100 years ago – October 9, 1924
DAM COMING DOWN AS RAIN ARRIVES
With the welcome opening of the rainy season, Lake Sotoyome is, figuratively speaking, to be folded up and put away until next summer. The new dam, construction of which was completed late in the summer season, is being lowered, bit by bit, under the terms of the permit granted by the state engineer. Flashboards will be removed from the face of the dam, one at a time, until all the water in the lake formed around Fitch mountain has been released and the Russian river flows without obstruction through its regular course. The dam base, constructed with a view to permanency and the saving of the money required to put in a temporary structure each summer, now faces the important test. Every condition is favorable, but it remains to be seen if the erratic Russian river will permit the concrete caps and the deep sunk piling to remain in its path. The base is below the level of the normal river bed, and there is no reason to believe that it will not stand the test of winter’s high water, but it will be watched anxiously nevertheless by those responsible for its construction.
75 years ago – October 7, 1949
DISPLAYS TO BE FEATURED FOR NAT’L WINE WEEK
Displays will be placed in several stores and business establishments throughout Healdsburg next week in observance of National Wine Week, October 8 to 15. Murals of vineyards in this section and colorful wine arrangements will call attention to the banner, “The Finest Dry Wines Are Bottled Here.” Featuring displays will be the Frozen Food Locker Plant, Plaza Hotel, 339 Club, Vic and Sid’s, Plasberg’s Liquor Store, Fred and John’s, Buffi’s Hotel and Frank Sillano’s.
50 years ago – October 3, 1974
RUSSIANS IN THE VINEYARDS
Everyone knows the French love wine. The Germans are pretty good at making it, too, not to mention the Italians. And there’s no doubt about how well the Americans squeeze grapes. But how many people think of the Russians as interested in wine? Well, after a visit by an 11-man delegation from the Russian agricultural ministry last Saturday, Sonoma Vineyards President Rodney Strong can attest that they are. The occasion was part of a visit to American wine country by L. F. Chaitouro, chief general director of the industry of viniculture, ministry of food (the equivalent of our secretary of agriculture), and other top wine industry leaders. Sonoma Vineyards was the only county winery included in the Russians’ tour, which also took them to wineries in Napa County and the valley regions. Strong reports the Russians, whose vineyards are mainly in the Crimea, were especially interested in Sonoma’s perma-set system, and double jacketed stainless-steel tanks caught their eye. They also wanted to know as much as possible about treatment of the harvest, particularly what is done to prevent wine from going bad due to clouding, browning and tartrates. The Russians raise some two hundred types of grapes. The 11-man group is the highest-level delegation ever to visit the US from Russia.
The Flashbackers are docents for the Healdsburg Museum. The Healdsburg Museum is open from 11am to 4pm, Wednesday through Sunday, at 221 Matheson St.
