW SEWER PLANT
03/21/30 – NOTICE TO BIDDERS (for construction of new sewer plant)
04/11/30 – MANY BIDS ARE RECEIVED BY CITY (for construction of the new sewer plant)
04/18/30 – ANDERSON GIVEN SEWER CONTRACT (to construct the new sewer plant)
09/05/30 – COUNCIL SETS TAX RATE AT $2.10 (authorizes “seeding” of new sewer plant)
09/05/30 – COUNCIL TO SET DUMPING CHARGE (rates for dumping garbage at sewer farm)
09/19/30 – TO TURN SEWAGE INTO NEW PLANT
09/26/30 – REFUSE DUMPING CHARGES (at sewer farm)
10/03/30 – NEW CITY PLANT STARTED MONDAY (sewer treatment plant)
07/10/31 – HOUSE BEING BUILT FOR FARM WORKER (at sewer farm)
04/08/38 – TEN YEARS AGO (1928 controversy over garbage dumping at sewer farm)
08/05/38 – Plans Drafted for $25,000 in WPA Projects (including water and sewer main extensions)
02/09/40 – Resolution No. 492– A (resolution to annex sewer farm and bass pond to the city)
07/09/43 – EPIDEMIC – No Positive Cases of Polio from Sebastopol (Laguna creek closed for swimming)
06/02/44 – RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO CITY IN SANITARY SURVEY (Lee’s survey of county)
07/05/46 – City to Survey Sewers – Council Acts to Modernize Sewage Plant
08/02/46 – Council Slated To Hear Plans For Sewage Disposal
11/08/46 – COUNCIL ACTS ON IMPROVEMENTS (improvements to include the sewer system)
11/22/46 – BOND ELECTION CALLED (a $210,000 municipal bond issue includes $65,000 for sewage system)
11/29/46 – Bond Issue Passes Second Reading; Campaign Planned
01/03/47 – Advertisement – (Sebastopol Chamber of Commerce promoting passage of municipal bonds)
01/10/47 – Sanitation Chief Favors Bond Issue (state support for passage of municipal improvement bonds)
01/17/47 – ... LANDSLIDE VOTE – City Votes Almost 10 to 1 In Favor of $210,000 Municipal Improvements
08/29/47 – Council Sells $210,00 Bonds ...; To Set Tax Rate ....
09/10/48 – New Water System Work Under Way; Sewer Plans Made (for modern up-to-date treatment plant)
10/08/48 – City Improves Street, Sewer, Water Systems (fill for new disposal plant completed)
01/27/49 – Sewage Plant Bids Asked By Council
02/24/49 – City Accepts $19,000 Bid For New Sewage Disposal Equipment
12/01/49 – Sewer Farm Question ...Will Be Discussed ... at Council Meet
12/08/49 – Sewer Project To Start Here – Bids to Be Called ....
01/12/50 – Bids On Construction Of Sewer Farm Close ....
