Marin History Museum

For many of us, a specific restaurant brings back nostalgic memories of a special occasion or celebration. Paul Claudius Devaux, born in Vichy, France, came to Marin County and opened the La Petite Auberge restaurant in 1959. Located at 704 Fourth Street in downtown San Rafael, the restaurant boasted old world charm with red and white checkered tablecloths, fine French cuisine, strolling musicians and an interior garden courtyard. In the Marin IJ September 1, 1967 From Dinin...g Out and Inns column, Harry Craft wrote that Ken, the strolling accordionist at La petite Auberge, would take requests and play French, Russian, Hawaiian and Greek music for guests. Craft summed up the overall dining experience saying, Live music of this kind makes for gaiety in dining and I have no doubt that it is one reason for La Petite’s continuing popularity. A combination of good food, good wine and good music is hard to beat and is bound to bring diners back for an encore. Mr. Devaux ran the restaurant for twenty years retiring in 1979 and enjoyed gardening and fishing. What are your memories of this special restaurant? Photograph: Postcard of the interior of the La Petite Auberge Restaurant c. 1960s, Jeff Craemer Collection/MHM. #frenchcuisine #dining #restaurant #frenchrestaurant #sanrafael #marinhistory

National Nurses’ Day Paying Tribute to Nurses Past and Present The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. Mahatma Gandhi In 1905, three doctors Drs. William Farrington Jones, H.O. Howitt and William J. Wickman founded Cottage Hospital originally located at Fifth and Lincoln in San Rafael. In 1907, the hospital was relocated to Fifth Avenue and Nye Streets, and a school of nursing was opened from 1907-1912. Marin County Tocsin Newspaper... announced the opening with the headline, San Rafael Cottage Hospital in its New Location. The three-story building was surrounded by beautiful grounds and was considered the best and most modern institutions of its kind. In a 1959 Marin IJ article entitled, Hard Work, but Good Times Too early graduates reminisced about the nursing program at the hospital. Nursing students helped the head nurses with a wide range of hospital work including work in surgery. They worked long shifts including the night shift along with attending night classes covering different medical disciplines. In addition, they accompanied the doctors on house calls first in horse and buggy and later in the doctors’ automobiles There was a lot of dedication especially since student nurses only earned $5 per month the first year, $10 per month the second year and $15 per month the third year, and had to provide their own uniforms. Unfortunately, a new state rule mandated that nursing school took place in hospitals with 50 or more beds. Subsequently, the nursing school was discontinued in 1912. At the time the 1959 IJ article was written, graduates Mrs. V.L. Coppa and Mrs. Welton met up with Mrs. Patricia Leonard at the hospital and fondly talked about their nursing school experience and how much they cherished their nurse’s pin they received upon graduation. After a few different owners, the hospital was sold to Mr. Taylor who changed the name to San Rafael General Hospital and ran it as a non-profit foundation until in closed in May 1966. Photographs: (1) Cottage Hospital Nursing School students c. 1910, MHM Collection. (2) Cottage Hospital Nurses c. 1920, MHM Collection. (3) San Rafael General Hospital Nurses c. 1960, MHM Collection. #nationalnursesday #nurses #frontlines #healthcare #marincounty #marinhistory

In the January 27, 1898 Marin Journal, Mrs. Annie T. Moore of San Francisco announced plans to build a new hotel in Belvedere. The plans were complete and she planned on opening in May at a cost of $10,000. The 50-room colonial style hotel was furnished in the "old Dutch manner". The hotel was a large, dark red, shingled building, with four stories and accommodations for four hundred guests. It had facilities for sailing and swimming, fishing, dancing, billiards, pool, hill c...limbing and tennis courts at the corner of Beach Road and San Rafael Avenue. It was publicized as the most delightful water resort adjacent to the city. A large advertisement boasted location, views and beauty: ‘Situated in the cove and on the beach of ‘Beautiful Belvedere’ the most beautiful spot on San Francisco Bay. Only a 30-minute ride by boat from the city, and the only first-class summer and winter resort on the bay. The hotel has been renovated...hot and cold water in every room. Long and short distance telephone. Choicest of wines, liquor and cigars. Rates: $3.00 per day. It was no wonder this hotel was a favorite resort around the turn of the century and the scene of many gay parties and dances in the huge ball room. Sadly, the hotel was not financially successful and was foreclosed in 1924. The San Francisco Yacht Club purchased the land for $15,000 in 1925 and later built their clubhouse in 1934. Photograph: Postcard of the Belvedere Hotel c. 1910, MHM Collection. #belvedere #1900s #resort #hotel #marinhistory

