Prunes and Trays Destroyed by Fire
100 years ago – October 22, 1925
Sunday afternoon on the O. G. Wagers ranch, fire destroyed about a ton of prunes, together with several hundred trays, when a coal oil stove, used to facilitate drying, [ignited] in the absence of Mr. Wagers. The fire was discovered by John Reed, who with the assistance of neighbors, succeeded in putting it out. The trays containing the prunes had been stacked in the form of a hollow square, inside of which was the stove to finish drying the fruit. In some manner it is thought to have become overheated, causing it to explode.
Healdsburg’s Modern New Aven Theatre Near Completion
75 years ago – October 19, 1950
The new Aven theatre on North Street is nearing completion. Designed by Gale Santocono of San Francisco, the stucco and concrete block building is 73 by 130 feet, with a seating capacity of 738. An 18 by 24-foot Walker Plastic Molded sound-screen, the only one in northern California, and a Simplex sound system with Altec Lansing “Voice of the Theatre’’ will give the new movie house the finest of modern sound and picture reproduction.
The interior color scheme is blue, green and salmon. Bodi-form seats manufactured by the American Seating Co., will be installed throughout the new theatre. General admission will be upholstered in American Beauty red and the lodge seats in turquoise blue. Macson’s Furniture Co., Windsor, is making the ten-foot settee for [the] foyer.
The theatre will have a completely equipped fountain and candy counter. Local firms working on the building were the Luciani Pump & Metal Co., plumbing; Ralph Phillippe, plasterer; Redwood Electric, electrical installations; Les Crane, excavation and grading; and shrubbery planting supervision by Chris Decker.
Merchants invite ‘spooky’ look
50 years ago – October 23, 1975
Healdsburg merchants don’t mind spooking things up every once and awhile, particularly about Halloween time. So, Healdsburg youngsters are invited by the Merchants’ Committee, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Rotary Club to grab a brush, bring along some images of goblins, ghosts and ghouls, and spread a little paint. Whatever Halloween theme they might have in mind can be depicted on the windows of participating merchants starting tomorrow afternoon.
The Rotary Club will distribute paint and brushes from 1 to 6 p.m. Friday and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday from the Healdsburg Bowling Lanes. Contestants should bring a carrier for brushes and paint. The contest is open to all fourth through eighth grade students attending Healdsburg Elementary, St John’s, Healdsburg Junior High, and Windsor Junior High schools. First prize winners will receive $5; 2nd $4; 3rd, $3 and 4th, $2. Prizes will be awarded in fourth through sixth grades, and to seventh and eighth grade categories. Contestants are reminded that they can paint only as high as they can reach from the sidewalk. Black paint is not allowed (it absorbs too much heat and can crack windows).
The Healdsburg Museum is located at 221 Matheson St., open 11am – 4pm Wednesday through Sunday. Or visit healdsburgmuseum.org.
