Sunday E-dition: Calistoga and Its Library – a Century Long Retrospective
By Rebecca Yerger
CALISTOGA, Calif. — The Calistoga Library is more than a repository of books or a place of intellectual enlightenment. Its centennial embodies what its community has experienced since its opening in 1924 as illustrated by this retrospective historical sampler of Calistoga and its people and events over the past 100 years or so.
Calistogans dreamt of a community library for many years. That vision was frustrated as fledgling institutions opened briefly only to close quickly during the late 1800s. The momentum of that movement did, however, accelerate with the arrival of the twentieth century and especially with the founding of the community minded Calistoga Women’s Improvement Club on May 14, 1902.
Within two weeks those women opened the first public library in their town. It was housed in a room of a Lincoln Street business building. A year later, the diminutive library was moved to the second floor of the city hall. That location served as the Calistoga Library site from 1903 to 1924. During those 20 plus years, a section of the Women’s Improvement Club became the Calistoga Civic Club. Its primary campaign was a building, a permanent home, for the library. Its driving force was Mrs. W. L. Blodgett. The constant fundraising and tireless efforts of Blodgett and her fellow Civic Club members turned the dream of a library into a reality.
Construction began on the Myrtle Street parcel in February 1924 and cost about $20,000 (approximately $400,000 today) to complete. The new Calistoga Library was formally dedicated with speeches and an open house on Nov. 14, 1924. During that ceremony, Blodgett was presented with a lavish floral bouquet and lauded with special thanks for her “untiring effort for years.” At the time, the Weekly Calistogan wrote, “Hurrah for the Civic Club! Long may it prosper and receive the encouragement of every person in Calistoga.”
"Calistoga ‘has a future beyond the visions of its optimistic citizens…’"
Two weeks later, those ladies, and Blodgett in particular, were faced with an unusual, even delicate, task of being present for an awkward event. A late November 1924 Calistogan headline announced, “Ku Klux Klan Invade Calistoga.” Approximately 200 Klan members dressed in their trademark regalia marched through downtown Calistoga with their drum corps. They stopped at the library to present one of their special, leather bound bibles to Blodgett and the library. Following their presentation, they continued their march to their nearby meeting location. Their donation was intended to be a part of the library’s collection, which it was for a time. Eventually, however, it was placed in storage then donated to an East Bay Museum.
That 1924 event was a local example of the social and political climate and upheaval being experienced throughout the U.S. and beyond due to the impacts of World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic. The years ahead were filled with turmoil felt globally, and in Calistoga. However, it was also a time of significant change in the upper Napa Valley town.
By the mid-1920s, the motorized combustion engine vehicle had become the primary mode of personal transportation. In answer to the growing demand for better driving conditions, California constructed a new roadway connecting Napa and Lake counties. Most everyone marveled at the ease and speed of travel between Calistoga and Lake County due to the new road.
In the spring of 1924, Calistoga was experiencing a mini building boom of homes and public and commercial buildings. Two of the most highly anticipated construction projects were the new Calistoga High School and Mrs. G. J. Patcheteau’s 75,000-gallon capacity swim “tank.”
In response to all the growth, the Calistogan wrote, “There are some who think Calistoga has no future. Every community has such residents, but the future of every small town in California, which enjoys climatic and other advantages such as Calistoga enjoys, has a future beyond the visions of its optimistic citizens…”
Simultaneously, California and Napa County were also dealing with the realities of Prohibition (1920 – 1933). With the 18th Amendment being the law of the land, many of the local wineries and vineyards were either transformed, shut down or torn out. A handful of those businesses successfully transitioned into legal operations, including Chateau Montelena. Under the ownership of California Wine Grape Products, Inc., its name was changed to Montelena Orchards. With federal approval, they made cooking sherry, essentially salted sherry, at the former winery.
Then there were those who chose to defy the law. In late October 1924, the Hotel Calistoga was raided by Napa County Sheriff Harris and his deputies. A November Calistogan headline summarized the consequences: “Liquor To Be Poured Into The Sewer Soon.” A second Calistogan headline detailed another raid: “Bootleggers Are Caught Napping.” Those individuals paid a total of $10,000 in fines ($184,091.23 today).
