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Windsor Historical Society Windsor Walk A Historical Journey to the Past for the Future Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 Robert Cunningham Home Parkerson ’95 Just What the Doctor Ordered Honoring Atlas T. and Clara McClelland Hembree More than a century has passed since Atlas T. Hembree and Clara McClelland grew up in Windsor, but the impact of their lives remains a lasting legacy for the community they cherished. by Barbara F. Ray As with so many families in those catalyst to a medical career came 12 days, sorrow filled the Hembree family years later when he lost his own or more than 70 years Atlas T. when, as Mother Hembree wrote, “the precious child. Hembree, MD, has been a local death angel called,” taking twelve-year- Ficon, admired as the Windsor lad old Sam on October 31, 1885, and, Early Education who became a prominent physician and twelve days later, ten-month-old Mary Atlas’s mother, Mary Hembree, a married a local belle, Clara McClelland. Elizabeth. Atlas would have been 15 at college graduate and former school The history of their life is teacher, would surely have fascinating and admirable, an insisted on a solid education appropriate story to savor as for her children. Atlas and his time nears for the opening of siblings probably attended the Dr. Hembree’s retirement old Windsor Grammar School home as the Hembree House built in 1863, which was not Cultural Center. replaced until 1908, and, like Atlas Thompson Hembree most children in those days, it was the oldest of ten children is likely that they walked to and born to Andrew and Mary from school. Ellen Goode Hembree in their Education past grammar Windsor home on Shiloh Lane school was generally not (“just before the railroad attained in Windsor during the crossing and across the road early 1900s, in part because from the lumber mill”). higher education wasn’t According to his mother’s necessary for farming, which autobiography, “On May was the occupation of most 26th, 1870 on a Thursday our residents, and because there first child came to gladden our Atlas and Clara Hembree, 1895 was no local high school. homes and hearts. We named Healdsburg High School didn’t him Atlas Thompson.” the time, an age when eldest sons open its doors until 1888, which was Soon, other children joined the generally shouldered significant the school where Windsor students family: James Andrew, 1871; Samuel responsibilities for younger siblings. matriculated until our town’s first high McSween, 1873; Mattie Lavina, 1875; Atlas undoubtedly grieved deeply and school was built in 1995. However, Leon Frances, 1877; Ellery D., 1881; one wonders if the loss of his brother Atlas must have been an intelligent Eliza Ellen, 1882; Mary Elizabeth, and sister influenced his later decision young man and an able student, for he 1885; Ivy Olivia, 1886; Annie D., 1889. to become a physician. Or, perhaps the (continued on page 6, Atlas Hembree) Windsor Historical Society · WindsorWindsor Walk Historical · Oct/Nov/Dec Society • Windsor2008 Walk • Windsor Historical Society Page 1 Windsor Historical Society The more volunteers the merrier and the Board Members easier it will be to manage. If you might be interested in volunteering as a Stephan A. Lehmann, President docent, please call us at 838-6152. We (H) 838-6152; [email protected] will have orientations regularly and will always have at least two people at the Barbara F. Ray, Vice President Museum at all times. Each shift will be and Newletter Editor WHS three and one-half hours. 836-0101; [email protected] Holiday Party Edna Honsa, Secretary President I’m sure the Holiday Party scheduled Frances Brooks, Treasurer Steve for December 13 will be a great success. The highlight of the event will be Ken DelGreco Lehmann’s touring the Hembree House, our last Joanne Hutchins Message chance to see it empty. I hope those of Josephine Rebich you who can’t join us for the party will Jesse Shannon be able to visit the Hembree House Marjorie Tynan when it opens. It is a wonderful community treasure. Windsor Town Reunion The Windsor Town Reunion in October was one of the best ever. We served lunch and visited with almost 100 members and friends and families. Reminder Donna Leslie (Bertozzi) came down From Dream to Reality from the Portland area just for the Windsor Historical Reunion and shared some fascinating Society memberships stories of the Windsor Community make great Windsor Museum Christmas gifts. Improvement Association. t seems like we have been talking Iabout how the Windsor Museum In the early 1960s this volunteer group opening is just around the corner for a organized to better the Windsor community and was responsible for a Mission Statement long time. Well, this time the dream is becoming a reality. number of significant improvements from building parks to getting the phone The mission of the The Museum, located in the Hembree