Fetters Hot Springs, History, People, Photographs, Resorts, Valley of the Moon Main Stem Project

Cazes Resort

Updated below

Jean Marie Cazes was born in Nestier,France in 1867. He arrived in the US in 1883 (aboard the ship Chateau Lafitte!). After spending a significant amount of time in New York, working in the wine business, he decamped for California and the Valley of the Moon in 1920.

In 1922, Jean and Genevieve Cazes started construction of their new resort on the Sonoma Highway in Fetters Hot Springs. In April of that year, according to the Index Tribune, “The new hotel and café being erected for Mr. and Mrs. Jean Cazes on the highway near Fetters, is nearing completion. The Cazes sold their resort in the hills and are to engage in business in the new quarters. A twenty-five room hotel and grill will provide fine accommodations for guests and a good season is expected.” The name of their “resort in the hills” is unknown as of this writing.

Prohibition being the law of the land, raids of public establishments became common. The Index Tribune (via the S.F. Chronicle) tells us, in September of 1922, under the headline “Prohibition Agents Raid Springs Resorts,” Jean Cazes was arrested along with some other resort proprietors. He eventually received a $250 fine for his transgressions.

By 1924, Jean Cazes had sold his resort to a Domenico Rovigna, who conitunued business under the Cazes name. (However, a 1942 article about a robbery at the resort, calls Mrs. Cazes “the proprietor.” It also erroneously calls her “Mrs. Doree Cazes.” Her name was Genevieve.)

Jean Cazes died in Fetters Springs in 1941. His obit in the IT said he “was among the first café proprietors in Fetters Springs and…had been prominent in California wine circles before that for many years.”

Genevieve Cazes was also born in France, in 1881, and died in 1970 at her home on Mountain Avenue, Fetters Springs. Her obituary states she was the owner of Maison Doree for fifty-five years, which suggests she still owned it when she died.

The Historic Survey, done for the Redevelopment project in 1984 (below), listed the construction date for the Cazes building as approximately 1915. Dan Petersen, the author of the report, noted , “this collection of early commercial buildings should be restored as contributors to the historic character of this community,” If only this suggestion had been acted on! However, the buildings(s) do exist (in 2024), in highly altered states.

A subsequent Historic Survey done in 2004, listed the construction date as 1925 and the building “the Jean M. and Genevieve Cazes residence.” The authors seem to be unaware of the existence of the resort.

In 2008 I created the Valley of the Moon Main Stem Photo Archive in order to preserve for future artists and historians and folk in general, a snapshot of what the two-mile stretch of highway looked like. It contains over 400 photographs. I donated a copy to the Sonoma County Library and the Sonoma Valley Historical Society, in digital form and on paper.

From the Valley of the Moon Main Stem photo collage series. Painted photo collage on watercolor paper. 40″x9″. Michael Acker 2009

Index Tribune, first photo, and Historic Resource Reports courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Hisotrical Society. Many thanks to Joan Lounibos for research.

For more on French families in the Valley see https://springsmuseum.org/2020/12/13/dutil-french-cottages-verdiers/

UPDATE! Historian and writer Joan Lounbous contributes this essay detailing more about the Cazes and Prohibition in the Valley. Thank you Joan for the wonderful research and writing:

JEAN MARIE CAZES (1867-1941) –Resort Owner and Bootlegger

Jean Marie CAZES was a wine loving Frenchman who wasn’t going to let a few raids get in between he and his wine glass!

In October 1925, Jean Marie Cazes’ Maison Doree resort in Fetters Springs, just north of Boyes Hot Springs and our El Verano, was raided by the Feds—again: “57 Varieties—Not Pickles—Raid’s Loot. ”If you don’t see what you want, ask for it,” was apparently the slogan of Cazes, resort owner of Sonoma Valley, according to County Detective E W Westphall. Cazes’ bar contained the 57 varieties, more of less, according to Westphall—and he didn’t mean pickles, though it might be called a pickling stock. The detective, leading a squad of county officers, gave out the following list of assorted liquors seized in a raid yesterday: 21 gallons of White Wine, 10 quarts of Red Wine, 2 quarts of Port Wine, 1 quart of Sherry Wine, 1 quart of Vermouth, 2 quarts of Berry Cordial, 1 quart of Creme de Menthe, 1 quart of good Scotch, 1.5 quarts of Jackass. The liquor, which was contained in 30 kegs of various sizes, was hidden all over Cazes’ little resort building, opposite the site of the former Fetters clubhouse, according to Westphall. Cazes will be arrested Monday and is to appear before the local justice court. “ [The Press Democrat Sun, Oct 18, 1925 ·Page 4]

