100 years ago: February 5, 1925
NEW GEYSER WELL EXPLODES, ONE HURT
Exploding with such force as to hurl water, steam and rocks to a height of several hundred feet, the new well at Geysers came in Tuesday night at 5:30 o’clock with such a quantity of steam as to overjoy the promoters of the drilling project at the natural steam beds, 20 miles northeast of Healdsburg. The rocks fell over an area of ten acres, and one of the missiles, descending from a great height, struck G. H. Humphreys, stock salesman, breaking his arm.
The explosion came as the drilling tools were hoisted from the 150-foot-deep bore, as the shifts were being changed, so that damage done was at a minimum. The drillers were at supper when the hole ‘‘shot.”
The well, 451 feet deep, with a 10 inch bore, had been completely full of water during the drilling operations, creating a down pressure on the bottom of about 200 pounds to the square inch. When the explosion came, this column of water was shot out of the well to a great height, together with loose rocks, torn from the well bottom by the force of the steam. There will be no more drilling of this bore, of course.
75 years ago: February 10, 1950
HEALDSBURG AND LYTTON MEET IN ANNUAL BOXING SHOW TONIGHT
Following many weeks of hard training under the leadership of veteran Al Barbieri, the Healdsburg Boys Club members don their gloves in the annual boxing show in their meeting with the boys from Lytton Home, to be staged at the Healdsburg High School tonight, starting time set for 7:30 p.m.
Highlighting the evening’s program will be the meeting of Healdsburg’s Bebe Lara and John Silvia who comes here from Hopland. A1 bouts are scheduled for three rounds with the youngest boys getting the show underway and working on through the heavier fellows to the final main attraction. In the opening event, 40-pound Greg Albini, age 4, meets 40-pound Skip Atkinson, also age 4. Both lads hail from Healdsburg. Following will be another all-Healdsburg bout between Bobby Atkinson, 5, and Sonny Squires, 5, both lads hitting the scales at 40 pounds. All proceeds received from the sports event will be used to purchase additional equipment for both athletic clubs.
50 years ago: February 20, 1975
BEHAVIOR PROBLEMS AT HES SPAWN FIRST CODE OF CONDUCT
For what appears to be the first time in its history, Healdsburg Elementary School will have a behavior code, elementary school trustees decided last Thursday night. The new behavior code was prompted by a petition from 19 faculty members in December that cites “serious problems” occurring “in the classroom, cafeteria and playground.” HES Principal Richard Peters testified on Dec. 12 that “concentration levels, noisiness, poling other students, discourtesy and bad language” were the major problems.
After a 15-member committee was appointed to study the problems, and the recommendations made to correct them by the school faculty, it presented rules that are “short, concise, and meaningful to parents and students,” Peters said. He believes it is the first behavior code the school has ever had. The committee consisted of board members, faculty members, the district psychologist, administrators, parents and a representative from the Sonoma County Social Service Department.
Research and materials provided by the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society. The Museum, located at 221 Matheson St., is closed until spring for renovations.
