Another glimpse of old Santa Rosa; meat was delivered from the butcher to your door, just as other purveyors brought milk and eggs and blocks of ice to keep everything chilled. All sensible services to offer in the early 20th century, before personal cars became commonplace and electric refrigerators became available.
And this certainly was a meat-lovin’ town; for a few days In January 1909, Santa Rosa was cut off from the outside world when 100-year-flood conditions washed out the Southern Pacific railroad bridge, leaving the stockyards unstocked for want of cattle on the cattle cars. Both papers had front-page scare stories about a looming “meat famine,” but luckily the flood waters receded before Fluffy and Fido got ‘et by meat-crazed Santa Rosans.
BUTCHERS TO ADOPT RULE
Will Dispense with One Wagon and Deliver by RoutesThe butchers of Santa Rosa are arranging for a change in their schedule of delivery and of taking orders and the same will be put into effect on December 1st. It is the plan of the firm to dispense with one delivery wagon and have the town routed in such a manner as to make the delivery systematical. Another feature of the change will be the dispensing of the order wagon and patrons will either be compelled to make their orders the day before with the delivery boy, or phone the order into the shop. This latter, however, will carry with it the risk of not getting the meat to the house in time for cooking, as the wagon may be on some other route, or just started on that route at the time the order is received.
It is expected that the new system will be a great help to the butchers, in matter of work and also of expense and maintaining an extra wagon and driver. After becoming accustomed to it there may not find it of benefit to them in securing early delivery of orders.
– Santa Rosa Republican, November 21, 1907