Santa Rosa Creek

IT WAS THE BEST OF CREEKS, IT WAS THE WORST OF CREEKS

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 About a century ago, the waters of Santa Rosa Creek were where great promises – and often, fish – went to die. Some examples:

* A water park was designed in early 1906 that would have created a centerpiece for the town. Instead of building that, a few months later Santa Rosa was dumping tons of earthquake debris into the creek for new approaches to the E street bridge.

* The candidate for mayor in 1908 made a voting day promise to clean up the creek area and create a park, then a year later cast the deciding vote allowing the tannery to continue polluting the water in violation of city law.

* In 1909 the Fish and Game Commissioner seeded the creek with 40,000 trout fingerlings near the headwaters (probably somewhere around the base of Hood Mountain) – even though just a couple of years before, he had found that trout and other fish quickly died in the “filthy” waters downstream from the power plant near Main street.

(RIGHT: Postcard c. 1910)

The pendulum swing between Great Expectations and Awful Reality continued in 1909 with an editorial in the Republican newspaper, hopeful that some sort of creek beautification project would start during their lifetimes. Then a few weeks later, three men were caught in the act of throwing trash on the creek bank – and you can be certain that for each of the men brought before the judge, there were dozens, probably scores, of other illegal dumpers who escaped the policeman’s eye.

The most curious incident involved an employee who told the court that he had been ordered to dump the garbage at the creek. His boss readily admitted this was true, then protested when fined $5 by the court. According to the paper, he “insisted that the fine was unjust, as there was no other place to make deposit of the garbage.” Um, well.

FINED FOR DUMPING GARBAGE ON CREEK BANK

Warrants of arrest were sworn out on Friday morning by Officer John Boyes for two expressmen, both charged with dumping garbage on the banks of Santa Rosa Creek. Both later appeared before City Recorder Bagley and pleading guilty, were fined five dollars each.

– Santa Rosa Republican, September 4, 1909

WOULD VICARIOUSLY SUFFER FOR SERVANT HE ORDERED

Joseph Ferari was given his hearing before Police Judge Bagley Thursday afternoon on the charge of dumping garbage on the banks of Santa Rosa Creek. He confessed to dumping the same, but asserted that he had done it upon the request of the owner of the property, Joseph Mallerari, and with the permission of the street commissioner. Mr. Mallerari corroborated the other’s story, and said that he wanted the stuff dumped there and that he wanted to suffer the penalty, as Ferari was his servant and he had ordered him to bring the garbage there. Ferari was fined five dollars. Mallerari, however, insisted that the fine was unjust, as there was no other place to make deposit of the garbage.

– Santa Rosa Republican, October 1, 1909

PUT 40,000 TROUT IN SANTA ROSA CREEK
Judge Seawell and Deputy A. F. Lea Re-stock Stream With Fish Secured from Hatchery

Superior Judge Emmet Seawell and Deputy State Fish Commissioner A. F. Lea on Tuesday placed 40,000 small trout in the water of Santa Rosa creek.

The fish were secured by Judge Seawell to stock the creek from Colonel La Motte of the Northwestern Railroad Company’s hatchery near Ukiah. They arrived here in big cans. The judge and commissioner hauled the fish in an express wagon to the headwaters of the creek and from there distributed them along the stream. It was strenuous exercise for the jurist, and on Wednesday he felt the effects of the lifting of the heavy cans and the scrambling down the creek bank.

Judge Seawell, Mr. Lea and Colonel La Motte deserve the hearty thanks of the anglers who hope to enjoy much good fishing in the seasons to come as the result of the re-stocking of the stream.

— Press Democrat, July 8, 1909

On a number of occasions this paper has urged the beautification of the bed of Santa Rosa creek. We have urged that this work begin between Main and E streets, and that in time it continue entirely across the city from east to west. We may not live to witness the completion of this work, but we hope to live long enough to witness its beginning, to say the least. If economically managed the proposition would not be very expensive and the returns from the same would be highly gratifying.

Santa Rosa is not the only California city thinking of converting an unsightly river bed into a beautiful park and a number of beautiful lakes. The same matter is now under consideration in other places. Los Angeles has an unused river bed. It is an unsightly washout that decreases the value of all neighboring property. The people there have started discussion of an appropriation of a million dollars for the improvement of this stream, and when the people of the southern city begins talking about what should be done in any matter. It is likely to be done without particular delay.

If a few cement dams were put across Santa Rosa creek within out city limits and the banks on either side of the creek properly improved and protected, what a change this would soon make in things. The expense of this work would be trifling in comparison with its value. It is to be hoped that talk will result in action in this matter.

– Santa Rosa Republican editorial, August 17, 1909

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RACING TO HELP THE HOMELESS

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What a different world it was in 1908; when word spread that a homeless family was living in a tent by the creek, Santa Rosans were tripping over each other trying to be the first to offer them help. Ignore the cynics who note that the outpouring of concern and generosity didn’t start until a few days before Thanksgiving, although this family apparently had been homeless for some time.

A newspaper mention of the Dougherty family’s plight caused the mobilization of “near to a dozen relief expeditions,” according to the Press Democrat, that went in search of the 11-member family living near the E street bridge. Carrying “baskets and bundles of provender,” the rescuers turned up nought. The PD reported, “Far into the night the good Smaritans [sic] tramped the streets, ringing doorbells and looking for tents full of hungry children, but none was found. Some of the earnest workers were making calls nearly a mile away from either E street bridge, and said they had covered all the territory between”

The destitute Doughertys turned up in the following days and were moved into a vacant home, as was another homeless family of eleven that had been camped south of town.

