The Novato Historian

The Quarterly Publication of the Novato Historical Guild, the Novato History Museum, and the Hamilton Field History Museum

Preserving Novato’s History News Section Contents ©2015 Novato Historical Guild, Inc.

January - March 2015 The Novato Historian Volume 39, Number 1 2014 General Meeting & Holiday Party New Faces on the Board

BILL DAMON Bill has been a resident of Novato (Black Point) for about 20 years. He loves Marin County history and for the past 25 years, has explored histor- ical sites throughout Marin. The first spark to become part of NHG came The December General Meeting and Holiday Party featured holiday refreshments and live from a relative, Lois Eischen, who was entertainment with music by The Rob Sundberg Trio. a docent at the Novato Museum in the early 2000’s. Today, Bill is a docent at the museum, organizing its impres- 2015 Officers and Board Members sive map collection with Bill McDill. He looks forward to helping guide the NHG for the next 2 years.

GEORGE GNOSS, JR. George was born in San Rafael and raised on the family fruit and chicken farm on Olive Avenue, Novato. The farm was originally acquired by his grandparents circa 1905. He attended grammar schools in Novato, and was in the first graduating class of Novato High School. He was active in 4-H, with projects in dairy and beef cattle and chickens. George graduated from Oregon State University with a BA degree in business. Post gradu- ate work included an MBA from UC Berkeley and a law degree from UC From left to right: (Top row) Susan Magnone, Kathryn Hansen, Louise Koenig, Edna Man- Davis. Following completion of law zoni, Pat Johnstone, Sheila Brossier, Yvette Jackson. (Bottom row) Bill Damon, Jim Crumpler, Tom Keena, George Gnoss. (continued on page N-4) N-2 The Novato Historian January-March 2015

The Novato Historian President’s Corner Published March, June, September, and December by the Novato Historical Guild, Susan Magnone a California 501(c)3 non-profit corporation formed on November 18, 1976. President, Novato Historical Guild Contents © 2015 Novato Historical Guild, Inc. Guild Mission Statement Our Mission is to collect, preserve, and make reasonably available to the public, exhibits At the start of a new year, I thought it storage area at Bld. 500 at Hamilton. A and information related to the historical and would be good to take stock of where we new committee, Collections Management, social development of the Novato valley, are as a Guild and report a State of the was created to take on that project. Let me Hamilton Field, and the adjacent North Marin area. Guild. Actually, we’re doing very well. know if you would like to be on the team Our membership has remained steady for this project. Novato Historical Guild 2015 Officers at around 400. Volunteer hours have in- President Susan Magnone Vice President Jim Krumpler creased over last year. Our spending was Expand: Getting new technology Secretary Kathryn Hansen within budget and we ended 2014 with a equipment and creating a Web Site was Treasurer Kathryn Hansen surplus of $10,210. There are other things an important first step. Now we need to Board of Directors to consider that may be even more impor- expand their use in preserving and sharing Sheila Brossier Pat Johnstone tant. For example, the Guild’s partnership Novato’s history by making the oral his- Bill Damon Tom Keena with the city of Novato is very positive. tories, maps and pictures easily available Yvette Jackson Edna Manzoni George Gnoss Louise Koenig There is a collaborative and supportive to the public at the museums and on line. working relationship. Budget cuts and the All of us can help to expand the number Honorary Historian elimination of city staff for the museums is of volunteers by inviting someone to get Bill Almeida a challenge to both the Guild and the City, involved. To honor our volunteers, the Committee Chairs but we are working together to deal with Board created a Volunteer Recognition Collection Mgmt. Bill Damon those challenges. Committee. Two committees are work- Jim Crumpler Finance Kathryn Hansen ing to expand the Guild’s presence in the Fund Raising All Board Members Another thing to consider is what the community. The publicity Committee will Gift Stores Pat Johnstone Guild has done recently. This past year the submit articles and notices to the news- Governance George Gnoss Hospitality Sheila Brossier Board has allocated funds to support new papers and online. The Public Outreach Mailing Jim McNern exhibits, updated computers, purchased Committee is working to connect the Membership Edna Manzoni DVD recording equipment for the oral Guild with other museums in Novato and Nominating Louise Koenig Oral History Jim McNern history project, and created a Guild Web with other organizations. We also want to Publicity Yvette Jackson Site. Revised Bylaws have been adopted expand our membership. One way to do Sheila Brossier by the members. Volunteers are creating that is for members to invite a friend or Public Outreach Susan Magnone Jim Krumpler new exhibits, organizing maps, and con- neighbor to attend a Membership meeting. School Tours Cindy Motsinger verting videos to DVD’s so that the public Sunshine Diane Campbell can see them. The Guild members have Dream: For many years it has been the Volunteer Recog. Tom Keena contributed over $1,000 to convert the oral dream of the Guild to have a larger space Newsletter Editorial Board history cassette tapes to CDs. All of these for the Novato History Museum. That Bill Almeida Susan Magnone things are important steps forward for the dream continues with a new “possibility” Tonie Brown Jim McNern Tom Keena Mike Read Guild. It may be slow and steady, but it is of a building in Old Town. If that hap- Pat Johnstone progress. I see these as signs of a healthy, pens, the Guild needs to be prepared with active Guild. a plan of what we will do to support mak- Typography, Layout, Composition Carol Aregger ing that dream a reality. This will involve We can be pleased with the State of the both volunteer hours and financial support. City of Novato Staff Guild at the start of 2015. Just remember Until then, keep on dreaming. Recreation Operations Manager Kathy Kormos that there is always more that needs to be done and improvements to be made. So A positive State of the Guild depends on Original articles and photographs related to let’s look ahead. the support of our members and the work Novato history are welcomed! Deadline for the June issue is May 1st of the volunteers. Please join us as we Continue: The Guild needs to con- Continue, Expand, and Dream in 2015. Address Changes tinue its role in the management of the Please see the Committee Chairs and The Novato Historian is mailed by bulk mail and will not be forwarded by the two museums, such as inventorying and theVolunteer Opportunities in the Histo- Postal Service. Please notify us promptly of preserving historical items given to the rian for some of the ways to get involved. your address change at Novato Historical museums and designing new exhibits. A Guild, P.O. Box 1296, Novato, CA 94948. big challenge is the cleaning out of the January-March 2015 The Novato Historian N-3 Novato-50 Years Ago (January, February and March 1965 by Bill Almeida and Tonie Brown