Jean Marie CAZES was born on 16 APR 1867 in Nestier, Bordeaux, France and died on 28 Feb 1941 in Fetters Springs, Sonoma, Valley. He and his wife, —Genevieve Batistine BÉGUÉ m CAZES. (1878–1970) who was born on 8 June 1878 in Hèches (Section de Rebouc), Hautes-Pyrénées, France and died in 1 June 1970 in Fetters Hot Springs, Sonoma Valley, California, —had arrived in the Valley about 1915—just as the our Aunt Annie Lounibos Chauvet (1872-1960) and her brother, our grandfather, Jean Baptiste Lounibos (1873-1929) were losing their own vintner family. (Germain Charles (1870-1913), Jean-Pierre (1840-1917) and Paul Emile (1876-192). Tuberculosis took the brothers, while some say their father died from the shock of Prohibition looming over their heritage.). Our Grandfather Jean Baptiste did not test the Feds, especially since he had a large family to support, and by 1919 he had already closed the Pioneer Liquor Store on Main Street in Petaluma, and opened the IXL Hatchery located on Baker Street, behind their 519 Upham Street home. But he did always keep a keg of Brandy in his cellar.

It is difficult to imagine what Prohibition did to a place like our Valley of the Moon, but Jean Marie Cazes’ story gives us a glimpse into how the wretched Volstead Act played out in a region whose heritage and primary industry had always been the cultivation of the vines—all thanks to a hint from historian Mike Acker of the Springs Museum which proved to open that glimpse into The Valley through those long years of Prohibition. Jean Marie and many of his fellow Frenchmen and neighbors in the valley did not let Prohibition stopped them in their lifestyle. And through the 1920s the Federal agents of the county visited them at least annually. By 1922, the Resort owners of The Springs were already labeled as “notorious” in their operations. [The Prohibition era Jan 17, 1920 – Dec 5, 1933 was the period when the United States prohibited the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages.]

As the Turks were attempting to re-gain their foothold in Europe by pushing into Constantinople, on the World front, the San Francisco Journal and Daily Journal of Commerce announced in adjacent headlines that the “Police Campaign Against Bootleg Liquor Is Begun.” Their aim was to raid and close several well-known spots in the City flagrantly violating the Prohibition laws, but also notorious bootleg resorts in Sonoma Valley: Deputy Director C H Wheeler began the investigation into the case of a blind and partially paralyzed man who was found wandering in the neighborhood of San Francisco Hospital. When discovered, he had on his person twenty-four small bottles of wood alcohol whisky which he is believed to have been drinking. (Wood alcohol whisky will cause blindness.). Twelve others were also arrested on this day. Also ordered was the destruction of 625 quarts of “home brew” seized at the Phoenix Bottling Works in Guerrero Street since the bottles were exploding in the government warehouse. Another fellow was arrested for transporting liquor in his automobile. He was fined $150 and his machine was confiscated. By the time they got to the Valley resorts, George Darling of Darling’s resort in Boyes Springs, E Peters of Cabinot resort in Boyes Springs, our Jean Marie Cazes of Maison Doree in Fetters Springs, and J Moore of Shamrock Sun resort in Fetters Springs—were also arrested. [Sep 16, 1922]

The following year, we see that “a fine of $250 was paid by Jean Cazes of Fetters Springs when he appeared in the justice court at Glen Ellen—charge of violating the county Liquor ordinance. ALSO, B Mori–same. [Santa Rosa Republican Feb 14, 1923]

The following year in February 1924, it appears that Jean Marie Cazes was ready to throw in the towel. He is selling lots in Agua Caliente Park, and The Maison Doree is advertised For Sale as well. “Spend your vacations in Sonoma Valley. Two blocks’ walk to station, baths and all amusements. Meet parties at station by appt. Excellent home cooking. Rates $14 per week. JEAN CAZES Prop. Phone 4-F-3 Fetters Spring, CAL.” [Oakland Tribune Jun 22, 1924] But it was only a lease he obtained: “Mr and Mrs Jean M CAZES proprietors of the French resort near Agua Caliente, have leased the property to Domingo Rovigna of South San Francisco, for two years with an option to buy—for $13,000 during lease.” But again, while the two men were celebrating their new transaction at the resort, “the Feds dropped by to pay their respects.” Domingo Rovigna, who purchased Maison Doree, Fetters, last week from Jean Cazes, was charged $300. [Press Democrat Mar 13, 1924 and Petaluma Argus-Courier Mar 28, 1924]

Remarkably, Jean Marie Cazes is also filing papers for his Naturalization (Citizenship) at the same time. Two days later, he is again raided at his resort: 57 Varieties–Not Pickles–Raid’s Loot. “If you don’t see what you want, ask for it,” was Cazes slogan in the bar. Confiscated from stash holes throughout the resort were: 21 gal White Wine, 10 gal Red Wine, 2 qts Port, 1 qt Sherry, 1 qt Vermouth, 2 qts Berry Cordial. 1 qt Creme de Menthe, 1 qt Good Scotch, 1.5 qts Jackass. [ Press Democrat Oct 18, 1925 ]. His fine, this time, was $250 paid four days later when he appeared before M T Vaughan in Santa Rosa.