As Prohibition wore on, a new societal woe descended on the entire country on Oct. 28, 1929. It was the stock market crash and the ensuing Great Depression. At first, there were no federal or social assistance programs. Aid for those severely impacted by the economic downfall was generated at a community level. The Calistogan printed regular features about the relief drives for food and goods by the local Red Cross. The churches of Calistoga served hot meals to those in need. Calistoga also implemented an unemployment fund to help residents make ends meet. That fund was created through the donations from locals. Additionally, Calistoga offered paying jobs to the unemployed, such as chopping and delivering firewood.
As Calistogans struggled financially, they faced even greater emotional upheaval on Dec. 7, 1941. As with all Americans, Calistogans were stunned by the news of the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor. The community’s weekly newspaper reported that just days later, over 50 Calistogans were in the armed services and “In Danger Zones In Hawaii and Philippines.” Those numbers grew rapidly.
The Calistogan’s World War II coverage varied widely. For example, the newspaper proudly reported Hanford Weed of Calistoga had graduated with honors from flight school and training. On the other hand, it also delivered sad news including the death of Lieutenant Walter Van der Kamp, a pilot. He and his crew of seven perished after being shot down over Germany.
The local WWII news reports also covered the activities on the home front. Shortly after the Japanese bombing of Hawaii, Calistoga and the entire nation leapt into action to defend and protect the USA. A December 1941 Calistogan headline illustrates this point: “Defense Plan for County in Effect —Calistoga
Will Follow Master County Plan.” That plan of action established air raid stations, preparedness, enforcement, transportation and communication plans and protocols.
Shortly after that article ran, a second report soon followed announcing that Calistoga’s first blackout was “Practically 100-Percent Perfect.” The newspaper also suggested, during future air raids, the community’s Ritz “Theatre Is A Fine Place To Be During Blackout.”
But not all aircraft spotted caused a blackout. In May 1944, two local youths, Geniel Tuttle and Bill Cook, saw a pilot bail out of his Navy Hellcat fighter plane at 40,000 feet above Knights Valley. In their car the pair sped to near where Lt. Anderson came down. They found him tangled up in the trees. They cut down the unconscious Anderson and carried him to a nearby stream. There, they splashed water on his face, arms and hands until Anderson regained consciousness. According to Tuttle and Cook, his greatest concern was being grounded because of the incident. As for his plane, it crashed into an isolated parcel of land. Both the pilot and his plane were collected by Navy officials.
Another local youth had his own battle to wage in 1944. A Calistoga first-grader named Larry Patton was stricken with meningitis. He was rushed to “The San,” the St. Helena Hospital, in Deer Park. There, Patton received penicillin, making him the first Napa County child to receive the new miracle drug.
As WWII wound down, the mid-twentieth century era brought its own share of changes to Calistoga. Between the 1940s – 1970s, some of today’s local cultural icons were established in and around Calistoga. They were, and still are, the Orthodox Monastery, Robert Louis Stevenson State Park, Bothe State Park, Bale Mill State Park and, of course, the Sharpsteen Museum.
Initially during the earlier post-WWII years, the primary Napa County crop was the prune, not the grape. A strong second runner up was the walnut. Hence, in combination with being the location for a state hospital, the two orchard crops garnered Napa County the nickname of being the place of fruits and nuts.
The harvest season for both of those orchard crops was August – September, sometimes into October. Both were harvested manually, making their harvests labor intensive. Needing many hands to harvest the prunes, in particular, the local youth supplied the seasonal help. To help support the local agricultural community, Calistoga and all the local school districts delayed the opening of the academic year until late September. Many of the young local people used their harvest earnings for new school clothes and supplies. They worked hard in the hot August and September sun. It was dirty and sticky labor that paid 25 cents for a 25-pound lug of prunes.
By the 1960s and onward, most of the seasonal harvest workers were baby boomers. A 1950 Calistogan headline highlighted that population and generational trend: “Births Top Deaths in Napa County.”
