Letter: Time for gazebo to go

Editor: I agree with Ray Holley that the Plaza gazebo is showing
its age, and it is probably time to replace or refurbish it.
However, I can’t let it pass without mentioning its history. It is
hard to admit that it has been 20 years since Diane Olsen, Jane
Oriel and myself, all struggling downtown business owners looking
for a way to keep people in town on Sundays, came up with the idea
of building a gazebo in the plaza where we could have entertainment
and local events like holiday carolers perform. Historic
photographs of the Plaza had shown it once contained a gazebo, an
elaborate multistoried affair. And old-timers had often regaled us
with tales of summer Saturday evenings when the Town Band played
and the farmers came to town. Ernie Frandsen told me of the day he
and Marilyn married and were serenaded as they drove around the
Plaza! It seemed right to make a modern day replacement.
It took about a year to convince the various agencies that our
idea was a good one. Then we had to figure out how to pay for it.
We had been passing the hat everywhere we could and probably raised
$500. The we hit on our friends … we’d make it a “barn-raising!” An
amazing thing happened … Michael Rubenstein, a noted local
architect designed it and took it through the review process … then
Len Echols, a local builder, along with Jerry Eddinger and Bob
Haviland, Healdbsurg Lumber and a motley crew of volunteers, built
it. For free!
This was long ago in a simpler time in Healdsburg. It is
something I am glad to have been a part of, and regretfully realize
has come to pass.
Carla Howell, Healdsburg