Author: Jeff Elliott

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BOSS SQUEEDUNK (CHARLIE HOLMES IV)

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He was Santa Rosa’s top lawman by day, top scallywag by night: Around the turn of the last century, Charlie Holmes was both Town Marshal and leader of the Squeedunks. It’s as if Bruce Wayne split his time between Batman and performing Monty Python skits.

This is the fourth and final chapter in the story of Charles H. Holmes Jr., who was surely among the most…colorful people to come from Santa Rosa. While this article is centered on his Squeedunkery, here we also find how all those loose threads introduced earlier were resolved during the 1910s, when Charlie was in his fifties.

Charlie always craved attention and as a kid he saw the Squeedunk’s Fourth of July antics were the biggest hit at the town’s celebrations. Having an audience with everyone you ever knew laughing and cheering because of a silly speech seemed an easy route to popularity, and for him it was. The first newspaper item about him appeared in 1894, when the 30 year-old Charlie stood on the corner Fifth and Mendocino streets and yapped about politics and bugs. In keeping with the spirit of nonsense, the editor commented “thunderous applause greeted his apostrophes” and joked he didn’t shut up until someone “brought the muzzle of a six-shooter on a level with his open mouth.”

– –

THE THREE (OR MORE) FACES OF CHARLIE HOLMES

Charles H. Holmes Jr. was surely the most talked about person in Santa Rosa 120 years ago, and that wasn’t always a good thing.

OUR OWN TOM SAWYER
TERRIFIC GUY, TERRIBLE MARSHAL
OH, LOATHSOME ME
BOSS SQUEEDUNCK

Now flash forward six years to 1900. Charles Holmes is a Spanish-American War vet (although his National Guard company never left the Bay Area), elected and then reelected as marshal, a popular afterdinner speaker and comic entertainer, and not the least of it, chairman of the “Ancient Order of Squeeduncks.”

The Press Democrat – which adored the Squeedunks and Charlie in equal measure – devoted much coverage to their planning sessions for the upcoming Fourth of July. The meetings were held at City Hall (probably in his marshal’s office) and mainly concerned which of the guys would be elected Squeedunk Queen. Dressing in women’s clothing was always a major part of the Squeedunk shtick, and that’s enough said about that. The most interesting element in those articles is that about two dozen members were named, revealing both how large the group was and how it cut across divisions by age and social status.

That version of the Squeedunks was entirely dependent upon Charlie, as witnessed by the group going dormant when he wasn’t around or wrapped up in his own troubles. From 1901 to 1908 they weren’t mentioned in the papers at all.

(Quick recap of those years as detailed in chapters two and three: 1901, office robbed of tax money, wife almost burned to death; 1902, not reelected, began working as plasterer in San Francisco; 1903, family house burned down; 1904, charged with rape for living with 14 year-old girlfriend; 1905, defends family against neighbor’s accusations of wife being abused; 1907, wife committed to asylum.)

Charlie kept a low profile in Santa Rosa between the time of his arrest for statutory rape and when his wife was locked away. Once Margaret went to the asylum for the rest of her life he began being mentioned in the local news again as active in his trade union and forming a company here to do plaster work. Notably, he and his crew would do all of the plastering in the post-earthquake courthouse. (It’s possible they were also responsible for the shoddy work on the exterior which would become a major excuse for tearing the building down.)

Come 1908, however, Charlie Holmes was here for good, and it was time to get the gang back together. That Fourth of July celebration in Santa Rosa was going to be peak Squeedunk.

“Holmes is a ‘cracker jack’ when it comes to being a funmaker on Squeedunk Day,” gushed the Press Democrat, resetting the clock to eight years earlier, before the scandals of his sordid relationship with a child, institutionalizing his wife and the suspicious robbery of his own office.

Indeed, Charlie and his pals put on the most spectacular Squeedunk show the town had ever seen, as detailed here earlier. They organized a separate parade, complete with elaborate floats managed by the “Committee on Freaks and Skates.” One wagon had a bush sprouting eggs and umbrellas as a poke at Luther Burbank; another made fun of the suffrage movement by portraying a woman enjoying a bicycle ride while men toiled at housework. There was a sea serpent (likely a Chinese parade dragon) labeled “What They Found in the City Water.” They produced and sold their own broadside, “The Truthful Lyre.” And keeping with tradition there were plenty of men in dresses and a float bearing their all-drag royal court.

The 1908 Squeedunks, Charles H. Holmes presumably wearing the circus ringmaster jacket. Photo courtesy the Sonoma County Library, title colorized using palette.fm
The 1908 Squeedunks, Charles H. Holmes presumably wearing the circus ringmaster jacket. Photo courtesy the Sonoma County Library, title colorized using palette.fm

That was the last hurrah of the Santa Rosa Squeedunks. The following year there was only a scaled-down Squeedunk parade in Sebastopol which was directed by Charlie, credited as “the grand keeper of the bale rope and oyster cans of the Squeedunks.”

Not that the boys completely retired to rest on their drunk and disorderly laurels. Later in 1909 Charlie and a bunch of them initiated a new member with a snipe hunt near the Rural Cemetery, newsworthy only because their sentry ran away after getting spooked someone was shooting at them.

Charlie lost interest in the Squeedunks after that and nothing more was said about a Santa Rosa chapter for years. The baton passed to Healdsburg and mainly Petaluma, where the “Growlers” came out for the July Fourth there. (I can find nothing on the meaning of the name, but it was originally formed by vets from their National Guard Company C.) The 1910 Growler parade was a complete Squeedunk clone: “The floats were ridiculous and amusing; the costumes – well some fit too soon, and others didn’t fit at all…The City Fathers were not forgotten by the Growlers and floats with banners telling their misdeeds were much in evidence.” (Petaluma Daily Morning Courier)

Perhaps he grew up (well, a little) in 1910 after he had married Nellie, his formerly teenage girlfriend who was 20 years old now. They kept house in a little place on Hendley Street for the rest of his life.

Squeedunk or no, Charlie still had to be the big cheese. His focus shifted to taking more respectable roles. Between 1911 and 1922, he served as Grand Marshal of either the Labor Day or Memorial Day parades at least seven times and when he wasn’t doing that he was marching as the Commander of the Spanish-American War vets. But the most significant change in his later years was becoming a leading figure – and perhaps the top leader – in the North Bay labor movement.

He was mentioned often in connection with union doings, starting with being here at a 1907 dinner for the Bricklayers and Plasterers’ Union soon after his wife went to the asylum. For much of the 1910s and 1920s he was president of the Sonoma County Building Trades Council and represented the area at meetings all over the state. This was a very important chapter in both his personal story and local history – but to be honest, I only have a general knowledge about the labor movement and am not qualified to opine about his role in it.

But his identity as a prominent labor activist came into play in 1920 when he ran for mayor of Santa Rosa. It was a curious bid, as Holmes had not held a public office since his term as City Marshal ended 18 years before, nor did he seem to be interested in party politics. Perhaps he would have reconsidered had he known it would lead the Press Democrat to hold him up to ridicule and shame.

The paper wasn’t openly anti-labor but it was always the voice of the Chamber of Commerce, so news about major strikes, picket line violence and Socialistic goals were reported in the scariest ways possible, often using screamer headlines. Even though the PD had been Charlie’s most enthusiastic cheerleader going back to the 1880s when he first began entertaining in minstrel shows and telling afterdinner jokes, the notion that an organized labor leader might be elected to run the city clearly gave business poobahs the nervous jibbers. So – friendships be damned.

The attack on Charlie was a scorching op-ed unlike anything I’ve read in the PD, before that time or after. It was shockingly personal and reached back to 1901, when the tax payments were stolen from his office (see chapter two). Editor Finley didn’t merely criticize Holmes for poor record keeping – which was a valid point – but went farther to call him dishonest, implying he had gotten away with stealing the money himself: “[T]here are some things which no self-respecting community can be expected to stand and one of them is to have a man who has already been tried in public office and has failed of his trust.”

