windsor historical society windsor walkjohn bertozzi, and we will be looking for more. i know they...

Windsor Historical Society · Windsor Walk · Jul/Aug/Sep 2009

Windsor’s Wonderful Walter Eagan

When I sat down with WalterEagan in the sun-filled kitchenof his 1920s home on Jensen

Lane, I anticipated gathering facts andstories about his boyhood in Windsor andhis academic career in Sonoma County,but Walt provided so much more. In thebest tradition of oral histories, Walt tookme back in time, confidently citingnames, dates and other relevant factsabout his paternal and maternal families,some of whom settled in Windsorbefore 1900.

Joseph and Elizabeth WalkerWalt’s Great-grandparents

The first of Walt’s ancestors to arrivein Windsor were Joseph Walker (1849-1932) and his wife, Elizabeth DresserWalker (1850-1893), who traveled fromEngland to America in 1870, lived inChicago a short time, and moved toCalifornia in 1880. They settled on StarrRoad (the house is still there) and Josephworked for Reiman Winery, which waslocated south of the current WindsorHigh School. Joseph became thesuperintendent of the winery, where,among other activities, charcoal wasmade. Joseph and Elizabeth Walker hadfive children: Albert, John, Henry,Lawrence, and Margaret.

Although we usually hesitate tointroduce skeletons in family closets, it issometimes essential to do so when theysignificantly affect family history. Thus,Walt shared that around 1887 JosephWalker “took off” with his sister-in-law,Jane Linney (1859-1939), and begananother family in the San Joaquin Valley.

When Joseph departed with Jane Linney,his first wife, Elizabeth, remained inWindsor with her children.

Albert Walker and his brothers werefascinated with the latest technology: tele-phones and electricity. John Walker, whomarried but never had children, worked ontelephone lines. Henry Walker, who never

married, worked on the electrical side ofthings. Tragically, he was electrocuted ona power pole near the underpass at EastsideRoad between Windsor and Healdsburg.

Lawrence Walker, who had a wife andseveral children, lived in Sacramento anddied relatively young.

Margaret Walker married Mack J.Bacon and they had two adopted sons, Lee

and Donald. Mack Bacon was in the claybusiness and the family lived near Ione.

Walter and Anna ZweifelWalt’s Great-grandparents

The Zweifel family also arrived in Windsoraround 1880. Walter Joseph Zweifel (1850-1934) and Anna Held were born in

Switzerland and arrived in Oakland,California, where they lived less than ayear. During that time, possibly duringchildbirth, Anna died, leaving Walter withthree young daughters: Pauline, Annaand Lena.

Walter Zweifel moved north toWindsor, purchasing 165 acres of fineland about a half-mile from where theWalkers lived. Walter Zweifel planted 40acres of grapes, 20 acres of apples,peaches and pears, and had 40 acres ofmeadow and pasture. The Zweifel farmwas on present-day Starr Road, propertythat would eventually be owned by thePratt family.

In 1885 Walter Zweifel married MissCarolina “Carrie” Scheidecker (1860-1952), who gave him three moredaughters: Minnie, Edith, and Lulu. Inaddition to his six daughters, Walter andCaroline also helped rear his half-sisters.

The Zweifel family marriages bringback memories of well-known Windsorfamilies. Minnie married Ernest Smalland they lived in the area across from

today’s Windsor High School. Edithmarried George Henry Silk, for whosefamily Silk Road is named, and George andEdith’s daughter, Lillian Silk, married JackBeedie, who became one of Windsor’searliest historians. And Lulu married C. W.Butcher.

All the Zweifels were active in theWindsor Methodist Church. Walt Eagan

· Windsor Historical Society · Windsor Walk · Windsor Historical Society ·(Continued on page 6, Eagan)

From Local School Boy to Sonoma County School Administrator

by Barbara Ray, from an interviewwith Walter Eagan

Walter Eagan, 1970s

Windsor Historical Society

Windsor WalkA Historical Journey to the Past for the Future July/Aug/Sept 2009

Cunningham House Parkerson ’95


Windsor Historical SocietyBoard Members

Stephan A. Lehmann, President(H) 838-6152; [email protected]

Barbara F. Ray, Vice Presidentand Newletter Editor836-0101; [email protected]

Edna Honsa, Secretary

Frances Brooks, Treasurer

Ken DelGrecoJosephine RebichJesse ShannonMarjorie Tynan

WHS

President

Steve

Lehmann’s

Message

HHCC Landscape Taking Shape

Master Plan Will Include Hops

First, thank you all for renewing yourmembership! We continue to grow

and I think everyone will agree that weare a different looking organization thanwe were just one year ago. We have ourbeautiful museum and our superbnewsletter and many new members toenjoy it all.

We received a donation of Bill BeedieSr.’s slide show and narration (by Bill Sr.)of the Hop industry from the family of BillBeedie Jr. It is wonderful to hear the storyof the hop industry narrated in Bill Sr.’sown voice. We hope to have it transferredto DVD soon and available for viewing atthe museum. This is a wonderful additionto our collected history of hops in theRussian River Township.

Speaking of hops, our plan is to plantat least two rows of hops on the museumgrounds. We will have some plants

donated by Raford & Barbara Jones andJohn Bertozzi, and we will be looking formore. I know they continue to grow inthe old hop fields. With a little luck wewill have a hop-picking party nextSeptember. (Maybe make some beer!)

The hop garden will be part of themaster plan for the Hembree House andwe have received very generousassistance from Thomas Eddy, a fantastic,local landscape designer. Thomas is alsothe founder of the Windsor Garden Cluband he has offered to assist our interestedmembers in the development andguidance of a gardening subcommittee forthe Hembree House. If you are interestedin working on the gardens of the HembreeHouse please contact us. We will beginregular garden meetings soon.

