Author Archives: michaelcacker

Boyes Hot Springs

Important Places: Parson’s Hardware

PARSONS

The Sonoma Valley Lumber company was in business by 1918 on this main highway site. In that year an advertisement in the Index Tribune lets us know that the proprietor, C.A. Bergstrom was in France but “the manager of the yard will be glad to give you figures and will guarantee satisfaction.”

In 1950, Vernon Parson came from Walnut Creek and bought the company. His sons Don and Bob helped run it. In 1988, Alan and Helen Medina became owners and have been running Parson’s ever since.

Neighbors in the Springs are lucky to have a full service hardware store, walkable by a lot of people, to shop for parts and get advice in their long term project of repairing and restoring houses that survive from the resort days.

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Photographs courtesy of Don Parsons.

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Boyes Hot Springs, nature, Neighborhood Phenomena

The Boyes Springs Plaza Palm Tree

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A pre-1956 photo with the palm tree peeking over the top of the building. Notice the “Resort Club” sign at left.

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Photo courtesy of Bruce Griewe. Taken in 1942.

Yes, there was a Plaza in Boyes Springs. The first half of the Plaza Center Building was built in 1951. It spared the palm tree. The second half, the part that houses the post office, was built in 1956, and spelled the end for the beloved tree.

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mid-century

New to the Springs Historic Photo Database

 

The Valley of the Moon Daily Review

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The street scene by Zan Stark shows, at left, offices of the Valley of the Moon Daily Review, of which he was publisher in the late 50s and early 60s. The paper is from 1956.

Zan was prolific photographer and publisher of post cards from the 30s through the 50s. Copies of the newspaper are rare. They are valuable historical records of life in the Springs in the mid twentieth century. If you have one or two, consider giving them to this Museum, or the Depot Park Museum. Thank you!

Postcard image used Courtesy of the Department of Special Collections and University Archives, Stanford University Libraries.

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Art, Boyes Hot Springs, Photographs

Main Stem Project Photographs, East Side

CORRECTED LINK

Link to Flickr gallery of all the photographs of Highway 12 between Verano Blvd. and Agua Caliente Rd., on the east side, taken in 2008. These are the base photos the Main Stem Project. Only six years ago, but a lot has changed. Sidewalks! New businesses. Old businesses gone. A literal walk down memory lane.

West side to follow.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/83786542@N00/sets/72157648810262200/

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