01/19/50 – Low Bid For Construction Of Sewer Plant Is Submitted
03/02/50 – New Sewage Plant Receives Concrete (article with photo of construction of the new sewer plant)
03/09/50 – Council Hears Claim To Land In Sewer Farm (council to investigate ownership claim)
08/31/50 – Sewer Plant New Addition Is Operating (even though not fully completed)
09/07/50 – Photo – Sewer Plant Addition Designed For 20 Year’s Growth (photo of the new sewage plant)
09/07/50 – Sewer Plant’s Operation Is Easy To Understand
06/07/51 – New Ordinance Requires Screens, Traps For All City Fruit Processors (on sewage inflows to sewer)
12/06/51 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (sewer plan proposed for Cotati)
02/07/52 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (proposed sewer plan for Cotati)
12/11/52 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (state disapproves of current Cotati sewage conditions)
02/19/53 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (North Coast RWQCB approves state loan for Cotati)
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved
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04/16/53 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (sewage costs)
06/04/53 – City Council Considers Building Incinerator For Refuse Disposal (at the sewer farm)
07/23/53 – Meeting ... Sewer System Plan at Cotati
07/30/53 – Cotati Sewer Bond Election Scheduled ... to Finance New Development
08/13/53 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (Cotati voters pass sewer bonds)
12/17/53 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (sells bonds and to seek sewer construction bids)
02/25/54 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (sewer construction bid received)
04/15/54 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (sewer service explained)
06/10/54 – SEPTIC TANKS IN CITY LIMITS BRING PROTEST ... FROM AREA RESIDENTS
12/09/54 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (approval to hook up to the new sewer system)
01/13/55 – Tackle Heath Problem Here; Plan Installation of Sewers (to form neighborhood assessment district)
05/05/55 – Sewer Needs Face Council (city needs more money for maintenance of sewer farm)
07/28/55 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (Rohnert Park to build sewage plant immediately)
10/10/55 – Consider Bond Election To Expand Sewer Plant (necessitated by seasonal cannery inflows)
12/29/55 – Photo – THIS IS THE SEBASTOPOL SEWER PLANT (sewer plant flooded by the Laguna)
01/05/56 – Sebastopol Resident Submits Revolutionary Plan For New Sewage Treatment Plant Here
05/03/56 – Sebastopol Sewer Charge Expected Near Future (to separate sewer costs from general fund)
05/17/56 – Sewer Charge Necessity Questioned By Committee (unless no other means to fund sewage costs)
06/28/56 – Council May Hire Sewer Engineer (to solve problem with sewer processing plant)
08/09/56 – Seb. City Council Discusses Many Local Issues ... (a request to use sewer water for ag. irrigation)
09/06/56 – Sebastopol Tax Rate ... Set ... By City Council (present sewer system outmoded)
09/13/56 – NEWS HIGHLIGHTS – COTATI (construction begins on Rohnert Park sewer plant)
04/04/57 – Weekend Marred by Tradegy [sic]– Seven-Year Old Boy Drowns (in a sewer farm pond)
07/11/57 – A Story About Sewage Disposal (the towns disposal of its sewage 25 years in the future)
08/08/57 – Sale of Sewer Water Opposed By Petition (unless held in settling ponds for at least 20 days)
09/19/57 – Water Problems Hit City Council Again (residents protest water and sewer costs)
09/19/57 – SEWER STUDY (to make analysis of sewer line problems)
10/17/57 – Water, Sewer Problems Studied ...During Work Session (pros and cons of new hook-ups to sewer)
11/07/57 – Street Lighting To Sewer Studied By City Council (decision to enlarge sewer extension to
subdivision)
08/09/62 – $14,000 SALARY HIKE FOR EMPLOYEES – Council ... eyes sewer set-up
08/09/62 – SEWER POLICY (for the canneries to do more to prevent jamming of the sewer lines)
09/30/65 – PRATHER EXPLAINS ‘PLAN’ – General plan for sewage and water is authorized
10/07/65 – COUNCIL PREPARES – Utilities survey proposal is heard (response to request to annex 1,000
homes)
10/14/65 – FEDERAL GRANT? – Council to focus on water, sewer (to receive proposals for sewer engineering)
10/28/65 – SURVEY PLANS – City and county working together (frontal attack planned on sewer problems)
11/04/65 – CITY PLANS SURVEY – Takes hard look at utility need (to plan for adequate future city utility needs)
Sebastopol’s airport (Cnopius Field)
10/31/24 – TED WOOLSEY TAKES PART IN AIR CIRCUS AT SAN JOSE SUNDAY (a local air pilot) 07/31/25 – AIRPLANE FIELD HERE GETS BOOST FROM ARMY OFFICER 10/09/25 – AUTO WILL BE GIVEN AWAY (for attendance at Armistice Day celebration at flying field) 10/16/25 – ARMISTICE DAY PLANS TOLD 10/23/25 – Varied Program for Armistice Day (including stunt flying, parachute jumps, etc.) 10/30/25 – LEGION READY FOR NOV. 11TH (described as the biggest celebration ever held in the county) 11/06/25 – AIRPLANE EXHIBITION TO BE FEATURE OF THE COUNTY LEGION PROGRAM HERE 11/06/25 – Airplane Exhibition to be Big Celebration Feature 03/26/26 – ARMY PLANES VISIT SEBASTOPOL AIR FIELD
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved 8
07/29/27 – HANGER BUILT AT LANDING FIELD
09/30/27 – ARMY MEN LAND AIRPLANE HERE
01/04/29 – (Advertisement for Airplane Supplies – Stanley’s Airport Service)
01/11/29 – Support Sought For Air Service (proposal for a passenger and express service to Oakland)
01/11/29 – NEW HANGERS AT LOCAL AIRPORT
03/08/29 – MANY FLIERS VISIT CNOPIUS FIELD THIS WEEK
05/03/29 – AIRPLANES FILMED AT CNOPIUS FIELD
05/03/29 – AIR FESTIVAL MAY 18 AND 19 (the dedication of Santa Rosa’s improved airport.)