I look forward to seeing you at theTown Reunion on October 31st. This isalways a lot of fun and a great opportunityto catch up with each other and previewsome of the Historical Society’s latestacquisitions. This has also been asuccessful fundraiser for the WHS and hasbeen responsible for many of ouracquisitions.

Many of you know that Fred Wisemanis credited with being the first person inthe world to deliver mail by airplane andmany know that he built and flew his planeon the Laughlin ranch, but we recentlydiscovered that he lived in Windsorwhile he did this record flight. I will talkmore about this at the Town Reunion.

Finally, thank you for your support ofthe Brick Campaign to help rebuild accessinto “Clara’s Garden.” These bricks willbe a handsome addition to the HembreeHouse and will remind all futuregenerations of the community spirit thathas preserved this “one of a kind” locationforever. When we finish the garden it’s “onto the Cunningham House.”

Thanks for your continued support.See you at the Reunion!

Steve

Mission Statement

The mission of theWindsor Historical Society

is to found,maintain and

operate acommunity

historical museumand

associationin order to collect,

store anddisplay

historical artifacts,to develop a fund of

information andknowledge of the

history and cultureof the Windsor area.


Membership News

Picture Perfect. This wonderful photo portrays ClaraWalker, left, and her sister, Elvenah, in the popular stylesof the new century — ankle-length skirts over high buttonshoes, a velvet collar for Clara, plus ornate button-work onher jacket, and a trim belted jacket for Elvenah. Ruffledcuffs cascade over soft leather gloves, and flowers are pinnedover their hearts. Both ladies top off their ensembles withwide-brimmed hats modestly adorned with feathers andheld in place with long, fancy hat pins. Clara married JackEagan in 1917, and gave birth to sons Jack, Jr. and Walter.

Stylish Windsor Ladies, ca. 1915

Thanks to TomThielman,

Vintage Jewelers

A special thanks to TomThielman, owner ofVintage Jewelers, forappraising jewelrydonated to WindsorHistorical Society.Vintage Jewelers is alongtime (dare we say,almost historic?) localstore located at 8796Lakewood Drive.

Time for School

Donations

WHS greatly appreciates receiving thefollowing recent donations:

In memory of Alice Evans Brooks:Robert and Edna HonsaNorm and Barbara Ray

In memory of Bill Beedie, Jr.:Larry and Janet BowenLowell and Tressa BowmanMarlene and Gordon BuckleJames and Constance DempseyKenneth DempseyMary DeosRobert and Edna HonsaCarol MerrittMathew and Kirsten OkamotoJames and Patricia OntjesMarilyn PerryClyde and Nancy ShigenagaThomas WallnerDonald and Winifred WilsonJack and Bernice Woo

Thank you one and all!

Museum Hours

Windsor’s Hembree HouseMuseum is open every Friday,Saturday and Sunday (exceptholidays) from 9:30 to 4:30. It’s agreat way to experience Windsor’spast.

Welcome New Members

Myrtle PappasSheridan Peterson

And thanks to everyone whorenewed memberships.

CondolencesWe extend our deepest sympathies tothe bereaved families of . . .

Bill Beedie, Jr.Alice Evans Brooks

Jack EaganMarvin Stubbs

We shall miss these dear friends whowere valued members of the Windsorcommunity.


After a battle with pneumonia, William(Bill) Beedie, Jr. passed away

peacefully with his family by his side onJune 23, 2009, at age 77.

Bill was born on October 28, 1931, inWindsor, California in the old DuVanderhouse on Pleasant Avenue to Isabelle(MacDonald) and William Leroy Beedie Sr.The family rented a house onWindsor River Road until WilliamSr. built the family home at 9092Windsor River Road. Later PapaMacDonald built his red houseon the property. Directly behindthis was a chicken house that Billand his grandfather built, so thatBill could raise chickens to sell.These buildings have since beentorn down, and now the space isthe Windsor Town Square. Thelarge oak trees that grew justeast of the yard are still standing,but that is all that is recognizable.

Bill lived a happy andcarefree life growing up in theWindsor rural area. Heattended the two-room WindsorElementary School through 8thgrade enjoying the freedoms ofthat era. He sometimes rode hisbike to the Russian River toexplore or camp, and often hehelped family and neighborswith chores. His lifelong love oftrains began in these earlyyears. The trains were alwaysanticipated, the load observed, and theengine and cars counted. This countingwas later a favorite activity of hisdaughters, Pam and Trish, as they watchedthe trains rumble down the same streetyears later. He would also flatten coins onthe railroad tracks, and was allowed to hopthe train and ride it out of town as a rewardfor unloading the feed into his family’s feedstore. Bill went to Healdsburg High wherehe played football and ran track. DuringWorld War II, although he was considered

In Memoriam

William “Bill” Leroy Beedie, Jr.October 28, 1931 - June 23, 2009

too young at age 16, he took on theresponsibility of spotting for enemy planesover the California Coast as part of avolunteer group of civilians. As a teen andyoung adult he worked at the Windsor Feedand Supply, which was later owned by hisfamily, unloading sacks of grain, mixingfeed, and making deliveries to localranchers, including movie actor FredMacMurray. Bill graduated from

HealdsburgHigh School in1949 and thenwent on toSanta RosaJunior College.He worked inthe local prunedehydrators topay his way

through college and was on probation eachfall because he started late so he could helpfinish the harvest.

After junior college, he served four yearsin the Navy, from 1951-1955, in Land BasedNaval Aviation. He was stationed in thePacific areas of Guam, Okinawa, Saipan, andTinian. He purchased a camera, thusbeginning a lifelong hobby of photography.He took many beautiful pictures of sunsetsand later of family trips and gatherings. Fromhis stops he sent his mother and sister sets

of china, pictures he had taken, and manyother keepsakes and cards. Other storiesfrom this time included hurricanes, Quonsethuts, and the game Acey Ducey. After theNavy, he worked briefly for United Airlinesas a mechanic in San Francisco.