In 1928, the “Drys again attempted to clean up the Valley, raiding six resorts: Joe/Rose Udvic-Our Resort-El Verano; Jean Cazes–Maison Doree-Fetters, Matthew Bock-Quick Meal Lunch Counter-Fetters; Roy Burchane-Stone House; Carl Steffan-Caliente Villa-; Mrs E Johnson-Italian American Hotel-all Aqua Caliente [Santa Rosa Republican May 7, 1928]. Three of them (the Sonoma Rum Trio) were hauled off to San Francisco to the US Commissioner, Francis Kroll, for selling illicit liquor. This time the fine was a bit steeper: arrested 5 May: Jean Cazes, Matt Bock, and Eva Johnson–$1000 each. All posted the fine. [The Press Democrat May 10, 1928 ]. And so it continued—Arrested last night was John Cazes, 62; he pleaded guilty to possession of small quantities beer, wine and Jackass Brandy $250–along with three others–including Louis Dueret, 28. [Santa Rosa Republican. Sat, Aug 03, 1929]

Jean Marie Cazes died on 28 February 1941, in Fetters Springs, at the age of 73, the beloved husband of Genevieve Cazes and father of Marguerite Cazes. His daughter Marguerite, by then, was married to Jess Reinking, the manager of Spreckles Golf Course, and they lived next door to her parents in Fetters.

One would like to imagine that Jean Marie Cazes’ wife, Genevieve Batistine BÉGUÉ, was removed from the bootlegging activities pf her husband—but that was not quite the case, it seems. In 1928, when Genevieve attempted to apply for citizenship, it was found that her character witness for citizenship, and their neighbor with the Quick Meals Lunch Counter in Fetters, was in jail —for bootlegging. Matt Bock was a regular associate of her husband Jean Marie, at several of their arrests for bootlegging. —“Witness for Naturalization Hearing in Jail—Matt Bock, witness for Genevieve Baistine Cazes of Fetters Springs, was recently arrested for Liquor Possession and his case is pending in the federal courts; her application was continued pending the outcome of Bock’s case.” [Santa Rosa Republican. May 24, 1928]. Due to Bock, May Have to File Anew. If Bock is convicted–Genevieve would have to file a new naturalization application (after maybe a five year wait.). On 24 Jan 1929. She again “Loses Citizenship Application—Bootlegger Bock as Witness. Her application was dismissed without prejudice. She must now wait five years to begin application process again–due to character witness Matt Bock who was found guilty of liquor possession.” [Santa Rosa Republican. Thu, Jan 24, 1929 ·Page 8]

Even after the repeal of Prohibition, Genevieve was getting herself into trouble. “Complaint charging Genevieve B Cazes, who operates a beer parlor at Fetters Springs, had distilled spirits “with intent to sell.” Only has a beer license. ALSO–Four more stills seized in Valley. [Santa Rosa Republican. Tue, Feb 18, 1936 ·Page 5]

Three years later, when she again tried to apply for citizenship (Naturalization) she drew the ire of Judge Comstock: “Widely known Sonoma Valley woman, Genevieve Cazes of Fetters Springs, wife of a resort owner—was insistent she had never run afoul of the law. Her false statements were confronted by Judge Comstock with evidence—of two arrests. Application was continued. [Petaluma Argus-Courier Jan 19, 1939]. Eighteen months later she applied again and was confronted, again,—this time by Judge Geary: “Judge Geary denied application for citizenship by Genevieve Cazes due to false information on her application that she had never been arrested. She was warned to tell the truth when she fills out new application next year. Geary warned her that “the truth is one of the first requisites of citizenship.” She may file again next year. [Santa Rosa Republican. May 11-12, 1939]. Genevieve was finally admitted to citizenship in Nov 1942 by Judge Geary.