Holmes’ response was also unique, writing a lengthy, rambling statement published in both the Press Democrat and Republican. The letter breaks down into three general themes:

*
I’M A GOOD CITIZEN   “I have strived to impress every man I met with my honesty of purpose; I have always been public spirited, and very favorable mention has your paper given me, as your records will show…Before I was a candidate, my influence was sought, my hands were clean enough.”
*
GIVE ME A SECOND CHANCE   “I have been told that the crowning glory of man does not consist that he never has fallen, but for every time he has fallen he has the manhood to rise again. If I had been the greatest of criminals I would have been entitled to the support and respect of right-thinking men. Societies are formed now to take the discharged convict and help him to become once more an honorable member of society. Why am I without the pale except when my services can be used gratis?”
*
I DESERVE PITY   “At that time I was just recovering from an operation. My father, whom I was supporting, was in the same condition. My mother had broken her shoulder. I had a wife partially insane, a crippled sister to support…God only knows how I struggled for years. Finally I lost father, mother, sister and wife in 38 months; alone I faced the world.”

The whole thing is so odd I encourage Gentle Reader to take a look at the transcript below. Other than seemingly confessing to the theft, his pity-me lament was shameless. His “crippled sister” Minnie was married to an Oakland police officer so while Charlie possibly helped with bills when she was dying of TB, it’s doubtful he was her sole support. As for his partially (!) insane wife, let’s not forget he dumped her in a state-run asylum. And as tears welled up in his eyes while writing about facing the world alone, I guess his teenage girlfriend somehow slipped his mind.

In the race for Santa Rosa mayor, Charles H. Holmes Jr. came in last among four candidates. As the job only paid about $17/wk ($266 in today’s equivalent) with no expense account, being mayor wasn’t about money or launching a political career – it was more like winning a popularity contest. It must have come as quite a shock for Charlie to discover the hometown crowd was cheering no longer.

After losing his bid to be mayor, Charlie continued parading but not as often. When he did appear in the papers it was nearly always a labor issue. His young wife Nellie was mentioned more frequently for involvement with charity work where she rubbed shoulders with Santa Rosa’s society women.

Nellie worked as a practical nurse (the portrait in the previous chapter shows her wearing a nurse fob watch) although it was never clear how much education she had – we don’t know if she attended Santa Rosa High, but if so, she did not graduate from it. She had her own car in the 1920s.

But all was not peaceful at the little house on Hendley Street. In 1924 they seemed headed for divorce and Nellie waived her rights to all property. The couple reconciled, but did not rescind the agreement.

Charlie died in 1926 after falling down stairs at the Elks Building where he was plastering. He was 62. The body was barely cold when a legal fight began over those papers Nellie signed a couple of years before.

Both Nellie and his sister Clara sought to be administratrix of the estate which included the house and three other lots in town, everything worth about $1,800 – less than a year’s average income. Nellie’s lawyer argued the property waiver was void because “she and her husband settled their differences and resumed marital relations which continued until his death,” as the PD put it. The court thought otherwise and Clara won.

Nellie moved to San Francisco where she continued to work as a nurse, eventually moving back to Sonoma County before WWII and remarried. She died in Santa Rosa in 1959 and is buried in Memorial Park as Nellie Holmes Fessler. Her death records again confirmed her age was 14 (at least) when she began living with Charlie.

Charlie was 30 years past his heyday by the time he died, and few likely worried over whether or not he would have a tombstone at the Rural Cemetery. As a benefit to veterans the federal government will carve and ship a standard headstone free of charge as long as the proper paperwork is submitted, including proof of military service. Clara filled out the application and the marker arrived here in 1928.

All well and good, tho it’s curious the Press Democrat printed a story about the marker arriving – an unusual topic for an article, to be sure. The item continues by noting “Captain Holmes served for many years with Company E, and also saw service in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American war and Filipino insurrection.” Yes, Charlie was a lieutenant (the gravestone properly states “Lt.” as he wasn’t boosted to captain until later) in National Guard Company E when it was mustered for the Spanish-American war. So he was indeed entitled to a government tombstone.

But Company E never left the Bay Area during their six months in the Army, so everything about them going to the Philippines wasn’t true. Who made up that part of the story? A PD cub reporter not bothering to check facts about something that happened so long before? Or was Clara spinning tales to “punch up” his service record?

It’s really not all that important to finger who got the facts wrong, although this serves as a good example of how easily the historical record can be corrupted. Still, we should be grateful his sister went to the trouble to get him a gravestone at all, given he likely wouldn’t have one otherwise. (Her own grave is next to Charlie and has a simple wooden marker.)

But the real problem is that the military epitaph, “Lt. Co. E. 8th CA Inf. Span-Am War”, says the very least about him. In a better world perhaps Clara could have twisted arms of his old pals and admirers to chip in for something more appropriate. Imagine taking a stroll through the old Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery and coming across a tombstone that read,


CHARLES H. HOLMES JR.
1864-1926
HERE LIES THE GRAND KEEPER OF
BALE ROPE AND OYSTER CANS

You’d say to yourself: By golly, that’s something you don’t see every day.

 

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THE FOURTH.

…The greatest feature of the celebration was the Squeedunks’ parade. The grand marshal of the day was W. F. Wines, who has the faculty of always doing things satisfactorily…The exercises after the parade consisted of an oration at corner Fifth and Mendocino streets by the orator of the day, Charles Cicero Holmes. It was an effort worthy of the occasion. He turned the calcium light of the oratory upon every conceivable subject. He got up and roared about Russian liberty and American tyranny. He talked with great tautology and with a phraseology that made every head swim. He talked of opolypods and thunderous applause greeted his apostrophes. The speaker evidently knew all about the protozoa and things men never knew before were luminous to him. He worked his long ears and talked like a “boss” at a Republican convention. He would have been talking yet had not some one in the crowd called him a sterilized liar and brought the muzzle of a six-shooter on a level with his open mouth.

– Sonoma Democrat, July 7 1894

 

…The Squeeduncks held high carnival in the afternoon. Some of the get-ups were very funny and some were rather vulgar. The best feature was the delivering of the orations and poem by Messrs. Holmes, Bradley and Orr, which contained many good local hits. Charley Orr as Susan B, and John McMinn, Jr., as the be-queen, were killing…

– Sonoma Democrat, July 11 1896

 

THE SQUEEDUNKS MAKE PLANS FOR THEIR SHOW

The Ancient Order of Squeeduncks met in adjourned session at the city hall Thursday evening with Chairman Holmes presiding.

The chairman announced that he had with the authority vested in him appointed the grand marshal of the parade on the Fourth, and that he being unable to attend the meeting, had requested him to announce the following named as his aides: Herman Bayer, Bill Swank, Jim Johnston, Jake Joost, Ed Kaelin, Henry Grama, L. Blum, Frank Brown, T. J. Dunn, A. O. Prentiss, Walt Middleton, J. J. Krawetzki, W. Schmid, Bill Beckner, Lon Roberts, M. McNamara, J. W. Seegelken, John Scoggans, “Dutch Ed,” Jake Lowrey, Hugo Hadrich, Billy Orr, John Stump, J. J. Giloolly, J. H. Lawrence, Charles Krause and J. H. Fowler.

On motion it was unanimously agreed that the Squeedunck queen be balloted for and that ballot boxes be placed at the “Bon Marche,” “The Elite” and “The La Grande,” and that the cost of the votes be one cent apiece, or five for a nickel, the proceeds to be applied to the expenses of providing the queen with a wardrobe.
It was agreed that $10 be appropriated for prizes for features in the parade, $5 to the best local hit and $5 to the best special feature, the judges to be announced later. The chairman announced that, owing to the late plague that had struck the town he would appoint the following committee on quarantine: Charles Lomont, Frank Powers, Robert Banbury O’Connor and Major Pye.