“Novato 50 Years Ago” is a collection ● Funeral services were held Janu- of items culled by Bill Almeida from ary 11 for George W. Sanborn, 83 of ● Construction of the Indian Valley the January, February and March 755 DeLong Avenue. Mr. Sanborn Medical Center was slated to begin issues of the Novato Advance news- was known as an explorer. One of his the first part of February, according papers in the collection of the No- discoveries was a legendary Hawaiian to Wilkes Lou Johnson, one of six vato History Museum and the Novato burial cave made when he was just 19 stockholders in the corporation. The Advance. Tonie Brown retypes the ar- years old after sailing the Pacific as medical center was to be built on land ticles for the newsletter. Enjoy reading captain’s messman on the windjammer adjoining the Novato General Hospital the names and happenings of 1965. Lansing. Other exploration led him on Hill Road. to New Zealand, Australia, the Fiji ● Edward W. Adams was appointed to Islands and the Antipodes. ● Longs Drug Stores of Oakland an- the post of City and Parks Recreation nounced plans to open its new Novato Director on Jan. 12. His appointment ● The will of the late Herbert E. store in the fall of 1965. The store will by City Administrator John J. Baget Enyeart, formerly of Novato, was filed be constructed in the new Downtown was ratified by the city council. Ad- in Marin Superior Court in early Janu- Novato Center on a 22 acre site at the ams replaced former City Recreation ary. His entire estate, approximately southwest corner of Grant Avenue Director Ed Mahany who resigned the $67,500 was left to his wife Helen. and Seventh Street. Longs Drugs have post last December. Adams will begin Mr. Enyeart had once been a director signed a lease for a 20,000 square foot work at $744 a month. of the Novato Sanitary District and super drug store. had operated a motel on Highway 101 ● A $225,000 building program to in Novato. ● Five people were awarded Novato enlarge Novato General Hospital from PTA Life Memberships on February 4. 30 to 57 beds was authorized by the ● Councilman Wayne Womack was Those honored were: Robert McKeay, hospital board of directors on January planning to open a fabric store in a counselor and adult education director 12. new building to be constructed at the at Hill Junior High; Rex Rolle, princi- Tresch Triangle Center at South No- pal of Rancho School; Beverly Ehreth, ● Major Gen. C. F. Necrason, com- vato Blvd. And Center Road, He was fifth grade teacher at West Novato mander of the 28th Air Division and conducting his fabric business at 1425 School; Mrs. Jack Diefendorf, teacher deputy commander of the 28th North Grant Avenue. Womack was Novato’s at Olive School; Mrs. Dorothy Paul, American Air Defense Region, an- first mayor in January of 1960. Hill Junior High. nounced that he plans to retire from ● Novato’s population was 31,603, the Air Force in March. No successor ● A “graveyard” was discovered at second only to San Rafael in a study has been named. the Sinaloa Ranch at the corner of Wil- prepared by the Marin County Devel- son Avenue and Vineyard Road where opment Association. ● A San Rafael group of investors buildings were being demolished for a is prepared to buy the Grant Avenue future school. As many as 100 slot ma- ● The city planning commission rec- school property and develop it along chines were unearthed in a creek bed. ommended the re-zoning of three and with Harry Johnson, owner of about half South Novato Boulevard acres 1/3 of the land at the corner of Grant ● Funeral services were held for belonging to Richard Connell from a Avenue and Highway 101. Joseph S. Daneri, 72, of 785 McClay multiple to planned residential district. Road on January 16. A native of Italy, The property is located on the west ● Johnson Hardware in the Nave Mr. Daneri came to California in 1902. side of the boulevard immediately Shopping Center was formally re- He was a wholesale grocer in San south of the Nave Shopping Center named as a result of new ownership. It Francisco until his retirement in 1958. and has been periodically in the news is now Fuller & Sons Hardware. for the past two years. N-4 The Novato Historian January-March 2015