Do you love local history? Are you a sharp observer? Are you patient and detail oriented? Are you looking for activities that engage your mind and spark your imagination? If yes, we invite you to join our team of collections department volunteers, working to organize and catalog our enormous collection of artifacts, photographs and library materials. Please bring your curiosity, special interests and talents to the Marin History Museum and help us preserve our county’s fas...cinating past. Contact Heather Powell, MHM Collections Manager, at [email protected] if you’d like to jump in! www.marinhistory.org

On this Monday morning, enjoy this breathtaking aerial view of Angel Island, the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay photographed by Ed Brady c. 1950 (Aero Photography), Ed Brady Collection/MHM. #angelisland #goldengatebridge #sausalito #sanfrancisobay #marinhistory

One of the many wonderful things about history is that it offers a nostalgic snapshot into the past when life was very differentgiving us the opportunity to experience what it was like back then One of those heartwarming stories can be summed up as Local Girl Makes Good. In 1956, 17-year old San Rafael High School senior Sandra Walton became the Betty Crocker Homemaker of Tomorrow contest winner. A March 20, 1956 Marin IJ article reported that Sandra had beat out 1...Continue reading

It has been said that Sausalito in the 1880s generated a lot of interest from San Francisco’s rich. It was fashionable to spend a weekend at one of the Sausalito villas which included what would become the Alta Mira Hotel. The original Alta Mira was built around 1880 as the private residence of Thomas W. "Tapeworm" Jackson and family. Mr. Jackson had recently arrived from England by way of China. In addition to the estate, he tapped into far markets of the world finding rare ...trees for planting - eucalyptus, Irish yew trees, rubber trees, a variety of cypress trees, huge magnolias, pines, and cedar. By 1895, Jackson had converted his home into a hotel that thrived until it burned down in December 1926. The April 27, 1927 edition of the Sausalito News read, Two days before Christmas last, Sausalito held its breath...The old Alta Mira main building had been with us so long and had become so much a part of us...However, again the unexpected had happened and happened in a few moments. In an incredibly short space of time this historic old landmark was leveled to the ground. A smoldering heap of embers. A year after the fire, Jackson’s son, Ernest, rebuilt the hotel - a new three-story Florentine-Italian type building with architects Fabre & Hildebrand at the helm. No detail was overlooked for the convenience and contentment of guests including bathrooms fitted with Roman tubs. After decades of gracious living, the hotel had to reduce rates and services as the Country weathered the Great Depression. In 1954, William Wachter and wife, Ferne, purchased the very run down building which was almost 75 years old. There were ups and downs especially during the 1950s and Wachter was near bankrupt from trying to revive the hotel. Slowly but surely the establishment rose above the pile of debts and he managed to bring the hotel back to respectability. The hotel catered to tourists, business people and locals. In addition, community organizations including the Lions Club and Rotary Club had their weekly meetings at the hotel. During the 1950’s through the 70’s, the Alta Mira was the place for wedding receptions, bar and bat mitzvahs and elegant parties. People appreciated the elegant architecture and sweeping views of the Bay and San Francisco. Mr. Watcher was considered one of the most successful businessmen in Sausalito when he died on November 22, 1993. After Ferne died, her sister, Phyllis Green, took over and managed the hotel. Menu favorites included Phyllis Green's World-Famous Crab Louis, along with Eggs Benedict. In 2003, Michael Blatt bought the property and opened it in March 2004 as a 23-room bed and breakfast and a private dining facility. In 2007, it was converted to a rehab center. Photograph: A dinner menu from the Alta Mira Hotel restaurant in Sausalito c. 1960s, MHM Collection. #altamira #sausalito #restaurant #hotel #marinhistory

