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 14, 1918
Peace flag in SR parade
Julius Myron Alexander of Healdsburg had a place in two parades on Monday, with his Peace Flag. Early in the afternoon he went to Santa Rosa, in company with R.G. Cook, J.A. McMinn, L.C. Koberg, Mike Cummings, Ray Lattin and Ernest Cornell, and the Peace Flag floated in the parade along Fourth Street. Later in the day the flag had its place in the parade in Healdsburg. The flag is a beautiful emblem of the peace that now prevails throughout most of the world, and it may become the international Flag of Peace.
75 years ago – November 26, 1943
Legion to aid in recruiting more Waves
A statewide program launched by the American Legion and the Legion Auxiliary to assist the Navy in increasing enlistments in the Waves is now under way throughout California, it was revealed this week. The quota set for Sotoyome Post is one enlistment for each 200 members each month, or one enlistment each month. Healdsburg has already given two girls to that branch of service — Miss Nanette Maheras, now in training at Hunters College, New York, and Miss Elaine Walker who enlisted last week on her 20th birthday and is awaiting her call. Competition between posts is expected to spur enthusiasm of legion members, and the initial phase of the drive will culminate on December 31 with awarding of a navy Waves “E” flag to the post and auxiliary locating the most prospects in proportion to its membership.
25 years ago – November 24, 1993
City is caught with the Villa’s roof down
Normally, the first rain of the season is welcomed as a sign that vital water supplies will be replenished. Unless, of course, you have your roof torn up at that moment. A new roof is part of the $1.3 million renovation of the Villa Chanticleer, but the roof had been improperly installed and had been removed, with new roofing material arriving in 3-4 weeks. The roof was in the middle of being replaced when the first real rainstorm of the year hit town on Nov. 10. Workers tried to cover the roof as best they could, but apparently it wasn’t good enough. 300 or so members of the Eagles Club ate dinner that night in the Villa dining room “among the drops,” according to City Manager Mike Wilson, an Eagle himself.
