Continuing his historical talk, Don Perry stated to the San Anselmo Rotarians last week that very few men outlived their wives in the early days in Ross Valley territory. The following is a partial list of the widows who outlived their husbands back in the 80's and 90's: The Mrs. Barber, Kittle, Allen, Coffin, Roe, Moore, Ross, Worn, Griffith, Dibblee, Latham, Kent, Martin and a number of others.

When the question of incorporating towns within the valley came up back about the year 1907, although these widows owned more than three-quarters of the land within the bounds of the involved territory, they had no say whatever, as to whether they desired incorporation or not. As a matter of fact, they were all bitterly opposed to the idea of incorporation, their employees, gardeners, stablemen and others had votes but they had no voice in the matter. It was not till August 26th, 1929, that the Federal Constitution was amended, giving them the right of sufferage.

San Anselmo was the first of the valley towns to incorporate. The election took place in January 1907; incorporation carried by a very close vote. The people south of San Anselmo were afraid that they might be later annexed to San Anselmo, so they took the initiative and incorporated their territory, a few months later and Larkspur followed suit the following spring. Later Corte Madera did the same.

The Sanitary District was first created some seven years before these times. The bounds of the district were twice extended, first to include the Lansdale territory and a few years ago Fairfax was taken in: At this time the bounds were extended to the top of White's Hill on the north. All this water-shed area is now included in the district's bounds, down as far as the Kentfield Stadium. The stadium, Kentfield school, post office and Kentfield station are not in this sanitary district, but the southerly bounds run around the edge of the marsh to a point about 250 feet south of the Wolf grade, from thence the southerly boundary ran eastward, parallel to the Wolf grade road, up to the San Rafael boundary, thence along the height of land, northerly (approximately) up to White’s Hill. The district has rights of way and easements covering the location of the sewage treatment plant, down near Greenbrae.

The seminary structures were completed, at San Anselmo, in 1895. William Barr of San Rafael, former supervisor, now dead, erected most of the buildings. He was afterwards superintendent of the privately owned water company, known as the Marin Water and Power Co. The system had been in existence for many years prior to 1895. It was in 1915 that our publicly owned Marin Municipal Water District commenced to function, having condemned the old system, which obtained its supply mainly from Lake Lagunitas. The pipings in the ground were then 1915, some 25 or 30 years old and they were all small. Consequently they had to be replaced. This was a big item of expense.

The old company did not supply Sausalito with water till a few years before the public took the system over, so Sausalito, as an inducement to get the old company to extend its pipes to Sausalito, contracted to take a large quantity of water annually and as a consequence of this contract, the company extended a large pipe from Kentfield to Sausalito at an enormous expense. It was found that Sausalito could not use all the water it contracted for. It annually ran behind and finally the old company sued the town, obtained a large judgment against it, but never has the company been able to attached any assets of the town. The judgment, with interest, now runs into $130,000 odd. The sheriff several times attached property but he always had to let go. Now that Sausalito is part of the water district, they no longer have trouble about water shortages. Back in the 70’s two English sailors died, one being killed, when he fell from a mast, the other one died. Both were buried on the shore about 100 feet from the water’s edge, just about opposite where the guard house stands, at the edge of Fort Mason shore. The headstones on the graves were carved with a jack-knife.



Return to Early Marin by Donald E. Perry

Use of text and photos prohibited without permission from the San Anselmo Historical Society.