Spring 2015 Botanical Art by Dr Linda Ann
Transcription
Spring 2015 Botanical Art by Dr Linda Ann
Under the Gables Volume XIX, Number 4 Spring 2015 INSIDE: History of the Grandi Building v Historical Point Reyes Station Panorama Linda Ann Vorobik Botanical Artist Exhibit at the Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History March 7 - May 31, 2015 Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History Inverness Way at Park Avenue, Inverness Phone 415-669-1099 www.jackmasonmuseum.org EXHIBITS Our new exhibit, opening on March 7, features the fine botanical art of Dr. Linda Ann Vorobik, a well-known botanist and botanical artist. Her work includes pen and ink drawings, watercolors and some handpainted silks of birds and flowers in the form of both wall hangings and scarves. Copies will be for sale during the exhibit and a portion of sales will benefit our museum. For details about Linda and her work see her beautiful website: wwwVorobikBotanicalArt.com. There will be an Open House on Sunday March 8 from 1 – 4 p.m. and also an Open House on the last day of the exhibit, May 31, again from 1 – 4 p.m. On Sunday, March 8, after the Open House Linda Vorobik will give an illustrated lecture at the Dance Palace starting at 7 p.m. Linda will explain what botanical illustration is, how it is done and share stories of her work in the field. She will show beautiful photographs of plants in their natural habitats as well as some of her art images. Although serious information is provided, look forward to a lively presentation style, as Linda loves the opportunity to have a good laugh whenever possible. Donation requested at the door. Dewey Livingston is working on an exhibit about Second Valley, Inverness which will be up June through September, 2015. He would welcome contributions, especially early photographs of the people and houses of Second Valley. Material may be donated directly or loaned briefly for the Museum to scan the images. Meg Linden is working with Ginny Magan of the Tomales Regional History Center to create an exhibit about the narrow-gauge railroad which ran from Sausalito all the way up through Point Reyes Station and then to Tomales and on to the redwoods in the Cazadero-Duncan Mills area. The railroad first opened as far as Tomales in 1875. Part of the exhibit will be at our Museum and part at the Tomales Regional History Center October through December, 2015. THE JACK MASON MUSEUM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS FOR ARCHIVAL, ORGANIZATIONAL, OUTREACH, AND COMPUTER RELATED TASKS. PLEASE CALL DEWEY AT 669-7706, OR THE MUSEUM AT 669-1099. “POINT REYES PENINSULA” Copies signed by the authors, Carola DeRooy and Dewey Livingston are available at Museum Open Houses and from the Archives for only $20.00. The proceeds benefit the Museum. ON THE COVER: Lilium columbianum, illustrated by our featured exhibitor Linda Ann Vorobik. 2 JACK MASON MUSEUM COMMITTEE Tom Branan, Chair Andrew Buckingham Carola DeRooy Mary Kroninger Meg Linden Dewey Livingston Ann Read ADVISORY COMMITTEE Sue Baty Mary Cardwell Dian Carpenter David Donlon David Elliott Gayanne Enquist Robert Kroninger Dorito Marringa Vivian Mazur Linda Mendoza Jenefer Merrill Connie Morse HONORARY MEMBER Barbara Mason McClellan THE JACK MASON MUSEUM OF WEST MARIN HISTORY IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE INVERNESS FOUNDATION Under the Gables is produced by Meg Linden and Dewey Livingston Inquiries: 415-669-1099 info@jackmasonmuseum.org www.jackmasonmuseum.org Drawing and Painting Wildflowers throughout the West Illustrated talk at The Dance Palace Community Center, Sunday March 8 at 7:00 pm. Linda Ann Vorobik weaves through her life as a botanist and botanical artist, explains what botanical illustration is from a scientific perspective, how this type of art is done, but also shares stories of natural hybrids in the field, discusses the idea of a “species,” and tells other biological stories—all this coupled with beautiful photographs of plants and their habitats, and of course, with a selection of Linda’s art images. For those who love nature, Linda’s knowledge and stories will provoke a different perspective of nature’s diversity. She will explain how plant taxonomists parse observed diversity into species, and how botanical illustrators go about their work. For the botanical artist, Linda provides a broader picture of what the botanist’s work that ultimately leads to their need of illustrations. Although much serious information is provided, look forward to a lively presentation style, as Linda loves the opportunity to have a good laugh whenever possible. Linda Ann Vorobik is a PhD botanist and botanical artist, and is affiliated with the University and Jepson Herbaria, University of California, Berkeley, and at the Herbarium, Burke Museum, University of Washington, Seattle. Linda is the principal illustrator for botanical publications including Flora North America Volume 25 (Grasses), The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, The Jepson Desert Manual, A Flora of San Nicolas Island, and A Flora of Santa Cruz Island, but is also know by California botanists as the Editor of Fremontia, Journal of the California Native Plant Society, from 2000-2006. Linda cherishes all three west coast states as home: she holds a PhD from the University of Oregon, Eugene; conducts field research and teaches in the Siskiyou Mountains of southwestern Oregon; is writing a book on the flora of the Sierra Nevada, California; and lives at her family home on Lopez Island, Washington. She conducts research on the genus Arabis (rockcress, Mustard Family) and most recently is studying relationships between populations of Erysimum (wallflower, Mustard Family) that grow in California coastal dunes and coastal prairies, and include the federally endangered Erysimum menziesii and the wallflower with cream-colored flowers that grows at Point Reyes. As well as executing precise and accurate botanical illustrations for books and journals, Linda sells her color work as originals, prints, and cards, and teaches botany and botanical illustration workshops. She also creates hand-painted silk scarves and wall hangings. For more information, see www.VorobikBotanicalArt.com. 3 THE GRANDI BUILDING AT 100 by Meg Linden J ack Mason opens the one major article he wrote- “Louis was president of the corporation, delegating responsibility to his sons according to their skills. Reno was general manager in charge of what a future scribe would call “an astoundingly diverse inventory.” (Point Reyes Light, April 16, 1970). Ennio was treasurer and ran the lumber yard. Oliver had the garage. “Reno and Ennio were experienced storekeepers, having bought and operated their Uncle Salvatore’s “mercantile company” on the opposite corner [now the Western]. “Salvatore sold to Reno and partner Joe Codoni in 1908 [or 1910]. Codoni got out and Ennio came in. Sister Lydia (Mrs. Al Bianchi) was never active in the store. See Ira B. Cross’ Financing an about the 100-year-old Grandi Building (Point Reyes Historian Spring 1983), thus: “The Grandi Company sold everything from hardware to shoelaces out of its big brick building on A Street, Point Reyes Station. There were hotel rooms and ballroom upstairs. “The company was incorporated in 1915 by rancher Louis Grandi and his four children Reno, Ennio , Oliver and Lydia. With $250,000 in capital stock, they put up their building that same year on a square block purchased from George F. Farley. (Book 158 of Deeds, page 315) “Farley’s wooden hotel, which dated back to the 1880s, was moved aside and later razed. 4 Empire vol. IV, S.J. Clarke, 1927. “In keeping with the firm’s importance, the railroad laid down a spur track to the warehouse down which it shunted freight cars of lumber, pipe and cement. “The hotel management descended on Ennio’s young wife Ethel, who remembers to this day [1983] (she lives in Arizona) with what a sigh of relief she turned it over to Helen Dodge in or about 1916 (see page 402 et seq.).” However, we now know a few more things about the beginnings of this store. The Sausalito News March 28, 1914 had a story illustrating the growth of Point Reyes Station that included this “In the past week the Pt. Reyes Hotel, known as the Rochfort property, opposite At top, the sketch by Petaluma architect Stewart H. Scott shows a more grand the station at Pt. Reyes, was version of the future building (courtesy of Jan Langdon). Above, workers have framed the upstairs windows. In the background right, the Grandis’ competitor, the sold by Mr. Frank Farley to R. Point Reyes Emporium, can be seen. L. Grandi and E. S. Grandi for about $20,000. To show that Grandi Bros. have faith in the future of Pt. Reyes Some sources say the Grandi Company was Station … they intend investing in improvements incorporated in 1914 and some say it was 1915 at once. They are having plans and specifications but it is certain that, although Louis was the chief prepared for an up-to-date two story concrete incorporator and President, his sons were the ones store building (100 x 100). They also intend to who took responsibility for the company and did erect a building which when completed will be all the work. By 1910 Louis Grandi lived in Petaoccupied as a feed, wood, coal and lumber yard. luma and in 1914 he was already 64 years old. Reno They have also ordered machinery for the latest was named Vice President, Secretary and General model planing mill. Included in the plans is a nice Manager. Ennio was named Treasurer. Louis’ son modern two-story hotel and cafe. These additional Oliver was 14 or 15 at the time of incorporation improvements will cost in the neighborhood of and he was added later, when he came of age. Most $20,000.” A sketch by Stewart H. Scott, a Petaluma sources say his daughter Lydia, who married Al architectural designer, showed what the building Bianchi, was not involved in the Grandi Company might look like. The details are