Today we present a faded, yellow crew neck t-shirt with blue graphics promoting a special two-night Halloween party featuring Redlegs with Mr. Crunch and Diamond Slide at River City nightclub, October 31-November 1, 1975. $2.50 cover and free drinks promised to anyone in full costume. This t-shirt was donated to the Marin History Museum in 2010 by Ron Barbarita, former owner of the popular and short-lived River City, a favorite mid-1970s pool hall and nightclub once locat...ed at 52 Bolinas Road in downtown Fairfax. River City attracted many now famous musicians both as patrons and players, including Huey Lewis, Michael McDonald, Bill Evans and Phil Lesh. Headliner Redlegs got their start in 1970 on the Sausalito waterfront and were part of the larger Waldo Point houseboat scene, a raucous crew of artists and musicians. According to the band’s vocalist and guitar player Jeff Costello, Redlegs’ rock and roll music embodied the magic of the late 1960s counter-culture and the fun and freedom of life on the waterfront. Does anyone remember partying at River City? Do you think those are beer stains near the collar? #marinhistory #marincounty #fairfax #rivercity #redlegs #poolhall #nightclub #halloween

This week’s lead-up to Halloween, we’ll be sharing some of our favorite spooky and Halloween-themed artifacts from the collection! First up, fashionable mourning at its Victorian best (from the du Bois family collection). Pictured is Emily Blois Du Bois in 1898, the year following the death of her husband, prominent San Rafael physician Henry A. Du Bois. She wears a crape-trimmed, high-neck dress and black mourning veil, prominently displaying her pince-nez, a nose-pinching s...tyle of glasses fashionable during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, fastened to her collar by a silken cord. Mourning during the Victorian era was a highly ritualized and formalized process, influenced by Queen Victoria’s drawn-out public bereavement following the death of Prince Albert in 1861. Upper-class widows were expected to mourn in swaths of black trimmed with dull jet crape for a minimum of two years, an ensemble sometimes referred to as widow’s weeds, from the Old English waed, meaning garment. The new science of photography permitted fashionable Victorian widows to be recorded in their deep sorrow. Like photographs of the deceased and dying, these portraits would hang in the home, forever immortalizing their grief. Isn’t she just perfectly spooky? #marinhistory #marincounty #sanrafael #portrait #mourning #victorian #widow #spooky

We all need a change of scenery: Mount Tamalpais from Sausalito - A tranquil view of days gone by Photograph: A Sepia tone stereoview photograph showing a view from a Sausalito hillside to a view of Mt. Tam. Published by Keystone View Company in 1901, Carol Wells collection. #sausalito #mounttam #view #1900s #marinhistory

MYSTERY PHOTO #2 Can you put on your detective hat and help us solve a mystery? This 1920's photo doesn't have any information as to what the parade is about or where it is.... We do know the photograph was taken by Ruby Gasberg Middleton. She ran Gasberg Studios in San Rafael on Fourth Street between C and D streets from 1910 into the 1960s. You can see Gasberg San Rafael written in the lower right-hand corner. What is your best guess? Photograph: A parade with float c. 1920, MHM Collection. #mystery #1920s #parade #float #marinhistory