05/17/29 – SEBASTOPOL AVIATORS TO FORM FLYING CLUB
07/19/29 – SEBASTOPOL AIRPORT HAS NEW ENTRANCE
12/27/29 – LOCAL AIRPORT LISTED IN NEW PILOT’S GUIDE (with details of Sebastopol’s airport)
08/08/30 – AIRPLANE TAXICABS SHOW ATTRACTION (airplane rides over Sebastopol during apple show)
11/21/30 – FLYING FLEET MAKING FLIGHTS HERE TODAY
02/13/31 – Local Airport Now Houses New Plane
03/06/31 – Airport Need Is Told By Expert (growing need in U.S. for larger and better airports)
03/06/31 – Local Airport Outlook Good, Hoppin States (Marshal Hoppin of the U.S. Department of Commerce)
07/24/31 – STATE GROUP PLANS AIR SERVICE TO NORTH BAY AREA
10/16/31 – Chamber Hears State Advisory Council Report (report on proposed North Bay air transportation)
03/11/32 – Scudder To Fly To Watsonville To Tell Of Show (the Gravenstein apple show)
05/27/32 – Fresno Flyers Laud Sebastopol Airport
09/23/32 – Sebastopol Airport Receives Notice of Trans-Pacific Flight
10/21/32 – HOOVER–CURTIS FLYING SQUADRON DUE HERE MONDAY (during whirlwind campaign tour)
07/28/33 – Sebastopol Port Lauded by Flyers (airport described as best in the state for its size)
11/03/33 – Fireworks Display Will Be Big Feature Of Armistice Day Fete (with a parachute drop)
03/27/36 – TWO NEW SERVICE STATIONS TO BE ERECTED HERE (one to be at the airport)
Miscellaneous
01/29/96 – LOCAL AFFAIRS (Otis Allen’s orange tree produced 280 oranges)
07/28/97 – Sebastopol Base Ball Team Goes Down (game played on Kelly’s field)
01/26/98 – FINE FARM SOLD (Otis Allen’s place)
04/20/98 – LOCAL JOTTINGS (John Brown is making improvements to his Santa Rosa properties)
04/20/98 – THE HORSE RACES (race track near the Laguna)
04/20/98 – FUNERAL OF OTIS ALLEN
04/20/98 – Big Land Sale (Walker estate – nearly 1,000 Laguna acres sold)
09/21/98 – OUR OWN TOWN – A Stranger Gives His Opinion of Sebastopol (describes the Laguna)
01/02/01 – THE LIFE OF A WARRIOR BRAVE WENT OUT WITH DEATH OF INDIAN JOE
03/05/02 – FINE DAIRIES ON THE LLANO
03/20/15 – BASEBALL AT LAGUNA PARK THIS AFTERNOON
10/05/17 – SEVEN YEAR OLD GIRL KIDNAPED NEAR LLANO
03/07/19 – WILL STOCK THE RUSSIAN RIVER WITH FISH
03/18/19 – LAGUNA PARK WILL SOON BE THING OF PAST
08/15/19 – MAN KILLED LAST MONDAY NIGHT BY ELECTRIC CAR (on P&SR track)
08/20/20 – PURCHASED MORAN PLACE (new owner to plant grapes)
04/08/21 – CONCRETE WINS FOR NEW SANTA ROSA HIGHWAY
12/02/21 – MRS. SANBORNE SELLS LOTS IN LAGUNA VISTA TRACT
02/22/24 – NOTICE OF SALE OF REAL ESTATE (Llano School site with legal description of property)
01/15/26 – LANDMARK IS TORN DOWN (old Walker mansion on the corner of Walker and Eleanor)
