Farms??? In Larkspur?!?!?

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

RE: Farms??? In Larkspur?!?!?

cat · Status: Offline

I took a look from behind the office buildings on Tamal Vista, and it seems that the shape of the hill does match up, on the right side, to be Palm Hill. The trees are completely different, which is why it looked wrong. Also, that road that is on the side of the hill, right below the house, is there today. It is Blue Rock Ct.

I told my mom about the picture, and she talked about "Old Man Rice" who grew oats on that side of Palm Hill. He used to take his horse and wagon up Elm Ave. to pick up the oats, which my mom remembers as being an exciting event for the neighborhood kids. He built a house up at the top of the hill, and I think that might be it in the picture, but I'm not sure.
My mom also said that there was a dirt access road that went from Pixley Ave, around the bottom of the east side of the hill, to near the railroad tracks. Through what is now Madera Gardens.

I dont' know if the photo shows them picking up oats or hay.

rick · Status: Offline

It was driving me a little crazy too so I went yesterday. I stood right by the new pedestian bridge the spans the creek behind Redwood. Looking directly down the old railroad tracks it seems to be pretty close to the location.

cat · Status: Offline

I know for sure the bulk of that hill is Palm Hill, but look at the part of the hill on the left side, with the little building and the road on the side of the hill. To me, it doesn't look right to be part of Palm Hill. I'm wondering if it is another hill in the foreground, that, due to a weird angle by the photographer, looks like it is stuck on to Palm Hill? I don't know. It's been bugging me for a couple of days and I want to drive over by Tamal Vista Blvd. (5 minutes away) to take a look, but I haven't had the chance yet.

McLaren's brick house would be in the spot right behind the hay fork, but the parts to the left just look odd. Of course, everything looks odd without any houses and trees....

rick · Status: Offline

I believe you're right Cat. The hill in the foreground on the left is Palm. ( With the house on top ) Behind that is Christmas Tree hill. On the right in the middle I think is King Mtn. sloping in. There also might be a structure on the very right approx 2/3 down the page. Could it be the shuttered train station on William Ave ? There are two dark spots side by side to the left of some trees that might be the windows. Or; I mght be seeing things.

cat · Status: Offline

Oh, yeah, NOW I see what you are saying. That is a really weird angle. I see what you are saying about that hill to the left, with the building. Is it actually a separate hill, the one in your other photo, or is it part of Palm Hill, that just looks strange because of the angle? I can't figure it out. I might have to go down there to try to figure that out. It is going to really bug me if I don't.

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

cat wrote:

Hi Paul P.,
Isn't that Palm Hill in the background? With the angle of Mt. Tam, it sure looks like it. That location must be somewhere near the Sandpiper condos off of Tamal Vista, or behind it, getting closer to where the Redwood Softball field is.

You mean the closer hill more or less in the center, or the more distant one at the right? I admit this whole area has me confused. I do know that our 1945 (possibly 1946) pic that I linked to was taken from Palm Hill, and near the right edge of it there's some stuff that kinda sorta looks like it might be a farming operation. And then in both pictures there's a single house or building near the top of a hill, and I was assuming it's the same one.

cat · Status: Offline

Hi Paul P.,
Isn't that Palm Hill in the background? With the angle of Mt. Tam, it sure looks like it. That location must be somewhere near the Sandpiper condos off of Tamal Vista, or behind it, getting closer to where the Redwood Softball field is.

Paul · Status: Offline

My father gave me a book , Mill Valley the early years , written by Barry
Spitz.
There is a photograph of Throckmorton where the Sequoia Theater is now
back in the 1800's that shows solid vegetation at the spot. I haven't
looked at it for a while but anyone interested in seeing numerous
historic photos and stories should check it out.
One thing I noticed is there were many farms and ranchos in the area in
the old days. These were huge tracts of land that were all actually
private property , with fences and gates . All of Homestead Valley was private
ranches , no open space or public access. The same with most all other
areas around.
We have much more open space and public use of the land now than
back in those days since the State now owns all land.
But up in Sonoma there still is many more acres of gated and fenced
land , like Marin used to be , way less open space and trails up
there, that's why they come to Marin to hike and bike.

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

My classmate from Redwood High class of '64, Harry Kleiser, kindly gave me permission to post this c.1948 photo of his uncle's ranch. To get an idea of where it is, check out the photo on this page of my Larkspur site. Note the building on crest of the hill at the right of Harry's pic and the one on the hill in the center of mine. I'm guessing it's the same one.

-- Edited by Paul Penna at 07:10, 2007-04-19