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 – Feb. 6, 1919
Matheson Street to have an 8-inch pipe to protect city from fire
The City Engineer was instructed at the Monday night meeting of the City Board of Trustees to draw up plans and specifications for supplying 8-inch, standard, class “C” pipe, for the replacement of the present inadequate and worn out main on Matheson Street from the waterworks to the business section of the city. It will take about 1,800 feet of pipe to construct the main, which when finished will allow the direct pressure to be applied from the engines at the pumping plant at the water works, something that cannot be done now because the present main is not strong enough to stand the pressure. It is the opinion of the Trustees that when this main is completed, Healdsburg’s water pressure during a fire will be very much increased and will be ample for all demands required.
50 years ago – Feb. 6, 1969
Co-operative “welfare league” for Healdsburg area planned
Plans for a proposed Healdsburg “welfare league’’ were outlined last week before 15 Healdsburgers representing three churches, a nursery school, a parents club, the Soroptimists and the Jaycees. Stated aim of the proposed organization, pointed out Mrs. Warren Toomey who acted as chairman, is to provide a year-round project to take care of transients stranded in town or local people who are victims of unforeseen disasters. Mrs. Toomey noted that the group, which is tentatively called “Community Services” this past Christmas, worked with the Healdsburg Jaycees in providing toys for the more than 100 needy families who received Jaycee Christmas baskets. Mrs. Toomey and the Rev. Don Burkhart of the Windsor Methodist Church said there is no central agency and oft-time the needy person doesn’t know where he can turn.
25 years ago – Feb. 2, 1994
McDonald’s Foundation makes donations
Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities (RMCC) has awarded $11,700 in grants to the Healdsburg Boys and Girls Club and the Healdsburg Public Library in its continuing spirit of helping “lift kids to a better tomorrow.” The $8,200 grant to the Healdsburg Boys and Girls club, which serves 1,378 children, will help fund pilot programs in counseling services, art resources and health and prevention. Ken Barun, president of RMCC, said the “The Healdsburg Boys and Girls Club shares our vision of a better world for children, so it is our privilege to support their efforts.” The Healdsburg Public Library was awarded a $3,500 grant to purchase a Macintosh computer and laser printer for the children’s area of the library, offering Healdsburg children the opportunity to acquire knowledge about computers and technology. RMCC has awarded almost $70 million to more than 1,800 children’s programs in the area of health care and medical research, education and the arts, and civic and social services.