Novato Historical Guild Board Highlights by Kathryn Hansen November 2014 distributed, Terms of Office were In Memoriam New Business - Edna reported that reviewed to conform to the By-Laws the Baseball Exhibit that opened Nov. and Chairpersons of committees were 1st was a huge success with 63 in identified. attendance. Eight men were invited who played on the first ever Little City Report - Kathy reported Third Caroline DeSouza League All Star team (1953) and seven Grade docents will need TB shots Phil Goebel attended; several with their wives. based on health regulations. Mary Hanzlik Susan reported Patrick MacLeamy Downtown Museum – Susan reported Lee Janover would like to meet with a few Guild plaques honoring Phil Goebel have Dolly Nave members to come up with a list of been placed at both museums. dates/events that should be on bricks Jean Witter in front of City Hall. He will provide Hamilton Museum – Ray reported Wayne Womack the funds and the Guild will provide Bldg. 500 had no water damage after the information. the storm due to the new sump pump. City Report – Kathy – Heather met with Susan regarding the internet (Ve- New Faces on the Board rizon mi-fi box) borrowed from Ham- The Guild Extends ilton Pool – they will test it between now and April. If it is satisfactory Sympathy to NHG will get a permanent box. Four (continued from page N-1) refurbished computers from the City are earmarked for the two museums. school George and his wife and daugh- Bernadette DeSouza on the ter moved to Belvedere. death of her sister, Caroline Downtown Report – Susan reported George practiced business law in San that Ray ordered equipment to convert Francisco for 38 years, and is cur- Diana Goebel and family on the 193 history tapes to video. 6 have rently semi-retired with an office in the death of Phil Goebel been converted by Tom. San Rafael where legal work and trustee responsibilities keep him busy. The Hanzlik family on the Hamilton Museum – Ray reported death of Mary Hanzlik new exhibits – Fire poll and General In addition to his lengthy legal prac- Moore. tice, he was active in civic and non- Nancy Peters-Janover on profit activities, including as a Coun- the death of Lee Janover December 2014 cil Member and Mayor of Belvedere, New Business – Roland reported that Member and Chairman of the Marin Bill Mazzoleni on the death he is organizing a Boy Scout project County Redevelopment Agency, of his sister, Dorothy to build benches for the 3rd grade Trustee and Chairman of the North- Paganetti students to sit on at the Downtown ern California Cancer Center and cur- Museum. rent member of the Belvedere Finance Richard Nave and family on Committee and Belvedere Historic the death of Dolly Nave City Report – Kathy reported a Preservation Committee. severe storm is predicted and the Lawrence Witter and family City is activating EOC (Emergency on the death of Jean Witter Operations Center). While George resides in Belvedere, he continues to maintain close ties Downtown Museum –Susan reported The Womack family on the to family and friends in Novato, and death of Wayne Womack the Pacheco portraits are going to an can frequently be seen tending his art conservationist for restoration. orchard on his small piece of the orig- Hamilton Museum – Roland reported inal Gnoss farm. “Growing up in the the museum’s youngest docent, Chase close-knit small community of Novato Caligiuri, was named Volunteer of the had a dramatic influence on my adult Year at Novato High School. life, and I look forward to continu- ing my family’s historic involvement January 2015 in the community through my partici- New Business – Officers were elected, pation on the Novato Historical Guild 2015 Calendar of meeting dates were Board.” January-March 2015 The Novato Historian N-5

Novato Memories by Jim McNern

Hank Sandbach

Hank Sandbach is the second son of Tony and Alice Jean Sandbach. He moved with his parents and two brothers, Bill and Mike, from San Francisco to Novato in June of 1944. He attended grammar school at St. Rafael’s in San Rafael and St. Vincent’s in Petaluma. Following graduation from Marin Catholic High School in 1956 he attended Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and graduated from the University of San Francisco with a degree in English in 1961. There followed five years of active duty in the U.S. Army in North Carolina and Germany before joining Del Monte Corporation in 1966. He retired as Vice President, Public Relations, Government Relations and Corporate Philanthropy at Nabisco, Inc., in 2001. Hank holds the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve. He and his wife, Cathie, have three daughters, ten grandchildren, and live in Sonoma.

