100 years ago
Nov. 13, 1924
FITCH MOUNT WAS ONCE 99 FT. TALL – HOW BIG NOW?
How much has Fitch Mountain grown in the last twenty-odd years? If some old timer can tell us that, we’ll have the correct measurement of the little mound that overlooks Healdsburg like a sentinel. There are old residents of the Healdsburg vicinity who claim to have come here when Fitch Mountain was a swimming hole. They are the ones who can give the information now sought.
Julius Alexander recently went to work to find out the official elevations of some of the peaks of this vicinity. From the engineer corps of the army he was advised that Cobb Mountain is 4,860 feet above sea level, the highest peak in this section of the state. The geodetic survey places the elevation of Mount St. Helena at 4,337.3 feet. Fitch Mountain, according to a record on a tree at its summit, marked down there many years ago, is but 99.98 feet over sea level. The figures are from the official records of the geodetic survey, but they were taken so long ago that they are subject to change in the event that the picturesque hill has sprouted any or slumped down in the past quarter century.
75 years ago
Nov. 21, 1949
HEALDSBURG FLIERS JOIN SEARCH FOR B-29S’ CRASH VICTIMS
Eleven members of the Air Search and Rescue Squadron of the Healdsburg unit, Civil Air Patrol, were called out yesterday to search for survivors of the two B-29s that collided in the air over the San Joaquin River delta area early Thursday.
Burnett Bidwell, commanding officer of the local detachment, received the alert from Hamilton Field, and the Healdsburg fliers were sent to the scene of the crash immediately, Lt. James Vogt informs. In charge of the Healdsburg squadron is Lt. Duke Bidwell. With him on the search mission are Lloyd Grist, Ray Galeazzi, P. Burden, Floyd Newgen, Vein Wood, John Kowell, Lt. Max Johnson, Eric Anderson, Bill Kearbey and Roscoe Bertolucci.
50 years ago
Nov. 14, 1974
400 RAISE FUNDS FOR HPOA FAMILIES AT BENEFIT DANCE
The nine members of the Healdsburg Police Officers Association may have entered what looks to be a long battle with the City of Healdsburg, but if the crowd that turned out to salute them last Friday night is any indication, they have many sympathizers.
The benefit dance for HPOA members and their families drew more than 400 people, making it one of the largest dances the Villa Chanticleer has ever seen. In addition, sponsors report, many people bought several of the dance tickets, at $5 each, and returned them for re-sale, thus generating additional capital.
Some 33 merchants donated to the raffle and a percentage was returned from sale of refreshments. No gross figures of how much was made were available, but indications are that each of the nine could receive about half of the monthly salary of a beginning patrolman. The nine dismissed employees have been without pay since early in October. The money they received may be used by their families without restriction, organizers report. The nine reportedly face large legal bills and are ineligible for unemployment insurance.
The Flashbackers are docents for the Healdsburg Museum, which is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11am to 4pm, at 221 Matheson St.