05/17/29 – HUMAN BONES FOUND BY RAILROAD WORKMEN (by P&SR tracks near the Laguna trestle)
01/03/30 – SPORTSMEN TO PLANT EASTERN TROUT IN RUSSIAN RIVER
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved
9
01/03/30 – LOCAL MEN PLAN “CHICKEN SHACK” (on the S. R. highway next to Sebastopol)
01/17/30 – COUNCIL ORDERS ... WORK (“chicken shack” and auto camp requests sewer connection)
09/19/30 – MARKER SOUGHT IN HONOR OF PIONEER (for Joel and Mary Walker, parents of John Walker)
11/14/30 – SCAMMON HAS TAKEN TIMES FOR 40 YEARS (a well know former Sebastopol resident)
02/13/31 – Gateway to Be Started Sunday (next to the Laguna on Sebastopol Avenue)
05/15/31 – 20-30 Gateway Dedication to be Held on Sunday (near the Laguna bridge)
05/15/31 – Photo – Sebastopol Honored as ‘Gateway City’ (photo of gateway and the Laguna bridge)
05/15/31 – Gateway Erection Costs Six Hundred Dollars
05/22/31 – Gateway Marker Dedicated Sunday By Service Club
05/29/31 – Campaign Starts To Keep Russian River Sanitary
05/29/31 – Plan Erection Of Mausoleum in Sonoma County (near the Llano station)
09/02/38 – Flood Control Hearing Set For Tuesday, Sept. 13 (proposal for the Russian River)
02/24.39 – Mrs. Cnopius Is Taken by Death
02/21/39 – Auxiliary Navy Air Fields Near Sebastopol Looms After Inspection Tour Here
03/24/39 – Flood Damage Funds Allocated (state funds for Sonoma and Marin counties)
07/21/39 – RUSSIAN RIVER TO BE SURVEYED FOR FLOOD PROTECTION
04/25/41 – District Proposal Wins 3 – 1 (voter approval of forming Gold Ridge Soil Conservation District)
06/20/41 – Fire Levels Old Moran Home
07/10/42 – State Plans to Re-Route Grav Highway Told Here (to be relocated between Main St. and the Laguna)
09/11/42 – Last Rites Held Wednesday For Louis Cnopius
10/27/44 – FIRE DESTROYS BARN ON RANCH NEAR HERE (on Doyle ranch)
07/27/45 – Army Airfield Plans Open House (the present county airport)
10/26/45 – County News Review ($10,000 sewage survey of lower Russian River ordered by supervisors)
11/23/45 – SANITARY SURVEYS ORDERED BY BOARD (in Graton, Cotati, and Forestville)
02/06/48 – Santa Rosa Man Killed In Auto Crash Near Here (just west of Llano Road on the Santa Rosa Hwy.)
06/11/48 – City Council ... Healdsburg Ave (to widen Sebastopol Avenue to the Laguna bridge)
07/23/48 – Oil Drilling Starts Saturday, Good Possibilities (well near the Hall School)
07/23/48 – Photo – FIRST TEST OIL WELL DRILLING BEGINS (well near the Hall School)
08/27/48 – MAN KILLED BY CAR NEAR SEBASTOPOL WEDNESDAY NIGHT (on the Santa Rosa Hwy.)
