This Week in Marin History
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September 2010

Up in smoke

Mill Valley Fire Dept.’s log book: “"September 27, 1945; 12:17pm, Smoke reported at the sawmill. 12:31pm, Fire confirmed. 12:45pm, Call the Army. 2:20pm, Army arrived. This is how an 18,000-acre fire began at the entrance of Carson Canyon. Seven days later it was under control." The fire, one of the largest in Marin County history, burned miles of landscape, including redwoods, from Carson Canyon (Kent Lake) to Bolinas, even scorching the watershed flowing into Alpine Lake. However, homes were saved due to “the good work of the civilian, soldier and navy fire fighters.”

Headline from the San Rafael Independent Newspaper, 1945.

Sporty school

In Sept. 1950, groundbreaking began on an old vegetable garden in San Anselmo for the construction of Sir Francis Drake High School, the second high school in the Tamalpais Union High School District. Drake was built for $1.8 million on property that had been owned by the Cordone family, who maintained the sizeable garden and sold produce from a wagon. When the new school opened a year later, students were then given a choice—continue at Tamalpais High School or make a transfer. Football players for the most part opted for Tam while the majority of basketball players chose Drake. The first principal? An All-American basketball star from Cal Berkeley.

Dedication ceremony for Sir Francis Drake High School, 1951. (MHM – Marin Independent Journal Collection.)

Ferry princess

On September 14, 1858, the paddle-wheeled steamer Princess was launched for the first time, with the purpose of hauling freight on the Sacramento River. But plans changed for the little vessel—the Sausalito Land & Ferry Company, which was busy selling lots in Sausalito to wealthy San Franciscans, purchased it and began ferry service for the first time between Sausalito and the city. The sidewheeler made a couple of round trips a day from Princess Street (named after the boat) to Meigg’s Wharf at the foot of Powell Street, serving passengers until the larger ferry Petaluma took over in 1875. A few years later it was broken up for scrap.

Paddle-wheeled steamer Princess, 1859. (MHM Collection)

Plan derailed

A Sept. 3, 1909 editorial in a Mill Valley newspaper: “…Some day some far seeing financier is certain to build the railroad to Big Lagoon (Muir Beach) and Willow Camp (Stinson Beach). The possibilities of that spot on the Coast are just being made known and have long been unappreciated. It is a certain proposition that before many years one of the finest summer resorts in the State will be located on the sea coast in that neighborhood, which will rival Santa Cruz, and bid for more San Francisco patronage… For that reason, the railroad that will be constructed will prove a valuable investment for the owners.” The project fell through because stock didn’t sell.

Postcard of Stinson Beach, previously known as Willow Camp, 1916. (MHM Collection)