Our History from the Beginning
In the last decade the Parks and Open Space Department adopted the following plans and projects that have had sig- nificant impact on the Valley’s four preserves. • Trails Element of the Countywide Plan —Adopted in 1985, it identified and designated Valley fire roads and trails to be acquired for public use through the devel- opment, donation, or acquisition process. It has been amended several times. • Road and Trails Plan —Adopted in 2014, this lists poli- cies to protect the environment—including surveys of user impacts—while providing diverse recreational opportunities. It resulted in restoration projects in Woodacre, San Geronimo and Forest Knolls. • Vegetation Management and Biodiversity Plan — Adopted in 2016, the plan scientifically identifies plants and wildlife on County preserves and creates Legacy Land zones. The Giacomini Preserve has exten- sive Legacy Land designations that are leading to trail closures resulting in improved protection of plant and wildlife habitats that are rare and/or unique to Marin • Restoration projects to reduce sediment and restore native plants —The Open Space District and Dept- ment of Public Works have approved about eight projects to meet this goal including reworking an old logging road in Woodacre and in San Geronimo. • Christmas Holiday Tree Harvest —Staff made available 100 Douglas Firs and Monterey Pines for residents as part of a restoration program. A popular but time con- suming effort that may come again. • Measure A —In 2012, voters approved a ¼ cent Open Space Tax measure: 65% for restoration; 20% to save family farms; and 15% to local cities and towns to enhance parks and nature preserves.
dance hall in the hills of Forest Knolls, and then built another one on the highway. It is reported, “His place used to be a knockdown, drag-out. They used to put chicken wire around the band so they wouldn’t get hit by fly- ing bottles.” The Pavilion succeeded Kelly’s place after it burned down, but was much more tame. Another dance hall opened in Forest Knolls on the corner of Sir Francis Drake Blvd. and Tamal Road. The large building still exists and currently houses the Marin Tack and Feed store. In recent memory it also served as the House of Richard and the original Lagunitas Brewery. Down the road, at the site of the current Lagunitas Post Office, the Mariposa Pavil- ion brought weekend entertainment for Valley adults and teens until it was torn down in 1953. Adjoining it was the Lagunitas Lodge, which for many years featured Speck McAuliffe’s Irish Coffee, until it burned in 1983. Post Offices The first post office in the Valley was established at San Geronimo in 1895, followed by Lagunitas in 1906, Forest Knolls in 1916, and Woodacre in 1925. Larger post offices were built in new locations in Woodacre, San Geronimo and Forest Knolls during the 1980s. Library In 1929, the first Valley library opened in a small build- ing built for that purpose at Lagunitas School. In 1946 it moved to the Kenny Burt building in Forest Knolls and in the ensuing 60 years moved to Woodacre, back to For- est Knolls, then to Lagunitas and then finally to Lagunitas School. It was closed in 2009 due to budget cuts and non- use. Wilderness Way is developing a small environmental book and film library with teacher resources for environ- mental education. County Parks, Open Space, and Trails
Concurrent with the adoption of the Countywide Plan in 1972, a bond measure was passed by Marin voters creating the Marin County Open Space District that taxed residents for the pur- chase and preservation of county open space. Today, the District manages 16,000 acres on 34 preserves. Four of these pre- serves are in the San Geronimo Valley and total approximately 2,500 acres. The four preserves are: Roy’s Redwoods, Maurice Thorner, Gary Giacomini and French Ranch.
Lagunitas station in the 1890s. In the fashion of the day women wore long dresses, hats and carried parasols. Men wore vests and hats. They are waiting for the train along with two horse-and-buggies nearby. The original St. Cecilia’s can be seen in the background. (From the Collection of Newall Snyder with caption information from David Wilson)
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50 th Anniversary
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