Flashbacks

Fifty years ago this month, an unusual looking aircraft resembling a large grasshopper was seen flying over the Russian River at very low altitude, arousing a great deal of interest from residents...

In 1950: "Because the effects of marijuana produce criminal tendencies in the user, Lt. Nicolini advised his listeners to contact Chief of Police Al Giorgi if they should see anyone with the identifying marijuana cigarettes of brown paper which are sealed at both ends, or if they should discover any strange and unusual plant. By doing this, stated Lt. Nicolini, every citizen can do his part in stamping out the traffic in this vicious plant."

Back in 1975, 50 years ago, the first big event in the Healdsburg Bicentennial Committee’s celebration of the nation’s 200th anniversary included a chicken barbecue held at the Villa Chanticleer the following afternoon. For those who preferred a family picnic basket, there was even then plenty of room under the trees at the Villa.

Holly Hoods was taken aback when three men walked into the downstairs office space of the Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society one morning last week. One of them was unknown to the museum director, but he seemed to know a lot about Healdsburg history,...

News from 1975: The event was marred by several fights late in the afternoon. As the afternoon wore on a number of young children were permitted by their parents to splash and play in the Plaza fountain. The children frequently squirted water on Fest guests and were difficult to control. Healdsburg Police arrested two men on charges of resisting arrest and disturbing the peace, after officer Don McNair was reportedly jumped by them.

A recent thread on Facebook suggests that the large mural on the west side of Smith Robinson Gym might be painted over and that its history is lost. Principal Tait Danhousen and District Supervisor Chris Vanden Heuvel both say there are no plans to paint over or otherwise change this artwork at the Healdsburg High School campus. A quick search of Healdsburg Tribune archives discovered the following article, from February 1989.

When a girl wants to be a cheerleader at Healdsburg High School, all she has to do is go to the practices, find a sponsor, perform a cheer in front of the student body and get enough votes to be elected. Simple enough. But what happens when the cheerleading candidate is a boy? Flashback to 1975, when they figured out how to make it happen.

News from 1925: "There will be no more games at Recreation Park. The Prune Packers, Healdsburg’s famous team which has won statewide recognition in bush baseball circles, has been disbanded and will play no more games this season."

100 Years Ago: Arrangements have been made by the amusement committee, Frank Corrick, chairman, with W. F. Warner, a parachute dropper, who will come to Healdsburg for the Fourth of July celebration, and will jump from an airplane with a parachute, beneath which he will float to the earth. 

On a Thursday in 1925, 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...