Mr. Holmes also announced that owing to the lack of proper restraining methods to keep his brother Squeeduncks in the path of rectitude pending the celebration, he would appoint the following committee on morals: William Healey, Gallant Rains, W. B. Griggs and Major Barnes.

The proposition as to whether the usual literary exercises or a meet of the A. B. H. T. C. P. should be held, provoked much discussion, but the matter was disposed of for future settlement.

A resolution was passed that the “dig-up” committee assume their duties as soon as possible, after which the meeting adjourned to meet in the city hall next Tuesday at 8 o’clock.

– Press Democrat June 16 1900

 

Will Downton Chosen Queen

The advent of several ladies into the meeting of the Squeeduncks at the city hall Thursday evening caused some consternation until it was discovered that they were desirous of joining the order.

Chairman Holmes quickly recovered his composure and in the name of the order gave them a hearty welcome.

The following were elected honorary members, each to contribute $2O to the fund: Joseph Ridgway, John Cooper, Thos. Hopper and Robert Forsyth. It was decided to have the singing of the Pedigo-Brown-Woodward-Keenan quartet the concluding number of the literary program, thus enabling those who wish to avoid that part of the program to do so.

E. C. Parker was appointed drum major of the Squeedunck band.

The ballots for queen were opened and it was discovered that the coveted position had been won by Will Downton, he leading by great odds.

At the last moment an attempt was made to stuff the ballot box by Wm. Rohrer in favor of John Berrano. The illegal ballots were identified and thrown out. Similar treatment was meted out to the voter.

The following will be maids of honor to the queen: Charles Kirsch, Ray Poat, George Riddle and William Plover.

It being observed that the street cars run nearly as well off the tracks as on and at any old time, it was decided to have them in the parade. Meeting then adjourned to meet Saturday evening at the city hall.

– Press Democrat June 30 1900

 

GLORIOUS FOURTH
The Squeedunck’s Committee Granted More Funds

Major Juilliard presided at the meeting of the Fourth of July committee held Monday night. Some very satisfactory reports were made which tended to show that the visitors here will be well entertained. Chairman C. H. Holmes of the Squeedunck committee was present and spoke relative to the part the Ancient Order of Squeeduncks will play. Another appropriation was given the committee and all that is now wanted to make this entertaining feature a success is the co-operation of the young men of the town whose help is needed.

– Press Democrat, June 27 1900

 

Chas. H. Holmes Has Declined Appointment

Charles H. Holmes of this city, who headed the list of civil service eligibles, was recently offered the appointment of instructor in plastering and military drills at the Preston School of Industry at Ione, but was compelled to refuse it, owing to being under obligations to a number of contractors for work they had figured upon based upon his estimates for plastering.

Mr. Holmes is now working with a force of men at Middletown, where he is doing the plastering on the Odd Fellows’ building. The large Herrich merchandise store and the Herrich hotel being erected by George Norris. He also has other work pending.

– Press Democrat, June 30 1918

 

HOLMES SHOULD RETIRE

Charles H. Holmes, whose candidacy for the office of Mayor was recently announced, owes it to the fair name of Santa Rosa as well as to the cause he is supposed to represent, to retire from the race as gracefully as possible and allow the incident to be forgotten while it may. There is no disposition here to rake up old scores or revive unpleasant memories. Let sleeping dogs lie. But there are some things which no self-respecting community can be expected to stand and one of them is to have a man who has already been tried in public office and has failed of his trust.

Mr. Holmes is announced as the candidate of organized labor. He is not representative of organized labor as we have known it. While there may be some differences of opinion regarding its wisdom, the question even now being one that is under active discussion in the labor world, there can be no real argument as to the right of organized labor to enter politics if it so desires. Labor has that right, and no one will deny it. But it must come with clean hands, and present as its candidates men who are capable and worthy of public confidence. Mr. Holmes should be withdrawn, and some man of different repute sustituted [sic] in his stead.

– Press Democrat, March 13 1920

 

HOLMES ANSWERS SUGGESTION THAT HE ABANDON RACE

CHAS. H. HOLMES.

Charles H. Holmes, candidate for Mayor, has sent The Press Democrat the following reply to its recent editorial suggestion that he retire from the race:

Santa Rosa, Cal,. March 15, 1920.

Mr. Monitor of The Press Democrat;
Dear Sir — You did not finish about “Sleeping Dogs,” although you gave a very broad hint.

About eighteen years ago I was City Marshal and Tax Collector. At that time the City Tax Collector’s office was robbed twice, once when I was in Vallejo, placing a boy in the navy for his parents, and once while I was in town. As soon as I could pull myself together I assured the city that no one should lose one cent through me. I raked, begged and borrowed $559; I asked my bondsmen to put up $750.00, which I would return to them. At that time I was just recovering from an operation. My father, whom I was supporting, was in the same condition. My mother had broken her shoulder. I had a wife partially insane, a crippled sister to support. I sold my home for enough to pay the city and bond company, put my helpless family in the street without a roof, pawned my watches for enough money to place my old father in San Francisco, where I worked, and starved and my family lived in privation and want until my father died, blessing me. Both he and my mother insisted on the money being paid that their son. as they thought, could look every man in the face; God only knows how I struggled for years. Finally I lost father, mother, sister and wife in 38 months; alone I faced the world. I have strived to impress every man I met with my honesty of purpose; I have always been public spirited, and very favorable mention has your paper given me, as your records will show. I offered my life to my country three times, commissioned in 1898 and ordered to the last training camp, notwithstanding my age, offered a first-class sergeantship with foreign service, which I refused because I expected my commission. One year ago took the civil service examination for teacher of masonry and drill master in the state schools, passing first in the State of California, refusing a position repeatedly on account of the salary and H. C. L. [“High Cost of Living” – ed.]

After the robbery I let my name go before the Democratic convention the third time and came within five votes of being nominated on the first ballot. Your paper did not then refer to “Sleeping Dogs,” as I had not committed the crime then of being a laboring man’s candidate.

I have been told that the crowning glory of man does not consist that he never has fallen, but for every time he has fallen he has the manhood to rise again. If I had been the greatest of criminals I would have been entitled to the support and respect of right-thinking men. Societies are formed now to take the discharged convict and help him to become once more an honorable member of society. Why am I without the pale except when my services can be used gratis? In forming the new ordinance for prevention of cruelty to animals, could you not include men? If it is any satisfaction to send a man who was always your friend home in agony and shame to find his wife – in tears, you have it, and the fact that you have said that which you did, proves that I am a law-abiding citizen. As to the right of the laboring man to enter politics. I failed to find where the laboring man loses any of his rights to citizenship by becoming a laboring man. Your efforts to capture the labor vote reminds me of a man catching a horse, a pan of corn in one hand (fair promise), a halter in the other for his neck. Before I was a candidate, my influence was sought, my hands were clean enough. I even signed one candidate’s petition, which I do not regret as he impressed me as a man of honor. Organized Labor invited the candidate to come before them because they thought some of them might be elected, and they wanted to know what manner of men they might be. As to me, not representing labor, let me say, in a mass meeting of delegates, representing every union man in town, after I had repeatedly refused, even stating that I had signed a candidate’s petition, I was unanimously nominated; they would not I take “No” for an answer. I was as much surprised as the other candidate.

I have lived in Santa Rosa forty-eight years. The people are intelligent enough to decide for themselves without any mud-slinging. I will leave the case in their hands. I feel, Mr. Monitor, that my heart is as pure as my hands, except from honest toil, as clean as yours. As to “Sleeping Dogs,” let the man without sin cast the first stone. I am not unmindful of the fact that there are sleeping dogs in every man’s life. Let both confess and cancel. I stand for anything that a patriotic American stands for: an economic administration, building for time, buying not the cheapest but the best, good schools and all that go with them, including salaries that will enable the teachers to live under American conditions, the encouragement of everything that will make a payroll in Santa Rosa, good streets and every form of modern improvements, consistent with our circumstances, the retaining in office of any public servant faithful to his trust; that all men, organized or unorganized, to be paid a wage that will enable them to live decently. Finally that all the taxpayers’ money shall be spent that every part of the city will get its pro rata.