IN THE BEGINNING…. Our Lady of Loretto church bell for all place for them both to live when he The Novato of my early youth it was worth. retired. Upon learning of its “distant hosted two religious denominations: location” at the end of Seventh Street, one Protestant, the other Catholic. I should point out that one of the Mary refused to move from their large Shepherding the Protestants was principal voices in the OLL Choir white two-story frame home just off the Rev. Joseph D. Easter, a highly those days was Eleanor Lafranchi, Grant Avenue in downtown Novato. I popular Presbyterian clergyman with who later would become such an was six years old when we moved to a strong following and long tenure. important figure in the creation and Novato, and I remember meeting Mr. On Sunday mornings he and his flock operation of the Novato Historical Pini on one of those weekend visits to would gather downtown in a stately Guild. town. White-haired and frail, he had red wooden church house, which years a kindly face and a gentle smile. He later would serve as Novato’s first But I get ahead of myself. passed away that summer. official City Hall. NEWCOMERS IN TOWN Our nearest neighbors were the My younger brother and I were My first memories of Novato date Schekenbachs, who lived near the raised Catholic, and during the mid- from June of 1944. That’s when our head end of our long dirt driveway. 1940s he and I were altar boys at the family moved from the Sunset District Frank Scheckenbach Sr. and his 8:15am Sunday Mass at Our Lady of in San Francisco to a 28-acre parcel sister, Margaret Tracy, owned the Loretto Church across the Highway of land comprising half of a small property, and Frank and his wife (now Redwood Blvd.) on the corner valley at the very end of Seventh raised chickens. Young Frank Jr. of Grant Avenue and Second Street Street. I recall several weekend trips became a boyhood pal of ours…and in “New Town.” We needed to arrive to Novato with my father getting he soon taught the three city slickers a little early each Sunday in order to things in order before moving in. how to throw a rock a long way “suit up” in a black cassock and white Most memorable moment for me took across a field. Frank became known surplice….and light the altar candles. place while peeking into the darkness in school for “his arm.” Across from All this was done under the keen eye of a large beat-up redwood water the Schekenbachs were the Ridells. of Father Bartholomew J. McCarthy, tank that served the small house on Scotty Ridell’s daughter Joan was a our affable Irish pastor. About 8:05am the property….and coming eyeball to playmate of ours. When the Ridells he would glance at his watch, turn to eyeball with an enormous bullfrog. moved, a Chinese couple with the me and, with a wink of his eye, say: family name of Yee-Wah, bought the “OK, Hank. It’s time for you to wake We bought the property from none property and operated a small factory up Joe Easter’s crowd.” That was a other than Novato’s Italian Swiss that produced very elegant small signal for me to head over to the choir businessman extraordinaire, Henry wooden boxes. When the United space near the altar, squeeze through Pini. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Pini, Nations was formed in San Francisco the assembled singers, grab a rope Henry had purchased this property on hanging from the ceiling, and ring the Seventh Street sometime earlier as a (Continued on Page N-6 ) N-6 The Novato Historian January-March 2015 Novato Memories (Continued from Page N-5 ) following World War II, the City the Marin County Airport area) the Ditto Ray and Vern Dwelly. Our 4-H of San Francisco purchased a large two-lane highway offered a short and Club leaders, many of them parents of number of these boxes to present as very dangerous center passing-lane members, were just terrific, perhaps gifts to delegates from around the for a mile or so. In the thick fog that especially George Orr, Alta Johnson, world. To the west of our property, morning, a southbound car to our front and the Lieb brothers, Tyke and Dick. on the other side of the hill, was the attempted to use the center passing Checkenowski family, who operated lane at the same time as the car ahead Highlight each year was dressing an auto junkyard. of us made a similar move. The result up in 4-H whites and presenting your was a horrific head-on collision. Our animal for judging at the Petaluma COMMUTING AND “CRUISIN driver managed to avoid the crash by Fair. We slept near our animals in the THE SUB” taking our bus into a deep ditch on livestock barns…and were careful The character of Novato changed the right shoulder of the road. A few not to be caught in the carnival area, dramatically during the years of our fellow passengers were hurt, which was seriously off-limits to us immediately following World War II. but none seriously. And Mike and I youngsters. Whereas before folks worked in town, got to open the emergency door—a on the ranches and dairies, or maybe life memory. Shortly after, the area— FIRE ON THE HILL in San Rafael or Petaluma, now there still thick in fog—was crowded with One of the more dramatic occurrences emerged a new “commuter class” of police cars and emergency vehicles. during our time on Seventh Street took people who took the Greyhound bus to Mike and I and little Agnes Nunes, a place on the evening of September and from San Francisco every day. My classmate whose family operated the 16, 1952, when our house caught fire father, who worked for C&H Sugar, large dairy nearby, huddled together and burned to the ground. My father was among this group that included and waited for a ride home. Agnes was away at a business convention, Warren Kingsley, Lou Saffores… was in tears. Word of the accident and my older brother Bill was at West and my brother Bill, who attended St. traveled quickly back to town. Point. It all took place in the middle Ignatius High School. The trip was Someone in Hale’s Meat Market on of the night, likely the result of central long and tortuous, with stops in San Grant Avenue overheard Harry Hale heating system embers igniting the Rafael, a run west from there to San shout to someone in the store: “Better shake shingle roof. Mother, Mike and Anselmo, then back to Greenbrae get up to the end of Seventh Street and I sat together on the hill and watched and Highway 101 for the journey tell old lady Sandbach that her boys it burn to the ground. There was little across the Golden Gate Bridge and are OK.” the Fire Department could do by the downtown. time the water truck arrived on scene. THE CLUB CAR The postwar years in Novato saw Very early on my Mother got Mike The neighbors were simply a significant rise in population— and I involved with the Novato 4-H wonderful. We stayed with the veterans and young couples for the Club, which provided some of the Lundblads the night of the fire, and the most part—buying their first homes best friends and happiest times of Lovejoys took us in thereafter. Others and starting their families. Principal my childhood. Meetings were held brought us food and clothing. A locus of this new demographic was in an old railroad passenger car number of “emergency items” such as “the subdivision,” a large area of situated directly behind Rev. Easter’s dishes, glassware and household goods newly constructed single family Presbyterian Church. It was called were brought to us by the Sims and homes located on the south side of The Club Car, and it was many years other neighbors are still in the family. Grant Avenue between First and Fifth before the double entendre, enjoyed Mr. Owens at the corner of Seventh Streets. My brother Mike and I would immensely no doubt by the adults, hit and Vallejo Streets graciously loaned frequently ride our bikes through this me. The Club Car, of course, is where us a small house trailer during the time area, marveling at what seemed to us you would go in those days to get an our new home was being built. My to be such glamour and sophistication alcoholic beverage on the train. The mother slept in the trailer; Dad, Mike compared to the rest of town. meetings were fun (unless you had a and I “batched-it” in a nearby chicken presentation to make). And the friends barn. BUS WRECK! were many: Bob McClelland, Virginia I was in the third grade and Mike Orr, Sandy Glass, Claudette and Yvette MAKING HAY in the first at St. Vincent’s Grammar Borloz, Earlene Porter, Jim and Joe One way or another growing up, I School in Petaluma. One cold, foggy McNern, Rich Burghi, Karl Rathaus, managed to find a number of after- and wintry morning in 1946 we Louise and George Gnoss, Barbara school and weekend jobs in and about climbed aboard the Greyhound bus at Thompson, Florine Olson, and the Novato. I cleaned horse stalls at Bert Grant Avenue and Highway 101. We Purdoms—Dale, Sue and Brent—to Paige’s place on Indian Valley Road. scurried down the aisle and jumped mention a few. I don’t recall Anna I cleaned kennels for Adele Murphy into our favorite two seats near the Young, Carol Diehl, Becky Hamilton, who raised blue collies on emergency door. And off we went and Bill and Betty Haymart in 4-H, but north into a dense fog. At a spot along they were certainly in the thick circle the highway near Wright’s Mill (now of Novato youngsters of my time. (Continued on Page N-7) January-March 2015 The Novato Historian N-7 Novato Memories (Continued from Page N-6 )