not quite the same at all. Al and Lydia ran the family ranch, located as the actual building that was built, including north of Point Reyes Station. two entry doors on the side street façade. The lot The Grandi Company bought the entire already had several buildings on it in addition to square block, some 2.5 acres and, except for a the local hotel. (Continued on page 8) 5 A panorama of Point Reyes Windmill Station, circa 1914: a small town poised for change Scilacci’s Water tank Site of soonNew spur track to-be-built House Point Reyes to Grandi Old Point Grandi Scilacci formerly Emporium Reyes Hotel Company yard livery Building facing street Black Grandi stable School NWPRR Burdell’s bar Mercantile water tank Grandi water tank Point Reyes Battista depot obscured Tomasini by trees NWPRR NWPRR house section house water tank Future site of Point Reyes Cooperative Creamery County Road, now Highway 1 Mesa Road In one of those serendipitous occurrences we get to enjoy now and then, two 100-year-old photographs of Point Reyes Station were recently reunited and have here been put together as originally intended. Two-part of Point Reyes California, circaan 1915-15, viewed to northwest courtesy of Robert Moulton collection; right, Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History. Corner of A and Second: On a graypanorama day, probably in late 1914Station, but possibly early 1915, unidentified person climbed from the railroad water tank. Left image In the photo at above right, we high Northwestern Pacific Railroad water tower at the south end of town and took at least two pictures, see the early configuration of forming a panorama of the small town that was about to undergo many changes. downtown buildings, left to right: The Jack Mason Museum has long had a copy of a high view showing the rail yards. A similar a two-story house, Burdell’s view was found in a private collection many years ago, offered for copying, and then filed away. Last little saloon, and the Point Reyes month I was invited to help a fellow history buff organize a batch of copy negatives I had taken 25 Hotel. At right, a photo taken in 1915, the former saloon has been years ago, and there was the “lost” view, although I didn’t know it at the time. I brought it back and moved south and the two-story realized that the view was similar to the one in the Mason collection; comparing the two, I realized house (left) has been moved to that they were taken on the same day by the same photographer. behind the saloon; the old Point Putting the two together formed a magnificent and historic panorama of Point Reyes Station at Reyes Hotel awaits its move a few the exact time it was about to grow. Within a year, the Grandi Building, the Point Reyes Cooperative hundred feet south to make way Creamery and the Foresters Building would be constructed, making the little railroad town into a for the Grandi Building, as seen in the left part of the panorama. bigger and more important town in the West Marin region. —Dewey Livingston MOVING BUILDINGS AROUND 6 7 to build out of brick. The completed building (22,000 square feet) is frequently described as Mission Revival, but has many elements reminiscent of the family’s Italian-Swiss origins. The store was considered important enough that the railroad built a spur line onto the property at the very beginning. Their rival, Pietro Scilacci, who had worked for Uncle Salvatore until he went into business for himself in 1898, wanted a spur as well but never was granted one (see Under the Gables, Spring 2014.). The upstairs of the Grandi Building was occupied by the Hotel Point Reyes and a ballroom used for community gatherings. (The hotel and restaurant operation will have a more complete story in a later issue.) A restaurant was located downstairs, At top, in 1915 the Grandi building rises next to the old hotel, which has been moved to but the majority of floor make way for the new mercantile and hotel. The finished Hotel Point Reyes, operated by space was devoted to a the Grandi Company, dominated the Point Reyes Station streetscape and has ever since. wide range of merchandise from fine furnishings and elegant clothing THE GRANDI BUILDING AT 100 Continued from page 5 to work boots and dungarees as well as all sorts of small parcel sold to Pacific Telephone Company, hardware and items needed to run a ranch; they continued to own it until the company was dis- even sold pianos and other musical instruments. solved in 1973. The second two-story building on If the proprietors didn’t have it they could order it the property was moved to the back of the prop- for you. The Grandis also built sheds for wagons erty and the small building that served as the bar and for grain & feed, as well as a large water tower. was later moved south to the far side of Highway They had horse and buggy rigs for rent for those One. Eventually (after 1927) the old hotel building getting off the train who did not have their own rig to meet them. When