This Week in Marin History

"Briones of Bolinas"

On May 10, 1863, Gregorio Briones died in Bolinas (possibly poisoned by a disgruntled servant). In 1846 the Mexican government had rewarded Briones for his military service with Rancho Las Baulines, a land grant that extended around Bolinas Lagoon and encompassed present-day Stinson Beach and Bolinas. With his gift came vast swathes of fir and redwood trees that tempted fast-growing San Francisco greatly-millions of feet of lumber were shipped from Bolinas during the Gold Rush. (Gregorio's daughter married a lumberjack). Gregorio's land also disappeared-over time most of it was sold off because of expenses incurred in his attempt to prove it was rightfully his.

 

This Month 100 Years Ago from the Marin Journal
Compiled and transcribed by Wendy Niles, Collections Intern

These are short articles and notices from Marin newspapers, published one hundred years in the past. They present the happenings of the county, the concerns of the readership and the peculiar prosody of their posthumous penmen. The newspapers from which these articles were collected are available for research at the Marin History Museum's Library in the Novato Collections & Research Facility. Call (415) 382-0770 x7 to make a research appointment.

From The Marin Journal editions, May 9, 1912

MAY DAY RESOLUTION

All down the valley May Day is the absorbing topic of conversation. Everyone, nearly, is busy planning or devising, and many are doing both. There was a meeting of the Board at the Stadium on May 2nd, when the following resolution was passed:

1. Method of selecting May Queen, insuring rotation in turns. - The Maids of Honor chosen by the various schools shall draw lots for queen. Towns which have previously had the queen shall be barred until all other towns have enjoyed that honor.

2. Method of arranging Maypole sets, insuring rotation by turns. - The first set of Maypoles for one year shall be the last set for the following year; the second set of one year shall be the last set of the following year, and the third set of one year shall be the second set of the following year.

MOTHER'S DAY

Next Sunday, the second Sunday in May, is becoming widely known as Mother's Day. Many churches will observe it by special service and the wearing of the white carnation by the worshipers.

THE UNPROTECTED GIRL

Miss Florence Locke, of Berkeley, formerly a San Rafael girl, made an interesting talk on the "The Unprotected Girl" before the Civic League on Monday evening. She made a chaste, dignified and earnest appeal for help and sympathy for the unfortunate girls of whom there are three hundred thousand in the United States. Five thousand recruits every year take the place of those who die. The liquor traffic and insufficient wages were two important factors in the destruction of poor working girls. If the sale of whiskey could be restricted and house work could be made as respectable and as desirable in the eyes of the working girls as the factory or department store, much would be gained. If there could be schools of domestic science, in which girls could get diplomas, and could go forth with special training, like the nurse or stenographer, she would stand a better chance to be respectable and to command respect. It is now the main work and the imperative duty of the women's clubs to address themselves to the task of protecting the unprotected girl.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE

Notice is here-by given that a Presidential Primary election will be held in the County of Marin, State of California on
TUESDAY, MAY 14th, 1912
The Polls will be open at six o'clock of the morning of May 14th, 1912, and must be kept open until six o'clock in the afternoon of said day, when the Polls shall be closed. The following are the names and addresses of all persons whom nomination papers have been filed, together with their party designation and titles of office for which they were nominated as shown by the certificate of the Secretary of State, dated April 12th, 1912.
CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT:
Theodore Roosevelt, Republican; of the State of New York. William Howard Taft, Republican; of the State of Ohio. Robert Marion La Follette, Republican; of the State of Wisconsin. Woodrow Wilson, Democratic; of the State of New Jersey. Champ Clark, Democratic; of the State of Missouri.

MARKETING by TELEPHONE

Every time a man wants to get away from all connection with the busy world, the telephone is an important helper.

The Local Service is useful in arranging his affairs at home and the Long Distance service of the Bell system helps him to decide where to go and what to take.

By means of his Bell Telephone he can find out whether the fish are biting or the birds are flying, and whether guides or horses can be secured.

After he has been out a while, if he wants to get word from the city, the nearest Bell Telephone is a friend in need.

FOR ALL MEN AND WOMEN

I will give you free a sample of Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets that have brought health and happiness to thousands - also a book on any chronic disease you need.

WHAT IS A WATER DISTRICT

Catechism on Water District

(Q) What is a Water District?
(A) A Water District is a large area of land, set apart by the Supervisors of a county, for the ownership and control of water, just as a school district is an area of land set apart for the purpose of building a school housed, and teaching the children who live in the district. A school district furnishes education, a water district furnishes water.

(Q) Where does a Water District get the water from?
(A) All water comes from the clouds, either directly in the form of rain, hail or snow, or indirectly from rivers, lakes and springs. All water belongs to the person on whose property it falls, who is able to catch it and prevent it flowing off.

(Q) Shall we ever get free water?
(A) Never. You can never get, legally, something for nothing. There will always be the cost of management, extensions, if any, maintainance and repairs to be met; these must be met by the price of the water sold. The expenses will gradually decrease as the cost of the first construction or acquisition are paid off, while the revenue from water will always increase as there become more water consumers, owing to the build of more houses.

LARKSPUR DOINGS

The baseball season was inaugurated last Sunday on the Larkspur diamond, where the home team played the Moss Beach boys. It was an exciting game. Larkspur won by a score of 15 to 10.

Frank Schmitt, wireless operator on the ship Ascunsion, was home on a short leave Friday.

Last Friday the Misses Ella and Gertrude McCormick, and Loraine Seley and Watson Seley journeyed to Santa Rosa to attend the Rose Carnival. They were the guests of the Churchill family.

BRIEF MENTION

The Kentfield teachers are working very hard in training their pupils for May Day exercises. If the little ones do as well on the supreme occasion as they do when practicing, they will make a good showing.

A large imported order of French China direct from the factory has just been received by Short & Furlong, our local jewelers.

There is much complaint of hard times in San Rafael, but a large proportion of the people somehow manage to live comfortably: a lady reading at her window one day this week counted forty-two automobiles pass within one hour; there was no special destination, these motorists were out simply because it was pleasant to be out. We are not a poverty stricken people.

Deputy Sheriff Oscar Emerald made several arrests on Saturday and Sunday for speeding automobiles in the town and on the county roads. All the gentlemen implicated have contributed ten dollars each to the city treasury, and the incident is closed.