iLOTS AND ACRES
IN
MARIN COUNTY,
Beyond Sausalito,
~
SO MINUTES FROM CITY
IN MILL VALLEY,
._ j
Among the Redwoods
10 IJOUOR SELLIlfG OR PICKICS.
Roads Through the Property
Reserved to Buyers.
!ATAUCTION
TO-DAY.
8ATVItDAY.. .................... MAY 31,1890
At 1 o'clock on tbe premises, near
THE OLD MILL,
" The Homestead", above, was Samuel
Throckmorton 's name for his treasured
hunting lodge. Partly occupied by ranch
superintendent Jacob Gardner and family ,
pictured here , and partly by T hrockmorton
and his party w hen they visited , the site is
near Linden Lane and Mon tford, east of the
small apartment com plex. A palm tree is
all that remains.
The Library H istory Room is grateful to
Jacob's granddaughter, Gene Gardner
Stocking, for this valuable photo. Pictured
from left to right are: Annie Roberts
Gardner, with Lillian Margaret G ardner
Roseveare on her lap; Leslie Jacob Gardner
on rocking horse; Cora Elizabeth Gardner
Burt, standing; Jacob Gardner; G eorgina
Gardner Burt . Throckmorton's land hold
ings stretched from Blithedale Canyon to
t he Pacific; from t he highest peaks of Mount
Tam down its slopes to the Bay. It included
all of Sausalito and the Marin Headlands.
Cover Photo
Tum of the century view of Mill
Valley from future site of T am H igh School.
House in distance is Jacob Gardner's
"Maples".
President's Note
T his issue bears a new name-the
Mill Valley H istorical Review. This
n ame was recently selected by the Board
of Directors of the Mill Valley Historical
Societ y, who felt that this new title
would give more latitude to put out
our publication at times which can be
coordinated with important events in
Mill Valley. Accordingly, this issue, in
keeping with the celebration of M ill
Valley's 80th Birthday, is mainly devoted
to life in Mill Valley in the late 1890's.
In connect ion with Mill Valley's
birthday celebration , we are h olding
our Annual Walkabout on Sunday,
May 25th. This year we are featuring
historical buildings and other landmarks
on Miller Avenue. We urge all to take
advantage of this interesting event,
which will start at the O utdoor Art C lub.
O ne of our important continuing
projects is our effort to secure a H eritage
Resources Preservation Ordinance in
Mill Valley . The Society's Ordinance
Research Committee, chaired by Dory
Bassett, has reviewed ordinances from
all of the cities in our area, Petaluma to
Sausalito. T his research has enabled the
Board to submit to the City a model
ordinance. The matter is n ow in the
hands of th e C ity's Planning Director
and Plan ning Commission and we hope
to have an ordinance on the books by
this fall.
We have other projects in the develop
ment stage, which we will report on from
time to time. Meanwhile, we appreciate
greatly the work of our many volunteers
and the support of the many citizens
who are taking an interest in M ill
Valley's history.
Joh n R. Barnard ,
President
Editor's Note
As always, thanks are due Thelma
Percy and the M ill Valley Library for
continued support in allowing our access
to historical files and other resources.
Than ks to Jean Hitchcox for her guid
ance in locat ing those materials and for
her suggestions on content. Joe and
Ruth Wilson, with Jean , have researched
an d assembled the detailed chronology
on page II.
The Review wishes to thank Greg
Jennings for his well-written feature
story of the great '29 fire in the fall
edition. We apologize for omitting his
byline. A prominent Mount Tamalpais
historian , Greg will give a talk with slides
at the First Thursday Program on June 5
at 8:00 p .m. at the Library Gallery.
Jeremy Gorman
Editor
In Mill Valley, MArin County.
1 w il l Bell to tb e blgb es t bIdder tbe UN StiR
PASSED SUBURBAN TRACTS of
EASTLAND & MILLWOOD,
Beine a 8ubd.lvlolon of 600 Acre. In Old Mill Valley and AdJacent Land•• TERMS OF SALE .-One-tb Jrd c as b . b alance In
ON1I: and TWO YZ.ll:!!. wa h inLfreet at 7 per c ent per
a nnu m. Te n per cen t to be paid on the day of !Sale
a nd balan ce of cash paymen t at explraUon of 15
days , wbl ch w fll be a nowe d fo r e xamination of tItle.
Ab straCLl\'l11 be f u rn ished to eac h buy er free of cost.
A ll deed a an d contract.!! will cont..R.1n a cl au se pro·
hlbl tlng th e m an ufact ur e or sale of Intoxicating U·
Quor s on t·b e prem ises.
The free and unin terrupted u se of all st reete and
alleys w1ll be deed ed t o pu rch a sers but no pu bl1 c
de dlcatien of tlJe ~8me w fIJ be made, tbua mak ing
I bi s property dl.U n ctl,·ely the choic es t place In
eyery way for 8 suburb a n hom e.
ADVANTAGES AND ATTRA~ONS
EASTLAND AND M11LWOOD.
OF
FU'ty minute. from San Francl8co.
1'0 tunnel8 on the route .
Pure water and plenty of It.
Perfec t dralnaa-e.
Practically no foga.
No harlh windl.
Summer climate uneIceUed; winter cli
mate better than any other place around
the bay.
l\Jountatn streams and cascades.
Redwood fore8t., lnteropersed with oak.
and B 'Variet.y of e'Verg-reen trees.
Yiew. of bay, 181aodll, 'mountains and
cltle• •
Mlle. of delightful drive. completed.
A con diti on 01 tb e 51l1 e vd \1 br tb a l tb e T a mRl p n l~
Land a nd 'V oler cumpan y will fnr D I ~b water to the
purcl.Jasers , t.o be take n 11'0m tb e Hrcam s hlgb up
ou tb e 61u pes of )It. Ta ma lp a t s and to be co ndu ct ed
an d di stri bu t ed t o e v e ry pan of the tract now t o h e
otfered 10r sale b y a cump le t e b,Yste m 01 iron pi pes.
T b p water t h u s t o be f ur nls b e d, be fng tb e pure et
and coo lest to be f o. od In th t' St a t e, wil l b e s upplied
to pu rCba&e r8 at r eas onabl e rn t e s.
T he company ow ni ng thi s propert y Is c omposed of
th e f Oll owing ge ntleme n : JO l!tCPl'l G . E as tland., AJ·
bert ~Illle r. T homa s Magee. Lu Yell Vl blfl} ..Jobn ' ''.
Colema.n, Lou is L. J8Df" S. H en ry C. Cam pbdl. TLe
m ent ion 0 1 tb ese Dames Js 8 s u tfl c lenl guarant)" of
tb e utm os t good f ai Th In t b e carryin g out of all
promlbes a s to future de velo pment of t he prope r ty.