Atherton Avenue. I worked in That would be the fact that the gas near New York City…or find another chicken houses at the Duffy’s broiler tank was mounted behind the front job. With one daughter in law school ranch on Novato Boulevard...and did seat inside the car. To fill the tank and another about to start college, this the same—with Jerry Olrich—at the required bringing the gas pump hose was no time to go job hunting. Baccaglio’s farm on South Novato through the right front door. We had Boulevard. For a time I had an a lot of fun with the car until one Selling the family home was after school job cleaning the Novato day, while running it up a grassy hill emotionally difficult. And as the large Theater with pal Bill Hubbard. In near Marin Catholic, the transmission moving van hauled all our belongings addition to our hourly wages, the began making ferocious noises. I was away, we vowed to return. And that theater owner, Don Donahue, allowed able to get the car home…but barely. we did in 2001, when Nabisco was us to keep all the loose change we Karl Rathaus was certain he could fix sold to Kraft. Shortly thereafter we came upon in and about the seats. In things, so he set about opening up the bought a home in Sonoma, where college I worked a couple of summers gear box and moving parts around. brother Mike had moved in the as part of Frank Manzoni’s road repair We ended up with the original four 1980s…and we headed home. crew and at the Marin County rock speeds—but all in reverse. The car was quarry on Lucas Valley Road. delivered to nearby Checkenowski’s I get to Novato often these days. Junk Yard in short order. Our old family home is now a facility But of all the jobs I had growing up, of the Buckelew Foundation, which the most memorable by far was baling COMING FULL CIRCLE provides shelter and residential hay one summer for local businessman Soon enough came college in San care for mentally handicapped and farmer, Reno Pronzini. Brother Francisco, marriage to a Kentfield young adults. We have come Mike and I were part of a team, girl, and four years in the Army in to admire greatly the thoughtful headed by George Hale, that moved North Carolina and Germany. Upon and compassionate work of this from field to field, sun up to sundown, return to Novato in 1965, Cathie organization and it warms the heart to pushing oat hay through a mechanical and I bought a home on Feliz Road. think of what has become of our old hay baler and stacking the results Following my Mother’s death in 1968, home. across the field. When we finished we bought the old family homestead one field we moved on to another. from my father. And it was here that American novelist Thomas Wolfe We were paid not by the hour but by we raised our three girls. When my wrote: “You Can’t Go Home Again.” the ton of product we produced. In employer, Del Monte Corporation, I beg to differ. You can go home. And addition to George, and Mike and I merged with Nabisco, Inc. in 1986, we the programs, publications and most of (who poked and tied wire), the crew were faced with a Hobson’s choice. all the people of the Novato Historical included Howard Smith and Chick Either move to the new headquarters Guild show us how. Hale. I have often thought of the enormous responsibility shouldered by George Hale at such a young age. The work was grueling and potentially dangerous. And George, who pitch- forked hay into the baler hour after hour, day after day, had the hardest job of all. It was at Confirmation Class at Our Lady of Loretto Church in the spring of 1952 that I met fellow Novatan and lifelong pal Gil Medeiros. His father had a hay hauling business, and Gil was driving hay trucks long before he had a license. Brother Mike tells hair-raising tales of Gil’s driving techniques when the two worked together a couple of summers. FIRST CAR I used the money I had earned from baling hay that summer to purchase insurance for a car my parents presented to me. It was a blue 1939 In December, Diana Goebel and Judy Brady manned the Guild’s booth at the 2014 Plymouth two door, with a peculiarity. Holiday Crafts Faire that was held at the Margaret Todd Senior Center. N-8 The Novato Historian January-March 2015