FLASHBACK THURSDAY There is a special nostalgia about the "main street" in towns...and for San Rafael it is Fourth Street. For many decades, downtown 4th Street has been the hub of shopping, eating, gathering, parades and local politics with the grand courthouse built in 1872. Some of our special memories are experiences and good times with friends and family. Who could forget those Saturday afternoons at the Rafael Theater on Fourth Street watching the Walt Disney movies fo...r 75 cents eating candy snuck in from the Candy Jar? Many of us can still smell the buttery popcorn, feel the sticky candy stuck to the floor and the comfy seats. Or, grabbing some food at the Courthouse Creamery or Corey’s Restaurant & Fountain, along with perusing stores like Glen’s Five & Dime, Aquarium Beautiful, Toy World, Woolworth’s, Cottage Bookstore, Albert’s and Record King. And, there is a practical side to main streets. Local historians believe San Rafael and Marin County as a whole faired better during the Great Depression and WWII due to buying local (long before it was a thing) especially on Fourth Street, and local businesses supporting the war effort by buying war bonds. We can’t forget the freedom that came with an excursion to Fourth Street from our homes. It was in some way a rite of passage when kids were allowed to walk down with friends to Fourth Street without older siblings or parents. To roam around, buy a treat, see other friends, go into the stores you wanted tofreedom! Although the shops and proprietors have changed over the many yearsthe memories linger whether it is eating some of the sweet homemade peanut brittle at the Candy Jar or sitting at the counter at Courthouse Creamery digging into an ice cream sundae in the silver dish. Photo (1) Fourth Street looking west c. 1940, MHM collection. (2) Fourth Street c. 1952 MHM collection. (3) Corner of Fourth and B Streets in San Rafael c. 1963 donated by Sam Van Landingham. #fourthstreet #sanrafael #downtown #nostalgia #mainstreet #1940s #1950s #1960s #rafaeltheater #marinhistory

FLASHBACK THURSDAY Gaudenzio Cheda came to West Marin from Switzerland in 1851 and became a dairy farmer. In 1878, he settled in San Rafael and purchased a feed and fuel business. After his death, his eldest sons, Silvio and Virgilio, expanded the business opening a feed lot in San Anselmo where St. Anselm School is currently located. In 1911, Thomas O’Connor of San Rafael designed the Cheda Building for Silvio H. and Virgilio J. Cheda. There was a hotel with 22 rooms upstai...rs, five storefronts downstairs for shops and was located near the San Anselmo Depot platform. In 1914, it housed San Anselmo's first movie theater with an admission fee of five cents. In 1921, the theater was remodeled and became the first theater in Marin to show films with a mercury arc lamp. The theater was called The Strand, and moviegoers could enjoy the ice cream parlor downstairs after the show. The Strand closed when the Tamalpais Theater opened on Sir Francis Drake in 1924. Other proprietors included Phelan’s Pharmacy which opened in 1925 and was sold to Eddie DeLong in 1927. DeLong’s flourished for years before it was replaced by Jack’s Drug Store in 1948. Jack’s remained on the corner until it moved to Tunstead Avenue in 1962. The San Anselmo Barber Shop, located in the Cheda Building, has been in business for over 80 years. A July 28, 1910 article in the Marin Journal stated, The new Cheda building is now practically completed. All the stores and most of the office rooms have been rented...and some of them are now occupied. The building is the handsomest and most substantial in Marin County, and would be a credit to any city. On April 29, 1911, the San Francisco Call reported that San Anselmo is now the liveliest place in Marin Countynew business blocks have risen lately and more are in process of construction. Shops and the town’s first movie theater were housed in the new two-story brick Cheda Building owned by Virgilio and Silvio Cheda. Silvio Cheda later founded the prosperous Marin County Bank in San Rafael. Richard H. Cheda (Silvio’s son) and his wife, Mabel, became longtime owners of the San Anselmo building, and Richard’s name still appears on the southeast corner. Photographs: (1) The junction of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Tunstead Avenue c. 1920 with the Cheda Building on the right, MHM Collection. (2) The Strand grand opening advertisement c. 1921, from Images of America - San Anselmo (Judy Coy and San Anselmo Historical Society). (3) The Cheda Building photographed by Self Care Studio c. 2015. #chedabuilding #sananselmo #theater #jacksdrugstore #marinhistory