The agricultural scene began to shift in and around Calistoga during the late 1960s – 1970s. The agricultural preserve restriction on growth and development limited the expansion of the upper Napa Valley community. It was known as a sleepy little village with hot springs and mud baths. But that all changed in May 1976 with the unexpected results of the Paris Wine Tasting. With one of the Napa Valley entries being from Chateau Montelena, news of its stunning win catapulted the winery and its product into instant wine “stardom.” As more people sought out Chateau Montelena and its internationally acclaimed wine, Calistoga also became a premiere visitors’ destination. That trend continues today.
Although Calistoga has faced many challenges, including devastating fires, it has realized the century old prediction noted in a 1924 Weekly Calistogan article that said, Calistoga “has a future beyond the visions of its optimistic citizens…”
If you would like to join in the party, the 100th birthday celebration of the Calistoga Library will be held on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1108 Myrtle St., Calistoga. For more information call (707) 942-4833, or visit their website.
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Rebecca Yerger is a historian, writer, columnist and Napa Valley native.
Levity Corner
Caption contest: Pick your favorite caption or add your own in the comments below.
Possible captions:
“Feels like we just started haunting this place yesterday.”
“Spooky stories are the best when you’ve lived through them!”
“The ghost book club never skips a meeting.”
“This is the best ghost hangout in town.”
“A century of reading, and still no overdue fines!”
Last week’s contest results
In “Sunday E-dition: Eggplant Abundance,” the winning caption was "Your Honor, today I represent the underserved,” with 56% of the votes.
Last Week
Last week, Cindy Watter introduced readers to the Matilija poppy in "Mastering the Matilija Poppy." Watter explored the poppy’s dramatic blooms, its native California roots and the paradox of being both challenging to grow and invasive. She offered practical advice on cultivation and detailed strategies for managing its spread through careful propagation and maintenance.
We also heard from Linda Joshua of Napa Climate NOW! in "Frog in the Hose Hideaway." Joshua recounted her discovery of frogs in her garden and emphasized the environmental benefits of creating frog-friendly habitats. She explained the important role frogs play as natural pest controllers and bioindicators and provided tips on attracting and protecting them in outdoor spaces.
Dan Berger discussed the challenges facing California's wine industry in "The Glut." Berger outlined the widespread issues, including oversupply, declining sales and vineyard reductions, exacerbated by competition from alternative beverages and pandemic disruptions. Despite the grim outlook, he predicted a resolution within two years, noting that previous industry shakeouts have ultimately led to recovery. Berger also suggested solutions like price corrections and reduced restaurant markups to stabilize the market.
“Rupert” by Kathleen Scavone John Dunbar and Tim Carl provided an overview of the upcoming Nov. 5 election in Napa County in "Napa Valley on the Ballot: 2024 Election Summary." Voters will decide on several key local measures, including Measure U, which extends a transportation sales tax, and Measure B, a bond for school facility improvements in the Napa Valley Unified School District. Additionally, Measure G proposes a sales tax increase in Napa, while St. Helena voters will consider Measures A1 and A2 related to city governance and property transfer taxes, and Measure B on agritourism development.
Georgeanne Brennan shared her love for eggplants in "Eggplant Abundance," recounting her early fascination with the vegetable and its role in her culinary journey. Brennan reflected on learning to cook eggplant dishes in Provence, from ratatouille to eggplant parmesan, and highlighted its versatility across global cuisines. She also discussed growing various types of eggplants in her garden and shared tips on enjoying them simply or in creative dishes. Local Napa Valley restaurants, she noted, are also showcasing eggplant in seasonal offerings.
Next Week
Next week we have more interesting articles from a host of Napa Valley Features contributors. Napa Climate NOW! will join the “Green Wednesday” lineup with climate insights, alongside UC Master Gardeners of Napa County’s horticultural tips. Dan Berger will offer his wine expertise in Thursday’s Wine Chronicles, discussing the stories soil can tell in wine. The Weekender on Friday will highlight Napa Valley events, while Mariam Hansen of the St. Helena Historical Society and Shannon Murray Kuleto will explore the history behind California’s Bear Flag Revolt. The team at Mentis will share perspectives on the mental health crisis and more. Additional content will be included as well.
Rebecca Yerger's articles are always interesting and well-researched, including the ghost stories.
I once worked at the Weekly Calistogan and learned a bit about the town’s history then. I enjoyed my time there and was delighted to read a synopsis of the town’s history.