NOVATO’S TREASURES Gnoss Field

Gnoss Field 1965 Gnoss Field 2014

Engineer-rancher William Q. Wright discharged from the Air Force where north of Novato was the best place in Jr. had a dream. He dreamed that he had served as a flight instructor and Marin for the airport. someday Marin County would have lieutenant. its own airport north of Novato on his There were several small airports 1300-acre ranch. Not being a mere Binford, who shared Wright's around the county –at Santa Venetia, dreamer by nature, Wright took action. enthusiasm for flying and his foresight San Rafael, and Richardson Bay. The as to the growing importance of former two were choked to death He plowed, cleared and dragged the aviation, recalls that "Bill Wright and by real estate developments. Harry land in 1939 to make his own landing I talked it over and we agreed that Tollefson, manager of the Santa strip for his little flying egg crate. I should start an airport and flying Venetia airport took over Wright's Most Marin flyers and businessman school on his land. So he loaned me operation north of Novato in 1950 and thought he was out of his mind. They his equipment and I harrowed the strip ran it as an airport and flying school complained that his land was too far and dragged it. Then I bought a little until 1967. away from the center of things, that plane and opened a GI flight school. the highway commute was too slow. I took in a partner Jack Lewis of As a county supervisor, Wright did But Wright, county supervisor from Healdsburg and we built a hangar and everything he could to tout the Novato North Marin from 1953 to 1954, a little office building. site, even to freezing the price he talked endlessly about the need of the would sell his land for at $1000 per airport in North Marin. "We did pretty well until 1949 when acre for many years to induce the the Gl Bill sort of petered out and then county to buy it. Nobody listened. In 1945 Woody Binford, a Novato we gave it up." But Binford shared TV dealer in the 1950’s and 60’s, was Wright's conviction that the property (Continued on Page N-9) January-March 2015 The Novato Historian N-9 Gnoss Airport Third Graders Are (Continued from Page N-8) Coming!