Bill then went on to earn his BA andteaching credential from CSU, Sacramento,working as a cabin boy in Sequoia NationalPark to help pay his way through college, asupplement to his GI Bill. He then beganhis teaching career spanning the years from1961-1987 at Arden, Carmichael, Greer, andStarr King Schools in the San Juan SchoolDistrict. While teaching he met manylifelong friends, as well as his wife, Bev.Bill and Bev Riddle met in 1959 whileteaching at Arden School and were marriedon March 26, 1961. They purchased the

family home on NeptuneWay in Sacramento in Juneof 1963, when Trish was justa month old. Pam camealong 2 years later. This wasthe beginning of many happyfamily years together.

Bill especially enjoyedspending time with thefamily. They wentcamping and fishing manytimes each summer,including yearly trips toTuolumne Meadows inYosemite National Park,road trips to VancouverB.C., Lassen NationalPark, the North Coast, andLava Beds. In 1968, theybought property near

Grizzly Flatts off Capps Crossing Road and,two years later, began building a cabintogether. This is where they spent manyenjoyable years with family, friends, and thelocal wild life. Each Mother’s Day the familywould plant 500 Christmas tree seedlings.One year many fell victim to the deer. Thefamily spent every Thanksgiving at the cabinfeasting, visiting, and choosing the perfectChristmas tree before winterizing andboarding up the cabin for winter. In 1984,

(Continued on page 9, Bill Beedie, Jr.)

By Trish Darcy and Pamela Beedie,Bill’s daughters

Bill Beedie, Jr., above,Healdsburg High School

graduate, 1949,and, right, in 1960


There were several gas stations inWindsor during the 1950s, but not the

kind that you see today. Each was, I wouldsay, unique, and did not follow any setpattern as we see today. The first thing youwould notice is an attendant who pumpedthe gas for you. In the pump area, therewas usually no paving, just dirt or gravel.

Larkin and Hume’s Shell StationLarkin and Hume’s was a Shell stationacross from the intersection of PleasantAvenue on Old Redwood. It was mostly abar, with about five bar stools, usuallyoccupied by local characters andalcoholics, smelling of beer, while theychortled over off-color jokes, their eyesglassy and almost tearing up from theperpetual alcohol. The room was no largerthan a small kitchen, with dark stains onthe wooden floor from years of spills anddirty boots. But it was also a small groceryand gas station. They did have sodas,because my Dad would usually buy meone, a real treat in those days. HarryHumes, the bartender/gas attendant/grocer, would go to the cooler and pickout my favorite, Squirt, and pull the bottleout of the cool water and wipe the bottledown with a rag, and pop off the top. He’dhand me the bottle over the counter whilekeeping up the conversation with my dad,Don DuVander. This drink tasted heavenlyto me. The modern formula must havechanged or my taste buds have, becausethey don’t taste nearly as good now as theydid then. Harry and Mrs. Humes lived in theback of the store. Mrs. Humes would oftenwalk from one part of their living quarters tothe other, passing the open door of the baron her way. I’d say hi to her as she silentlyglided by, a slight smile on her face.Sometimes I wondered if she thought shewas invisible, since she rarely stopped to talk.

Bing’s, Phil’s, Mike & Dot’sThen there was Bing’s Garage, a Union 76station downtown, across fromMcCracken’s store, where Pohley’s istoday. This was a hang-out for hot-rodders,and was usually quite busy with car buffs.

Memories of Windsor in the 1950s

Cars, Gas Stations, and Old-fashioned Service

These were the older boys and I avoidedthem as they could be a bit intimidating tomy tender young self. An occasional localcar might risk being repaired there, but mostfolks fixed their own cars. Cars were oh somuch simpler then.

Phil’s was down near the intersectionof Arata Lane and Old Redwood. Mikeand Dot’s was on Old Redwood betweenWindsor Fuel and Phil’s. I never spent toomuch time at either one.

Law’s Shell StationAt the corner of Old Redwood andWindsor River Road was Law’s Shellstation, almost exactly where the Shellstation is today, only with a different roadconfiguration. This was the most decrepitestablishment in town, smelling of old oil

and dust. Blackberry vines crept over theancient ramshackle wooden structure,obscuring windows and creeping towardthe garage door. The floor was dirt, withold time Model T-era parts scattered about.Everything was filthy dirty, with cobwebsand dust. A pit was in the floor for servicingcars, black with years of spilled oil anddiscarded trash. I don’t know if old Mr.Law did any mechanic work or not in the’50s. His grooming and overalls matchedthe decor, looking every bit as dirty anddecrepit as the building. This establishmentwas probably the leftovers of an earliertime and he stayed on in his retirement, inneed of the nickels and dimes that cameto him a few at a time selling gas. My Dadtalked to him respectfully, as though theyshared some kind of history and hisappearance and housekeeping wereinconsequential. In thinking more about this

place, old Mr. Law was old enough to havebeen an adult when the automobile cameinto being. Mechanics were very importantto the first owners of these cantankeroushorseless carriages. They broke down alot and the garage mechanic was like yourcomputer geek today, a respected andvalued member of society. Perhaps thiswas the place to go to get help in Windsorif you had a “crash” (as in computers) ofyour Model T. But I am speculating.