.. OUT OF THE PAST··
iLOTS AND ACRES Chinese Lanterns and Barbe.cue Mark
Auction Sal~ of Lots Here by
Tamalpais Land eSc Water Co.
By Bell e M. Ahr aham
IN
(Con tinu ed )
MARIN COUNTY, Beyond Sausalito,
SO MINUTES FROM CITY ' -1
IN MILL VALLEY, Among th e Redw-oods 10 LIQUOR SELLIlfG OR PICKlCS.
Roads Through the Property Reserved to B uyers. !ATAUCTION TO-DAY.
SATUltDAy .. . . . ... . .. . .......... MAy 31,1890
.At 1 o'clock on the Pl'em iaes , near
THE O L D
to h ave an ordinance on the books by
this fall.
We have other projects in the develop
ment stage, which we will report on from
time to t ime. Meanwhile, we appreciate
greatly the work of our many volunteers
and the support of the many citizens
who are taking an interest in Mill
Valley's history .
Jo hn R. Barnard,
President
Editor's Note
As always , thanks are d ue T helma
Percy and the M ill Valley Library for
continued support in allowing our access
to h istorical files and other resources.
T hanks to Jean Hitchcox for her guid
ance in locating those materials and for
her suggestions on content . Joe and
Ruth Wilson , with Jean, have researched
and assembled the detailed chronology
on page II.
The Review wishes to thank Greg
Jennings fo r h is well-written feat ure
story of the great '29 fire in the fall
edi tion. We apologize for omitting his
byline . A prom inent Mount Tamalpais
historian , Greg will give a talk with slides
3t the First T hursday Program o n Jun e 5
it 8:00 p .m. at the Library Gallery.
Jeremy G o rman
Editor
M I LL,
In Mill VaUey, Marin C o unty,
I will 8ell to tbe blgbest bidder tbe UNSU R
PASSED SUBUHBAN TRA CTS of
'EASTLAND & MILLWOOD,
Beln&, a Subdivision of 600 Acres In Old M1lJ VaUey aDd AdJacent Landi. T E R MS OF BALE.-On e·tblrd c a.b, b alance In
ON. aod 'fWO YE.u:.e, wJtb ioteree t a t 7 pe r cenL per
an num. T en per ce nt to be paid on t he day at ISale
an d balance of cash payment at expiratioD of 16
days , which wIll be allowed tor examlnat·loo of titl e.
Abst ractw1Jl be fUrnish ed t o e ach buye r fr ee of cost.
A ll deed . a nd contract8 wtll cont.Rtn 8 clause pro
hibitIng t.b e manufac ture or Bale of Intoxicating 11
quo rs aD t.h e premi ses.
The fr ee a nd un int err upted us e ot all streets and
all eys wHl be deeded to purchasers b ut DO publ1c
dedica ti on at t.h e s ame w!Il be mad e, t.hus making
th is pro pert y dlstln cth ' ely th e cholcen place In
e,"er y way tor a su burban h ome.
ADVANTAGES AND ATTRACTIONS
EASTLAND AND MILLWOOD,
OF
FIt"ty minutes from San Francl8co,
No tunnels OD the route.
Pure water and plenty at It.
Perfec t dralna&e.
Practically no t'ogs,
No harlh " ' indl.
Summer climate uneIcelled; wiDter cU
mate better than any other place around
the bay.
!tlounta1n 8treams and call cades..
Redwood forests, Interspe rsed with oaks
and a varIety o f evergreen t.reell.
"iewl of bay, blanda. 'mouDtainll and
cities.
Miles of delightful drive. completed.
A conditi on of the ~ al e w tll br t ha t t b e Tamal pnt s
La.nd s ud 'Vcl.Icr Cllmpau y 'Will fllTD1 ~ h w at er 10 tlt e
purCl18 ~ er6, to be l akeu fl'om tll e :;:trcltDiS hl g b up
uu tb e s lup e s o f !ti t. Tamalpals a Dd t o be coodu c t ed
and distrIbuter! to e \-c rr p art uf tb~ trac t now t o he
o Uered for sale by a comp ltl c &ystcrn of iron p ipe s ,
Thf' water thus t o he furni shed, be ing tb e pures t
and cooleS t to be fo_nd 10 tht' Stat e, will be snpplled
to purcbaeeTs at r ea s onahle Tates _
T b e compa ny owni ng this pro perty Is com posed of
t h e f o ll o win g g eutl cmen: Jo seph G. Easllal'lC\., A l
bert Miller, Thom as Mag e e, LuvclI -Ylblrc, ,Jo bo ' V.
Coleman. Lo ui s L. .J8n os. Henry C. Ca mpb ell. TI,e
m enti on of t h e se nam e s Is a s u1ficien l guaran t)' o f
t b e utmos t good faith 10 th e carry In g out of a ll
prom l&es as t o fut ure cJ cy elopme n t of tbe prope rty.
• All THE PRELIMINARY det ai ls had been duly com
p leted and the airectors of th e Ta m a lpais Land and Water
com pany advertised an a uction sale and barbecue for
Memorial Day, May 30, 1890, to offer the first lots f or
sale in this beautifu lly wooded' area, already well adver
.tised by Dr. Sidney B. Cushing's sanatoriu m in t he Blithe
dal e canyon, which was known' as a h ea lth resort. The
sulphur springs, located on the present Old Mill school
grou nds, had a lso a ttracted m uch atention.
It was to be a gala day. this M emorial Day in 18YO.
Two rows of Chinese lanterns were strung from the old
freigh t shed below Brown's, which was the first station
in the little town to be, to the "Old Mill," where the auc
tion sale was to be conducted. The histuric "OldMill" it
self was select ed for the auction block, a semi-circle of
seats facing the fam ous structure had been roughly made
of planks for the occasion
On t h a t memoraiJle day wer~a thered the d irectors of the company ,
Joseph Eastland, its president; Lovell White, Thomas Magee, Albert
Miller, Louis J anes and many others who had participated in the pre_
liminary work. It is maintained that almost a h undred m en, women
and children ca me from San Fran cisco a nd other places by ferry, by
train , by horse and buggy, some even on horseback and on foot to
this first auction sale of lots.
Under the persuasive salesman
present -library
building we re
ship of Phineas Ferguson, a fa
Thomas K elly, 1M., M. O'Shaugh
mous auctioneer of that day, con
nessy, the W lndm'olllers and Alon
siderable property was sold . Most zo C offin. Flrank LE. Bostwlck is the
of the lots purchased were along father of S tew art A. Bostwick.
the Corte Madera and Old Mill
I n the BIlthedaJe canyon along
creeks, as i t was believed a t that
time that Mill Valley would never the Corte M adera creek th e pu r
were
George
Sm ith ,
be more than a summer resort chaser.;;
town.