Then William A. Gnoss, an old friend Agency at a smog conference. He It's that time again for third grade of Wright's, became supervisor in decided he would make one final effort tours. Teachers have been sent 1958, and he took the torch from while there to get money for his little information packets regarding Wright's hand to press for the orphan airport. He went to see the scheduling tours from March until development of the airport, in spite of FAA officials and poured out a tale of June. the most incredible discouragement. woe and frustration so poignant that it touched the hearts of the government Novato history tours are in three After a while, Gnoss, Tollefson men. No sooner had Gnoss returned parts. In part one, students visit the and several other Novato flyers home than he got a call from exhibits in the museum. and businessmen started a move to Congressman Don Clausen saying that In part two which is outside of improve the airport with aviation gas the feds were springing loose some the museum, there is an overlook tax money received by the county $273,000 from their scarce funds for annually - a mere $2000 or $3000. the Marin airport. of downtown, a visit to the buggy But the improvements made were room, and ends with exploring make-shift as the supervisors had This amount, with state and county what is in Grandma's Trunk. no real desire to sink enough money funds, produced enough money for Part Three is a guided walking into the Novato sue to make it really the first phase of the development, acceptable. tour of Old Town where students consisting of a new runway, additional are given a booklet of old photo- land acquisition, paving of taxi and All these years, Wright held his land graphs. They show what build- parking areas. available at $1000 per acre even ings looked like long ago. Did you though land prices in the area were The airport has been appropriately know that Dr. Insomnia's was the escalating. Year after year complaints blacksmith's shop? Students are mounted about conditions at the named Gnoss Field after the rotated in small groups throughout airport. There were chuck holes on supervisor who fought tenaciously the strip; the road leading to it was against seemingly insurmountable all three sections of the tour. unpaved and rutted, the runway odds to make it a reality for the people This program would not be possi- of Marin. Gnoss has always been was too short and ran in the wrong ble without the commitment of our direction. convinced that it will be invaluable as a commercial asset for the county and docents who volunteer to lead the Finally in July 1959 the supervisors is simply and purely a step toward the tours. New docents are welcomed agreed to buy ten acres from Wright future. and needed. Please call the Novato and spend some money for resurfacing History Museum at 897-4320 or the runway and building a new access But no one should lose sight of Cindy Motsinger at 897-4881 if road. In return for this the county was Bill Wright's early dream when his interested. foresightedness, generosity, and to receive one third of the tie-down We are looking forward to another rentals from Tollefson. determination paved the way for Gnoss later efforts. Together they successful year of third grade tours. In November of 1966 Gnoss was sent deserve the credit for whatever to Washington as a representative of benefits the airport may bring to Marin the Bay Area Air Pollution Control County's future.

novato historical guild general membership meetings March 14 10:00-Noon Novato City Hall 901 Sherman Ave. June 20 10:00-Noon Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Ave. September 12 12:00-2:00 PM BBQ Meeting, Hamilton Field History Museum, 555 Hangar Ave. December 12 10:00-Noon Novato City Hall, 901 Sherman Ave. N-10 January-March 2015 Novato Historical Guild Volunteer Opportunities PITCH IN, HAVE FUN, AND museums. We will provide training volunteers to identify what’s in the LEARN MORE ABOUT and support. picture and file them in the archive file NOVATO’S HISTORY! Be a part cabinets. of preserving Novato’s history by EXHIBIT COMMITTEES becoming a Guild volunteer. Here are If you like researching topics for new ORAL HISTORIES some ways to get involved. See the exhibits, locating artifacts, designing Do you like to hear personal stories contact information at the end of the and setting up exhibits you will enjoy about Novato? The museums have list. serving on the exhibit committee a great collection of Oral Histories for either of the museums. For the on tapes/CDs. Volunteers are needed MUSEUM DOCENT Hamilton Field History Museum to listen to the tapes and take notes Docents staff the museums on contact Ray Dwelly, cell 250-9348 or about the topics covered. There is a Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays email him at Hamilton_museum@att. form to use that makes it easy and it is from 12:00 to 4:00. The docents greet net; for the Novato History Museum interesting. visitors and answer questions they contact Edna Manzoni at 892-9603. may have about the exhibits. You can Another task is to convert the decide how often to volunteer, once a Archive Projects at the Novato and transcribed oral histories from a floppy month, once a week, or more. Hamilton Field History Museums disk to a CD. This is computer work Whether you have grown up in Novato but with a little training, it’s not hard. ARTIFACT INVENTORY or just moved here these projects are One of the most important jobs at a great way to learn about Novato’s There is also a need for Oral History the museums is the documentation interesting past. interviewers. We have the recording and inventory of historical artifacts equipment, a list of people to (objects) that are given to the Guild. PHOTOS interview and will provide training on This involves entering information Thanks to a generous donation how to conduct interviews. about the artifact in Past Perfect, from the Novato Advance we have a software program for history literally hundreds of photos and need