Four years later, Genevieve re-married, on 7 May 1946. “Justin Coulier, 59, of Sonoma, and Genevieve Bastistine Cazes, 63, of Fetters Springs.” “Widely known residents of Sonoma Valley are Mrs Genevieve B Cazes, Fetters Springs, and Justin Coulier, Sonoma, who has operated a resort near Sonoma. The bride, a widow, is conducting a cafe and resort once conducted by her former husband. [Press Democrat May 8, 1946]

Justin Coulier had been a Hotel Keeper (Hotel Arno and Hotel Idora) in San Francisco prior to his move to Sonoma in about 1923 with his first wife Marie Delbruc (1886-1942) They had purchased the old Maurel Villa (formerly owned by the late John Maurel.) In 1933, we see them developing an artesian well on the property which was located on a lane opposite Sonoma Valley High School. The well was said “to have sulphur qualities.“ The new proprietor, Justin Coulier, says the artesian well has wonderful flow—like the waters of The Springs section of Sonoma Valley. Fountains, pools, and bathing are contemplated. [Petaluma Argus-Courier Feb 09, 1933 from Index-Tribune]

Justin lists his profession as Farmer in the June 1940 Census, but in August 1940, we read: “Brandy Still Seized at Sonoma, when the Feds raided the ranch of Justin Coulier on a lane opposite Sonoma Valley High School, south of Sonoma. They discovered there a 5 gal still and untaxed brandy. Pleaded guilty-$100 fine or 50 days jail. [Petaluma Argus-Courier Thu, Aug 15, 1940]

So—when Genevieve Batistine BÉGUÉ w’d CAZES married Justin COULIER in 1946, we see that she was continuing on with her numerous bootlegging associations. Justin did not last long though, dying in Sonoma on 10 Jan 1950 at the age of 62. Genevieve lived on for another twenty years, still working at her Cazes’ Maison Doree Restaurant (French and Italian Dinners) in Fetters Springs. She died at her home at 95 Mountain Avenue on 1 June 1970, at the age of 89 years. She had lived in The Valley for 58 years and had been owner of Cazes Maison Doree restaurant for 55 years. (Curiously, also listed near her obituary is one for Rosa Kruschwitz, 86, also of 95 Mountain Avenue in Fetters Springs. A native of Germany, with one daughter Freida Hagan. Rosa had lived in Sonoma Valley for 49 years. Living at the same address with Genevieve, Rosa had died the day before Genevieve.) [JAL Sept 2024—with special thanks to Michael Acker, Artist and Director of the Springs Museum in Sonoma Valley. Mike has written further information of Jean Marie Cazes, especially regarding his earlier life, in a biography posted in August 2024 on The Springs website]

Joan Lounibos 2024-

Boyes Hot Springs, Entertainment, History, mid-century, Photographs, Resorts

The Boyes Hot Springs Bathhouse, Its History and “Prehistory”(?)

According to the Native California Guide (Dolan H. Eargle, Jr., Trees Company Press, San Francisco, 2000.) the peoples who occupied the land that included what we now know as Boyes Hot Springs could have been of the Coast Miwok, Pomo and Patwin language groups.

Many sources claim that Native peoples used the geothermal water for bathing, ritual, and possibly cooking. It’s logical to assume this, but I know of no archeological evidence, or oral history to support it. (This is an admission of ignorance!) However, the authors of We Are the Land, A History of Native California (Damon B. Akins and William J Bauer Jr., University of California Press, 2021) inform us, “To make acorns palatable, women placed the acorn flour into a shallow pit and poured water over it to leach the bitter tannic acid. The process took less time if the water was hot, making hot springs ideal places to process acorns,” acorns being a staple of the diet for many California Native peoples. (Professor. Bauer is an enrolled member of the Round Valley Indian Tribes.)

The first European to exploit the hot waters for commercial use was Andreas Hoeppner, the music teacher to General Vallejo’s children. In exchange for his lessons, Vallejo gave Hoeppner some acreage that included the hot springs. In 1847 Hoeppner advertised his Annenthal “resort” in the San Francisco Call, assuring the public that “this spring has been inspected by medical gentlemen…” Hoeppner’s enterprise was short lived. Real estate transactions were often shady, and records are sparse or confusing. At any rate, Thaddeus Leaventworth was the next owner of the springs land (which he received from Vallejo). He had come to California with Steveson’s Regiment in 1847 to engage in the war with Mexico. He also made an attempt to commercialize the hot water, again short lived. In 1885 Leaventworth sold the part of his land with the springs to Henry Boyes, a world jaunting ex-Indian Navy captain.

Construction on the Bath House started in the 1890s, under the ownership of Boyes and partners, and continued for decades under subsequent owners. The conglomeration of buildings eventually covered more than twenty thousand square feet, situated along Sonoma Creek at Pine Avenue.

The entrance to the sprawling Bath House complex was very near where Pine Avenue and Locust Avenue meet, a short distance from Boyes Blvd.

The entrance seen at the center of the photograph.

