For over a decade, I have lead walking tours of our Historic Downtown Business District, which was officially designated by the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Yesterday morning, when I (as "Mr. William Howard Pepper"), put on my top hat and went down to our historical Carnegie Library [...]
Ten days ago, our nation celebrated one of its most significant holidays; Independence Day! Petaluma celebrated July 4th in its own, unique way, with the ringing of "our" Liberty Bell. Thirteen years after American declared their independence from Great Britain, citizens of France fought a similar battle that is now [...]
As I sit down to compose today's blog, the sun is rising over the nearby hills. I didn't get up early, as usual, (3 or 4 a.m.); but slept in until 5 a.m. It's Wednesday, a three-newspaper day. Number one on my list is our local Argus-Courier. Today's news section [...]
Yesterday was spent walking the walk with our "Community Emergency Response Team" classes (CERT). I also did a lot of talking the talk, but it was face-to-face with committed community volunteers interested in making their neighborhoods safer and better prepared in the case of an extreme disaster such as a [...]
The Federal Communications Commission was created on June 19, 1934; it replaced the Federal Radio Commission. We know that the current FCC is engaged in a debate over future rules and regulations pertaining to the Internet. Perhaps a look back in time might provide some insight to how our federal [...]
Today is Memorial Day 2006. There are many stories about its origin and several cities and towns that claim that they initiated this most famous and sacred national holiday. One account describes how women in the South organized groups and decorated graves of Confederate dead before the Civil War was [...]
We all know what yesterday was, don't we? The annual Butter & Egg Days Parade stepped off, precisely at noon. This year's parade celebrated the 100th Year Anniversary of the Carnegie Library (now our Historical Museum & Library), located at 4th & B Streets. At the head of the parade [...]
I can't speak for the "real" Mr. William H. Pepper (he died on March 14, 1906), but as the 21st Century "WHP," I think that it was too bad that the community decided to tear down both our 1886 City Hall building in 1955, and the original Pepper Kindergarten 1894) [...]
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I've also heard that it depends upon "the eye of the beholder." But, what if the beholder lived in two different centuries? Let's take a look and see for our selves. (Scroll down to see photos) The Petaluma Carnegie Library (#1) [...]
This week's Argus-Courier announced that The Petalumans of Yesteryears would be introduced as the "Grand Marshals" for the 2006 Butter & Egg Days parade, this Saturday. Who are these "characters" that compose this unique group of present day residents who have studied and adopted the personas of various historic residents [...]