Welcome New Guild Members Novato Historical Guild Membership Report—Dec. 2014

Individual Memberships: Rick van Adelsberg Student Memberships: Please support our Guild Business- Justin Mori No new members at this time Members: Matt Baldwin Acme Digital and Screen Graphics Elizabeth Olinyk Family Memberships: Andrew McAghon Landscaping Bonnie Barron Lorraine and Sal Priolo Dana Sadan Bank of Marin Andy Cline Life Memberships: Burrous Bros. Cleaning Eileen Smith Jim Crumpler/Patty Alushin Marin Landscape Materials Kessa Early Michael Halkovich Marin Trophies Mary Pritchard McIsaac Dairy Stephen Hospodar Patron Memberships: Nave Enterprises Pini Hardware Nancy Kawata No new members at this time Adam Littlefield The Wright Salon Nikki Lloyd Trumbull Manor Inc. – Novato Bill Wright Zenith Instant Printing

If you have questions about membership, call Edna Manzoni, Membership Chairman, 415-892-9603. A gift membership always meets the need for that person who has everything. January-March 2015 The Novato Historian N-11

The Gift Shoppe The Museum Gift Shoppe has the perfect unique Novato gift!

Books and Pamphlets Miscellaneous Novato Township* the definitive history of Novato Novato Historic Buildings Notecard Sets ...... $10.00 by May Ungemach ...... $30.50 Guild Tote Bags ...... $12.50 Novato, Then and Now by Novato Historical Guild ...... $21.00 Ceramic Thimble ...... $1.00 Hamilton Field by Novato Historical Guild ...... $21.00 Novato History Collector Cards ...... $3/pack or 30¢ each Hamilton Airfield History...... $3.00 Hamilton Field Historic Picture Reproductions ...... $10.00 Videos and DVDs Mugs ...... $5.00 Hamilton Field History (VHS or DVD) ...... $15.00 Laminated Place Mat (11 x 14) ...... $5.00 Novato History (VHS or DVD) ...... $10.00 (available only at the museum) (available only at the museum) Leather Goods Sweatshirts (M, L, XL) ...... $18.00 Coin Purse ...... $15.00 Novato History Museum (blue or green) Business Card Holder...... $12.50 Ornaments Small Purse ...... $23.00 Novato City Hall...... $12.75 T-Shirts (M, L, XL) ...... $11.00 WE ACCEPT VISA OR MASTERCARD Guild Historic Buildings (3 designs): Postmaster’s House, City Hall/Church, Railroad Depot

* All proceeds from the sale of Novato Township go directly to the support of the History Museum. Prices do not include sales tax. To Order: Call the museum at 897-4320 or email [email protected] for shipping charges and information. Supporting and Life Members receive a 10% discount at the Gift Shoppe!

 ‘Membership Form Please mail checks to Novato HistoricaI Guild. P.O. Box 1296. Novato. CA 94948. Yes, I want to join the Novato Historical Guild and help preserve Novato history!  new  renewal

 Student (full time) membership $10 year Name ______ Individual membership $20 year Address ______ Family membership $30 year City______ Patron membership $100 year State ______Zip______ Supporting membership $200 year Phone ______ Life membership, individual $350  Life membership, joint $500 Additional donations? ______ Benefactor $1000 year Interested in volunteering? ______ Business membership $50 year Email address:______ Corporate membership $1000 year NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE Novato Historical Guild P.O. Box 1296 PAID Novato, CA 94948 NOVATO, CA PERMIT NO. 138

Change Service Requested

TIME VALUE

 YOU ARE INVITED  General Membership Meeting Novato Historical Guild Saturday March 14, 2015 - 10:00 am Novato City Hall - 901 Sherman Avenue, Novato

Presentation by Diane Einstein from Olompali State Park on the History of Olompali. A continental breakfast will be served. Guild Members and prospective members are welcome

Novato History Museum 815 Delong Avenue (415) 897-4320 Hamilton Field History Museum 555 Hangar Avenue (415) 382-8614

COME VISIT AND BRING A FRIEND! The Museums are open three days a week -- Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday - Noon to 4 p.m. Closed Major Holidays