This Week in Marin History

"FROM THE ASHES"

On April 16, 1866, Tomales Presbyterian Church, Marin County's first Protestant house of worship, was destroyed by fire just prior to its dedication. (A pulpit bible and a few furnishings survived.) Two years later construction of another colonial-style church was completed on the same hilltop site to serve early Scotch-Irish settlers and others who flocked to areas of West Marin to raise and ship agricultural products. (Half the county's population at one time was centered around Tomales.) An adjoining Protestant cemetery was later deeded to the parish, and in 1989 Marin's oldest Protestant church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

This Month 100 Years Ago from the Marin Journal
Compiled and transcribed by Sarah Jochumson, 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, April, 1913

April Joke on Dr. Dudley

Dr. Dudley’s friends played a clever joke on him April Fool’s Day. They secured the figure of a beautiful blonde form the window of a store, dressed the lady in apparel fine and fashionable her pink and white complexion gleaming bewitching through the meshes of a lace vail, over a large corsage bouquet of natural flowers.

The make-believe lady was surreptitiously palced in Dr. Dudley’s machine, that had been left standing on corner B and fourth, and when presently the Doctor approached the auto with an air of alacrity and interest, scores of eyes peered out from near by windows and doors. He could hardly believe that a lady seated in his own automobile would ignore him, but when all his alfability was met with cold silence, he concluded that his guest was deaf, and lightly touched her arm.

The frigid beauty still appeared unconscious of his presence, until exasperated beyond endurance, the owner of the machine gave her a hard shake, recognized the nature of his guest and quickly disappeared to excogitate some plan of getting even with his hilarious friends.

Brief Mention

The San Francisco Socialists have announced a grand picnic to be held at Schuetzen Park, Sunday, April 13th.

Documents Filed in the Recorder’s Office

The new buffalo nickel has been counterfeited. Telephone and nickel in the slot machines absorb the bogus coins with avidity, being unable to see just how inartistic the disks are.

Another Culebra Slide

The latest slide in the Culebra cut is the most serious of the year. Though only a thousand feet in length, it may be the prelude of other slides which will seriously delay the opening of the Panama canal.

Geologists both in this country and Europe have given considerable study to these great landslides which have retarded the completion of the Culebra cut. They are due, according to eminent scientific authority, to the displacement of large quantities of decomposed rock. In cutting the canal the supporting bases of this material have been removed or weakened to such an extent that the enormous masses of decomposed rock spread into the cut.

American Engineering genius is not to be discouraged by all these difficulties. Rather do they add to the zest of triumph. The Panama canal is a mighty national work. It has challenged the engineers, who have had to battle obstinately for every yard of the way. They stand there as representatives of America, and the American spirit is bound to win. The Panama canal when opened will be one of its magnificent monuments.

Napa Register

More than a year has elapsed since China became a republic and her people have been somewhat restive because the United States withheld her recognition of the new government. But intimations from Washington are now to this effect, that the United States will recognize the Chinese republic when the National Assembly convenes in Peken next month. That assembly will elect a President and adopt a constitution. Then according to international law the republic will be legally established and Uncle Sam will be free to do what might have been done earlier in the absence of unfulfilled requirements.

Answer it Honestly

Are the statements of San Rafael Citizens not More Reliable than Those of Utter Strangers?

This is a vital question. It is fraught with interest to San Rafael. It permits of only one answer. It cannot be evaded or ignored. A San Rafael citizen speaks here. Speaks for the welfare of San Rafael.

A citizen’s statement is reliable. An utter stranger’s doubtful. Home proof is the best proof.

Chardles Simes, 507 Irwin Street, San Rafael, Cal., says: “I used Doan’s Kidney Pills and found them to be effective and reliable medicine and one that will correct any trouble caused by disordered kidneys. My experience with Doan’s Kidney Pills has been so satisfactory that I willingly endorse them.”

For sale by all dealers. Price 50 cents. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo. New York, sole agents for the United States.

Remember the name-Doan’s- and take no other.