Respectfully,
CHAS. H. HOLMES

– Press Democrat, March 16 1920

 

Charles H. Holmes, former City Marshall of Santa Rosa, Spanish-American war veteran and captain of Company E. N. G. C. of this city in the days of the old “Dandy Fifth” as the Regiment was then known, died early yesterday in the General Hospital as the result of injuries received last Saturday in a fall down the steps of the new Elks Building.

Holmes death came as a shock to many old time friends in Santa Rosa. He was about sixty-two years of age and was born in Nevada county of pioneer parentage. He was one of the oldest Native Sons in Santa Rosa and a member of Santa Rosa Parlor. He belonged to other organizations. By trade he was a plasterer.

Many of the old-timers will remember that Holmes took an active part in the Fourth of July celebration of the years ago. He also took a prominent part in Union Labor movement here and elsewhere.

The deceased is survived by a wife Mrs. Nellie Holmes and a sister, Miss Clara Lee Holmes. The body is at the parlors of Lafferty and Smith pending funeral arrangements.

– Press Democrat, March 9 1926

 

Two Seek Property Left by Charles Holmes, Local Plasterer

The widow and sister of a Santa Rosa man, killed recently in an accident, appeared in the superior court yesterday to contest for control of his estate. Both are seeking letters of administration in the $2,000 estate of the late Charles Holmes, Santa Rosa plasterer. The sister, Clara Lee Holmes, contends that the widow, Nellie Holmes, surrendered her rights to the estate through a property settlement more than two years ago.

Mrs. Holmes admitted in court that she and her husband had, in February, 1924, entered into a written property settlement in anticipation of a separation. But, she contended, this agreement was set aside when later she and her husband settled their differences and resumed marital relations which continued until his death.

W. L. Ware and George W. Murphy appeared as counsel for Mrs. Holmes while the sister was represented by A. W. Hollingsworth. The case was submitted to Superior Judge R. L. Thompson on briefs.

– Press Democrat, May 19 1926

 

The estate of the late Charles H. Holmes, former Santa Rosa plasterer, in which his sister, Clara Lee Holmes, was recently successful over the widow, Nellie Holmes, in a contest for letters of administration. is valued at $1,797.63, according to an appraisal filed in the superior court yesterday. The property includes a house and three lots in this city, worth $1,650, and personal property aggregating $147.63. A. W. Hollingsworth is attorney for the administratrix. Donald Geary, state inheritance tax appraiser, made the inventory.

– Press Democrat, June 10 1926

 

A property settlement agreement entered into more than two years ago by the late Charles Holmes, Santa, Rosa plasters, and Nellie O. Holmes, his wife, was binding and final, according to an opinion filed yesterday by Superior Judge R. L. Thompson, denying the wife’s plea for letters of administration in the $2,300 estate and granting letters to a sister, Clara Lee Holmes. In the recent contest for control of the estate Miss Holmes contended that the settlement closed her sister-in-law’s interest in the estate, but Mrs. Holmes held that resumption of marital relations, after drafting of the, agreement in contemplation of separation, had annulled the agreement. A. W. Hollingsworth was attorney for the sister, who is put under $500 bond as administratrix.

– Press Democrat, May 27 1926

 

CAPT. HOLMES’ GRAVE MARKED
Tombstone Supplied by U. S. Government for Spanish War Veteran’s Grave

Recognition of the services he performed as captain of infantry during the Spanish-American war and as a militia captain in old Company E of this city has come in death to Captain Charles Holmes, Santa Rosa contractor, who died about three years ago. An impressive tombstone to be placed above his grave in a local cemetery was received yesterday by Clara Lee Holmes, his sister, from the surgeon general’s office of the United States army after a year of effort. Captain Holmes served for many years with Company E, and also saw service in the Philippine Islands during the Spanish-American war and Filipino insurrection. In Santa Rosa, he maintained an active interest in military, and patriotic affairs, and was instrumental in securing the cannon and shells that stand silent guard over the cemetery in which he sleeps.

Miss Holmes yesterday expressed her appreciation to the American Legion, United Spanish War Veterans, union labor organizations and others for their assistance in procuring the tombstone from the government.

– Press Democrat, September 7 1928

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OH, LOATHSOME ME (CHARLIE HOLMES III)

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

Pity Charlie Holmes; his bad luck streak continued as his wife nearly burned to death.

That misplaced sympathy appeared in a 1901 Press Democrat item (transcribed below). Today we find it offensive the PD would cast him as the main victim, but turn of the century Santa Rosa is a far throw away from the here and now. The odd story of Charlie Holmes – and particularly, the troubled history of his relationships – offers a revealing peek at how much of a dark side our ancestors were willing to tolerate from someone they otherwise admired.

As explored in the previous two chapters, Charlie was front and center for every banquet, holiday parade and amateur stage show. He joined every club he could and was an officer in our local National Guard Company E. Charlie was elected City Marshal (same as being a Chief of Police) in 1898 and was easily reelected two years later.

– –

THE THREE (OR MORE) FACES OF CHARLIE HOLMES

Charles H. Holmes Jr. was surely the most talked about person in Santa Rosa 120 years ago, and that wasn’t always a good thing.

OUR OWN TOM SAWYER
TERRIFIC GUY, TERRIBLE MARSHAL
OH, LOATHSOME ME
BOSS SQUEEDUNK

As Marshal, his duties included being the city tax collector and on November 19, 1901 it was discovered his office had been robbed overnight. Nearly $1,300 – equal to about two years of a worker’s earnings – was gone, but nobody knew at the time how much was missing because Holmes’ wasn’t paying attention to bookkeeping. Worse, the PD article suggested it was an inside job. If that were true, Charlie was the main suspect but regardless, he was on the hook to pay the money back if it was not recovered.

It was two days after the theft that Margaret Holmes had her accident, her clothes catching fire after she fell while carrying a lighted oil lamp. Charles was still at his office but others in the household came to her rescue. “The flames were extinguished, but not before Mrs. Holmes sustained several bad burns,” it was reported.

The PD did not suggest the accident might be related to stress from her husband’s legal woes. The paper observed, “…Mrs. Holmes is subject to sudden spells of illness…one of the attacks spoken of came on and she fell with the lamp.” More about this in a minute.

At the time the Holmes’ had been married thirteen years and were living with his sister and parents. The former Margaret May Ward came to town as a teenager, having a sister and aunt in Santa Rosa.

It’s good she had family here because it appears Margaret had few, if any, friends. Local newspapers from that time padded their pages with every sort of social item – who attended club meetings, who visited someone after dinner, who spent the day in San Francisco – an endless procession of whos. But it’s rare to spot Margaret doing anything.1 Now contrast her lack of outgoing activities with Charlie’s packed social calendar and a portrait emerges of a couple who were likely estranged for years.

Charlie’s career as a lawman ended in 1902 and he was required to pay back the stolen (?) tax money, as detailed in the previous part of this series. He was back to his old day job of plastering, working mainly in San Francisco. And then came 1904, when he was arrested and charged with statutory rape.

That October it came out Holmes was living in Calistoga with a young woman he said was his wife. The emphasis was on young – although he insisted she was over seventeen (California’s age of consent was then 16), she was not. The “wife” of 40 year-old Charles H. Holmes was actually fourteen.

Holmes was held at the Napa jail for a week as a relative of hers and the Napa District Attorney scrambled to find proof of her age. He was released after posting a $2,000 bond, the girl previously freed the day after their arrests. Near the end of the year the Napa DA dropped charges, mostly on their word and the assurances of her uncle that she was over 17.

What Santa Rosa thought of his adultery/statutory rape is unclear. The Press Democrat suggested it was well-known and had been going on for some time: “Judging from sentiment expressed around town yesterday the arrest of the former marshal did not occasion much surprise among those who knew or had heard of alleged previous familiarity between the man and girl.” The Republican reported the opposite: “The arrest of Holmes on the charge caused great surprise among his friends in this city.”

