The Town of Cloverdale
- Genealogy
- History of Cloverdale
- The Town Today
- Places of Interest
- People of Interest
- Maps
- Pictures
Table of Contents
Cloverdale is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States; it is both the westernmost and the northernmost city in the San Francisco Bay Area. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad reached Cloverdale in 1872. The Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians of California is headquartered there. The population was 8,618 at the 2010 census. [1]
Genealogy
Gedcom Index for Cloverdale, CA. . . . Link
Surnames: Bell, Gossends, Plumlee, White
LDS genealogy.com: Cloverdale . . . Link
Roadside Thoughts: Cloverdale California . . . Link
Sonoma
County Genealogical Society
. . . Link
The web site "The Cockrill Family of Sonoma County" [Link] has a wonderful collection of
local genealogy including the following with ties to this
town: John ADAMS,
William Anderson HAGANS, William Jefferson HARDIN, William
HOPPER
History of Cloverdale
Cloverdale began as an early stagecoach stop, known as Markleville, on the Rancho Rincon de Musalacon Mexican grant. In 1856, R.B. Markle and W.J. Miller bought 759 acres (3.1 km2), which included the present site of the town, from Johnson Horrell. In 1859, James Abram Kleiser bought Markle's interest, and the town was laid out. The town was incorporated when the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad arrived in 1872. By 1878, the railroad service provided three trains a day between Cloverdale and Ferries of San Francisco Bay. In 1881, Jules Leroux and Armand Dehay established a colony south of Cloverdale named "Icaria Speranza", based on the French Utopian movement, the Icarians. The settlement ended in 1886 and today, there is a marker south of town where the schoolhouse was located. [1]
Cloverdale suffered severe economic hardship, losing 500 to 600 manufacturing jobs between 1988 and 1994, with the closing of a fire equipment factory and the shrinking of the logging industry. On July 6, 2005, Cloverdale began its economic reform with the "RTB" (Real-Estate Transfer Bureau) plan granting money for businesses and commerce to return to the city. This plan fell through as the grant was moved to Los Altos, California and changed to the "1750" plan. In 1993, 300 jobs were eliminated alone when Louisiana-Pacific closed its lumber mill. In 1994, Highway 101, which formerly bisected the town, was rerouted around town with a bypass. Some businesses closed, and many natives believed the bypass radically changed the town's character. [1]
Since the bypass, signs of civic revival have occurred with the development of pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, a performing arts center, a brewpub, and a downtown plaza hosting live concerts and a farmers' market. In 1997, Clover Springs, a development with 362 houses, was opened on the south end of town. In 2011, the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District transferred 250 acres (1.0 km2) of former ranchland to the City of Cloverdale for use as a park and open-space preserve. [1]
Cloverdale
Cloverdale was first
known as Markle's Place, a trading post. It began as an
early stage stop, on the old Rancho Rincon de Muscalon
grant. In 1856 R. B. Markle and W. J. Miller purchased
eight hundred and fifty acres of land, which included the
present site of the town of Cloverdale from Johnson
Horrell. In 1859 J. A. Kleiser purchased the interest of
R. B. Markle in the land, and the town was laid off. Until
then it was a stage stop and tavern, known as Markleville.
In 1857 J. H. Hartman and F. G. Hahman, pioneer merchants
of Santa Rosa opened a trading-post under the name of
Hartman & Hahman, which they later sold to Levi &
Co. About the same time Markle opened a tavern for the
accommodation of travelers and pack-trains. A school built
by J. A. Kleiser, opened in 1861. In the spring of 1872 W.
J. Bowman started the Cloverdale Review, the first paper
in town. After a few issues he abandoned the enterprise.
Soon after, J. B. Baccus commenced the publication of the
Cloverdale Bee, which he continued for about six months.
In 1876, the Cloverdale News was started by W. S. Walker
who sold his interest to J. F. Hoadley. The town was
incorporated by special act of the legislature of
1875-6.. . . [Archived Website. LINK]
"A look at Cloverdale way back when" [59 Historical Pictures]. [2] . . . Link
"Cloverdale celebrates its 150th birthday" [Article] . . . Link
Cloverdale's first post office (c. 1871–1880)
"Cloverdale gets its name from once-prolific clover" [Article] . . . Link
Historical Society . . . Link . . . Official City Page . . . County Page
Historic Inns of Cloverdale . . . Archived Web Link
Old Crocker Inn (1982): In 1840, a Rocky Mountain fur trapper named Cyrus Alexander rode his horse north of San Francisco at the request of San Diego sea captain Henry Delano Fitch. The property remained vacant until 1982 when Dorothy & Fred Houston discovered it and transformed it into the Old Crocker Inn Bed & Breakfast Retreat. In 1987, the Houston's sold the property to Karl Von Mecklenburg, who used it as a private residence until 2000.
Shelford House (1885): The home was originally built in 1885 by Eurastus M. Shelford on property given to him by his father, John Shelford III, that was purchased in 1863 as part of the Rancho Musalacon Land Grant. Six generations of the Shelford family have lived either in the house or adjoining ranch properties for over one hundred and thirty years.
Tea Garden Inn (circa 1879): This lovingly preserved Victorian was built in 1879 and has seen many changes over the years. For example, English Tea Garden Inn was previously an emergency hospital and nurses quarters. Extensive restoration has made this one of the loveliest historic Bed & Breakfast Inns in Northern California.