09/24/48 – $3,000,000 Sewer Bond Issue Will Cost ... Taxpayer Nothing, ... (for improvements in county areas)
10/22/48 – STATE BODY URGES “YES” VOTE ON SEWAGE PLAN (for improvements in county areas)
11/12/48 – County News Review (former Army airfield sewer system requested by county)
12/10/48 – Financial Firm Analyzes Vote On Bond Issue (failure of county bond issue election)
12/24/48 – Local School Board To Hear Annex Plan (to annex the Hall School District to the Sebastopol
Grammar School District) 01/06/49 – Large Indian Kingdom Ended 40 Years Ago ... When “Warrior Joe” Died 03/10/49 – Irrigated Pasture Study Conducted by W. C. Lux 10/11/51 – Work Underway On Grange Hall (the Sebastopol Grange on the Santa Rosa Highway) 09/18/52 – New Grange Hall To Be Dedicated Saturday Night (on the Santa Rosa Highway) 12/25/52 – Scheuer Dies In Auto Crash, Girl Critically Hurt (at the Llano Road intersection on the S. R. Hwy.) 01/26/56 – Hepworth Ranch Is Purchased By Vierra Family (ranch located near the Sebastopol Grange Hall) 08/22/57 – Sebastopol’s Link With Coyote Water System Explained Monday (potential link) 03/14/62 – Photo – Jack Dei Ranch – Contented cows in good producing irrigated pasture 03/14/62 – Photo – Finley Ranch – A high producing irrigated pasture 11/21/63 – Realtors set plans for ‘park’ (an industrial park next to the Laguna on Morris Street) 12/05/63 – Industrial park program evokes heated session (park next to the Laguna) 12/19/63 – City agrees to fill lots for industrial area buyer (park next to the Laguna) 01/09/64 – Keene reports ... bid for 8 industrial park acres (park next to the Laguna) 05/07/64 – Absence at meetings may result in fine (city to fill industrial park lots by dredging the Laguna) 07/23/64 – Move to restrict buyers in city industrial park (park next to the Laguna) 09/17/64 – IN SHORT SESSION – City planners hear general plan report (county plan for greater Sebastopol area) 10/08/64 – Sale of Industrial Park ... to open Oct. 12 (park next to the Laguna) 06/10/65 – SEEKS BETTER COMMUNICATION – Boundary dispute is deplored by council
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved 10
07/15/65 – SEBASTOPOL, SANTA ROSA CITY COUNCILS – No agreement is reached in boundary line dispute
07/22/65 – THE LAGUNA BOUNDARY DISPUTE – City council worries but takes no action
09/23/65 – 500 ACRES, 1,000 HOMES – Subdivider asks for annexation to city (proposed development west of the Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club)
10/28/65 – SURVEY PLANS – City and county working together (county prepared general plan for the greater Sebastopol area)
10/28/65 – Plan gives city 14,000 residents (county prepared plan for the greater Sebastopol area)
11/11/65 – LIFE ON A SEA OF SEWAGE – Pollution – nobody knows what to do about it all (joint meeting of the SWRCB and the North Coast RWQCB in Santa Rosa)
12/23/65 – SANTA ROSA REBUFFED – city’s general plan gets ... ‘go ahead’ (Sebastopol’s eastern boundary extends onto the Santa Rosa Valley)
Bibliography
LeBaron, Gaye and three others. 1985. Santa Rosa – A Nineteenth Century Town. Historia, Ltd. 225 pp.
Markwyn, Daniel W. 1990. European Settlement of the Laguna – Expansion and Growth. In History, Land Uses and Natural Resources of the Laguna de Santa Rosa. David Smith Consulting.
Microfilm files of the Sebastopol Times.
Sebastopol Times. 1940. Golden Jubilee Souvenir Addition. 57 pp.
Tuomey, Honoria. 1926. History of Sonoma County, California, Vol. II. S. J. Clarke Publishing Company. 958 pp.
©John Cummings, 2003 All rights reserved