These lots aJong the George E. Billings, W illiam H ar
streams were shady and cool an d rold, H enry Bridge, Mor ri s Marcus,
afforded swimming a nd fishing, fathe r ' of WillIam A. M arcus ; Reu
for then no water had been t aken ben Hil ls of Hills Brothers coffee
out for domestic use and t he fame, the CO/l tigans , Dan Hayes,
streams had a large flow of water Thomas Magee, Mrs. C ui len, owner
of the Eastland · h\'>tel, and Lovell
in them.
White, who purchased the Hrst hill
Following the auction sale,
p roper ty in the Blithedal e can
large chucks of lam.b were put
yon on Magee avenue where he
on spits and screens and bar
built a hom e called the Arches,
becued over roaring fires which
whIch stili stands.
had been laid in pits under the
Those ",ho bought lots on
redwood trees.
Miller avenue were 'Jacob Gard
The following , as far as can be
ner, Caspar Gardner, Wheeler
ascertained, p urch 3.sed lots on M e
Mariin, the Mackays; -William
morial Day, 1890. Along Old Mill
McCann, the HartIBI!s, the Len
creek were otto Frese, Sr., Roger
harts, and w~~ Steele, m&D
Magee, cap tain Ernest Bingham,
!LIft. or the
ralll'Oa4l Into
captain M elvin Staples , a former
MIll ·VatW• • buDt 'be FInn
town marshal; Dr. Barkan, Violet
home on Miller avenue.
S hlliTpe, Arthur EJoesser, an d Gus
Almost Immed iately following
tave Marcus .
this sale t hese pioneers pI tched
A few chose h ill propert y in the
theIr tents, buil t their campfires,
Cascade canyon, namely : Frank
carried water from t he s treams,
Bostwick, and and h is fat her -in
and cooked their m eals. They were
law, J ohn S tewart; Charles F.
pioneers a n d " it was fun." This
Runyon, Ernest L . Heuter, and
was the spirit wh ich inspired t hose
James Thompson , father of Kath
early Mill 'Va lley !pioneers to en
leen Norris.' On the hill above the
dur e a nd build l or t he futur e.
¢
First railroad scat ion in Mill Valle}'.
1890 phoco . T he Tamalpais Land
and Water Co. had alread)' ar
ranged completion of the railroad
inco Mill Valle)', a -.wter suppl)'
and a road s),stem in time for the
lot auction.
Country Camping in 1890's Mill Valley <;.
~ ollowing acquisition of lots at t he Memorial Day 1890 lot auction, camping
~~~~~established itself in old M ill V alley-Eastland, though some residential an d
0;,
commercial construction commenced as well.
Camping, primarily in the Cascade and Blithedale canyons, and along t he Miller Avenue
approach to "town," was practiced with zeal. Weekend an d summertime escapes to this
scented countryside often took th e scale of grand celebrations, especially among t he larger
families. Even form al invitations were prin ted and sent from one camp to others promising mirth
filled evenings of entertainment around giant campfires. Chinese lanterns were usually strung
about to identify the host camp. Bright, striped tents and awnings, mats and rustic
furnishings were set about to furth er warm the settin g.
Indeed, "rustic" construction was raised practicall y to an art form wh en applied to
furniture, fences, even homes, so in love were residents with t heir environment. Notice examples
throughout these photos and on Page 10.
lot auction, camping
orne residential and
!llong the Miller Avenue
ime escapes to t his
ially among the larger
1p to others promising mirth ~
ltern s were usually strung
l ats and rustic
when applied to
vironment . Notice examples
S A N
F R A N
What follows is more of the
prose of the day, this piece filled
with a color and authenticity no
contemporary writer could (or
perhaps would care to) match.
"Victors" is tho ught to have been
roughly on the present site of the
Buckeye Restaurant .
T his is a fi rsthand account of a
hi ke and campout in M ill Valley,
surrounded by the abundant,
over-rich d iscourse so typical of
the time. It's good reading, all
the same.
~ ~~N~~Y'~ ij~lIN~
Between Sausalito
Mill Valley.
and
What Oame Under Notice Dur
ing a Seven-Mile Tramp.
The Hunters and Their Stories at Vic
tor'a-The Restfu l Tent at
Night.
I felt !lite a n "outing" on S unday m orn
an !; last. Sometimes I feel cramped 'b y
the cobb le-stones a nd th e narrow ch y
st reets that h ound th e _ mon otonou~ b locks
Qf 'brick and mort ar, a nd long fo r a good,
slUt tra mp In the count ry that will
stretch one's legs; 'p a cify an unruly llv er
and set t h e blood In m otion. I thou g ht of
'Ihe 7-m!le spin b etwee n Sau sali to a nd
!Mm Valley, a hd con su lting a f ri end , w ho
,b oas ted a -s t ron g bod y, wore a s trong s ti ck
a nd had a stout pair of legs, we resolved
:to make the journ ey in company.
I pass o ver th e u sual sights and sounds
u n boaro th e ferry boat San Raf ael, " t he
skimmer of ·th e b ay," the Germ an and
flls frau , bound for a h ol!day th at in
cluded ,beer; the n ic e English g ir ls and
their escorts In Irreproaehab le at tl re of
~he latest L on don s t yle, g oing to spend
the Sunda y w Hh t h eir friends In ·t h e old
country colony of t he town ot the little
w'iIlow; the Portu guese ccmtlngent ; the
amateur hunt ers a nd their leash es of
!'D'I-Ongrf!1 hunting dogs ; >t h e s melt fish ers;
the rowing men a n d a ll the rest of the
!motley cr owd b egotten of a fine Sunday
an d a spIrit of unrest.
It Is not m any years ago s ince MlII V.al
Dey, now di v ided .Int o th e more .sp ecific
names o f E asna n d and MllIwood, the
"Swltzerland of Marin ," as It Is called,
'Was .In a condition ot nature entl rely
H Is partly sa n ow-I ts giant t rees ·stand
~ng In h oary m assl ness, Its open spaces
covered wi t h an affluent g ro wth of wild
'Oats and pas t u r es of many-colored n atlv.e
!ftowers, with Its casc·ades of p u re m ount
oaln water and -its pellucid stream that
c
I S
c o
**
B U L L E T I N
w;1'ngs In t h e r ocky channel as it 'h as t ens to
lPay Its tribute t o the Pacifi c Ocean .by
'Way of R ichardso n' s Hay. Seldo m was
It h ere a n Intr u der i nto this w ilderness,
excepting It m.!gh t -h ave been t he adven
t u rou s h u n t er seeking the stately b u ck,
Ithe g raceful doe a nd th e timid ,fawn in
Ithel r ch osen ·haunt s.
It must n ot b e u nderstood , th ou gh , that
ItMs valley was'always w h Ollly un occupied .
