…Or turn it into a big summer hotel, or something else useful. Who cares about those millennia-old redwoods, anyway?
We came dangerously close to losing the renowned woods in 1907 and 1908. The first threat is described below; the 1907 articles will follow later. For an overview of historical efforts to save the grove, search the Press Democrat archives for the January 20, 2008 article by Gaye LeBaron (sorry, no permanent link available).
TO BUILD HOTEL IN ARMSTRONG GROVEThere is a possibility that the beautiful redwood grove at Guerneville known as “Armstrong’s Grove” will be sold in the near future. It is proposed to construct a big summer hotel in the beautiful grove, and with its attractive surroundings it would be a popular place. A magnificent park will be created around the mammoth hotel.
– Santa Rosa Republican, July 26, 1906