Few New Cars in WindsorIt was just a few years after World WarII and Windsorites were slow to buy thenew postwar cars. Most people were stilldriving the one that got them through thewar. Financial recovery from the GreatDepression was still going on in Windsorin the ’50s. Our family car was a 1940Desoto which we used until 1956. Thiscar was rather modern looking for its age,because it had a light pea green paint job.Most cars of this era were dark, oftenrusted, or had highly oxidized paint. Theseearlier paints degraded rapidly in the sun.The bright primary colors or white usedtoday were nonexistent then. It was notunusual to see late ’30s or early ’40s Fords,Chevrolets or other boxy sedans aroundtown. There would be an occasionalnewer ’50s car, but not many.

Any needs that weren’t served by thelocal grocery, feed store or gas stations,such as clothing, pharmaceuticals,doctoring, lumber, hardware, paint etc.required a trip to Santa Rosa or Healdsburgon Old Redwood Highway. It was twolanes all the way and was busy even then.Trucks (and cars) traveled up and down itnight and day. Overnight visitors to ourhouse on Brooks Road would complain ofthe incessant truck noise all night. Wedidn’t hear it. We had tuned it out.

By Jim DuVander


recalled that during the 1930s, a majorchurch fundraiser was the annual Zweifeldinner, held after the first frost duringbutchering season. Each year, the maincourse at the dinner was a Zweifel hog.

Albert and Lena Zweifel WalkerWalt’s Grandparents

On January 13, 1895, Albert Walker (ca.1873-1937), the eldest son of Joseph andElizabeth Walker, married Lena Zweifel(ca. 1877-1963). Albert’s mother, Elizabeth,who had been in poor health for some timeand went to live with friends, died in 1893,leaving four children: John, Henry,Lawrence, and Margaret.

Albert and Lena, like Joseph and CarrieZweifel before them, finished rearing theorphaned siblings, plus their own fourchildren: Clara, Bob, Elvenah, and Walter.

Walt Eagan recalled, “GrandfatherAlbert Walker was a member of theWindsor Odd Fellows and a deputysheriff ‘of some nature,’ authorized bythe county sheriff. Grandpa kept orderat dances and arrested drunks. Iremember one night he marched a drunkdown the railroad tracks to JudgeOpfer’s house. The judge, old and thin,came out in his night shirt and held courtright in front of his house.” Judge Opferwas also the local justice of the peaceand the mortician.

For a long period of time, Albert Walkerpatrolled power lines for the SonomaMountain Power Co., riding horsebackbetween Fulton and Preston.

In the fall during hop processing season,Albert Walker worked as a hop dryer. Itwas a 24-hour job, and he set up a littlecamp near the kiln and supervised thedrying of the hops. He worked for WarrenRichardson, Warren Jones, Ben Steele, and

others. Walt Eagan added, “As I recall, thehop processing season took about threeweeks, ending with the baling of hops.”

Albert and Lena Walker’s ChildrenClara Walker married John “Jack” Eagan.Bob Walker married Thelma Wright, andthey lived east of Sacramento. ElvenahWalker married a Mr. Maudlin, a SanFrancisco house painter. Elvenah acquiredtuberculosis during the mid-1920s and diedfrom the disease in 1927. Walter Walkernever married. He was in the Navy duringWorld War I, came home withtuberculosis, and died in 1921.

Jack and Clara Walker EaganWalt’s Parents

In 1915, Clara Walker, age 20, left Windsorto work as a cook in a San Franciscohome. There, she met John Joseph “Jack”Eagan, an Army man who had beendetailed from Hawaii to San Francisco aspart of the security force at the PanamaPacific International Exposition. Accordingto Walt Eagan, “Apparently they saw quitea lot of each other at the fair, because whenhe returned to Hawaii a few months later,she followed him.”

Jack Eagan (1891-1970) and ClaraWalker (1895-1987) were married onAugust 1, 1917 in Hawaii. Their first child,John Joseph Eagan III (Jack, Jr.), was bornin Hawaii May 11, 1918.

After his discharge from the Army,Jack Eagan, Sr. moved his family to hishome town, Brooklyn, New York, wherehe and his half-brother operated a tire shop.

On November 10, 1920, Clara gave

birth to a second son, Joseph Albert Eagan,born in Brooklyn, New York. Before long,the boy was called “Walter” because helooked so much like his uncle WalterWalker. Surprisingly, Walt Eagan was notaware of his actual birth name until heacquired his birth certificate when enlistingin the Navy during World War II.

Return to California - 1921In the spring of 1921, the Eagan familyreceived word that Uncle Walter Walkerwas dying. Walt’s mother, Clara, wantedto go home to California to be near theWalker family and since the Brooklyn tireshop was struggling, the family relocatedto the 37-acre family ranch in East Windsorthat had been purchased by Joseph andElizabeth Walker in 1903.

The house Walter Eagan lives in todayhad just been built in 1921. Prior to thishouse, the family lived in what Walterdescribed as a New York type combinationhome and barn. Soon, Jack Eagan wasbusy helping develop and improve theWalker ranch. Jack and his father-in-law,Albert Walker, also had a well-drilling rigfor a time and dug wells around SonomaCounty but, ultimately, the business was notsuccessful.

When old Highway 101 was paved,Jack Eagan worked with a contractor,operating a cement leveling machine.From around 1927 until 1942, he was aschool bus driver and custodian forHealdsburg High School. The 1932Sotoyoman, the school yearbook, wasdedicated to “our faithful janitors Jack

(Eagan, continued from page 1)

The Walker Sisters. Clara, left, andElvenah, ca. 1913. (Eagan family photo)

Four Generations, ca. 1923. (from left to right,back row) Lena Walker, Walter Zweifel, ClaraEagan, with children Jack Eagan, Jr., andWalter Eagan, ca. 1923.

Off to Work. Albert Walker, lunch pailin hand, and his pretty wife Lena standin front of their Windsor home.