COMING IN NOVEMBER: "Journal Across the Plains" We are thrilled to announce the upcoming publication of "Journal Across the Plains", the Verdenal brothers' 1852 journey from St. Louis, Missouri to northern California, based on the original handwritten journal in the Marin History Museum's collection. In "Journal Across the Plains", pre-teen brothers John and Dominique Verdenal document the day-to-day events of the El Dorado wagon train traveling between St. Louis, Missouri an...d Placerville, California in 1852. The brothers endure fierce weather, disharmony within the party and the seemingly endless physical challenges of the trail. Natural wonders they encounter along the way break the monotony of the plains, along with horse races, swimming, and practical jokes. Stay tuned for sneak-peeks into their journey over the coming weeks, and check out our website for more information about the book and to pre-order your copy! https://www.marinhistory.org/journal

It is hard to remember when restaurants allowed smoking much less having ashtrays with their logo on them available for customers. Yet - the restaurant names on these ashtrays are certain to bring us back to the 1950s-1970s: Dominic's Harbor Restaurant, Le Chateu/Franchini's Chateau and Hamie's Western Food Chuck Wagon. What are your memories of eating at these restaurants? A quick refresher...... Dominic's Harbor Restaurant was located at 507 Francisco Blvd in San Rafael. The large advertisement in the Marin IJ (November 21, 1964) read, "Visit Legendary Dominic's - Marin's Favorite Rendezvous. Drive or sail to Dominic's. Full dinners from $3.75; Luncheons from $1.75. This restaurant offered an art gallery called Musee d'Art International which was known as the largest art gallery in the west "exclusively devoted to the finest European contemporary artists" and featured close to 100 paintings. In addition, the view from the new second story Gourmet Room overlooked the picturesque canal and was used for banquets. And not far down the street was Hamie's Western Food Chuck Wagon Style was located at 821 Francisco Blvd. In the December 7, 1956 edition of the Daily Independent Journal, the advertisement boasted "Enjoy Real Western Food at Haime's Chuck Wagon - Ranch Style Chicken, Tender & Juicy Prime Ribs and Charcoal Broiled Steaks". This restaurant also had a banquet facilities...and all you can eat prime rib for $2.25. After 26 years as "Le Chateau" run by Cliff Cox, this restaurant became "Franchini's Chateau" restaurant. Located on Smith Ranch Road, the change in ownership was marked with a big celebration May 31-June 2, 1961. The popular memories of this restaurant revolve around the magical duck pond along with indulging in frog legs, escargot and Shirley Temple drinks. The Sausalito News advertisement read, Franchini’s Chateau with its tranquil country setting, can delight you for Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner. Their Family Style Breakfast served from 9:30 a.m. is a great favorite with a special child's portion for $l.OO. The youngsters will probably rush through theirs so they can go outside and feed the ducks that swim on the pond. A bag of food for them is yours for the asking. Roy and Bessie Rose Franchini sold the restaurant in 1972 and moved to Lake County. Photographs: (1) Brown-tinted circular glass ashtray from Dominic's Harbor Restaurant in San Rafael, Carol Wells collection. (2) Glass ashtray from Hamie's Western Food restaurant in San Rafael, Jeff Craemer collection. (3) Clear glass ashtray from Le Chateau when under original ownership of Cliff Cox, Carol Wells collection. #lechateau #franchinischateau #haimeschuckwagon #dominics #ashtrays #sanrafael #lucasvalley #restaurants #1960s #1970s #marinhistory