The complex included a garage, livery stables, tents, a movie theater, a dance hall, and a casino. The main pool measured seventy-five by one hundred feet and was fed with geothermal water. At various times athletes from the Oakland Oaks, San Francisco Seals, and Oakland Raiders trained and relaxed at the resort. Generations of Sonoma Valley folks learned to swim there, and people from all over the world enjoyed the waters.

The baseball field is seen at the right.

The Bath House burned down in 1969, essentially ending the resort era in Sonoma Valley.

The Bath House is gone, but it was well documented. Here is a slideshow sampling.

Index Tribune and many photographs courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society.

Architecture, Boyes Hot Springs, History, mid-century, People, Photographs

The Sonoma Valley Grange

2024 is the Centennial Year of Sonoma Valley Grange #407

The Grange was founded in Washington D.C. in 1867 to advocate for farmers. America became less rural, and the Grange evolved into a general community service organization.

On May 6, 1924, some residents of Sonoma Valley met with the Master of the Sebastopol Grange in the Sonoma High School auditorium to organize a Grange for the Valley. The event was important enough to be reported on the front page of the Index Tribune. The IT devoted several paragraphs to the historic accomplishments of the Grange nation-wide, ending by pointing out “one of its grandest achievements is the establishment of rural mail delivery and parcel post in all sections of the country…to publicly proclaim that if it was right for the government to carry mail to the homes of people in the cities, it would be right for it to carry mail the homes of people in the country…” It’s important to notice that things we take for granted had to be advocated for in the past. This kind of advocacy is at the heart of the purpose of the Grange.

One of the main functions of the Grange is to lobby elected representatives on issues relevant to farmers (and community wellbeing in general.) This is done by issuing resolutions. In 1926, Grange #407 resolved, “Whereas: Country banks, through mergers with city banks chains have largely degenerated into agencies for the collecting country deposits to be loaned to city people for riotous living(!) Resolved: ” that “ the California State Grange urge its delegates to consider with an open mind any plan…” to create, “a chain of purely rural banks controlled by farmers.” This shows how radical the Grange was in those days.

By 1928 the membership put forth a “Proposal for a new Grange Hall,” stating, in part, “Whereas, the Sonoma Valley Grange, Number 407, has prospects of increasing their membership, and, Whereas, the Sonoma Valley Grange is paying quite a sum of rent, Be it Resolved, that we the Sonoma Valley Grange, begin laying plans for creating a fund whereby in the near future we may own our own building….”

It took a while. It wasn’t until 1934 that the Grange was able to buy the building on Sonoma Highway from Selig Rosenthal. The IT reported on the front page, on April 6, 1934, that Grange #407 had “purchased the social hall on the highway near Verano from S. Rosenthal…The hall, built originally in connection with the resort (Rosenthal’s), is to be the new home of the Grangers, and they plan to add a dining room and in time make other nice improvements” which they proceeded to do during the next few years.

A few other notable events occurred in 1934.

1930s, showing the front addition to the building.

1934 was the middle of the Great Depression. In that year Grange #407 wrote a letter to the Secretary of the Interior, Harold Ickes, protesting a National Recovery Administration regulation requiring farmers to buy a minimum of one hundred gallons of gasoline to receive a lower price. “The financial statements of the oil companies show large earnings,” they stated, and they resolved that they “they protest(ed) vehemently” against the regulations.

Beginning with its founding in 1867, women were prominent in Grange leadership, serving as presidents (masters), secretaries, and treasurers. Eunice Peterson , a charter member and past master (president) of the Sonoma Valley Grange, was the first woman to serve on the Sonoma-Marin Fair board in 1940 and 1941 and ran for state assembly in 1938.

During the 1940s Grange 407 remained active, and progressive, in political matters. In that year, at a Six County conference held at the Rutherford Grange Hall, the members resolved,

“Whereas: the present war hysteria has encouraged reactionary groups to violate the civil rights of religious and political minorities. And Whereas: unlawful action of this sort was the first step toward the complete loss of freedom in the countries now ruled by dictators. Therefore, Be It Resolved: that the Grange members here assembled, go on record as strongly opposed to these extra-legal practices, and we demand that our law enforcement officers give to theses minorities the full protection guaranteed to them under the Bill of Rights in Constitution of the United State of America.”

This sounds eerily relevant today.

Appropriate to the Grange radical tradition, in 1952 the California State Employees Union Local 14 met at the Hall. Executive Secretary Richard L. Rumage “lashed out at the use of what he termed “labor spies” in state hospitals…” but the Grange was always also about family and tradition. In May of 1950 the Home Economics Club of the Grange held, at its monthly luncheon, a special Mother’s Day program honoring the oldest mothers present, Mrs. Susy Musanti, 84, and Mrs. Aline Lourdeaux, 85.

In 1948 Grange #407 incorporated as a “general nonprofit corporation.”