Con temporan eou s w ith the Am erican oc
lCupation of California. a p arty ot l u m
Iberer s ~et u p .on <the str eam that runs
lthrough it a s aw mill, from whi ch this
p art of M a rin t akes its ,name, and th e
ISllls 'Or w hich ye t remain. From t h is
!primitive sou rce a ll, or nearly all , of t he
nu m ber requ ired by Ithe early white set
t Jers was -suppl ied, When, a tew y ears
aate r, large r 'a nd m ore profi table sources
''Of s u pp ly opened to meet the Incre8>Slng
idemand, Mill V a lley dropped .out of line
IliS a lumbe r ·producing region oand re
w;lgne d that buslnellli1 to Mendocino
c ounty, further north.
T h en the valley, over w hich Tam.al pals
il!tands lik e a mighty s entinel, went 'back
_ito Its fo res t days again, as have been de
I8crlbed , and r emai ned undisturbed by t he
J umb erm a n 's -ax an d t -he "Haw, buck!"
IShout ot th e b ull ock driver to his te-am
!hauling the ·huge 'I.ogs 10 the old mill,
The only cam pe rs I read of from ·the
/lime the lIaws or the old mm went out of
:l!er v lce are C<llonel Jake Short, lately In
_the ba'nklng house of A. P . Hotalin g -at
S 'an R afael, and Major Dan T aylor, his
great cro'n y, wh o had their w ickiup :near
'!the ancient mill. These old-timers used
t o tell a strange iltory about the Indian
'chlef, Marin, after whom the county '115
.lIl·amed. He was fty.lng fro m h is enemies,
IOllce up-on a. time, a nd turn eu up suddenly
li t th eir 08Jm,p some t wo w eeks aft er he
!had jl!mped Into the wat er n ear a place
called Tom 's ranch to escape them , and
everybody supposed he was drowned. H e
Itold Short and Taylor that he had oa ·hol
ao w r eed in his hand a t th e time be
plu n g ed Into t h e bay, and by placing one
end of it In ll is mouth while h e kept the
(l ther jus t abov e the s urface of the w ater ,
!he mana·g e d to breathe withou t expos in g
!his bo dy . By this m eans he w as e nabl ed
:to reach the opposite is1ands, and eve nt
!Ually Mill V alle y, '.late from his enemies'
Ib u ll ets. T h is story, however, may be. as
f; omebod y h as d esc ribed history In g en
eral "th e ·lies of yes terday to ld to-da y
:wIth n obod y at han d to contradict the m ."
Half w ay from Sausalito to the valley
ty ou come to Victor's, t he only roadsid e
!hou se on tbe r ou t e, and the chosen ren
dezv ous .of city s port6me n who are o ut
Ifor a S unday's hunting In th e neighbo r
'ng ·m ountains, or .i n te nt on making a
b ag or gray plo ve r, s an'dpeep s ·a·n d je"ck
"nlpe in the contig uou s m arshes when
!they 'l!.r e uncove r ed 'b y t he ret reati ng tlde
'Waters of th e ba y. The pedes trl a'n alw ays
IItops a t V ictor's to bait. The r e is u su
a ll y cotton In one 's m outh a nd dirt in hi!!
!throat by the time h e arrives at th is h ost
elry t h a t requi re ·at the 'hand s o f th e po
li t e little F r enchman'll d raft of cool beer
lOr a glaes of effervesc in g Apolllnaris to
"",ash away. Th e locati ng of t hi s inn mld
di stant between Sa u sall to a n d Mill Va ll ey
llieem. IlL ~18pensat i on of Providen ce. T h e
rtimely re lie f .it -a ff or d s b r a ces the
>t ramper for the ·rest of -the jou rney •to
lthe coun try bey on d. Ther p. are always
two or three city ·nw n in the re g u lation
ilrish velv e teen hunt ing -coa t and En glish
knlckerbockers, )oltering a rou nd V ict or's
S
E p T
credulous minds the tales would be con
vincing; and the pause that follow! the
onarration of a stiff one just now 15 only
:broken 'by the I!;ound of hoots as B!J1y
IBrown of the hunting set {la.shes by on
his iron-g ray horse, riding In Comanchelike free d om, w it h , at the same time, the
s eat of a cavalry officer.
L ooki ng o ut f rom Vict or's acro ss -the
of a S u nday spinning yarns of hunting
d'ea tR past and what they expect to do' in
It.he f u tu re. Y ou list en ·to the -stories with
R feelin g of s urpr ise follow ed by one of
d (lub t. Th e work wo uld s ee m impossible
Qn th e part of th e In divi dual w·ho relates
its performan c e, -a.n d on ly possible t o
6u ch m igh ty n imrod s as V,rjJllam He nry
Hel'ben wl'lt es of, the ol d forest range rs
'"
1/
~rl(/
I
11/1
II!
THE SAGE OF MARIN.
o f Am erica's e:uly wide We.st or to Sir
G ordon Cum m.lng, wh o foll owed the
Epo ors 'Of lion s, ti g ers a.nd elephants on
rt he burning sand!; of Afr ic a . B ut -the vel
"eteen-coa ted boys tell -their tales with
$u ch f!. pp.arent ear ne-stnelts, stroking at
:the same ti me fI, sjlky-coat ed setter or a
ibony poi n ter, a s if the canjnes were silent
vo uchers for th e truth of them . 'It) some
tre stle work of t h e railroad I see on the
point of marsh b eyond a couple of hunt
ers. a man a n d ·a boy, a· -little youngster
who h'a nd les his fowling-piece as if he
were born with 'One in his hand instead of
the proverbial s ilv er spo on in his mouth.
They are carrying destruction to the
fiigh ts of gray plover circling above them.
'Who are they?" I inquire.
U L L E
p T E M B E R
T I N
of Ii Sunday spinning yarn s of hUnt ing
t.eats past and what they exp ect to do' In
othe future. You lis t e n to th e $tories with
WI. feeling of surpri~e follow ed by o n e of
doubt. The wo r k wo ul d seem Impossible
on the part of th e Individual who r elates
Hs p erfo r mance , a n d Dnly possibl e t o
~ uch m ig hty n imrods as W HIIam Henry
Hel'ben w rit es of, t h e ol d fDrest r·am.ge r s
credulous minds the tales would be co n
v incing; and the pause t h at f ollo w! the
;narrati on of Ii st iff one just n ow Is only
~rol\e n 'by the
s ou n d of h oo r. as B\1Iy
(Brown of t he hun ting set -da.l&hes by on
his i ron- g ray h orse, riding In Coma-nche.
like freed o m, wi th, a t the ,s ame ti me, t he
seat of a ca val r y officer.
Loo ki ng .o u t from Victor's ac r oss the
THE SAGE OF MARIN.
of _~.meri('a'l! ea.rly wide West or to Sir
Gord on Cumming, who f ollowed the
Epoors of lions, ti gers and elephA.n ts on
rlhe burning sands of Africa. But -the vel
'Veteen-coated bo ys tell their tales with
/!lu ch apparent earnestne!ffl, strok ing at
.t he same time a silky-coated setter or a
:bony pointer, as if the cani n es were silen t
vouchers for the truth of them. To >som e
trestle work of the r ailro ad I see on the
p oIn t of m ars h beyon d a co uple of h u nt
ers, a m an a nd a boy, a ·li t tle y o ungste r
wh o h'a ndles h is fo w ling-piece as if h e
were ·born wit h 'One .in his h and inst ead of
the proverb ial si lv e r s poon in h is mo u th.
