1925 — 101 years ago
From the Sonoma Index-Tribune of July 18, 1925:
Justice Attends to the Wine. Frank Bisordi, a Kenwood rancher, paid a $250 fine after pleading guilty to illegal possession of liquor before Justice Leopold Justi of Glen Ellen. Some 1100 gallons of wine were duly destroyed, the sentence having extended, it seems, to the wine itself.
Four Drummers and the Unlocked Door. Four traveling salesmen were arrested by federal dry agents at Santa Rosa while enjoying a gin fizz, the clink of glasses having carried into the hall. Bonds were fixed at $1000 each, and the agents offered a moral: if you don't want to be a criminal, drink water.
A Felony Among the Chickens. C. H. White of El Verano was arrested on a warrant sworn by a Buena Vista poultryman, who alleged White sold 5000 baby chicks upon which a chattel mortgage was held. In lieu of $1000 bail he was taken into custody, the sale of mortgaged property being a felony.
Bridge Club Convenes in Gold. Mrs. Golton hosted the Junior Bridge Club at her Second Street East bungalow, where covers were laid for eight amid a color scheme of gold carried through decorations, place cards, favors and menu. Prizes ran to hand-painted china and a gold-decorated vase; the club now sponsors a new Cotillion Club for the winter season.
Sonoma to Bring Its Own History to San Francisco. The Native Sons and Daughters have resolved on a division of their own in the September 9th diamond jubilee pageant, having secured the little old army wagon once used by General 'Fighting Joe' Hooker. An ancient stage coach that ran between Sonoma and Lakeville in the early fifties will also be in line.
The Perils of the Serres Ranch. While exercising a race horse at the Serres ranch, 'Speck' Farrell was thrown and broke his collar bone. John Serres set out to the scene driving a spirited horse, which balked and kicked him on the leg; both men were taken to Dr. Thomson at Sonoma.
1905 — 121 years ago
From the Sonoma Index-Tribune of July 15, 1905:
The Economics of Dinner, Circa 1563. A miscellaneous filler recalls an edict of Charles IX of France that made offering a guest more than three courses a civil offense, with a fourth dish drawing a fine of 200 francs. A purveyor who accepted an order for a four-course dinner faced fifteen days' imprisonment on bread and water; repeat offenders might be whipped and driven from the kingdom.
Provisions for the Frugal Household. Boccoli's grocery near the post office lists canned fruit at 10c per can and canned peas at 10e per can, with baked beans in the large size also 10c. Those wishing to launder their linens will find ammonia for washing, quart bottle, at 10 cents.
The Waters That Cure Nearly Everything. The Agua Caliente Springs Hotel advertises mineral waters said to cure rheumatism, stomach, liver, kidney, bladder, skin and blood disorders, and boasts a new stone dining-room to accommodate 500 guests. It commends itself as an ideal place to take a swim and enjoy a Sunday's outing, with special rates for families.
1886 — 140 years ago
From the Sonoma Index-Tribune of July 17, 1886:
An Excursion to Glen Ellen. A party of excursionists from San Francisco went up to Glen Ellen on Sunday last, availing themselves of the valley for a day's diversion. The particulars, as ever, matter less than the fact of the journey.
Fire in the Grain, Punctual for Dinner. A fire broke out in a grain field on Friday of last week, at the very hour the hands were at dinner, and consumed a header and header-wagon along with a considerable area of grain and stubble. It is a poor arrangement that lets a blaze keep better time than the harvest.
Potatoes That Travel Well. A Chinaman at Merced is shipping potatoes, raised on the Merced river, by the carload to El Paso, Texas, where they bring two cents per pound. The distance, one gathers, does the tuber no harm.
Items retold from the original pages, which are in the public domain; the scans are courtesy of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society collection at the Internet Archive. The century-old OCR is imperfect — where a name or figure was illegible, we have left it out rather than guess.