The girl was Nellie Holmes and both local newspapers were quick to add they were unrelated, the same last name being a coincidence. She and her mother – also named Nellie – lived in Santa Rosa with her aunt, four cousins and her grandmother.2 The eight of them were crammed into a tiny house on First Street across from the Grace Brothers brewery warehouse. There can be no dispute this was the poorest part of town.

Nellie Holmes, probably c. 1915. Image courtesy Sonoma County Library which labeled it as "Mrs. Charles Holmes 1903".
Nellie Holmes, probably c. 1915. Image courtesy Sonoma County Library which labeled it as “Mrs. Charles Holmes 1903”.

Charlie kept a low profile and wasn’t seen much around town. He was still working as a plasterer in San Francisco and presumably staying there as well (it’s unknown whether Nellie was with him or not). Margaret, his mom and sister (his father had since died) were now living on Sonoma Avenue because their previous house had burned down – feel free to also wonder whether that might have been the result of another lamp accident.

Exactly a year after his Napa arrest for cohabiting with a child, Holmes was again in the news for another awful incident.

In the middle of the night Sonoma Ave. neighbors were awakened “by a series of shrill cries” from Margaret, who was heard to be shouting, “murder,” “police” and “let me go.” The Santa Rosa Republican further reported they “heard sounds of slaps being administered as if someone was chastising a child.”

The night officer was summoned and told “Mrs. Holmes had made the outcry while in a state of epilepsy.” What the Press Democrat had discreetly called “sudden spells of illness” that caused her to be severely burned must have been an epileptic seizure.

The 1905 Republican item suggested the neighbors believed the Holmes were abusive: “…The woman is an almost helpless invalid and the people of the vicinity where she resides declare the woman is not given proper attention and treatment…It is believed that her condition of epilepsy would be removed if her surroundings were changed. The people of the neighborhood feel that Mrs. Holmes is entitled to the protection of the community…”

After reading that article in the evening Republican newspaper, Charles immediately ran to the PD office where he was certain to find a more sympathetic reporter. He claimed not to be at the family home that night (yet was apparently somewhere else in town?) and what the neighbors thought was slapping was really Margaret “clapping her hands while not responsible for her actions.”

A following issue of the Republican stated “the family declare[d she] had been clapping her hands and talking incoherently” and revealed Margaret had been hospitalized repeatedly: “…[she] has been subject to epilepsy which has gradually progressed until at times she passed from the epileptic state to that condition of insanity in which she is wholly irresponsible for her actions. The lady has been taken to private sanitariums in times past and her case has been pronounced hopeless.”

Let Gentle Reader note the Epilepsy Foundation says a only small number of people with epilepsy also have psychotic disorders, and also that emotional stress can lead to seizures.

Little was written in the papers about the Holmes family over the following two years. We don’t know what any of them were doing as the Great 1906 Earthquake struck. Charlie happened to be on the scene of a 1907 shootout at a downtown restaurant (predictably, he was attending a banquet).

Then in May 1907, Margaret was committed to the Mendocino State Asylum for the Insane near Ukiah. She died there of pneumonia the next year. She was 39 years old and it was a few days past their 20th wedding anniversary.

The widower Charles did not dawdle when it came to burying his wife. She died on a Friday. Her remains arrived in Santa Rosa on the Saturday train. The funeral was early Sunday afternoon. If your family read the Press Democrat over breakfast, you had only a few hours notice should anyone desire to pay their respects. If your family read the evening Republican, she was in the ground before you cracked the paper and knew she was even dead.

Margaret M. Ware Holmes is buried in the Rural Cemetery, but not in the Holmes family plot where Charles’ parents were, and where he and his sister would later be. Her grave is next to the parents of “Bud” Parks, who was the leader of Santa Rosa’s brass band. Charlie almost certainly knew Bud well because they both appeared at the same sort of social functions, but it’s doubtful Margaret knew any of the Parks, who died several years earlier. It was just an empty grave site for sale. Today there is no tombstone and likely she never had one.

Soon after New Year 1910 there was a small notice in the Press Democrat: Charles H. Holmes Jr. had married Nellie Holmes in a quiet ceremony. He was 45, she had recently turned twenty. “Their friends wish them much happiness,” the newspaper said warmly.

NEXT: BOSS SQUEEDUNK

 


1 Whenever I found a mention of Mrs. Charles H. Holmes, a closer look revealed it was usually her mother-in-law, the editor being sloppy and not specifying between Mrs. C. H. Holmes Sr. and C. H. Holmes Jr.
2 Nellie Olga Holmes was reportedly born December 9, 1889 in San Francisco but an inquiry by the Napa District Attorney in 1904 failed to turn up a birth certificate or other documentation. Her Press Democrat obituary gave her age as someone born in 1889. In the June 1900 census she was listed as born in December 1889. Her grandmother was named as Elizabeth Granque, but other spellings included Giauque and Gaigue.

 

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Mrs. Holmes Badly Burned

Some people seem to have more than their share of trouble. Thursday night Mrs. Holmes, wife of City Marshal Holmes, met with a very painful accident. Unfortunately Mrs. Holmes is subject to sudden spells of illness and while the other members of the household were upstairs, with the exception of her husband, who was still at his office, she started to walk across the floor with a lighted lamp. While doing this one of the attacks spoken of came on and she fell with the lamp. The burning oil set fire to her garments. The fall was heard by those upstairs and they came to her assistance. The flames were extinguished, but not before Mrs. Holmes sustained several bad burns.

– Press Democrat, November 23 1901

 

GIRL’S AGE MUST BE ASCERTAINED
CHARLES H. HOLMES WILL REMAIN IN JAIL AT NAPA PENDING INVESTIGATION
Effort Made to Secure a Bail Bond in This City Yesterday If One Should Be Required by Authorities

Inquiry at the office of Sheriff Dunlap of Napa last night elicited the information that nothing had been done in the Holmes case yesterday, beyond an endeavor to ascertain the true age of Nellie Holmes, the girl with whom Charles H. Holmes cohabited at Calistoga. Holmes and the girl were still in jail last night.

District Attorney Benjamin of Napa learned yesterday that he could find the age of the girl by consulting the records of San Francisco, and he at once sent there for the information. If she is found to be over sixteen years of age the charge is reduced as far as the law goes, but if not the consequences are very serious when it comes to punishment after conviction.

Holmes was visited in jail yesterday by a Napa attorney. An effort was made by a relative of the accused man here yesterday to arrange for a bail bond, if one should be required and pending the result of the investigation. It is not thought one was secured.

William Porter, who married an aunt of Nellie Hoimes went over to Napa from this city yesterday, it being thought that he could furnish absolute information as to the girl’s age. This he was not able to do, and then consulting the records in San Francisco was suggested and adopted by District Attorney Benjamin. Judging from sentiment expressed around town yesterday the arrest of the former marshal did not occasion much surprise among those who knew or had heard of alleged previous familiarity between the man and girl.

– Press Democrat, October 20 1904

 

HOLMES IS IN JAIL GIRL COMES HOME
NELLIE HOMES IS RELEASED FROM DETENTION AT NAPA COUNTY HOSPITAL
Former City Marshal Remains in Custody While Girl’s Age is Being Investigated by the Authorities

Charles H. Holmes was still in jail at Napa last night while the girl with whom he had been living with at Calistoga until the hand of the law was laid on both of them, Nellie Holmes, returned to this city. She was seen and conversed with by a Santa Rosan on the Southern Pacific train last night, and from what she told him, he did not feel very kindly disposed towards the man in jail, made by Holmes’ sister yesterday night and it was learned that District Attorney Benjamin was still investigating as to the girl’s age, and that nothing new had been done in the matter. According to a statement made by Holmes sister yesterday it is likely that bail bond may be furnished her brother today. This is not certain, however.