They are carry in g destru ction to the
fiights ot gray plover circli ng above them.
'Who are t hey?" I i nq u ire.
7
" a , t hat's Da n O ,Co nnell a n d h is s on,
,th e 'J u dge,' a s w e call h.lm , doing a bit of
m ud- larking. T h ey hav e had g ood sport.
The plo v. a re p lenty, an d the y a re bo th
good g u n s. W ai t a b i t ; th ey are cominl\'
in."
Present ly the hea lthy and hearty Da n
iel a n d ·hIs sha rp shoot ing so n unl o·ad t he ir
game bags a t t he inn, :a nd I tind that
fo rt y brac e of th Is de li ci ous p lover tha t
co me s to t h e ta bl e wi th the g out of a n
Dr tola n joi ned to t he piquan t fi a v or of a
>sn.ipe are counted to the credit or t he t w o
guns.
So much attached to nature Is this de
scen-dant of the Liberator, and so fo nd is
he of s tudyi ng th e good ol d dame an d p e r
works a t ·his home In Wildw ood Gl en,
Sausalito, that::: think of D avid He nry
Thoreau in his connection, a n d ·am a bo ut
t o call hi m the Tho re au {)f MarIn cou nty.
But I pause wh e n it comes to mind t ha t
the grea t N ew. En g lan d author and phil
osopher wa.ll. a marv el of self-renuncia
Han ; 'h e w as bred to no ·p rofession, never
married, lived a lone , never w en t to
c hurc h , n E!'ve r voted , r efused to pay t a xes.
ate no flesh, dr.ank no win e, never used
tol:Yacco, and though ·a naturalist, used
neith er trap nor gun. Those who are a c
quainted with Mr. O'Connell's habits will
concede that, saving hi s IDve for Natu re
and th e non-pay m e nt of taxes, he Is not
to 'be named in the s ame brea th w ith D a
vid Henry, th e Mas sac husetts S'age. Be
sides Mr, O'Conn ell h as -done ·h ls du ty to
his adopted State by rearing a family of
stalwart boys and handsome girls that
must m a ke bachelors and childless hus
bands green with envy.
So, stimulated by rest, refreshment a nd
the hunters' talk , my compa nion and my
self -leave Victor's, and, like Bu nyan ' s
pllgrims. a ddress ourselv es to the road
aga in just as th e 1 :30 tra in f or th e vall e y
swee ps p'ast with it s load of pleasure
seekin g passengers. To th e ped es tr-i an
that s tre tch of the county r oa d betw een
Victor's and the v all ey p r op er Is the
pl easantest part of the journey. The {ace
of the co untry begins to v ary a ft er you
leav e the h a lfway hou se. The low a nd
marshy marg e of R ichardson' s Bay is
left, and th e t rav ele r comes to high er a nd
more picturesque surrDund lngs .
You
leav e th e shri eking, sw eepI n g sea. wi n ds
behin d you, too , a n d t he unob s tructed
ray'S of th e f erve n t sun , for calmness ,
quietud e and a de lici ous ly coo l pro ~e n- '
ad e, -as you appro a.ch the valley , under
tall tre es t hil t a lm os t In t e rlace t h eir
bran c h es overhead , wi th the wind mak
ing m us ic in the ir coronas.
It Is a littl e Dver five ye ars ago s in ce
enterpr l·se, personified b y such S an Fran
cisco c lt1:;;e ns as Jos eph G. E as tland ,
Lov ell Wh ile, Th oma s M agee, He n ry C .
Camp be ll 'and MGses L. Janes , lai d h'a nds
on Mill Va lley. O n Ma y 31, 1890, th ey of
fe red lots a n d' a cr es tor s a le 'by a ucti o n
on t he p rem ises neal' "th e ol d mill"
t hrough t he ir a ge nt. S. W. F ergu son, of
"the Ta ma lp a is Lan d ·and 'Wate r Com
pany ," ~ ;, the org aniz ation Is call ed . Naill
M ill Valley boas ts of mo re than 250 hand
some r es iden ces, a large permane nt p op
ul a t ion, an<l is co nsi d e red the thi rd to wn
in imp ortance in the co un ty of Ma r in.
I take in t he s urpri s in g p ro gre s s ev i
denced h ere as we wear o ur way u p the
main road (both somewhat s tiffened, I
am f ain to s ay , by the tramp) , and fee l
In c lined t o cha lle nge th e imput atIon
made by Eastern p eople that Califo rnians
are -slo w to move In b u siness matters.
1 8 9 5
**
Exchanging views with ml:' traveling
compan io n , I find he ag r ees w ith me, and
furth er offers t h e op inio n th at in a few
y ea rs t he r elation be tw ee n Sausalito an d
t h is th r ivin g p lace w ill be the 8ame as
t hat ex is tin g between Valpa raiso and
Santi'ago , a nd ot h er .sea ·b oal·d a nd in te
ri o, 'town s on the wes t co ast of So u eh
A me rica. Sausa lito, w hich , by the way,
looks like . a m in iat u re Va lparaiSO, will
be t he e mbar cade r o {I f a. large a n d pros
perous city in t hi s va ll ey.
Past th e p r e tt y little cottage of M r.
R oger Magee, w here , in ·th e $eason , he
di ape n seil h osp itality to a leg ion of
friends and s o on to our des t inati on,
where I fi nd th e we ll-k no w n J . B. Gi ll ,
w h o has leased a. co u pl e or more of acres
for the ·sE!ll.aon for n lAntv of J'OQm and
f reed om ·t rom un pleasant 'associatio ns
al\d is camp ing out In a r ight royal ana
in depen den t s ty le-combining t h e f r ee
do m a nd w hole so meness of th e coun try
w ith all the comforts of city li t e.
"AJIoa ba ma ," I saId to my friend atterln
trodu c tlo ns an d mutual greetings. " Here
·we rest. "
"And n o t 'a bi t t oo soon," ·be munnurs
In repl y, as he dro ps on the nea r es t s eat.
By and by, as the gloaming d eepe ns
a n d the " s~ntinel stars eet th eir w&tch
in t he iky," the ca m p- tire is lighte d In the
open a ir .
