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Will you be there on July 4th?

This blog was originally written for the PetalumaOnline community website under the heading: Our Cyberspace for July 2005. (It is just as relevant this year, as that year.) “It’s the 4th of July weekend and I’ve been searching my brain for an appropriate theme. My mind keeps coming back to [...]

By | July 2nd, 2015|0 Comments

McNear Warehouse

The strangeness spot selected for today's post may not be too familiar to many Petalumans; including longtime residents. You really have to look for it when you are near the intersection of First & C Streets. The plaque, below, is fastened to the remains of a stone foundation next to [...]

By | September 21st, 2013|0 Comments

Bill Soberanes Statue

Did you remember to walk across Washington Street at Petaluma Blvd. N, after looking at the Heritage Mural (Strangeness Blog #12), and take a close look at the Bill Soberanes and Wrist Wrestling Capital statue? Bill Soberanes and the statue are probable very familiar to most Petalumans; however, what might [...]

By | September 16th, 2013|0 Comments

Heritage Mural

When we were walking along East Washington Street, checking out the P&SR railroad tracks that cross at Water Street, we rediscovered two more strange but familiar spots. On the side wall of the Old Shanghai (former Goodwill) building is the Heritage Mural created by Steve Della Maggiora in 1998 that [...]

By | September 11th, 2013|0 Comments

Iron Front Row

One of the most familiar block of buildings in the Petaluma Historic Downtown District is Western Avenue, between Petaluma Blvd. North and Kentucky Street. But, what is so strange about it? All of the buildings have "ironfronts." Some writers believe that this row of Itaianate ironfronts is "unmatched in California [...]

By | September 5th, 2013|0 Comments

Petaluma Trestle

In my last Strangeness blog (#9), I featured the Petaluma Trolley Living History Library with its restored trolley and railroad cars. I also mentioned the railroad built a spur line along the west bank of Petaluma Creek in 1922 that ran behind the warehouses. Included in that project was the [...]

By | August 31st, 2013|0 Comments

Petaluma Trolley Museum

Most Petalumans have traveled along Washington Street at one time or another; but how many are familiar with the railroad and trolley cars at the intersection with Copeland Street? How many Petalumans have ever visited the Petaluma Trolley and Living History Railroad Museum? (Right across the street from the Petaluma [...]

By | August 26th, 2013|0 Comments

Sunset Line & Twine Building

Since all Petaluma familiar, but strange spots are not located in the Historic Downtown Business District, let's extend our wanderings to other interesting areas of our favorite river town. Not too far from the current Petaluma Visitors' Center (formally a railroad depot), there is an old two story Georgian Colonial [...]

By | August 21st, 2013|1 Comment

Coca Cola Sign

As we continue to wander around the Petaluma Historic Downtown Business District, be sure to look UP and DOWN, as well to the RIGHT and to the LEFT, if you want to become familiar with the strangeness of various signs, objects, and architectural styles. If you're leaving the Petaluma Historical [...]

By | August 15th, 2013|0 Comments

The Great Mill

Not too far from the WCTU fountain on the corner of Petaluma Blvd. South & Western Avenue (Blog #5), is the name of a paddle-wheel steamer that served Petaluma in an earlier time. It's painted on the wall of a very "familiar" building next to the river. Have you seen [...]

By | August 8th, 2013|0 Comments