In 1975 Grange #407 celebrated its 50^th anniversary at the hall. “Arnold Griewe was master of ceremonies for the evening. Singing and gymnastics (!) by Lisa Lanning and Julie Griewe were performed for the 120 in attendance,” the Index Tribune tells us. Past masters Florence Sullivan, Ernie Semino, John Spraks Myrtle Bowie and Clarence Jenkins were honored.

The organization prospered into the 1980s, putting on pancake breakfasts, flea markets, and serving as a polling place, among many other events and functions. However, like Granges all over the country, the membership began to dwindle and age. In 2005 the Index Tribune published an article under the headline, “The Graying of the Grange,” interviewing older members Edith Lanning, Arvilla MacAllister, and Marianne Erickson. Just a few years later,some younger folks, with interests in wine and food and community building, joined and revitalized the organization, much to the delight of the old timers.

A major building project, partially funded by generous donors and the local Rotary Club, produced new ADA compliant restrooms, and a new commercial kitchen, vastly improving the usefulness of the Hall. The hall continued to be a popular rental venue, especially for the Hispanic community, as it hosted many a quinceañera and baby shower.

2015, demolition for the restroom project. Jim Callahan at right.

Fun at the Grange!

Your humble correspondent has been a member since 2008, and served a president for a number of years. He also designed the mural (seen in the very first photo), which was painted in 2010 by Randy Sue Johnson, with funds provided by a County Redevelopment Façade Improvement grant.

Some other things needed updating:

Index Tribune, documents and photos courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society. Other photos by author.

Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, History, Sports, Springs Historic Photo Database

New to the Springs Historic Photo Database

Relatively speaking, the photo archive of the Springs is small. My database currently has 957 photographs, brochures, maps, and other ephemeral. I realize that this is not anywhere near all that exists, but I envy historians like Amy O’Hair who produces the wonderful Sunnyside History Project because she has access to the archives of San Francisco, which are profound. (Also see and the Western Neighborhoods Project).

Occasionally someone will contact me with photos such as Mr. Chiotti’s. I’m deeply grateful to him and other donors.

Unidentified swimmers, probably 1920s. source: ebay

The old Lanning Resort Club/Melody club sign, 1980s. Lanning Structures used the building for offices at that time. It was located on the east side of the Highway, across from the Boyes Springs Plaza, at Boyes Blvd. It’s now a perpetual construction site. The photo is from the Redevelopment Design Guidelines handbook from 1989.

Louise, Ernie, and David Chiotti, 1944. I’m not sure where the sign was, possibly at the Boyes Springs ball field, adjacent to the Bath House. Note the sign indicating the Oakland Oaks Springs training camp.

The Oak Grove Resort was “at Verano,” according to the brochure published by the Northwest Pacific Railroad in the 1920s. This could be the site of the later Paul’s Resort near the corner of Verano Blvd. and Highway 12.

Paradise Grove, near the corner of Riverside and Boyes Blvd, 1950s. Obviously, they sold beer. I know I have readers who have memories of this place, which I would love to hear.

Photos courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society, Dave Chiotti, and author’s collection

Boyes Hot Springs, History, Holidays, People

Christmas 1923

A sampler of Christmas from the Index Tribune, one hundred years ago.

Sonoma was in the grip of movie fever. Actor/producer/director/swindler Harold Binney had arrived to set up his studio. Local were recruited to be extras in the “Account of the No Account Count.” Alas, Binney absconded having written bad checks, and Sonoma as Hollywood North never materialized.

See you at the Union Hotel for Christmas dinner? Oh, that’s right. They tore it down and built an unlovely Bank of America! However, they were considerate enough to erect a bronze plaque commemorating what they had destroyed.

Directors included Sam Sebastiani, and Frank Wedekind.

Sweet!

I wonder how Mr. Abbott came by the molds. Spoils of war?

In 1923 it did not take much to produce contentment, apparently!

“Bring along your rifle!”

By 1923 the railroads had significant competition from bus lines. The egg laying contest had thirty six entries, eleven of them from outside California! The IOOF building is still there and in great shape.

Sonoma Index Tribune courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society

Boyes Hot Springs, History, mid-century, People, people

Pine Wagner, Pharmacist

Along with Marion Greene, Emma Fetters, and Mary Fazio, Pine Wagner was one of the important 20^th century entrepreneurs in The Springs who happened to be women. Although the California Board of Pharmacy does not keep old records (shamefully!) Pine Wagner must have been one of the first women to be licensed as a pharmacist in the state.

She graduated from the University of Creighton school of pharmacy, in Omaha, Nebraska in 1917, eventually making her way to Bakersfield, then Sonoma Valley around 1944.