During her stay in Napa Nellie Holmes was kept in the Napa County Hospital. She was released from there Thursday afternoon on a written order sanctioning her release signed by District Attorney Benjamin. She will have to appear as a witness in the event of the Holmes case coming to trial. What was stated yesterday morning, must be stated again this morning and that is, until District Attorney Benjamin is satisfied as to the correct age of Nellie Holmes, proceedings on the charge of rape will not proceed.

– Press Democrat, October 21 1904

 

HOLMES RELEASED ON $2,000 BOND
FORMER CITY MARSHAL RETURNS TO TOWN AFTER DETENTION FOR SEVERAL DAYS
What Disposition Will be Made of His Case is Still Undecided But Meanwhile He is a Free Man

Charles H. Holmes, former city marshal is in town from Napa. He secured his release from detention at Napa on furnishing a two thousand dollar bail bond. It is not definitely known what the outcome of the case will be. It will be remembered that the man was arrested a week ago last Tuesday in company with a girl named Nellie Holmes of this city at Calistoga. The charge upon which he was arrested was that of rape.

– Press Democrat, October 26 1904

 

HOLMES WILL BE RELEASED
District Attorney of Napa County Finds That Girl Was Over Sixteen Years Old

The charge of rape preferred against ex-Marshal Charles H. Holmes in Napa will probable be dismissed shortly. District Attorney Ray Benjamin has made a thorough search of records to ascertain the age of the young woman and is of the opinion that he will have to dismiss the case against Holmes by reason of the fact that the girl is over seventeen years old.

It will be remembered that Holmes was arrested at St. Helena several weeks ago where he had been living with Nellie Holmes a young girl of this city and passing her as his wife. Holmes was following his trade of plastering. They had rented a single room in the residence of Mrs. Collins mother of the county clerk of Napa County and lived in that one apartment.

The arrest of Holmes on the charge caused great surprise among his friends in this city. He was kept in jail several days while relatives here searched for bondsmen. These were finally secured and the accused man came to this city. The girl with whom he had been living was detained by the Napa county officials for several days. She stoutly maintained from the first that she was more than sixteen years of age. Although the name of the parties are the same there is no blood relationship between them.

– Santa Rosa Republican, December 9 1904

 

WOMEN CAUSE POLICE CALLS
Mrs. Holmes Startled Sonoma Avenue Last Night by Cries of “Murder” — Case Investigated

The police department had two hurried calls last night both of which were responded to by Officer Don McIntosh and in each instance the calls were occasioned by women.

About midnight the residents of Sonoma avenue were alarmed by a series of shrill cries of murder police and fainter cries of “Let me go” emanating from Mrs. Anna Holmes [sic] the wife of Charles H. Holmes. The whole neighborhood was aroused and when the officer arrived it was explained to him that Mrs. Holmes had made the outcry while in a state of epilepsy. The neighbors however had heard sounds of slaps being administered as if someone was chastising a child, this fact also being reported to the police.

The woman is an almost helpless invalid and the people of the vicinity where she resides declare the woman is not given proper attention and treatment. It is more than probable that the case will be called to the attention of the proper authorities and an effort made to have Mrs. Holmes removed to an institution where she can at least receive proper treatment. It is believed that her condition of epilepsy would be removed if her surroundings were changed. The people of the neighborhood feel that Mrs. Holmes is entitled to the protection of the community…

– Santa Rosa Republican, October 20 1905

 

Mr. Holmes Statement

Charles H. Holmes called at this office last night and stated that his wife was not suffering from epilepsy at the time of the excitement at his residence Thursday night. He says that she was experiencing one of a series of spells she has had lately in which she temporarily loses her reason. He stated further that the noise heard as if some one was being slapped was in reality Mrs. Holmes clapping her hands while not responsible for her actions.

Mr. Holmes was not at home on Thursday night when his wife’s cries awoke the neighborhood. Mrs. Holmes has been an invalid and afflicted with epileptic fits for a long time. The poor woman is deserving of much commiseration.

– Press Democrat, October 21 1905

 

Feel They Are Doing All in Their Power

Charles H. Holmes and his mother and sister who have the care of the invalid wife of Mr. Holmes feel that they have done and are doing everything for that lady which lies in their power to do. Mrs. Holmes’ condition is at times precarious and for eighteen years she has been subject to epilepsy which has gradually progressed until at times she passed from the epileptic state to that condition of insanity in which she is wholly irresponsible for her actions. The lady has been taken to private sanitariums in times past and her case has been pronounced hopeless. At the present time the mother and sister of Mrs. Holmes are caring for the lady who is practically an invalid and they feel that the lady could probably get better treatment at a proper institution for epileptics and that her removal to such an institution might be advisable. The case is being attended by Dr. J. W. Cline whose prescriptions have always brought her out of the condition of epilepsy and the doctor is giving the patient every attention.

On a recent night when neighbors were called to assist in caring for Mrs. Holmes the lady had a particularly heavy spell and the family declared had been clapping her hands and talking incoherently before assistance came to them. Two strong men were required to hold Mrs. Holmes in her bed for a number of hours until the medicine given her had time to act properly. As Mr. Holmes cannot be away from his employment the care of his invalid wife naturally devolves upon his mother and sister. Residents of the City of Roses have been at the home where the woman was being cared for and have noticed her peculiar mental condition.

– Santa Rosa Republican, October 23 1905

 

MRS. CHARLES H. HOLMES CALLED BY DEATH

Mrs. Margaret May Holmes, wife of former City Marshal C. H. Holmes, died at Ukiah on Friday, and her remains were brought to this city Saturday morning. Mrs. Holmes had long been a sufferer and death was a happy release to her. She had many friends in Santa Rosa, where she had lived for many years. The funeral will take place this afternoon and the Very Rev. A. L. Burleson will be the officiating priest. The hour of the funeral will be at half past two o’clock this afternoon.

– Press Democrat, June 7 1908

 

Wife of Charles H. Holmes Passes Away

Charles H Holmes received a telegram Friday afternoon informing him of the death of his wife at Ukiah. The sad message stated that Mrs. Holmes had been taken sick on the day before with acute pneumonia and the disease was too much for her for the following day she passed away.

Her maiden name was Margaret May Ward and she was a niece of Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Bumbaugh of this city and a sister of Mrs. Samuel Brittain. She was born 38 years ago in the state of New Jersey and her parents died while she was quite young. Nineteen years ago she was married to Charles H. Holmes. The remains were brought down on the morning express and the funeral services will be announced later.

– Santa Rosa Republican, June 7 1908

 

CHARLES H. HOLMES WAS MARRIED MONDAY

A quiet wedding in this city on Monday was that of Miss Nellie Holmes and Charles H. Holmes, former city marshal of Santa Rosa and a prominent labor union man. The Rev. Geo. T. Baker, rector of the Episcopal church, was the officiating priest. The ceremony was performed at the residence of Mrs. Cox, on Hendley street. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes left for San Francisco in the afternoon. Their friends wish them much happiness.

– Press Democrat, January 11 1910

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THE YEAR OF THE ROSE FESTIVAL FIASCO

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

It wasn’t supposed to turn out that way. The 1895 Rose Festival was a perfect example of a Victorian American community celebration, drawing visitors from all over the West Coast, including the mayor of San Francisco and the Governor. Although it’s since been overlooked by writers of local history it was viewed at the time as being something like Santa Rosa’s coming out party – even though it ended up being quite a mess.

Hundreds of our ancestors dived in to make that Rose Carnival (its real name) a success through diligent planning and hard work. It also had a major boost because all of the major San Francisco newspapers – the Chronicle, Examiner and Call – touted it as they might a must-see gala happening in their own city. There were full-page features and front page updates over several days. All papers sent artists here to sketch the street scenes and people involved, and as a result it’s the best visually documented glimpse we have of an event from 19th century Santa Rosa. There are also several portraits drawn from photographs which no longer exist. A sampling of the drawings which appeared in SF newspaper articles can be found below.