Vintage Towers Inn (1901):This lovingly preserved Queen Anne Victorian, built in 1901, is privileged to be listed on the United States Register of Historic Places. The Vintage Towers once was owned by wealthy merchant and mining executive Simon Pinschower. In 1901, he hired Petaluma architect Brainerd Jones to design the beautiful Queen Anne victorian structure, which originally had one round tower in the front of the house. In 1913, the subsequent owner commissioned Jones to add two additional towers, which inspired the Inn's name. Each tower was built in a different shape — one round, one square, and one octagonal, setting the house apart from others of its day.
History of Cloverdale [City Page] . . . Link
History of the Cloverdale Fire District . . . Link
Native American Tribes & the Indian History in Cloverdale, California . . . Link
"Neighborhoods: Five historical facts about Cloverdale" [Article & 16 photos] . . . Link
Sonoma & Marin Railroad (Cloverdale was the end of one line) . . . Link
The Town Today
American Towns . . . Link
Attractions in Cloverdale . . . Link
Cloverdale Today [Niche] (has a map of location) . . . Link
Sonoma County Life Opens Up: Cloverdale . . . Link
Town Homepage . . . Link
Wikipedia Page: Cloverdale . . . Link
Places of Interest
Alexander Valley . . . Link
Clover Springs Preserve . . . Link
Gould-Shaw House . . . Link . . . Link
The house is a rare example of Sonoma County Gothic Revival Cottage, an architectural style of the Victorian Era. Its significance was recognized as early as 1877 in the Atlas of Sonoma County which described it as one of the finest residences in Cloverdale.
Icaria-Speranza Utopian Colony (Marker) . . . Link
Markleville . . . Link
Cloverdale was previously known as Markleville for R.B. Markle, a man who owned land there during the mid-19th century.
Pick’s Drive-In (Reed & Bell Root Beer Refreshery) . . . Link . . . Facebook
Pick's Drive-in: The spot was originally opened as a Reed & Bell Root Beer Refreshery during prohibition in 1923.
“Pop” McCray’s Clubhouse (circa 1872) (where Barnes Lumber is now located) . . . Link
Van Davis’ Livery Stable (circa 1876) . . . Link
The city’s records were destroyed by fire at Van Davis’ Livery Stable on December 28, 1876 and records kept by the county in regards to the town were destroyed in Santa Rosa during the Great 1906 earthquake.
People of Interest
Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians . . . Link
Elsie Allen (1899–1990) . . . Wikipedia . . Pomo basket maker and teacher regarded as one of the three best California basket makers of her generation
Fred Wiseman . . . Link . . Wiseman was known for the first airmail flight between Santa Rosa and Petaluma that same year.
Isaac Ellis Shaw . . . Link
James Abram Kleiser . . . Link . . . Wikipedia . . In 1859, James Abram Kleiser bought Markle’s interest and the town of Cloverdale was laid out.
John Bowman (operated a mercantile store known as the Shaw Bowman Company) . . . Link
Jules Leroux and Armand Dehay . . . Wikipedia
In 1881, Jules Leroux and Armand Dehay established a colony south of Cloverdale named "Icaria Speranza", based on the French Utopian movement, the Icarians. The settlement ended in 1886 and today, there is a marker south of town where the schoolhouse was located.
Milt Holt . . . Link
. . . the appointment of Milt Holt as the first “paid” Fire Chief. Holt was paid $400.00 per month for half-duty pay. Fire Chief Holt was also the owner of a dry cleaning business. Chief Holt retired in February 1990 after 31 years of service.
Ray and Bernice Donnelly (operated Donnelly Department Store) . . . Link
R.B. Markle . . . Link
Cloverdale was originally called Markleville, named for R.B. Markle, a former owner of the land.
Thomas A. Shaw . . . Link
Thomas Jefferson Gould, an Indiana born blacksmith . . . Link . . . Link
Tillie Hardwick . . . Link
William Jefferson Hardin . . . Link
Events
Cloverdale Citrus Fair . . . Link
The Cloverdale Citrus Fair kicked off in 1892 and it remains an annual tradition to this day.
Maps
Alexander Valley Reach Cloverdale Area [Permit Sonoma] . . . Link
Cloverdale / Northeast County [Permit Sonoma] . . . Link
Citations
[1] Wikipedia
contributors. "Cloverdale, California." Wikipedia, The Free
Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Aug. 2022.
Web. 22 Aug. 2022 . . . Link
[2] "A look at Cloverdale way back when", by Janet Balicki. Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
"Cloverdale then & now: being a history of Cloverdale, California, its environs and families". United States, Historical Society, 1982. . . . Link
[3] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch Book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino: Comprising Sketches of Their Topography, Productions, History, Scenery, and Peculiar Attractions", C.A. Menefee, 1873 . . . Link
[4] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch of Sonoma County, California" Robert Allan Thompson. L.H. Everts, 1877 - Sonoma County (Calif.) - 104 pages. [??? pp 100-101] . . . Link
[5] "History of Sonoma County: Including Its Geology, Topography, Mountains, Valleys and Streams ...."' United States, Higginson Book Company, 1880. (page 205.) . . . Link . . . Text at CAGenWeb
[6] "An Illustrated History of Sonoma County, California: Containing a History of the County of Sonoma from the Earliest Period of Its Occupancy to the Present Time", Lewis Publishing, 1889 . . . Link
Wagele, Joan, and Gray, Marge. Cloverdale. United States, Arcadia Pub., 2008. . . Link