She established Valley Drug in 1946, originally in a building on the highway owned by L.E. “Bud” Castner. Castner, once a chicken farmer, had opted to join the less fragrant and more profitable insurance business of a Mr. Mouyer, in the 1940s. After acquiring the building from Mouyer, according to an article in the Index Tribune in 1977, “Some of the space in the building Castner leased out. In this way he brought the first doctor, the first dentist and the first drugstore to Boyes Springs. They were Dr. Michael Mikita, the medico, Dr. Holly Christensen and Miss Pine Wagner.” Judge William Downey also held court in the building.

In 1951, Wagner moved her pharmacy to the new Plaza Center building, which had just been enlarged. It was built on the site of the old Boyes Springs Plaza and railroad depot. It now houses the Boyes Hot Springs post office. (Below)

Wagner owned a duplex on 4^th Avenue in Boyes Springs. We know this because the Index Tribune published notices of building permits and noted hers, for $1200 worth of termite repairs, in 1966.

4th avenue house once owned by Pine Wagner, in 2023.

She sold the business in 1962. Valley Drug stayed in business into the 1980s.

She died in 1975 at the age of 80. She had been a pharmacist for 58 years.

Index Tribune and photographs courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society.

Thanks also to the Sonoma County Library and to the California Board of Pharmacy (not)

Boyes Hot Springs, History, mid-century, Place Names/Street Names, Uncategorized

Jim’s Lunch

In 1923 a huge fire destroyed much of Boyes Hot Springs. Community spirit was strong, however, and rebuilding began immediately. One property owner, Bob Liaros, rebuilt on the highway.

The Liaros building at left. Next to it is the ice house. Across Vallejo St. we can see Sam Agnew’s service station. Agnew was an ex-major leaguer who was famous for catching Babe Ruth in the 1918 World Series.

According to the Index Tribune, “Bob Liaros owns one of the finest and most substantial buildings on the highway in Boyes Springs. After the fire, Mr. Liaros took the slogan, “a bigger and better Boyes Springs” at its full value and proceeded to show that he, for one, meant to build bigger and better than before. In place of the frame building and barber shop which was located next to the original post office at Boyes, the enterprising business man let the contract for a handsome hollow tile type building, with concrete floors and fireproof throughout. The exterior is most attractive with its tile trim and plate glass front. The building is divided into two stores, in one of which Mr. Liaros has his beautifully appointed barber shop with its mirrors, three chairs and finest plumbing. He does bobbing for the ladies and has a competent assistant barber. Liaros has leased the store and living rooms in his building for an ice cream parlor and refreshment stand.” IT 1925.

Jim Nichols opened his Jim’s Lunch restaurant on Napa St. in Sonoma, “at the entrance of the ball park,” in 1933. In 1937 Jim sold to Marie Tarrens and moved to Oregon. But, in 1938, “Jim Nicholas, who sold out and left Sonoma for Oregon, only to return convinced that there is no place like the Valley of the Moon, is opening up a coffee shop and café at Boyes Springs in the Bob Liaros building. In 1939, Evelyn Frank and Alice Jones applied for a liquor license under the name of Jim’s Lucnh Room. Not sure where Frank and Jones went but in 1941 Alice Norrbom bought the establishment from Katherine Ewert Jorgensen. I believe the two photographs of Jim’s date from Mrs. Norrbom’s ownership. In 1944 she sold to Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Reynolds and I think they were the last owners of Jim’s.

In the 1950s the Liaros building housed the Boyes Variety Store and Polidori’s store. Kelly’s Deli was there in the 1980s’90s. The building was torn down in 1992. The site now houses the Sonoma Mission Inn employee parking lot, alas.

ADDENDUM

In 1931 Bob Liaros bought “Lot Number 1, Woodleaf Park, being a part of Rancho Agua Caliente, T. 5 N., R. 6 W, M.D.M.,” (The letter-number combinations are Township and Range. MDM stands for Mount Diablo Meridian, a baseline used by the Public Land Survey System.)

The sign at the left of the arch advertises “J.W. Minges desirable summer and winter cottages.”

First Avenue became Vallejo Avenue, so this would be the corner of Vallejo and Hwy 12 (“Santa Rosa and Sonoma Road”.)

Thanks to the Sonoma Valley Historical Society for the Index Tribune and many photographs, Lloyd Cripps for the arch photo, Phil Danskin for the map, and Stanford University Library, Special Collections for the Zan Stark photo.

Art, Boyes Hot Springs, El Verano, Entertainment, Fetters Hot Springs, History, Jewish History, mid-century, nature, Personal History, Resorts, Valley of the Moon Main Stem Project

An Announcement and Some Summer Reruns

The art of yours truly on display, including a few from the Main Stem Project. Please come to the opening if you can!

