The following snippets of history are drawn from the pages of the Healdsburg Tribune, the Healdsburg Enterprise and the Sotoyome Scimitar, and are prepared by the volunteers at the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. Admission is always free at the museum, open Wednesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
100 years ago – November 29,1917
Washington laying plans for long hostilities
George H. Warfield, president of the Healdsburg National Bank, received a letter a few days ago from B.H. Canfield, of Cleveland, Ohio, president of the Newspaper Enterprise Association, in which he speaks of war conditions in the east. Mr. Canfield, it will be remembered, purchased the Warfield and Newland stock ranch in the Skaggs Springs section, about a year ago, and was recently in Washington. Mr. Canfield says, in part: “Washington is a rather interesting place in war time, but is crowded with people who want to tell the government how to run the war. They are laying their plans for a long period of hostilities. I was there at the time the news of the Italian defeat came in, and everyone was rather blue. Personally, I do not believe we have even seen the start of the sacrifices everyone in this country will have to make. The fuel situation is especially a serious setback, but fortunately there has been no real cold weather as yet. After numerous attempts I was able to buy one ton of coal for my house, which is heated by natural gas but which is an inadequate method in zero weather. However, generally speaking, business, especially retail business remains very good. More money in circulation even with high prices keeps things moving.”
50 years ago – November 30, 1967
Chief’s 26 years have been quiet
Kids in particular and the community at large will lose a good friend Jan. 1 when the retirement of Healdsburg chief of Police Albert J. Giorgi becomes effective. The lack of any major police emergencies during his tenure as police chief is testimony to his philosophy and approach to the complex job of law enforcement. “Just because a man has a badge and gun doesn’t make him a policeman,’’ Chief Giorgi said. “An officer with a quiet voice and manner can control almost any situation. A little talk goes a long way.” Chief Giorgi was born in Healdsburg. He looks out his Center Street office window at precisely the same view his father, whose shoe repair shop once stood on the site, looked out on. His home was just a block from his present office at 210 East Street. He attended Healdsburg schools and in 1936 started working at the golf course and in the city’s fire department. Giorgi joined the police department in 1942. “Except for 1943-45, when I took a leave of absence, and went into the U.S. Navy, I’ve been in the department ever since,” Giorgi says.
25 years ago – November 18, 1992
Foss Creek field a boon to kids
The fence came down and the wave of an arm sent hundreds of Foss Creek Elementary School students hooting and shouting as they ran across the new grass play field built by Healdsburg volunteers. Monday marked the first phase completion of the school’s grass field project that got under way about a year ago through the efforts of concerned parents and educators. Principal Tom Costagnola presented the Principal’s Award for outstanding school service to six volunteers who gave their time to the project. The recipients included Marci Alvey who led the fundraising efforts, Gretchen Glaeser of the school board, Phil Manoukian, the landscape architect, city Parks and Recreation Director Neil Smart, Jay Tripathi who coordinated the field installation, and the school’s custodian Bruce Pierson. The HELP Foundation worked closely with Alvey to raise funds for the field. Before the students were let loose on the field for the first time, the six award recipients kicked out soccer balls and threw Frisbees disks for the children to play with.