More g uest l! haye arrive d, w ho gather
around the c heerfu l blaze as it leaps
heavenward, ted by w oods that d iffuse a
p leasa nt odor. I n the stro ng lI gh t s and
shades that the s cene p r esents it Is li ke
a Rem brandtesqu e picture- the fire on
one s id e, ·t he dark n ess on the o th er, pro
duce the effects, lli nd f!Om etimes th e y a re
grotes qu e. There are several g ood sing~
ers In th e part y , part icular ly M r . M y r tle
a nd M r. C larence How land, .an d s oon
th ere is music in the JLir . T h e strains at
Shakespeare's " U n der the G r eenwood
Tree," M ackay' s " Here's a' Song t o the
Oa k ," a nd ot h ers sugges t ed b y th e sur
roun dings, fioa.t off in to the dep t hs of the
forest , an d th e sleepy r ed w oods and s e.
q uoi u s r us tle the ir fo li a ge in respo nse.
My tramp Is II.t an e nd .
Aft er the musi c co m es " ti r ed Nature's
swee t res torer, ba lmy sl eep."
I n th e m orning my friend asks: "Are
y ou gam e to w a lk back ?"
" Certainly; bu t u nd er the c lrcum
e t a nc es I preter to t ake the train . There
Isa limit t o the most a ctive ambrtl on."
GEORGE E. BARNES,
-
Rep rinted from The Sa n Francisco Bulletin, September 7, 1895 No , it's not Teddy Rooseve lt , it's
Daniel O'Connell - "the sage of Mari n".
He was a dearl y loved poet of his da y
who, Ju dging from the space this article
devotes to his portrait, must have bee n
well known in Sa n Francisco as well. H e
lived in Marin much of his life, d yi ng in
Sausalito in [899 . A huge memori al
bench commemorating O'Co nnell was
dedicated after his death , and still sta n ds
at Har ri son and Buckley in Sausalito .
Rare 1890's photo of Miller Avent.,
looking ·non h toward Throckmorton.
Cupola-topped Wh eeler Martin gracE
occupies present site of Old Mill Tavi
Train station faces Miller Avenue at 1
of picture. (Courtes y of Bancroft Ubr
The courtly gardens and residence of Captain Bingham and his wife Helen near the site of the Mill Valley Rest Home, 297 Miller Avenue .
He was a captain for the old Pacific Mail Steamship Company, plying in and out of San Francisco. Mrs. Bingham authored the well-knotlJn
early Marin book, In Tarnal Land . The garden and large palm trees can still be seen, and the paths and fountain are much as they were
Mill Valley and Miller Avenue, 1890's
Miller A venue was n amed for Albert D.
Miller, a founder ofTamalpais Land &
Water C o . it was the T L&W Co. which
acquired rights to the Throckmorton
Rancho, hired surveyor M ichael
O'Shaughnessy to layout a town, in
strumented th e building of a railroad
spur from Almonte Junction and, finally,
st aged the famous May 1890 lot auction.
The first lot sold for $575 at the corner of
Mi ller and Throck morton. The o riginal
cupola-topped building- Wheeler
Martin 's grocery -is seen in an extreme
ly rare earl y photo (top , page 9).
The John Finn home, 160 Miller A
Originally seven acres, reaching to U
Way (Park intersection), this estate b(
tenn is courts of crushed Indian shellm
material. Courts were on present site
Inn esbTUck apartments, and were fou
sit e of Mill Valley Tennis C lub.
Ma ny of the earliest hom es, among them
the Gardner Villa on this page, were
built along Miller, th en only a d irt road
beside the tracks. Located at 239 Miller,
this late V ictorian was buil t for Peter
Gard ne r, brother of Throckmorton
Ranch superi ntendent Jacob. It was bui lt
as a hotel, but was n ever used as such,
and re mained in th e fa mi ly unt il its
remodeling for offices in 1972 .
Mackie house at Park and Miller,
about 1890. Propert )' ran from MillE
the creek and was wider, as Park die
exist then. Long occupied b:-; a count
countess, the count tl'as recalled to F
during W\X1I and ~l.'Qs killed in actio
countess remained long after and th(
became identified as Countess Saint
.
Rare 1890 '5 photo of Miller Avenue
looking nOTCh toward Throckmorton.
Cupola-topped Wheeler Martin grocery
occupies present site of Old Mill Tavern.
Train station faces Miller Avenue at right
of picture. (Courtesy of Bancroft Library)
; they were.
The John Finn home, 160 Miller Avenue.
Originally seven acres, reaching to Una
Wa,' (Park intersection), this estate boasted
ten;is courts of crushed Indian shellmound
material. Courts were on present site of
Inn esbruck apartments, and were founding
site of M ill Valle )' Tennis Club.
Mackie house at Park and Miller, built
about 1890. Propert}' ran from Miller to
the creek and was wider , as Park didn 't
exist then. Long occupied by a count and
countess , the count u'as recalled to France
dtlring W\XI ] and «:as killed in action . The
countess remained long after and the house
became idemified as Coumess Saint Seine 's .
This early view shou:s track s winding, probably, over culvert where Old Mill and
Cort e Madera creeks join -about w here Vogue Clean ers stands nou·. (Court es:,>'
Bancroft Library)
r-
Jacob Gardner's "Ma ples", 491 Ethel h !enlle, above M iller- Mont fo rd shopping
area. Btl ilt in 1889 prior to the lot auct ion as a model to encourage hillside construction.
Jacob and Annie Gardner lived there umil the \'earof the earthquake, when the\' mo~)ed
to a nett' Svcam ore Park home.
c
~'\(I'I 'tn "'J. rr A )yhl d i~
"PAt
t :::: :::::: :: ::~
GRAND lNDEPENDENCE
DAY
CELEBRA TION
:,lJ,*n:'hi.: : : : : : }F;.;.t.:
:;\111, I, YA],1,E'Y
1856
1859
1866
F IRE '. DE PA RT ME NT
,'\ I ) , I
I~
:.! f 1I 1 1
t 1-01 11- '
, . . . ..!' !~. . .
At M ill Valley Beautiful
July .sth,
1822
1826
1834
1836
1838
1842
1845
1850
1853
(J) PJ,cp
IOog
1865
01 ]) a,:ttrJtJ~ •
1868
1873
" "~j)"1 . "111<1 \ 11n ; .. n.! 1.
OR DER
( . 00
10 .<,0
A. IV.
A I.;
DA Y
OF
~NCAMPM E NT or REDSKIN) ,\T OLl· MILL
PAk AI>f FORMS AT OUTDOO r. M<.f CLUe
followed by
EYER C I SE ~
AT
1883
1884
J""I\..\
OLD Mill.
" "..1 1,
1885
1889
....· h.)!1 ..... l"
1!'u.. lt l1t ~
Lu n c h Ho ur
1890
\ "11..
\~ ~ 1t ~
1 ,1,e
r' 1/.
~ ,\ls Y
fo,~j,
PARArl[
• <1( I! 10r1' >;;tI01\ S:" ·:a ,.
He
P. M
JUNIOR FIRE DEPARTMENl
k." .1 1md HO!>l COlt•.S! for
2 .' .0
P M
h. I HIFTIC
y(.)