Eagan and Ralph Sandborn” who werepraised for their excellent work, concernfor the welfare of students, ready adviceand assistance, and true and loyal friendship.

One of Jack Eagan’s favorite pastimeswas dancing and in those days, Saturdaynight dances were held in Windsor twice amonth. No matter how hard Jack hadworked, he always went to the dances.

Jack and Clara Eagan had hearts of goldand never hesitated to help others in need.Some of the many people they aidedincluded an elderly penniless uncle wholived on the ranch until he died; the son ofClara’s brother, Lawrence Walker, who,after his father’s death, grew so rebellioushis mother couldn’t handle him, so hestayed at the ranch for several months;Clara’s sister Elvenah, ill with tuberculosis,for whom a living space was converted intoa private room and extreme sanitationmeasures were enacted to protect otherfamily members from the disease; andthree young children, offspring of a shirttailfamily member whose wife committedsuicide, remained on the ranch for fiveyears. The Eagans, especially Jack Eagan,Sr., loved the children like their own. Whenthe children’s father remarried and took theyoungsters, Clara and Jack werebrokenhearted.

After the death of Albert Walker in1937, Jack Eagan, with the help of his wifeand sons, continued to develop the ranch.On its 37 acres, 20 acres were planted ingrapes. But Jack was a big believer indiversified farming so he also planted avariety of trees: prune, apple, pear, cherry,apricot, almond, and walnut.

World War II YearsIn 1942, after the Eagan sons, Jack, Jr. andWalter, left home to pursue careers, Jack

Eagan, Sr. went to work in Sausalito as apipe fitter at Marina Ship (a shipyard).Because it was far from Windsor, he renteda room in Sausalito where he stayed duringthe week. Clara Eagan stayed on the ranchand managed everything efficiently. Shehired laborers to do the heaviest work, butshe pruned vineyards, tended gardens,cared for 1000 chickens, and handledmyriad other farm and home tasks.

During summers, Clara was assisted byan old San Francisco friend, Ann Nolan.Her oldest son was in the Army and whenschool let out in June, Ann came to Windsorwith her younger son and worked alongsidethe Walker women. She was especiallyskilled at canning, helping to put up the 100-plus quarts of peaches, cherries, apricots,apple sauce, ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc.that were processed annually. Sadly, Ann’syounger son died when his ship wastorpedoed during the invasion of NorthAfrica.

Clara Eagan wasalso active in theWindsor Grange andthe Ladies Aide atWindsor MethodistChurch. Waltdescribed her as ahappy, positivewoman who lovedpeople and work. Inmany ways, she had ahard life, but Walt saidhe doesn’t rememberhis mother evercomplaining.

Memories of JackEagan, Jr.

Walt beamed withpride as he described

big brother Jack.’s accomplishments. “Jackwas absolutely fascinated with aircraft. Heread Wings, a 1930s publication, for years.”After graduating from Healdsburg HighSchool in 1937, Jack went to Cal Poly inSan Luis Obispo and spent three years inthe aeronautics program.

Following that, he was hired by PanAmerican Airways and worked his wayup to flight crew. Jack worked on CantonIsland during World War II. He wasselected for flight crew and was a flightengineer on a China Clipper aircraft. Whenprops and jets became popular, the unioncontract changed so Jack had to be certifiedfor multi-engine aircraft.

Further clarifying Jack’s role as a flightcrew member, Walt explained that it waslike a third officer. His duties were thoseof a flight engineer but at that time therewas no official position with that title.

Jack married Ruth Hamilton ofGeyserville and they had two daughters.Jack recently passed away, on July 19,2009, at the age of 91. He is survived byhis daughters, Joanne Eagan and LindaMelgar, two grandchildren, and his brotherWalter Eagan.

Walt’s Early YearsDuring grammar school years, Walt walkedor rode his bike to Windsor School on themain highway. He was a good student,loved sports, and learned to play thetrumpet. Leisure hours were often spentplaying cowboys and Indians with buddiesBerwyn Richards, Allen Erickson, andGeorge Hinkle.

Other vivid memories of the 1930sinclude working in Alton McCracken’s

Happy Family Gathering, ca. 1933. (from left to right) Albert andLena Walker proudly pose with son-in-law Jack Eagan, Sr., daughterClara and grandsons, Walter and Jack, Jr. (Eagan family photo)

Brand New Home, ca 1921. The house built for Albert and Lena Walker later became the homeof Jack and Clara Eagan and, today, their younger son, Walter Eagan. (Eagan family photo)

(Continued on page 8, Eagan)


store located in the Odd Fellows Building,and the Dust Bowl migration when folksfollowing the crops came to town. The samepeople came year after year, working in thehops. They shunned the migrant workerscamp on Windsor Road, preferring to staydown on the river where they had a regularcampground. “There were a lot of realinteresting, fun people,” Walt said. “Blacks,whites and everything in between.”

Walt was popular during his years atHealdsburg High School. Intelligent,athletic, handsome, tall, and personable, hehad it all. He played on the basketball team,tooted his trumpet in the school band underthe direction of Charlie McCord, and, anatural leader, he was elected HealdsburgHigh School Student Body President.

Some of his best friends during thoseyears were Don McMinn, Bud Penry,Jimmy Shinn, Walter Galiardo, SherwoodOsborn, his sister Lorraine Osborn, andMildred Nealy. Walt’s high school girlfriendwas Pat Ratchford.

In 1939 Walt graduated fromHealdsburg High School, then attendedSanta Rosa Junior College for three years.

Military ServiceIn 1942, not long after the Japanese hadattacked Pearl Harbor, Walt enlisted in theNavy. His deployment was deferred untilthe Navy needed him, so he enrolled in U.C.Berkeley as a chemistry major.