Those 1895 doings were also surprising because the first Rose Carnival in 1894 was remarkable only in that Santa Rosa had been able to pull off anything at all. There were less than three weeks from when that one was proposed to the day of the parade. The idea that year was to draw visitors from the “Midwinter Exposition” which was kind of a World’s Fair being held in Golden Gate Park.

With so little time to prepare, about all that could be done in 1894 was to decorate storefronts with greenery. “The merchants were requested to ‘rosify and florify’ their places of business,” reported the Sonoma Democrat, praising the shopkeepers for what they were able to accomplish. “The appearance of the streets beggars description. Fourth street is an avenue of festal floral loveliness. The effect, as seen from above and below, looking down the brilliant aisle, is magnificent. Every store has its improvised greenhouse or conservatory.”

The parade was mainly local residents driving their family carriages with some flowers attached. Lots and lots of carriages. Highlights included mounted knights in armor (undoubtedly refugees from Healdsburg’s very weird May Day Knighthood Tournament), the Santa Rosa Canton of the “Patriarchs Militant” (say what?), and not one, but two little girls’ drill brigades. Afterwards there was a “battle of the roses” where the parade participants pelted spectators with the flowers that had adorned their carriages as the onlookers flung them back. This went on for an hour. Should Gentle Reader ever ponder why Robert Ripley was obsessed with oddball behavior, just imagine what an impression that scene would have made on a four year-old boy.

Despite the floral free-for-all, the Democrat commented, “There is much talk about making the Rose Carnival a permanent thing” and plans for the 1895 Carnival began four months in advance. They included a fundraiser by our hometown racist “All-Star Minstrels” at the Athenaeum (Charlie Holmes did a “Negro impersonation” and warbled, “When Johnnie Comes Marching Home”).

This time the festivities would stretch over three days in May, Wednesday through Friday. Today we might expect a town celebration like that to be scheduled for a weekend, but in those times Saturday was the big market day, when farmers shopped in town and stores stayed open late. On the last day there was to be a high-profile race (which would mean gambling) and heaven forfend such a thing happen on the same day we were all supposed to be piously sitting in pews.

Newspapers began whipping up interest weeks before the carnival. Their main focus was on the Carnival Queen competition, which gave editors an excuse to print lots of portraits of pretty women. The papers framed it as a beauty contest, cheering for different favorites to win.

Over 7,000 votes were cast at 10¢ per, and during the final hours ballot boxes were stuffed with envelopes containing up to $100. Isabel Donovan won with 4,610 votes. She was a leader in planning this carnival and the one before; she was also a working woman (general manager of the Sunset Telephone Company’s office in Santa Rosa) and unlike other nominees, wasn’t part of the society clique.

Three leading candidates for Rose Carnival Queen: Belle Spottswood, Isabel Donovan and Addie Steits. San Francisco Call, April 7, 1895
Three leading candidates for Rose Carnival Queen: Belle Spottswood, Isabel Donovan and Addie Steits. San Francisco Call, April 7, 1895

The publicity spotlight was also on cycling, and not just the race held on the final day. John Sheehy’s Petaluma Historian blog has a great essay on the 1890s bicycle craze and our Santa Rosa Wheelmen Club invited other clubs large and small. The Democrat reported the head of the Reliance club of Oakland vowed their group “…with its large contingent of lady bicyclists, will come up in a body to our Rose Carnival if invited. It is the boss club of the State, and will come uniformed and all together on wheels….Just think of it, one hundred and fifty gentlemen and ladies to enter the town on wheels escorted by our local wheelers, won’t it be a fine sight?”

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Two sketches from the San Francisco Chronicle, May 9 1895
Two sketches from the San Francisco Chronicle, May 9 1895

Meanwhile, Santa Rosa buzzed like a beehive as final arrangements were underway. Three arches were constructed downtown out of greenery; Chinese lanterns were strung above Fourth Street; plans were made for a flower show at Carnival Park (otherwise known as Kroncke’s Park/City Gardens); homemakers were preparing to make 5,000 sandwiches and the same number of Victorian America’s favorite junk food, doughnuts; hammers and saws were busy constructing parade floats, fourteen in all. Santa Rosa was ready.

Santa Rosa wasn’t ready.

Visitors unexpectedly started showing up the day before the doings were going to start. The SF Call noted that on May 7 “Strangers are already beginning to arrive. The noon train on the Southern Pacific was loaded with visitors. It is plain that the full capacity of the city to provide lodgings for the guests will be put to the test, but it is confidently believed that all who remain over night will be cared for.”

1895rosead(RIGHT: 1895 Rose Carnival announcement. Sonoma Democrat, May 4 1895)

(In a Believe-It-Or-Not! twist, Ernest Finley, future editor of the Press Democrat might have burned down the city that night. A kerosene lamp exploded in his Fourth Street printing shop and he threw the burning fragments into the street, where workers were still putting up the paper lanterns and bunting.)

Wednesday was the first day of the Carnival and the only event scheduled was the evening queen’s coronation at the Athenaeum and as such, it was expected to be more of a community event. The theater could hold an audience up to 2,500 in a pinch but the crowd outside was so large few could even get near the building. “The rush for seats was terrific. Two able-bodied men stood at the portal after the theater received its complement and refused admittance to the clamoring multitude” (SF Chronicle).

Not that they missed much. The featured orator was Attorney Albert G. Burnett, who began by noting the committee asked him to speak for no more than five minutes. He droned on for about half an hour, saying nothing (“…As we contemplate the picture before us we can not be justly charged with extravagance in the declaration that no imagination could be too bold nor copious nor creative, and no fancy could be too affluent to conjure tbe invisible spirit of beauty that dwells in these radiant blooms from our gardens…”). Then there were various classical music selections performed by locals.

The coronation was ersatz pageantry and pomp, the most high school-y part of the carnival. But as described by the Chronicle, there was one moment that seemed rather sweet: “…the hundred little boys and girls who had been halted in the main aisle were given the word to advance. On they came in pairs with their curly heads just showing above the tops of the chairs. Each tiny maid had her proud, or otherwise, escort by the arm and the whole band got up the steps without mishap. This in itself was a creditable performance and provoked much applause.”

After the ceremonies the crowd filed out of the theater to find an actual spectacle awaiting them: “Hundreds of Chinese lanterns bobbed and blinked from the same level above the street for fully a mile. While the exercises were in progress inside the merchants had lowered away on the lanterns and lighted them. The effect of the illumination was novel in the extreme – The red glow lit up the vivid bunting on the front of the buildings and gave the whole place the appearance of being in flames” (SF Chronicle).

The next day was the parade. “When the sun rose this morning it found the city fully dressed for the festival,” a Call reporter wrote. “Bunting and flowers and green things streamed over and bedecked everything, softening the hard lines of business blocks and quickening the long stretch of the streets with lively color.”

No one in Santa Rosa realized the first signs of the coming troubles were popping up at the Ferry Building in San Francisco shortly after dawn on that Thursday morning.

Because that was typically a slow day for travel, the SF&NP railroad offered a special $1.00 excursion rate for a round trip between San Francisco and Santa Rosa. The SF Call even promoted it with a little spot item headlined, “A Cheap Excursion – Ample Facilities Furnished to See the Rose Carnival.”

The Chronicle described the resulting chaos: “The crowd at the Tiburon ferry in San Francisco in the morning was immense. The approaches to the entrance of the wharf were packed with people. So dense was the throng in front of the ticket windows that persons who had provided themselves in advance were unable to get to the door. The streetcars kept arriving every minute with additions to the crowd. The attire of the ladies was disordered in the struggle to get through the ferry doorway and reach the boat.”

Packed to capacity, the steamer finally left the pier to cross the Golden Gate. Immediately a second ferry pulled into the slip and it, too, quickly filled with tourists. (And don’t forget hundreds of these passengers were bringing along their bicycles.) The sheer numbers were so unusual the Governor mentioned it at the top of a letter he wrote for the Examiner, and he wasn’t even on either of the ferries.