Lecture Series: "Creating a Book from Cover-to-Cover" with Brian Crawford (Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 7:00pm) Join the Museum TONIGHT for an evening of discovery! Register here for our Zoom event: https://www.marinhistory.org/Events The Museum is delighted to share the Verdenal Journal, one of the gems of its collection, with all lovers of American history, through the story of our publication of "Journal Across the Plains". In April 1852, twelve-year-old John Verdenal, h...is younger brother Dominique and their parents left St. Louis, Missouri in a wagon train heading for California. The brothers’ travel journal details the people they encountered and their challenges traversing rivers, prairies, deserts and mountains. The project to develop "Journal Across the Plains" took over a year to complete and required the work of a team of volunteers and staff members. Brian Crawford was part of that team. He will share the journey of the book's creation from hand-written journal to the final book that has made this incredible story available to all. Brian will answer some of the questions that often come to mind. Who gave the original Journal to the Museum? How were the maps produced? Where did the photos come from? Are any of the brothers' ancestors still alive? What happened to the family after they arrived in California? Brian Crawford is a retired computer programmer who spends his time doing historical and genealogical research and has published a variety of books on historical subjects.

Historians say that 1875 to 1930 were Marin’s great era of rail. The train began serving the north bay in the late 1870's, connecting Novato to Sonoma County and San Rafael. It got bulk freight traffic off the water onto the trains which prompted the relocation of the commercial center of Novato to the present location of the east end of Grant Avenue. In 1879, the first train depot was built, and later moved behind Loustaunau Hall and used as a livery stable. The area around ...the train depot was known as New Town, and is on the edge of what is today’s Old Town Novato. In 1903, the 2nd train depot was built but a fire destroyed the depot in 1916; a third station of similar design was constructed on the same site. Yet, even with daily train service, it was still a long trip to San Francisco, the East Bay or the resorts in Sonoma. Progress picked up in the 1930s, when a transportation revolution of sorts occurred. The horse and carriage was replaced by the automobile, the roads graded and paved, and major new traffic routes were established in and out of Marin. Considering that this was in the midst of the Great Depression, it is surprising that this large capital investment was made on these improvements. Despite having train service, some Novato residents didn’t feel the schedule was adequate especially for the morning commute to San Francisco. The following editorial was featured on July 6, 1929 in the Novato Advance. All that Novato needs, now that the government has decided to establish the army bombing unit at our door (Hamilton Airforce Base), to launch us on a steady growing basis is a commuters early morning train...we have heard of three families who are likely to sell their homes and go elsewhere because the transportation to San Francisco does not meet the requirements of city employers. Early transportation is our greatest problem, and something must be done...and unless the railroad company is willing to assist in the development and share in the benefits we must look elsewhere. There was some attempt to respond to this need, but by 1935, passenger service decreased to two trains in each direction. Yet, looking at an abandoned train depot or train tracks still invokes a nostalgic feeling for those days gone by when one could catch a train at the depot...and sit back and chat with a friend or simply relax with a good book. Photograph: The downtown Novato train depot c. 1930s, MHM collection. #novatotraindepot #trains #nwp #sp #novato #marinhistory

MYSTERY PHOTO What do Sherlock Holmes, Miss Marple and the Marin History Museum Staff have in common? We all love solving a mystery...and you are invited to join in the fun. This 1950's photo doesn't have any information as to what intersection this is in Marin. What is your best guess?... #mystery #1950s #marincounty #marinhistory

THURSDAY FLASHBACK Highway 101 was originally designated as State Highway in 1909, which was comprised of Miwok trails and county roads that began at the ferry terminal in Sausalito and traveled around Richardson Bay. Passing the recently built Tam High School, it bypassed downtown Mill Valley and followed today’s Camino Alto over the hill into Corte Madera. From there, it went through Larkspur, Ross, and San Anselmo, then turning east onto today’s Miracle Mile. The origina...Continue reading

