100 years ago – August 15, 1918
Cannery workers obliged to take oath of loyalty
Uncle Sam has decided that no enemies shall be given employment in the canneries, in the task of preparing foods for the use of his soldier boys. Every employee of the Healdsburg packing houses and canneries must take the following oath of allegiance before his or her name is put on the payroll: “Being a free-born American citizen, I hereby swear and declare my allegiance to the Constitution of the United States, and that I will defend it against all enemies. I solemnly swear that I will give the Government the benefit of my every ability to protect not only the property of, but safeguard the purity and quality of the canned goods produced by (name of firm) of Healdsburg, California. I also further swear and declare that I will with vigilance closely watch the work over which I have jurisdiction, and will immediately report to my employer or any other proper or designated authority, strangers, or employees whose statements or actions may savor of suspicion, or any propaganda or influence detrimental directly or indirectly to the best interest and welfare of the United States Government or of the (name of cannery), so help me God.”
50 years ago – August 15, 1968
Planning commission limits signs
The city planning commission took action at its meeting Tuesday that will prohibit signs, both painted and neon, which devote most of their space to some kind of beverage or product and only incidentally provide space for the name of the business. Commissioners unanimously resolved that henceforth any sign application that includes a product as well as the business must provide at least 75 per cent of the space for the business name and no more than 25 per cent for the beverage or other product. It was noted that the sign recently hung in front of the new food place on Powell Street was a flagrant violation of good taste in signs. The neon sign has only a small strip across the bottom for the stores name in small letters while the bulk of the sign in big letters proclaims the name of the soft drink.
25 years ago – August 18, 1993
Council approves four new stop signs
At the urging of a group of Johnson Street residents, up in arms over speeding drivers on their street, the city council voted to put up a new four-way stop sign at the corner of Grant and Johnson Streets, even though this wasn’t being recommended by the city’s engineer. The city staff did recommend three other new stop signs, and the council voted in those too. These new four-way intersections will be University and March; Vine and North; and Matheson and Fitch Streets.