rates reduced. Their hard work was Windsor Historical Society House Cultural Center, will open on honored when the ribbon cutting for the is to found, th new highway 101 was held in Windsor maintain and Saturday, February 28 at 9:30 A.M. We operate a will have a ribbon cutting and in 1963! Thanks to everyone who community dedication ceremony that will begin at helped out ... and Happy Holidays! historical museum 11:00 A.M. and each of you will receive Steve and a separate invitation to that event. association in order to collect, This has been a long time coming and store and what a reward for our patience. The display Hembree House has undergone a historical artifacts, wonderful rehabilitation and is to develop a fund of absolutely gorgeous. information and knowledge of the Initially we will be open three days a history and culture week and, you know what’s coming, we Hembree House of the Windsor area. will need volunteers to keep it staffed. Cultural Center Page 2 Windsor Historical Society · Windsor Walk · Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 Windsor Town Reunion Snapshots Condolences October 25, 2008 We extend our deepest sympathies to the bereaved families of . Irene Horvath DuVander Ellery Hembree Dean Lolla Mickey McCracken We shall miss these dear friends who were valued members of the Windsor community. Offering WHS Publications and Products. Eager helpers are, from left to right, Marjorie Tynan, Joanne Hutchins, and Dave Hutchins. Donations WHS greatly appreciates receiving the following recent donations: In honor of George Greeott . Holly Hoods Peter Leary Lawton Shurtleff Gracious Greeter. Josephine Rebich welcomes reunion guests. In memory of Ellery Hembree . She grew the beautiful Dahlias Julie MacDonald seen in the picture above and provided many more to decorate Carole Sharp luncheon tables. William Siemsen Smile Pretty. From left to right, Donna Leslie (Bertozzi / Walton) and Rena Locatelli pose for the camera while Jim DuVander analyzes a historic Windsor map. Donna shared In memory of Irene DuVander . great stories of the 1960s Windsor Community George Greeott Improvement Association with reunion guests. And other donations during 2008: Karen Alves Gerald Avery Hazel Avery Nydia Bogue Richard and Marilyn Bolman Lynn and Hank Cornelssen Linda Davis Kenneth and Marie Greco Harold and Mary Oxsen Jack and Stacey Orme Joseph Rich Marv and Betty Stubbs Maria Young Bright Young Singers. Everyone enjoyed listening to the talented children of the Healdsburg/Windsor Community Children’s Chorus under the direction of Heather Cullen. Thank you one and all! Windsor Historical Society · Windsor Walk · Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 Page 3 MYSTERY 1946 POST CARD DO YOU RECOGNIZE THIS HOUSE? The photo postcard above is postmarked Windsor, California, September 8, 1946. If you recognize the house or the people recorded on the postcard (Eloise T., Joyce or Mary Chase), please let us know. We’re wondering if Eloise and Joyce were related to someone in Windsor, perhaps the owners of the above house? Were they picking hops that summer or simply vacationing and mentioned hops because they were a major feature in Sonoma County at that time? Mary Chase September 1946 S M Tu W Th F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Eloise T. 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Dear Mary - 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Joyce 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 here inHaving the hops. a grand The weather time up 29 30 is cool & everything is going nicely. Will see you on Friday. Sept. 1st. Love, Eloise T. & Joyce The card was mailed to: Mrs. Mary Chase 837 Divisadero St. San Francisco, California Page 4 Windsor Historical Society · Windsor Walk · Oct/Nov/Dec 2008 Vernon 8 Calling! Recollections of Windsor Phones from the 1950s By Jim DuVander Windsor made the news in for frivolous reasons.” And we needed to my dad, who was secretary of our line, September of 1954. It, along special permission to call long distance. that she had too many interrupted calls. I with Forestville, was the This was considered an expensive luxury. remember other strained neighbor first community to get dial phones in the Making a call went something like relations, due to telephone conflicts. county. Pacific Telephone executives this: I’d pick up the earpiece with my left Occasionally, when there was an thought these communities were small hand and hold it to my left ear, listening emergency, like when my grandma had enough that a modest investment could to hear if anyone else was using the line. a stroke, Dad would interrupt a be used to try out this new technology (Yes, 8 families shared one line.) If no conversation and ask for the line to be before making the major investment one was on, I’d hang the earpiece up and vacated so that he could call the doctor.

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