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California History

The world of Colonel Wingnuts

March 28, 2024 by sergneri Leave a Comment

The Press Democrat, Monday, April 21, 1986 1B   Photo Caption: Colonel Wingnuts at the microphone of radio station KOZT in Fort Bragg The world of Col. Wingnuts Ex-Air Force lieutenant part showman, part meteorologist By PAT McKAY Correspondent FORT BRAGG – Can you believe a weatherman by the name of Colonel Wingnuts really is … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Climate Change, Environment, Ethical and green living, Faits Divers, Flying, History, Politics, Science, the Anthropocene, Thinking about Tagged: 1986, astronomy, climate change, Colonel Wingnuts, Fort Bragg, futuristics, KOZT, Mendocino Coast, meteorology, The Press Democrat, Walter J. McKeown, weatherman

John Walker Dies at 74

March 6, 2024 by sergneri Leave a Comment

John Walker, Tech Executive Who Popularized AutoCAD, Dies at 74 He avoided the spotlight, but he helped bring to market an explosively popular computer program that revolutionized the architecture and design industries. Rest In Peace, man. He was irascible, never got along with his electric shaver, wore a short sleeved shirt, no matter the weather … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, Faits Divers, Future of Work, IT Failures, Obituaries, Sea Stories, Thinking about Tagged: AutoCAD, Autodesk, Dan Drake, David Kalish, Duff Kurland, Founders, Greg Lutz, hacker, Hal Royalty, John Walker, Keith Marcelius, Kern Sibbald, Mauri Laitenen, Mike Ford, Sausalito, startup

Christo’s Running Fence

February 21, 2024 by sergneri Leave a Comment

In an article written in 2016, 40 years after the Running Fence was erected, Sonoma Magazine ran this article: Christo’s Running Fence

Posted in: California History, Environment, Ethical and green living, Faits Divers, History, Politics, Sea Stories, the Anthropocene Tagged: 1976, California Coastal Commission, Christo, Christo’s Running Fence, Estero de San Antonio, Jeanne-Claude, Running Fence, Sonoma County, Sonoma County Planning Commission, the Marin County Planning Commission, Valley Ford

Manzana Products, Sonoma County’s last apple processing plant, moving to Washington state

February 14, 2024 by sergneri Leave a Comment

Manzana Products, Sonoma County’s last apple processing plant, moving to Washington state Manzana Products cites the county’s low apple production and high cost of out-of-state apple transportation as the main factors for its move to Washington state.

Posted in: California History, Environment, Faits Divers, the Anthropocene Tagged: 2024, agricultural history, Apple, apple processing, California, Manzana Products, Sebastopol, Sonoma County, sustainability, Washington State

The Murder of Sonoma County Sheriff James Petray – December 6, 1920

December 29, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

SHERIFF PETRAY AND 2 DETECTIVES KILLED Press Democrat Dec 6, 1920 On December 6, 1920 in Santa Rosa, California, the Sheriff of Sonoma county, James A. Petray and San Francisco Detectives Miles Jackson and Lester Dorman were gunned down. The killer was one George Boyd of Seattle, a professional boxer and a member of the … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Faits Divers, History, Obituaries Tagged: Detective Lester Dorman, Detective Miles Jackson, District Attorney Hoyle, George Boyd, Howard Street Gang, James A. Petray, John M. Boyes, Judge Emmet Seawell, lynching, mobs, San Francisco, San Francisco Police, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, Sonoma County Sheriff

ONE WOMAN LYNCHED

December 21, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

In researching a lynching in Santa Rosa Press Democrat of 11 December 1920, this bit of California history was mentioned: ONE WOMAN LYNCHED What is reputed to be the only known lynching of a woman in the history of California, occurred in Downieville in 1851. As described by Charles L. Felton, an eye-witness, she was a … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Faits Divers, History, Obituaries Tagged: 1851, belles of the camp, California, dagger, Downieville, history of California, lynching

“The Silverado Squatters” by Robert Lewis Stevenson

December 10, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

We visited the Petrified Forest near Calistoga CA last week. In the walk through the forest was a plaque explaining the link between “Petrified Charley,” the founder and owner of the site in 1880, and Robert Lewis Stevenson who visited. At the gift shop was a slim volume “The Silverado Squatters” by RLS which my … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, Faits Divers, History, Sea Stories, What I Read Tagged: 1880, California, Calistoga, Northern California, Petrified Charley, RLS, Robert Lewis Stevenson, The Silverado Squatters, wine country

Tribute to the late Rose Gaffney of Bodega Bay – June 1974

October 4, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

Eulogy for Rose (Editor’s Note: Ina Draper DeFoe, Columbia poetess, wrote this tribute to the late Rose Gaffney of Bodega Bay, a unique citizen of the Redwood Empire. It is edited for today’s Medley.) Our family knew Rose Gaffney back before there was anything to threaten her ownership of Bodega Head. One weekend my youngest … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Environment, Ethical and green living, Faits Divers, Feminism, History, Obituaries, Politics, the Anthropocene, Thinking about Tagged: "The Birds", Alfred Hitchcock, arrowheads, atomic plant, Bodega Head, California coastline, collections, Hollywood, INA DRAPER DE FOE, Indian basket, Pacific Gas & Electric Company, Rose Gaffney, San Andreas earthquake fault, Smithsonian Institution

PETALUMA 6 YOSEMITE 0

June 21, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

Petaluma Argus Courier, 28 May 1923 Page 3 PETALUMA 6 YOSEMITE 0 (By Sport Hicks) The Leghorns hung the sign of the Indian on the Yosemite Market nine of San Francisco Sunday, on the home grounds, the score being 6 to 0. Despite the miserable weather a goodly number of enthusiasts attended. The wind blew … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Content, Faits Divers, History, Sea Stories Tagged: 1923, a corking good game., Baseball, breaking benders, chucking, foozles, looloo, Petaluma, Petaluma Argus Courier, San Francisco, Sport Hicks, swell ball, the firing line, The home team, torrid sack, Yosemite Market nine

One More On The Egg Boat

May 28, 2023 by sergneri Leave a Comment

Petaluma Argus Courier, Number 223, 11 May 1923 One More On The Egg Boat The steamer Gold, the only known boat to catch its own fish, broke all records yesterday on a down trip through the tule region when it kicked six bass into the pantry frying pan. The Gold wears a paddle wheel under … [Read more…]

Posted in: California History, California Newspaper Archive, Faits Divers, History, Sea Stories, This Day in History Tagged: Bass, California, Dead Goat, Egg, Paddle Wheel, Petaluma, Steamer Gold
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