P M
BASESAU. GA.Ml AT BOY LE PA.IlK
1> 1\«<:,. , Ma" i,:d a;rd Sin"I" M·o
,.:t-P t'. j' ,i
'!
~
Wi
,
GAI 1ES
AT
8d fl[}o;r
OLD
t..1
IIA II
Good
OU llx)()p'
N ig hi
F'lLr'~ !:;:,Ir
~frJn~r I ~
~
to/.h..;.
ART
"
1900
\"" 11.1 1" ', h: l !
Mill
\\ .,11
I I H I Il .n" ' . ,J " I
ILLUMINA Tloo AN~ POW WOW OF INDi ~. N )
Ir. C··r,r A.t O. d Mill
(Jk n.NO
1892
1896
1•. 11
N o" .,·tl.... · h ~
: ::: ~ : : :-:::: : ~ ;~ ; ~~: : : ~ : -: : ;: : ;-; , ~ : .i ~:
I: ~
1902
1903
1904
1906
11 1" ..... ...... ":" I I '
CLUB
BUETTI,
JOHN I.
Tqa ~iU i'alley
lu~Ue &eOQntor
RUSTI C
F O R SALE
(f}iL:j'
"J lf lJ .....
lJu ilds . 'eu ces, Sea ts, Arch es,
G a tes, Tabl4!s. S nnuu cr H ou ses
a nd Log
C aoill~
of nn y
ViJll c u l'!l l on~.
1910
1910
1913
1929
1936
193 7
1941
1942
1954
1955
1966
1968
1975
1976
1977
1978
1980
H
R
Willi am Ric hardson, Englishman
John Thomas Reed, Irishman . an
Reed o btains 8,000'acre Mexican
Reed builds sawmill (Cascade & I
Richa rdson obtains J9.000-acre t
Reed bu ilds ].In-stOry adobe (LaC
Hilaria Reed marries Bernard ino
California becomes a state and M
H il ari a's son , Ricardo Reed, and I
Mi ll Valley, incl uding Alto, Stra,
Richardson , 60, dies; Samuel Thr
Richardson's heirs deed rancho tc
Throckmorton bu ilds hunting loe
ra nch supervisor.
-1872 M arriages of Hilaria Reed-Gal
Carlota Suarez; Hilarita Reed to I
Hil ari a Reed-Garcia dies; M ill Va
Dr. John Cush ing homesteads 44 :
after his death in 1879.
Throckmorton dies . San Francisc
North Pacific Coast Railroad is ex
Deffebach I die.
Dr. Alexander Warner settles in ~
North Pacific Coast Railroad add!
Tamalpais Land and Water Comp
Roads, pedestrian lanes and steps
May 31 auction oflots at Old Mil!
for $575 . During next 10 years but
plu s four new hotels (E astland , T I
"Eastland" Post O ffice opens.
"C rookedest Railroad in the Wor!
More than eight miles of track , wi
Clause in original deeds banning !
successful incorporation election i
Ch arles Storck , and Jacob Gardn.
G rethel 's Hall over Eastland Bake
strict licensing ordi nance banning
enl arged in 1927.)
Outdoor Art C lub is organized, w
Town votes $50,000 to replace pia
Post Office changes fro m Eastl and
Refugees from San Francisco eard
Carmelita Boyle donates 2.3 acres
Park School {E . Blithedale & Elm
-1920 City streets are paved; grmV1
Mt. Tam alpais Scenic Railway adc
Middle Ridge fire destroys more tl
New C ity Hall (26 Corte Madera)
Golden Gate Bridge opens.
Post Offi ce (Su nnyside and E. Blit
Voters approve city manager forrr
City purchases bus depot (Thr oc~
C rews remove or pave over railrol
Mi ll Valley Publi c Library opens;
Our Lady ofMt. Carmel Catholic
-1977 Drought years . Mari n Muni
Pu blic Safety Building (595 Sycarr
Lucretia Hanson Little History R.
C ity Hall is remodeled .
N inetieth anniversary of Mill Val
POSTUFFICE ADDRESS, EAi;TLA ND, MI LL \' ALLE Y, CALlFOR :\IA .
Compiled
l ~/-~~~:-i
~h
~ O ther
Coun try Orders soliciLeu a ud promptly nUeuued to. ~
J INhS
;:,o;urdcy
Al~a:.l!::;
5.
H
1 89~
R ustic woodworking was an adverti sed
specialty in old Mill V alley. Tho ugh n ot
entirely local , it refl ected an en ch antment
wit h na tural beauty. H o mes and camps
everywhere were adorned with rust ic gates ,
porch es and furni shings, ran ging from in
tentionally crude to symmetrically ornate.
M any examples survive around Mill Valley.
1890 Mill Valley f
Avenue, with fa
Richardso n Bay. W
in 1856 and T hro
his heirs ' huge l
Mill Valley. He t
c
H
R
o
N
o
L
o
1822
1826
1834
1836
1838
1842
1845
1850
1853
TMENT
It-(f,,
"! ••
~S,
::::<Ii~~:
BUETTI,
auW~ Ueoantijr
FOR SALE
SnJllJucr Houses
[\D(1 Log Ca.bins of any
DiJllCDl'JIlODS .
y
William Richardson, Englishman, arrives in San Fr ancisco.
John Thomas Reed, Ir ishman, arrives in San Francisco.
Reed obtains 8,000-acre Mexican land grant, Rancho C orte Madera del Presidio (in Mill Valley , east of Miller A ve nu e a nd 8 1ithedale Canyon).
Reed builds sawmill (Cascade & Molino) and marri es Hilaria Sanchez.
Richardso n obtains 19,OOO-acre Mexica n land grant, Rancho Saucel ito (in Mill Vall ey, west of Mill er Avenue and 81 ithedale Ca nyon).
Reed builds I- I/z-story adobe (LaGoma & Locke Lane); dies at age 38. (Other sources list date as (843).
Hil aria Reed marries 8ernard ino Garcia .
Cali fornia becomes a state and Marin a county, making Hil aria Reed-Garcia subject to taxes; squatters settle on Reed ra ncho .
Hilari a's son, Ricardo Reed, and husband, 8ernardino Garcia, die; Land Commission hold hearings to prove widow's ow nership of land east of
Mill Valley, including Alto, Strawberry, Tiburon, 8elvedere. Succession of guardians in following years "administer" estate for Reed children and widow.
Richardso n, 60, dies; Samuel Th rockmorton administers Rancho Saucelito estate for heirs.
1856
1859
Richardson's heirs deed ra ncho to T hrockmo rton.
1866
Throckmorton builds hunting lodge , "The Homestead," (Linden Lane & Montford) in present Homestead Valley; Jacob Gardner hired as
ranch supervisor.
