100 years ago – August 6, 1925
Well 7 at Geysers Comes in Big
At 10:30 Thursday morning, Well No. 7 blew through the bore with a rush of steam, rocks and mud, at the Geysers’ natural steam beds, northwest of Healdsburg, bringing in an additional source of power for the proposed natural steam electrical plant to be erected there. The well had been bored to a depth of 483 feet, when it was decided that the heat and pressure of the workings were sufficiently strong, and the drills were taken from the hole.
After the well had blown out the first loose rocks and debris, the gate was closed and the pressure gauge rose in a few minutes to 150 pounds. It is thought that after the well is allowed to blow off for a time, cleaning out impediments which may be lodged in the vents at the bottom of the well, the pressure will equal that of Well No. 6, which shows a pressure of 240 pounds of steam. The last 100 feet of material gone through in boring this well contained considerable sand, and while the new bore is but 150 feet from Well No. 6, no diminishing in the pressure of that well was noticed when No. 7 was allowed to run wide open.
75 years ago – August 17, 1950
Bellevue Villa Partner Sells Business Interest
The world renown French Resort, Bellevue Villa, Fitch Mountain, is in the hands of one family again. The share of the business owned by Manuel Maheras was recently sold to partners Syl Borel and Margaret Jachetta, sister of Mrs. Edith Borel. Borel, a new member of the local Kiwanis Club, stated that the resort will continue to be operated in the same manner for which it has become world famous, with outstanding French cuisine, entertainment and resort accommodations. Mrs. Borel and her sister are daughters of Angelo Stefani, former owner of the Traveler’s Hotel, Willits.
50 years ago – August 14, 1975
Prune Orchard to be Leased at Dam Site
The US Army Corps of Engineers’ Sacramento District is inviting bids for the lease of a prune orchard containing approximately 38 acres of land, including a house and other improvements. The property is located within the boundaries of the Warm Springs Dam-Lake Sonoma Project. The lease will run for a period of two years beginning Nov. 1, 1975, and ending Oct. 31, 1977. Bids are now being accepted and will be opened publicly at 11 a.m., Sept. 8, 1975. at the Corps’ District Office in Sacramento. Bid information and a map showing the location of the property may be obtained from the Warm Springs Dam-Lake Sonoma Project Office in Geyserville.
The Flashbackers are docents with the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society, open 11am-4pm Wednesdays through Sundays, 221 Matheson St.