Jean Escalle’s life is another story of the hard work, perseverance and dreams that generations of immigrants have brought to Marin. Jean Escalle, a native of France, came to Marin County in 1881 at the age of 23 and found work in a brickyard near present-day Greenbrae. A few years later, he found employment at the Larkspur brickyard, Callot Brickworks, owned by Claude Callot, taking care of the stable of Clydesdale horses. After Callot died in 1888, Escalle married the widow..., Ellen, and the two continued to operate the Brickworks along with the popular inn and tavern, the Limerick Inn. A short time later, Escalle planted both zinfandel and Riesling grapevines on 23 acres of land on the hillside behind the Brickworks. Within a few years, the winery was one of the top wineries in the country producing more than 10,000 gallons of wine a year. The establishment was popular on the weekend with San Franciscans along with French and Italians living in the area wine tasting in the fresh air. On Bastille Day in July, thousands flocked to the brick winery on Magnolia Avenue to celebrate Bastille Day and the Vintage Festival that took place when the winemaking had ended in the fall. Escalle was very involved in civic duties and was elected a city trustee three times. After Ellen died in 1903, he married Wilhelmina Vogel in 1905 and retired from running the Limerick Inn but continued running the winery. He started a delivery service and personally delivered wine to his customers in a horse-drawn wagon. A 1962 edition of The Daily Independent Journal described the Escalle Winery: "The red and white wines produced there were sold at Escalle's own inn, and customers came by train and buggy to quench their thirst and enjoy themselves. Fine horses, like fine wines, were a point of pride with Escalle". In 1919, the enactment of prohibition put an end to Escalle’s wine sales and the wine grapes were wiped out by phylloxera. In November 1920, Jean Escalle died of a stroke at the age of 63 leaving behind a remarkable legacy. Photograph: Escalle Winery c. 1892, William Frizz collection. #escallewinery #larkspur #wine #winemaking #zinfandel #riesling #1800s #brickyard #limerickinn #marinhistory

It has been said that being able to combine one’s passion and make a living is one definition of successand one of those individuals was William Luther Conover. After a stint in the US Coast Guard during WWII, Mr. Conover and his wife, Marjorie, moved to Marin County and began manufacturing furniture. A weekend event run by Ainselle Bell blossomed into the Trade Fair featuring handmade ceramics, wooden ware, fabrics, rugs, linens, jewelry, paintings and sculpture. The exhi...bits were originally moved into Mr. Conover’s plant in Marinship and in 1950, moved the retail business into a newly remodeled space at 801 Bridgeway selling his furniture, and handmade and imported items. On top of his successful business, he went on to win awards from the New York Museum of Modern Art for his furniture design. A boat and sailing enthusiast, Conover set his sights on purchasing the ferry boat Berkeley when it returned to Sausalito in August 1959. The Berkeley was launched in 1898 from the Union Iron Works in San Francisco, and hauled commuters across the bay for six decades. Considered the most beautiful of the San Francisco ferry fleet, Conover purchased the boat from the Golden Gate Fish Co. saving it from a fate of being turned into a marine animal processing plant. Regarding the purchase, Mr. Conover remarked, We want to help keep history alive, and the history of ferry boats is one of the most colorful parts in the history of the San Francisco Bay Area. The boat was located at the ferry slip at the foot of El Portal, and became the new home of Conover’s Trade Fair boasting twice the space as the previous location. The Fair remained aboard the Berkeley from 1960-1973. In 1973, the business moved to 765-801 Bridgeway and evolved into the Village Fair. Conover sold the Berkeley to the San Diego Maritime Museum for $100,000. It was restored and is now a National Historic Landmark. Photograph: Sausalito Trade Fair pennant with the ferry boat Berkeley pictured c. 1965, Jeff Craemer collection. #tradefair #villagefair #artists #craftsman #ferry #ferryboat #berkeley #bridgeway #sausalito #marinhistory

National Native American Day The powwow is event held by Native American communities that preserves traditions and rituals of the pre-hispanic culture through expression of dance and ceremony. Male and female aztec dancers wear traditional regalia including large ornate and colorful feather head dresses. The dances are accompanied by a large drum (huehuetl) and a small two tongued wooden drum (teponaztli). The dances represent respect for nature and the four elements: ear...Continue reading