Here are some posts from the past that I thought were worth looking at again. New content in September, I promise.

Since starting in July 2014, the Springs Museum has launched 145 posts!

Leavenworth’s House

Rosenthal’s Resort

Our Resort

Fairmount Employee Parking Lot

Music at the Resorts

The Sierra Dr. Oak

Newts

Boyes Hot Springs, Collection/Obsession, History, Photographs, Place Names/Street Names

The Boyes Hot Springs Street Corner Database

In 2020 I photographed every street sign in my immediate neighborhood with the intention of creating a database of intersections. Why? Obsessiveness. Completeness. The desire to record and collect (see website introduction.) Future use. It’s history. Because it might all burn down, and no one would remember what it looked like. (And, I really like databases and consider them an art medium.) I have also included photographs of the Neighborhood Phenomena in the vicinity of the intersections, such as, the tree growing through the fence above.

In addition to my photographs, I have included older (“historic”) ones, where they exist, newspaper clippings, and other ephemera. I know of no older photographs of intersections other than the ones at Highway 12, which were made primarily for commercial purposes.

There are 107 records in the database (I probably missed some), one for each intersection in the Boyes Springs A and B subdivisions. The fields include “Generation of Sign” because three distinct styles of sign exist. Time permitting, the database would be expanded to include the surrounding subdivisions (more here) Sonoma Highlands, Woodleaf Park, etc.

The corner of Maldonado, 4th, and Vallejo had three of the oldest style signs on one pole until recently. I realize I misspelled Maldonado in the db.

The Thomson and Highway 12 entry features a photo from 1958 and a matchbook cover.

Las Lomas and Arroyo shows the stonework built by the Larson family, in 2020 and the 1940s, with family members.

The map is still under development (ie, my Filemaker skills need improving.)

Agua Caliente, Architecture, Art, Boyes Hot Springs, Fetters Hot Springs, History, Neighborhood Phenomena, People

Murals in the Springs

Public art grows in fits and starts hereabouts but we are starting to build up a nice stock of murals. Here we look at four of them.

The mural on the front of the Sonoma Valley Grange building, located at 18627 Sonoma Highway. The Grange has owned the building, which was probably originally a dance hall, since 1934. See (https://springsmuseum.org/2022/06/28/the-sonoma-valley-grange-traditionchange-and-renewal/) for more about the Grange. Through the Redevelopment Façade Improvement project, the Grange got funding for the mural in 2010. It was designed by Michael Acker and painted in collaboration with Randy Sue Collins. It depicts a bit of Boyes Hot Springs and Grange history. It being on the west facing wall, it takes a terrific beating from the sun, and has been restored twice.

The Republic of Thrift building at 17496 Sonoma Highway has two murals sponsored by the Monarch Project (https://www.socoimm.org/) along with others. On the west facing wall is the giant Monarch butterfly, completed in June 2020. According to the Index Tribune, “Artist Rima Makaryan, just 17 years old, painted a Monarch butterfly as part of “The Monarch Project,” a Sonoma County nonprofit organization working to tell the stories of immigrants and empower the community.” “We are working to have a conversation about immigration through art,” said Makaryan. “Oftentimes immigrants are labeled aliens or talked about negatively. The goal of the Monarch Project is to find beauty in the subject.” The mural, painted on the west-facing wall of the thrift store, features a Monarch butterfly filled with words describing the immigrant experience, such as resilience, hope, amor, sacrifice and fear. Makaryan noted, “The words are meant to embody the journey and diversity of all migrants. It’s all about the beauty of the topic, good and bad.”

On the east wall a fantastical spray-paint mural by the artist Chor Boogie (https://chorboogie.com/), along with a crew of high school students was painted in 2018. the Led by Sonoma Valley Museum of Art, community partners were Artescape and La luz Center. Co-sponsors were the California Arts Council, the NEA, and the Bank of Marin.

The building at 17400 Sonoma Highway displays yet another Monarch Project mural. Completed in June 2021, it features an image of Dmitra Smith, “…a powerful force fighting against racism in Sonoma County,” according to their website. “Ms. Smith is the former Chair of the Sonoma County Commission on Human Rights, and was the program manager for the Junior Commission, having mentored over 100 Sonoma County students between 2013- 2020. Smith is a co-founder of the essential workers’ mutual aid collective Food for All – Comida para Todos.”

At the time the mural was painted, the building was the home of Sonoma Originals skate shop. Sadly, it is now empty.

We actually have a lot of art in the Springs, some of it “official,” as the above are, some harder to find, personal expressions, often ephemeral, but worth noting, as we will do in future posts

Index Tribune courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society

springs museum

History, Art, Community

Category Archives: History