SEEK IN VAIN FOR THE DESTITUTE FAMILY

The published report that a destitute family of eleven persons was living in a tent near the E street bridge caused the formation of near to a dozen relief expeditions Tuesday evening, each expedition bearing baskets and bundles of provender to the supposed scene of the suffering. But no destitute family was found, and the relief expeditions resolved themselves into peripatetic indignation meetings. There are two E street bridges and every house near either of them was made the subject of inquiry. Far into the night the good Smaritans tramped the streets, ringing doorbells and looking for tents full of hungry children, but none was found. Some of the earnest workers were making calls nearly a mile away from either E street bridge, and said they had covered all the territory between. But they all carried their bundles back home again, unless they are hunting yet.

Tom Butts went home at 9 o’clock. He was serving on one of the impromptu charitable committees having been impressed.

It was learned Wednesday that a family who had been residing on the Cotati road two miles south of town, with nine children, the youngest 8 months old, with father and mother both sick, had been taken to the Sampson Wright farm Monday where they are being cared for.

– Press Democrat, November 26, 1908
WHO WILL HELP FAMILY WHOSE NEED IS GREAT?

The Dougherty family, which was located on the creek bank here some time since, and whose needs were published in this paper, are still in distress. The family has been moved out into a little house just opposite Willow Grove station, on the electric railroad, and have insufficient clothing and bedding to keep them comfortable. They also need provisions and fuel. Any one having clothing, particularly for children, and some bedding which they can spare, will do a great kindness by sending it to the family. Any parcels left at the Peniel Mission, at Fifth and A streets, will be taken to the family at once. The mission will be kept open all day Saturday to receive articles from the people.

– Santa Rosa Republican, December 4, 1908

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SANTA ROSA CREEK: BEGINNING OF THE END

Jeff Elliott Leave a comment

In the winter of 1906, Santa Rosa Creek was so healthy that you could catch salmon with your bare hands – but just a year later, a Fish and Game Commissioner declared “it would be impossible to find anything more filthy” than the same creek bed. As a test of the water’s toxicity, trout and other fish were placed in an underwater cage downstream from the power company. “[I]n short order the fish were killed.”

But nothing was apparently done about the problem; there was no further mention in 1907 or 1908 newspapers. Why should anyone care, really? No laws of the time were broken; Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner Lea was only a Game Warden, empowered with issuing $25 tickets to out-of-season fishermen, not shutting down factories spewing toxic waste into the waterways. And not that Santa Rosa probably cared for the health of the Creek; the town was dumping 1906 earthquake debris on the banks to narrow the waterway for the new E street bridge. Besides, who would be stupid enough to fish downstream from the factories?

(RIGHT: Industry along Santa Rosa Creek. 1: Woolen Mill 2: Fruit Cannery 3: Tannery 4: Grace Brothers Brewery 5: Lighting Company)

It’s interesting that the man from Fish and Game “invited newspapermen to go with him and take a look at the Third street bridge,” which was apparently the place to view (smell?) the worst of it. This is where West Third passes over the creek, midway between highway 101 and Dutton Ave. Nothing much to see today, but the historical importance of this spot is as great as the Carrillo adobe. This was the location of Hukabetawi, the primary village for the Pomo in the Santa Rosa region. It was also on this spot that the Spanish began to construct a Mission in 1827, but the project was abandoned after “the Indians rose up and destroyed the incipient Mission buildings,” according to the county’s first historian.

Also note: When it came to spelling “deleterious,” the Santa Rosa Republican had a dictionary, and the Press Democrat had not.

INSPECTS CREEK; FINDS THINGS BAD
Officer of State Fish Commission Here on Official Business–Proceedings May be Brought

Deputy Fish and Game Commissioner A. F. Lea was in this city on Tuesday and Wednesday under instructions from the State board of Fish and Game Commissioners for the purpose of inspecting Santa Rosa Creek as to whether dilaterious matter was being allowed to go into the waters from the lighting works, tanneries, cannery, factories, etc., along the banks of the creek. As a result of the inspection and the report that the officer will be compelled to make there may be “something doing.”

In discussing the matter, Mr. Lea stated Wednesday afternoon that it would be impossible to find anything more filthy than the creek bottom in the rear of the cannery and from there on to the tannery beyond. He said he should be compelled to take the matter up with the commissioners. He was surprised to find conditions as they existed, he said, and that something should be done at once to remedy matters.

Mr. Lea found other sections of the creek in an unsatisfactory condition where foreign matter was being allowed to run into it. It will be remembered that sometime ago complaints were made regarding the matter now in hand. In the worst place complained of other beside Mr. Lea agree that the point he makes in calling attention to the filth is well taken. Wednesday afternoon he invited newspapermen to go with him and take a look at the Third street bridge.

– Press Democrat, November 7, 1907
CHARGED WITH KILLING FISH

The case against the Santa Rosa Lighting Company, charged with having polluted the waters of Santa Rosa creek with matters deleterious to fish life, was begun before Justice A. J. Atchinson Friday morning….

Professor Price, an expert on water, testified that his analysis showed the water submitted to him from the stream was deleterious from a chemical standpoint. He had no experience with fish.

Deputy Game Commissioner A. F. Lea exhibited jars of dead fish which he alleged were killed by the waters. He referred to placing a number of fish in a large wire screen twenty to thirty feet below the place where the deleterious water is said to have flowed into the stream and in short order the fish were killed. A trout was the first to succumb. Mr. Lea will bring some data with him from Cloverdale for the hearing next Saturday.

– Santa Rosa Republican, December 20, 1907

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