In the spring of 1943 Walt was calledfor Navy active duty, sent to Farragut, Idahofor boot camp, and spent 3 months in thehospital corpsschool. Followinggraduation, he wasallowed to choosewhere he would besent, and he optedfor Oak Knoll Na-val Hospital inOakland, Califor-nia. He workedthere until No-vember 1943, thentransferred to theOakland NavalSupply Depot dis-pensary, where heremained untilApril 1944.

Next, he wentto the AdvancedCorp. School inP o r t s m o u t h ,Virginia for

training to serve as the only medical personon a ship, and in August 1944, he headedto Camp Schumaker Medical Hospital inPleasanton. This was the holding place forpeople on the Pacific Coast until a shipcould be built for them. Walt was assignedto a supply ship that went to Honolulu andEniwetok Atoll. “At Eniwetok,” he said,“large convoys regularly came through. I’dgo to sleep and there would be few shipsin the water; the next morning, there wouldbe 200 to 300 ships!”

In July 1945 Walt was ordered toRensler Polytechnic Institute in New York.Before heading there, he had two weeksmilitary leave, which he spent in Windsor.While there, much to his and his family’srelief, the Japanese surrendered.

Walt went on to New York, and whenRensler Institute closed, he was sent to areceiving ship at Pier 98 and worked in thedispensary until March 1946. He wasdischarged from the Navy in New Yorkand immediately returned home.

Back to BerkeleyIn June 1946 Walter returned to U.C.Berkeley, graduating with an AB degree.Originally he had wanted to be a chemistbut, although he was a gifted chemistrystudent with an unquestioned bright futurein the field, after wise counsel from aprofessor and friends, Walt decided hewould be happier in a more people-orientedjob. So, he enrolled in postgraduate classesat Cal, attending summer school until heearned a masters degree, and, ultimately,his doctorate (EdD).

While preparing hisjob placement file, Waltwrote to Byron Gibbs,Superintendent of theHealdsburg School Dis-trict, requesting a char-acter reference letter.Not only did Gibbs senda glowing letter of rec-ommendation, he alsoenclosed a job applica-tion for the HealdsburgSchool District.

Mr. Eagan, TeacherFrom 1947 to 1949, Walttaught sixth grade atHealdsburg ElementarySchool. The classeswere crowded (48 students in a 780-square-foot room his first year). Principal ByronGibbs was a good administrator, Walt said,and parents were supportive, acting on theirbelief that the teacher was “number one”in the classroom.

Beyond work, Walt was active in theRed Cross, the Democratic Club ofHealdsburg which Clem Miller organized,and the Masonic Lodge, primarily inHealdsburg but also in Windsor. He servedas a Masonic Grand Lodge officer.

Windsor District Superintendentand Principal

Walt was living at his parents’ home dur-ing those years and one day Windsor schoolboard member Ben Conde drove into theyard, announced that Windsor had an ad-

ministrative va-cancy, and of-fered the positionto Walt. Walt ac-cepted and servedas Windsor’sSchool DistrictSuperintendentand Principal forfive years.

Walt said thatbeing the Windsorsuperintendentwas one of thebest jobs he everhad. The teacherswere eager andc o m p e t e n t .Dorothy Johnsonwas teaching firstgrade and IlmaKirkpatrick and ViSantucci were also

(Eagan, continued from page 7)

Sailor WalterEagan, 1944.

The Eagan Brothers at Windsor School, ca. 1926. Walter Eagan is in the front row, second fromright. Jack Eagan is in the middle of the back row, fifth from right. (Eagan family photo)


Bill finally got his dream of a windmill whenit was installed above the cabin to pumpwater from the well. Now we had a newcabin activity — waiting for the winds topick up. It was a sad day when the propertywas sold 33 years later in 2001.

Bill was an avid vegetable gardenerand shared the fruits of his labor withfriends, family, neighbors, and anybodyelse he ran into. What wasn’t eaten freshwas canned, pickled or frozen. Like allaspects of his life, nothing was wasted.He continued his father’s tradition ofplanting pumpkins for his grandkids,scratching their names in the pumpkinswhile they were still green, and thenharvesting them together. He left a legacyof a bountiful garden for his family toenjoy and continue together.

In 1989 the joy of grandchildren begancoming his way, and they were a sourceof happiness and pride. He thought highlyof Lizz’s kind spiritand contemplativepersonality. Emilyimpressed him withher humor andcreativity. Christopher,who shares a birthdaywith Papa, isfollowing in hisathletic footsteps andsense of humor. Heenjoyed Nicholas’curiosity for andknowledge of theoutdoors and attentionto details. Patrick spentmany hours with Papain the garden and theyhad many conversationscentered aroundPatrick’s fancifulimagination. He had aspecial place in his heartfor each grandchild.

Anyone who waslucky enough to knowBill found out veryearly on that he had adry sense of humor.He raised his kids to bestrong, independentthinkers and workers.

(Bill Beedie, Jr., continued from page 4) He was quiet, yet had very strong beliefs. Ifyou ever needed any sort of information, youcould go to Bill and he would have the answer,often with a story to go along with it. He willbe greatly missed by family and friends whoknew him well and also by those who weremere acquaintances. The lives Bill touchedwere many.

Note from WHS President SteveLehmann: Bill’s father was also Bill —Bill Beedie, Sr. — and the street alongsidePohley’s market is named for him. Bill, Sr.was one of the earlier Windsor Historiansand the author of Windsor, History andHappenings published in 1979. The WindsorHistorical Society was the recent recipientof many items from Bill Sr.’s collection dueto the diligence and thoughtfulness of BillJr., who, along with his wife, Beverly, havebeen longtime members and supporters ofour Historical Society.