automobiles came along was demolished. Even though Uncle Salvatore’s brick store they had cars for hire as well. The Sausalito News, June 10, 1916 has an inwas the only major local building to be destroyed in the 1906 earthquake, Louis and his sons decided teresting note. The County Supervisors were con8 The Grandi store was a busy place, as seen in this rare interior photograph taken around 1920. Sarah Sjosten photograph courtesy of the Point Reyes Light. will be fitted up with barbecue pits, benches and all other necessary platforms, etc.” During the Great Depression times were tough in Point Reyes Station. The Grandis’ rival, Wilford Scilacci, went into bankruptcy, but survived with a much smaller operation. The Grandis managed to stay afloat and rumor has it that Reno carried many of the folks by not collecting what they owed the Company. When World War II started business started to pick up because a large number of military men were training nearby and the dairy business increased to support the war effort. An early ad in the Baywood Press (1949) says the Grandi Company sold electrical and refrigeration contracting, hardware and tools, sporting goods, dairy supplies, Fuller paints and oils, electrical appliances, Frigidaire – domestic and commercial – water pumps and repairs, household goods, shoes and leather boots, rubber footwear and clothing, garden tools and supplies, and plumbing supplies. Other ads the stressed the various lines of work clothing they carried. They even sold groceries and meat. In 1953 the grocery business closed due to competition from the Palace Food Market (across the street from its present location) and Harold’s Market (where Whale of a Deli is today). The hotel closed also in 1953. After that the old building was primarily a hardware store, with Adelbert Von Rotz’s Build- sidering an appeal to the county liquor ordinance that prohibited dancing in the same building, or within 50 feet of where alcohol is being served. This was creating a hardship in Novato where a ballroom was in the same building as the saloon and also in Point Reyes Station where the Grandi building ballroom was in the same building as the hotel bar. The newspaper item did not indicate a solution to this issue nor was their further mention of it that came through in my search of online newspapers. In 1920 the railroad through town, which up to that point had been narrow gauge, was replaced with standard gauge tracks as far as Point Reyes Station. This led to a number of improvements including the building a large warehouse to expedite handling of freight to the Grandi Company property. By 1925 the grain and feed business had been turned over to Lewis Simas & Jones Company of San Francisco and they delivered hay and feed in train loads. Dante Muscio, famed for his 22-inch long moustache, considered the longest in the United States, was the manager. An issue of the Sausalito News in June 1932 says, “At noon on Monday, July 4, we will have a big barbecue on the property of the Grandi Company which has been used in years past by the Petaluma Lodge of Elks for its annual oyster bust. Through the efforts of R. L. Grandi these grounds 9 The Grandi Building in its last years of use, taken in 1977 by Bill Booras. The post office occupied the annex, Tony Veronda’s Western store, Spur, nestled in one of the alcoves, and Building Supply Center filled the old mercantile space. ing Supply Center leasing the place from 1970 until they moved across the street to their own building in 1978. On July 9, 1973, prominent Point Reyes ranchers Joe and Scotty Mendoza bought the building and the entire block, as well as other property from Hilda (Reno’s widow ) and Ethel (Ennio’s widow) and several other individuals, as well as several banks representing the estate of the youngest son Oliver Ulysses. On July 17 they sold the Grandi property to Kenneth C. Wilson of Ross. Mr. Wilson developed elaborate plans to restore the structure into a plush Victorian hotel with 24 guest rooms. Plans also included a restaurant, shops, arcade, a meeting room and a garden terrace. However, none of those plans were accomplished. In 1977 the County ruled that the building could be used for offices and studios but no one could live there. This was not rigidly enforced, and the upstairs rooms were occupied by various artists and tradespeople. In 1982 the County Building and Fire Departments shut down the building and evicted the all the tenants. The Coastal Post of March 10 21, 1982, reporting the closure, quoted one of the county officials as saying “The building must be brought up to a minimum code standard for earthquake safety, fire and life safety before occupancy can be reestablished.” He outlined some relatively inexpensive measures that would make it habitable. However, commercial occupancy would take much more money to meet the codes. In 1983 the Mendozas, who had carried a $140,000 mortgage for Wilson, filed a Notice of Default. It stated that $116,669.62 