Once in Tiburon, the first excursion train had twelve cars that were likewise jammed full. The regular morning train followed and then there was another special with 15 cars. At that point, the ticket office in San Francisco closed its doors. That had never happened before.

“Very large crowds of people from other parts on Thursday were counted upon as a certainty, but the most sanguine were amazed at the multitudes which came pouring in from all directions by the regular and special trains,” the Democrat said.

And that was just the swarm of humanity descending upon Santa Rosa by rail. “They came from all directions and in all sorts of vehicles,” reported the Chronicle. “A six horse stage drove over from Calistoga with a load of decorated passengers and all the farmers within twenty miles of the carnival hitched up and came to town. The side streets were blocked with wagons.”

The flaw in all their planning was that they did not anticipate anything near such a great success. The 1894 carnival had 5,000-7,000 visitors, and they expected this year would be about the same. The San Francisco Examiner thought there were 15,000 visitors. The Sacramento Bee estimated there were twice that many, which would have made the crowd 5x the population of Santa Rosa.

From the SF Call: “The city has been thronged with visitors, taxing to the very limits the ability of its citizens to make provision for them. All the morning before the parade and all the afternoon after it had dispersed and the excitement of the time was at an end men and women, especially women with children, thronged the streets, resting upon the steps and doorways of stores and dwellings. The halls and stairways of all the hotels were peopled in this way, women and children were crowding into those little greenrooms that are ordinarily given over to the quiet game of poker, which game was forced thereby to suspend. All of this indicates the tremendous descent upon the little city and an overflow beyond the capacity to accommodate.”

The parade was scheduled to start at 12:30 but was delayed for nearly an hour, no reasons given. To fill the time, two hundred cyclists performed some sort of drill on Fourth Street.

Viewing the Rose Parade on Fourth Street. San Francisco Chronicle, May 10 1895
Viewing the Rose Parade on Fourth Street. San Francisco Chronicle, May 10 1895

Once the parade finally began the newspaper descriptions were surprisingly light, often tossing off a sentence or two for even the most elaborate floats. The Santa Rosa and Petaluma papers usually identified who was in the parade and reported – sometimes in great detail – what women were wearing.

Yet there was no question that the amount of decoration went far beyond what appeared the year before. Everything that could have a flower or just a ribbon attached was adorned – hats, parasols, wheel spokes on floats and carriages, bridles on horses, ceremonial swords and guns…you name it.

Queen of the Rose Carnival float. San Francisco Call, May 10 1895
Queen of the Rose Carnival float. San Francisco Call, May 10 1895
"'Sunshine' in the parade was represented by a large yellow float, studded with stars on a blue background. At the back a rising sun sent its golden rays upon the earth. Miss Grace Tuttle posed as the Goddess of Sunshine." San Francisco Chronicle, May 10 1895
“‘Sunshine’ in the parade was represented by a large yellow float, studded with stars on a blue background. At the back a rising sun sent its golden rays upon the earth. Miss Grace Tuttle posed as the Goddess of Sunshine.” San Francisco Chronicle, May 10 1895

Sadly, there was no illustration of the award winner for best decorated float, which was the entry from the Petaluma’s Young Ladies’ Mandolin Club: “…The fairy ‘boat’ was covered with pure white flowers, and within it were ten beautiful and charming young ladies who are numbered among the social favorites of the City of Hills, and who are members of the young ladies’ orchestra. All were exquisitely attired in snowy white, and each of the fair passengers of the dainty craft held and played upon a stringed instrument thus creating an effect pleasing in the extreme to both eye and ear” (Sonoma Democrat).

Unidentified girl on butterfly float and some of the 30 floral equestrians, "smothered in flowers, moss and ferns." Image San Francisco Examiner, description San Francisco Chronicle, both May 10 1895
Unidentified girl on butterfly float and some of the 30 floral equestrians, “smothered in flowers, moss and ferns.” Image San Francisco Examiner, description San Francisco Chronicle, both May 10 1895

Watching the parade was undoubtedly a joy, whether you lived here or not. But as the hours passed, spectators found that all those sandwiches and doughnuts, meant to feed a much smaller crowd, were gone.

“Those citizens here who had food and drinks to sell found themselves sadly pressed for supplies before the day was over. So great was the demand for victuals in any form that everything in sight was devoured. The hotels and restaurants were eaten out of house and home and the lunches set by the ladies in vacant stores vanished like dew before a summer sun. More than one able-bodied man who came late had to bear up under the heat and burden of the day with no other sustenance than hard-boiled eggs and angel cake. The country people who brought large tubs full of doughnuts, fried pullets and jam were well fitted to stave off famine and arouse envy” (Chronicle).

While nothing was mentioned in any of those Victorian-era papers, I shudder to think what the toilet situation must have been like during those Rose Carnivals. At the time Santa Rosa’s sewer system was notoriously undersized, with sewage sometimes oozing out of manholes even during normal conditions.*

To out-of-town cyclists and enthusiasts the bike race the next day was far more an attraction than the parade. Promoters expected a large crowd (it was later estimated there were 7,000 race spectators) because newspapers were hyping it as potentially a milestone event. The Democrat breathlessly told readers, “…it is expected that if the weather is not too windy the world’s record for the mile and half mile stands a good chance of being broken.”

Problem was, all the hotel rooms in town were already taken by the day of the parade, further adding to the stress of a large portion of our visitors. Since the excursion trains were just sitting in the railyard waiting to take people back to the ferries that evening, it was decided the railroad would run special reverse-excursion trains from Santa Rosa to Petaluma, where hopefully the bicycling crowd could find lodgings. That was also something that had never happened before.

The only photo supposedly from the 1895 Rose Parade, although there was no description in any newspaper of a group of children as seen here. Image courtesy Sonoma County Library
The only photo supposedly from the 1895 Rose Parade, although there was no description in any newspaper of a group of children as seen here. Image courtesy Sonoma County Library

Parade day wound up with an “illuminated” repeat that evening, although all that meant was the dim arc streetlights were turned on. And yes, afterwards there was another stupid battle of the roses.

On the last day the main events were that bike race at the Pierce brothers’ race track (now the county fairgrounds) where no records were set. There was a baseball game between Santa Rosa and the team from Stanford and a grand ball at the Athenaeum that night.

The only real excitement of that Friday was a runaway hot air balloon: “Professor George Weston made an unsuccessful balloon ascension from B and Ross streets. The aeronaut was to drop from a parachute when well up in the clouds, but his hot air balloon did not rise rapidly enough, and floating too low over the top of a house near C street, just a block away from where he started, he was compelled to let go to save himself and clung to the roof. The balloon rose some distance and returned to earth” (SF Call).

And thus the 1895 Rose Carnival was over and despite the many snafus, it was considered a great success. They didn’t lose money and actually ended up with a small profit. Plans immediately began to make the next one even grander.

Later Carnivals/Festivals are better remembered than the one in 1895, but in their day it was unlike anything anyone had ever seen. The amount of decoration was over the top and there’s no question that it set the baseline for every Rose Parade that has since followed.

In a historical context it’s worth noting it represented the sort of progress found in the Gilded Age, when women were making gains (albeit small) in being recognized for leadership roles. Unlike the first Carnival, half of the 1895 committee chairs were held by women.

Sure, it could have been planned better, but it was impossible to predict the turnout would be so enormous. It was something new and exciting and despite the huge crowd was probably great fun as long as you brought your own sandwiches, didn’t mind sleeping in a doorway and weren’t too fussy about bathroom facilities.

 


* At the time Santa Rosa had a sewage farm on the north bank of Santa Rosa Creek, about where the Stony Circle business park is today. Any overflow of the ponds due to heavy rains or excess waste sent raw sewage into the creek. For more see “The Sewage of Santa Rosa” by John Cummings.

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