Bill Beedie Way — A Family Honored. On an April 2009 trip throughWindsor, Bill Beedie, Jr. and family posed on the street named inhonor of Bill Beedie, Sr. Standing, from left to right, are Bill, grand-children Trish Darcy, Nicholas Lemke, Emily Darcy, and PatrickLemke, and Bill, Jr.’s wife, Beverly Beedie.

teachers. “Time for kids was what theteachers wanted. We really had a good time.”

Sonoma County SuperintendentOne good thing led to another, and in 1956Walt was offered and accepted the job ofAssistant Superintendent of SonomaCounty Schools, the administrative end ofcounty educational office duties. Then onOctober 1, 1968, after the sudden death ofthe Sonoma County Superintendent ofSchools in early September, Walt wasappointed to fill the position, which he helduntil his retirement.

Marriage and ChildrenOn the night of VJ Day (August 14, 1945)at a French resort on the Russian River,Walt met his future wife. Walt and a friendhad gone to Guerneville to see what washappening and found things “not too lively”but they met two girls, one of whom wasBeverly Spencer of San Anselmo. She wasa nursing student at St. Luke’s Hospital inSan Francisco. Three years later, in 1949,Walt and Beverly were married.

Beverly worked as a surgical nurse atMemorial Hospital in Santa Rosa,California until the children — Gail, Gary,and Terry — were born. Some years later,Walt and Beverly divorced.

The Eagan CenterDuring the 1980s, the old Windsor JuniorHigh, which was part of the HealdsburgHigh School District, was closed and thebuildings used by the Sonoma CountyOffice of Education (SCOE) for offices,including the superintendent’s office.Recognizing Walt Eagan’s numerouscontributions to Windsor and SonomaCounty, the facility was named the EaganCenter. Later, when SCOE built a newcomplex near the airport, the Eagan Centerwas closed. After incorporation, the Townof Windsor bought the property andconverted it to another public use with anew name. Walt is gracious about the namechange, stating it is a practical designationfor its current use.

Given the historical significance ofWalter Eagan’s ancestors in Windsor, hisdedicated military service, untoldcommunity contributions, and exemplaryacademic leadership, many of us are hopingthat he will once again be honored withpermanent, visible recognition in thecommunity he loves.


Windsor Historical Society“Help Pave the Way”

_____________________________________________________

The Windsor Historical Society invites you to help improve access to“Clara’s Garden”. You can purchase an engraved brick to line ourexisting pathways and raise money to build a new stairway into thegarden. Years of wear and tear have rendered the existing stairs unsafe andthe result is that the garden area has become isolated from the rest of theHembree House Cultural Center.

Your tax-deductible contribution will help ensure that this beautifulgarden will forever be incorporated into the grounds of the HembreeHouse Cultural Center and accessible to everyone.

The bricks are engraved using state-of-the-art laser technology. Their strength and durability will create a lastingimpression! You will be able to bring your children, grandchildren and friends to see your personalized bricks for years tocome. This is your way to become a part of Windsor’s history!

The initial installment will be to line the path between the Windsor Senior Center and the Hembree House entryway.=========================================================================================

Engraved Brick Order FormOne order form per brick

4" x 8" Brick — Minimum Donation $100.00 each — 1 - 3 lines of inscription, 20 characters per line

Each line has a maximum of 20 characters (this includes spaces and punctuation)Please print clearly, use capital or lower-case letters as you wish and make sure your engraving information is spelledcorrectly. All inscriptions will be centered.Each 4" x 8" brick will accommodate up to three lines of text.

1

2

3

We will send you a receipt for your tax-deductible contribution. Include your name, address and telephone numberwith your order, and if you’d like an acknowledgement sent to someone, include their name and address.

Please mail form and check to:Windsor Historical Society, PO Box 1544, Windsor CA 95492Questions? Please call Marilou Del Greco at (707) 837-9830OrSteve Lehmann at (707) 838-6152The Windsor Historical Society is a 501(C) (3) California Non Profit Corporation.


Windsor Historical Society • P.O. Box 1544, Windsor, CA 95492

Membership Application

Name

Address

Phone

Email

Type of Membership

Please select from the following list of memberships:

• Life Member $300.00• Family Membership $ 25.00• Family of Seniors (60+) $ 20.00• Individual $ 20.00• Individual Senior (60+) $ 15.00

Area of InterestMuseum Receptionist ___

Research ___

Publicity ___

Garden Club ___

Grant Writing ___

Board Member ___

Newletter Articles ___

Fundraising ___

Other ___

Come to the Windsor Town Reunion, October 31, 2009and on Oct. 17, an Antique and Art Sale Plus Car Show

“Get those nags moving! I don’t want to be latefor the Windsor Town Reunion.”

1875 illustration

Please join us for another happy gathering at the Windsor TownReunion on October 31. The fun will begin at 11:30 a.m. when you’llvisit with old friends, look at displays of historic photos, and enjoyother entertainment. Lunch, which is always delicious, will be servedat 12:30 p.m.

Mark Your Calendars!

Windsor Town Reunion,October 31, 2009

Volunteer Opportunities

Don’t forget to volunteer! There are a varietyof areas in which you can help. (See the formbelow for details.) For more information andto volunteer, call Jan Lehmann, 838-6152.

The Windsor Historical Society andthe Windsor Arts Council will hostan antique car display and “artistsattic” sale at the Hembree Houseon Saturday, Oct. 17th, from10:00 to 4:00. There will beapproximately a dozen 1930s carsand other antiques on display, andthe Arts Council will have a sale offrames, pictures, art supplies, etc.that have been cleaned out of their“attics.” WHS will also be selling acollection of frames and anythingelse we can think of, and we willalso have refreshments, hot dogs,soda, potato chips etc.

MarkYour CalendarsAgain!

