My name is William Howard Pepper, but this photograph really isn’t me. He’s an imposter, someone who personifies me as one of the Petalumans of Yesteryears.(He’s hysterical, but I’m historical and a real Petaluman who lived in Our Petaluma, from 1858 to 1906.)
(Click on “View Photo Album” #01)
This new theme was borrowed from a 1998 publication by Bill Yenne, San Francisco – Then and Now. As you can guess, it is a collection of photographs showing how the City looked Then (the period of time from the 1850s to the 1950s) and Now (the 1990s). The “Then & Now” theme is not new. Many authors and photographers have used it in one way or another, over the years.In Petaluma, the late Don Campau started a display using old postcards. He always thought it would be great to have such photo display boards scattered around the Historic Downtown District showing what this street or that building looked like in the “good ole days” and “now.”
This blog will attempt to highlight historical events that took place back then and reflect upon their significance in the now world of today. We hope that our readers will contribute their comments about the people and places they remember and why they should be remembered in the 21st Century
Who better to edit this blog than a former Petaluman – William Howard Pepper. His legacy, Pepper Kindergarten, is still in existence today and continues to serve the community as a pre-school. Today’s Pepper Road and Pepper Lane were named for him. The Petaluma Historical Museum & Library has an exhibit on the second floor honoring him.
Back then (1894), the Pepper Free Kindergarten was located on the southwest corner of the intersection of Liberty and Washington Streets., where the World Savings & Loan building is located now. The school building was closed in 1960 and the program was relocated on F Street. It is still serving the children of Petaluma, today, in the 21st Century. Although Mr. Pepper made his fortune in the nurturing of young plants, his legacy to the community was a school which he founded to foster the growth and development of very young children.”
1824 – Born in Duchess County, New York, on January 14th
1850 – Traveled to San Francisco, around the Horn
1858 – Arrived in PetalumaNe
1874 – Married Phoebe Perry, a widow
1894 – Pepper Kindergarten opened on December 3rd
1906 – Mr. Pepper died, age 82
Just in case you really want to know what I looked like back then, here is my portrait that is now on display in the museum. (Click on “View Photo Album” -above- #02.)