in principal and interest was past due. In 1987 Wilson tried to sell the entire block for $776,000. Gerry Coles, agent for the sale said that it would cost almost as much to bring it all up to code as it would to tear it down, about $500,000. Although at least two people took serious interest and announced plans for the building in the Point Reyes Light, there was no sale and almost thirty years later the building still stands there empty, provoking curious questions from the tourists and occasionally serious questions by the County and/or by the citizens of Point Reyes Station. RENO LOUIS GRANDI (1889-1952) by Meg Linden Novato. In 1946 he ran for County Reno Grandi, the eldest son of Luigi Supervisor for the 5th District and (Louis) Grandi (1850-1928) and Placida came in second of four candidates. Agnes Maria Grandi (1867-1947), was At some point he gave up actively born on February 4, 1889 on a ranch running the Grandi Company, and near Point Reyes Station. His uncle became an assistant vice-president Salvatore Grandi was the proprietor of of Central Valley Bank of Novato. the Grandi mercantile that occupied the However, in newspaper mentions corner that is now the Western Saloon. of his civic activities he is always He grew up in Petaluma. After high referred to as “of Point Reyes.” He school he took some courses at a busiwas stricken by a cerebral hemorness college and worked as a clerk for rhage while at his bank desk on May several establishments in Petaluma. 6, 1952 and died the next day. Reno moved to Point Reyes Station Reno Grandi. His obituary in the Baywood and started to work at his uncle’s store. Press, May 8, 1952 gives these additional details Salvatore had by this time transferred his primary interest to wholesaling dairy and egg products in of his career: “Few residents of Marin have attained the San Francisco and Reno probably had charge of the Point Reyes Station store. None of Salvatore’s wide friendship and esteem which Reno Grandi children were interested in retail trade. In 1910, enjoyed, or gave so unstintingly to civic, welfare, when he was 21, his uncle Salvatore retired and religious and educational activities. He was a sold his store to Reno and a partner Joe Codoni. trustee of both the Black elementary school at Joe did not stay with the firm and soon Reno’s Point Reyes and Tomales High School. He was brother Ennio joined him in the partnership. He also chairman of the Marin probation commitwas appointed Postmaster for Point Reyes Station tee, a past president of the Marin Coast Chamber of Commerce, Director of the Redwood Empire in 1911 and served for at least eleven years. In 1914 his father Louis incorporated the Association and vice president of the California Grandi Company with two of his three sons Reno Chamber of Commerce.” “Active in religious affairs, he was a commuand Ennio, and in 1915 built a new store. Reno nicant and senior warden of St. Columba’s church, became the General Manager. There is very little detail of the years he ran the Grandi Company. He Inverness. He was a member of Marin Lodge Comwas a Registrar for the Draft Board in 1917-18 and mandery Knights Templar number 20 Petaluma did such a good job of it that he was commended and Islam Temple of the Shrine in San Francisco. by the Marin County District Attorney for his work, He was a member of the Marin Farm Bureau.” In addition he was active in the Shoreline along with Dante Muscio and Peter Scilacci. Highway Association and was involved in variAlso in 1917 he married Hilda G. Ingersoll, daughter of the keeper of the Point Bonita Light- ous committees to study public transportation house, who was a school teacher at Tocoloma and in Marin and make recommendations. He was later at the Black School in Point Reyes Station. elected president of the Marin County Taxpayers They had three sons, the first two—Reno Louis, Jr. Association and a director of the Marin Safety born in 1917 and Wayne Louis, born in 1927—both Council when both organizations were formed in died very young. The third son, Leonard Noel, 1947. He belonged to many other charitable and born in 1935, outlived both his parents. Reno was fraternal organizations as well. His wife Hilda a Republican in the early years, but later he was died in 1975 at the age of 82, spending a lot of her sometimes involved in Democratic Party politics. time in Point Reyes Station before finally moving Reno and Hilda later lived in Nicasio and to Fairfax to be near their son, Leonard. 11 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit No. 5 Inverness, CA 94937 Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History P. O. Box 94 Inverness, CA 94937 www.jackmasonmuseum.org An affiliate of the Inverness Foundation Linda Ann Vorobik Botanical Artist Exhibit at the Jack Mason Museum of West Marin History March 7 - May 31, 2015 Open Houses on Sunday, March 8 and May 31, 2015 from 1 – 4 p.m Illustrated talk at The Dance Palace Community Center, Sunday March 8, 7:00 pm