Oct. 17, 2009

- WANTED -Jewelry Donations for

the Gift Shop

Ladies, please look through yourjewelry boxes and donate oldpieces you no longer wear for usein the Windsor Museum gift shop.Antique and vintage jewelry,including inexpensive costumejewelry, broken pieces andindividual earrings will bewelcomed. The miscellaneouspieces can be used by Marj Tynanto craft new jewelry. Marj’sjewelry has been a big hit withmuseum visitors and WHSmembers. To donate, or if youhave questions, contact Marj at838-7885; [email protected].


Windsor Historical SocietyP.O. Box 1544Windsor, CA 95492

In This IssueWindsor’s Wonderful Walter Eagan ... 1

In Memorium: Bill Beedie, Jr. ............. 4

Jim DuVander, “Memories of the 1950s:Cars, Gas Stations and Old-fashionedService” .................................................. 5

Engraved Brick Fundraiser .................. 10

HHCC Car Show & Sale , Oct. 17 .... 11

Windsor Town Reunion, Oct. 31 ........ 11

IN THIS ISSUE — Windsor’s Wonderful Walter Eagan

Bacon, Donald 1Bacon, Lee 1Bacon, Mack J. 1Bacon, Margaret Walker 1Beedie, Beverly Riddle 4, 9Beedie, Isabelle MacDonald 4Beedie, Jack 1Beedie, Lillian Silk 1Beedie, Pamela 4Beedie, Trish (Darcy) 4Beedie, William “Bill”, Jr. 2, 4, 9Beedie, William “Bill”, Sr. 2, 4, 9Bertozzi, John 2Bowen, Janet 3Bowen, Larry 3Bowman, Gordon 3Bowman, Marlene 3Brooks, Alice Evans 3Brooks, Frances 2Butcher, C. W. 1Butcher, Lulu Zweifel 1, 6Conde, Ben 9Darcy, Emily 9Darcy, Trish Beedie 4, 9DelGreco, Ken 2Dempsey, Kenneth 3Deos, Mary 3Dresser, Elizabeth (Walker) 1, 6DuVander, Don 5DuVander, Jim 5Eagan, Beverly Spencer 9Eagan, Clara Walker 3, 6, 7Eagan, Joanne 7Eagan, John “Jack,” Jr. 2, 3, 6, 7Eagan, John “Jack,” Sr. 3, 6, 7

SURNAME INDEX — THIS ISSUEEagan, Gail 9Eagan, Gary 9Eagan, Linda (Melgar) 7Eagan, Ruth Hamilton 7Eagan, Terry 9Eagan, Walter 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9Eddy, Thomas 2Erickson, Allen 7Galiardo, Walter 8Gibbs, Byron 8Hamilton, Ruth (Eagan) 7Held, Anna (Zweifel) 1Hinkle, George 7Honsa, Edna 2, 3Honsa, Robert 3Humes, Harry 5Humes, Mrs. 589Jones, Barbara 2Jones, Raford 2Jones, Warren 2Kirkpatrick, Ilma 8Law, Mr. 5Lehmann, Jan 10Lehmann, Stephen 2, 9Lemke, Nicholas 9Lemke, Patrick 9Linney, Jane (Walker) 1MacDonald, Isabelle (Beedie) 4Maudlin, Elvenah Walker 3, 6Maudlin, Mr. 6McCracken, Alton 5, 7McMinn, Don 8McMurray, Fred 4Melgar, Linda Eagan 7Merritt, Carol 3

Nealy, Mildred 8Nolan, Ann 7Okamoto, Kirsten 3Okamoto, Mathew 3Ontjes, James 3Ontjes, Patricia 3Osborn, Lorraine 8Osborn, Sherwood 8Opfer, Judge 6Pappas, Myrtle 3Penry, Bud 8Peterson, Sheridan 3Perry, Marilyn 3Ratchford, Pat 8Ray, Barbara 1, 2, 3Ray, Norm 3Rebich, Josephine 2Richards, Berwyn 7Richardson, Warren 6Riddle, Beverly (Beedie) 4Sandborn, Ralph 7Santucci, Vi 8Scheidecker, Carolina/Caroline

“Carrie” (Zweifel) 1Shannon, Jesse 2Shigenaga, Clyde 3Shinn, Jimmy 8Silk, Edith Zweifel 1Silk, George 1Silk, Lillian Edith (Beedie) 1Small, Ernest 1Small, Minnie Zweifel 1Spencer, Beverly (Eagan) 9Steele, Ben 6Stubbs, Marv 3

Thielman, Tom 3Tynan, Marj 2, 10Walker, Albert 1, 6, 7Walker, Clara (Eagan) 3, 6, 7Walker, Elizabeth Dresser 1, 6Walker, Elvenah (Maudlin) 3, 6Walker, Henry 1, 6Walker, Jane Linney 1Walker, John 1, 6Walker, Joseph 1, 6Walker, Lawrence 1, 6, 7Walker, Lena Zweifel 1, 6, 7Walker, Margaret (Bacon) 1, 6Walker, Robert “Bob” 6Walker, Thelma Wright 6Walker, Walter 1, 6, 7, 8, 9Wallner, Thomas 3Wilson, Donald 3Wilson, Winifred 3Wiseman, Fred 2Wright, Thelma (Walker) 6Woo, Bernice 3Woo, Jack 3Zweifel, Anna 1Zweifel, Anna Held 1Zweifel, Carolina/Caroline/

“Carrie” Scheidecker 1Zweifel, Edith (Silk) 1Zweifel, Lena (Walker) 1, 6Zweifel, Lulu (Butcher) 1Zweifel, Minnie (Small) 1Zweifel, Pauline 1Zweifel, Walter Joseph 1, 6

windsor historical society windsor walkjohn bertozzi, and we will be looking for more. i know they...

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