1865 -1872 Marriages of Hilaria Reed-Garcia's children: Inez Reed to Thomas Deffebac h I; Carmelita G arcia to Hugh Boyle; John joseph Reed to
Carlota Suarez; Hil arita Reed to Dr. Benjamin Lyford.
1868
Hilaria Reed-Garcia dies ; Mill Valley sections of rancho go to Inez Deffebach a nd Carmel ita Boyle .
1873
Dr. john Cushing homesteads 442 acres in 81ithedale Canyon along Corte Madera Creek; builds hotel and resort which remain popular fo r yea rs
afrer hi s death in 1879.
1883
Thtockmorton dies. San Francisco Savings Union forecl oses loan and by 1889 takes over 13,OOO-acre rancho.
1884
North Pacific Coast Railroad is extended fro m Marin City area across Mill Valley marshland to Corte Madera; Reed adobe burns; Inez and T homas
Deffebach I die.
1885
D r. Alexander Warner settles in Warner Canyon (Mill Vall ey golf course).
North Pacific Coast Ra ilroad adds spur from Almonte to Mill Valley. Michael M. O'Shaugh nessy surveys western po rtion of Mill Valley for
1889
Tamalpa is Land and Water Company Joseph Eastla nd , president; other officers: Rober Magee , Louis Janes, Lovell White, C. O . G. Miller.
Roads, pedestrian lanes and steps are built; Cascade Dam built to supply water.
May 3 1 auction of lots at O ld M ill site for town of Eastland and Millwood (Mill Vall ey ). Lot I, 810ck I (Old Mill Tavern) goes to Henty Bornemann
1890
fot $5 75. During next 10 years businesses, homes, summer cottages , and a school are built; also Catholic, Episcopal, and Congregational churches ,
plus four new hotels (Eastla nd, The Abbey, Madrona , Kenilworth Inn) in addition to existing 81ithedale Hotel.
1892
"Eastland" Post Office opens.
1896
"Ctookedest Railroad in t he World" starts running from Mill Valley to top of Me. Tamalpais and remains popular tourist attr action until 1930.
More tha n eight miles of track, with 281 curves , end at hotel-tavern at 2,353 feet 244 feet below actual summit of mountain .
1900
C lause in original deed s banning sale of hard liquor inside city is rules unconstitutional, and saloons start to appear. Need for control leads to
successful incorporation election August 25 . First Board of Trustees: Frank F. Bostwick, president; Oscar C. Cappelmann, Alfred W. 8ush,
Charles Sto rck, and Jacob Gardner , trustees; A. L House, treasurer; james McDonald, town marshal. First Board of Trustees meeting in
Grethel's Hall over Eastl and 8 akery and Confectionary (Lockwood's Pharm.) Sequoia Saloon (Wells Fargo 8 ank) September 4. Trustees pass
strict licensing ordinance banning "objectionable" saloons. Tamalpais Land and Water Company donates six-acre Old M ill Park to city. (park is
enlarged in 1927.)
Outdoor Art Club is organized, with primary purpose of protecting town's natural beauty.
1902
Town votes $50,000 to replace plank sidewalks with cement. Trains on Miller are electrified .
1903
Post O ffi ce changes from Eastl and to Mill Valley.
1904
Refugees from San Francisco earthquake and fire cause rapid growth of Mill Valley. Outdoor Art Club and Tamalpais High School are built.
1906
C armelita Boyle donates 2.3 acres for original Boyle Park. (Additional land purchased in 1908, '30, '33, '37 .)
Park School (E. 8lithedale & Elm) and Carnegie Library (52 Lovell) open. 8lithedale Hotel burns.
1910
1910 -1920 City streets are paved; growth includes 81ithedale, Sunnyside, and Park subdi visions.
1913
M e. Tamalpais Scenic Railway adds spur line to Muir Woods using gravity cars; c hanges na me to Me. Tamalpa is and M uir Woods Railway.
1929
Middle Ridge fire destroys more than 100 homes and burns to edge of business district .
1936
New City Hall (26 C orte Madera) is dedicated .
1937
G olden G ate 8 ridge opens.
1941
Post Office (Sunn yside and E. 8lithedale) opens. Greyhound buses replace railroad and ferries.
1942
Voters approve city manager form o f government.
City pu rchases bus depot (Throckmorton & Miller) and railroad right-of-way along Miller and C amino A lto.
1954
1955
Crews remove or pave over railroad tracks on Miller and extend Sunnyside A venue to Miller.
1966
M ill Valley Public Library ope ns at 375 Throckmorton.
O ur Lady of Me. C armel Catholic Church opens; has spire of 134 feet, at t hat time ta llest b uild ing in Marin County.
1968
1975 -1977 Drought years. Marin M unicipal Water District slashes water use 57 percent; builds pipeline across Richmond-San Rafael 8 ridge in 1977.
1976
Publi c Safety 8u ildi ng (59 5 Sycamore) for police and fire d epartments is ded icated.
1977
Lucretia Hanson Little History Room in M ill Valley Public Library is dedicated.
City Ha ll is remodeled .
1978
1980
Ninetieth anniversary of Mill Valley lot auction and city's 80th anniversary .
AND, MI LL " ALLE Y, C.\L1 FORXI.-I. .
Compiled from Lucretia Hanson Little's 1975 chronology and material in the History Room
cited and promptly attended to.-Q
n g was an advertised
Valley. Tho ugh not
cted an enchantment
Homes and camps
)rned with rustic gates,
ngs , ranging from in
symmetrically ornate .
ive around Mill V alley.
G
1890 M ill Valley from a pastoral Summit
Avenue, with four-m asters at anchor in
Richardson Bay. W illiam Richardson died
in 1856 and Throckmorton administered
his he irs' huge rancho, which included
Mill Valley. He gained complete control
by 1859.
17 Madrona (off Throckmorton)
Specializing in Continental & American Desserts,
Croissants, Rye Bread and Brioche.
SUPERVISOR
3RD DISTRICT
We use only the finest fresh ingredients:
pure butter, whole eggs, natural flavoring.
388·3832
ELECTION JUNE 3
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D.
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o
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Open Tues.Sat, 9·6
MILL VALLEY
BOOK DEPOT & CAFE
(THE OLD RAILROAD DEP01)
STATE FARM INSURANC E CO'S
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J 1 1 MI LLER AV ENUE
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Mil L VALL EY. CA LI FORN IA 9" 9 4'
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s. P.A. by advance appoi ntment
GORDON'S
OFFICE
SUPPLY
4
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IF YOUR HOUSE WAS
BUILT BEFOR E 1950
Shi atsu Prac ti c ioners As soc iation
Massage, Hyd roth erapy & Saun a Center
61 Camino Alto, Suite 103, M ill Valley, 383- 1586
388-4415
7 LOCUST AVE.
(Near Miller Ave.)
MILL VALLEY, CA 94941
LARGEST AND MOST
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31 MILLER AVENUE
383·2930
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