Homestead Headlines of Yesteryear
October, 2011
The first edition of the Homestead Headlines, Vol. 1, No. 1, appeared in December 1954. The subheading was “The Voice of the Homestead Valley Improvement Club.” It grew in popularity. By 1965, HVIC had 270 dues paying members—dues were $1.00/year. Each member received a copy of the monthly Headlines in the mail. There was a lot going on in the community in those days and a lot to report on. The Headlines was printed on 8-1/2″ x 14″ paper. There were between 4 and 10 pages depending on the volume of news. Many of the articles were contributed by residents. Here is a run down of what was in the October 1967 issue.
The front page has four articles: HVIC announces the 1967/1968 Candlelight Concert Series-see page 9 for the schedule and order blank for season tickets to the 5 concerts ($12.00); August rummage sale netted $585—next sale in March; Homestead Headlines seeks Editor; HVIC general meeting to be held in Brown’s Hall on 10/28—Paul Zucker, Marin County Planning director, will discuss problems of a second deck on the Golden Gate bridge.
There are 13 more articles. Two identify board members and Headlines staff. Four are announcements: Library Gallery fall season show features photographs by Marin City youth; P.T.A. October meeting will feature Martin Friedman’s slides of a Sierra club pack trip; Homestead Players obtained the rights to produce West Coast premiere of “Slow Dance on the Killing Ground” —it opens in Brown’s Hall on 11/24; Brown’s Hall schedule: dance class, dog training, coin club, concerts, play.
Four articles cover past events: Observations at the annual Stolte Grove concert in September; Trip news of Homestead residents; Willa Gritter’s long report on her 3-week trip to Washington, D.C. in a hippy van with Christina Oldenburg and six children, ages 1 to 11; an interview with long time resident Lance Robinson about how Homestead has changed since 1910; an article about musician Jon Hendricks, a famous resident currently appearing at the Hungry i.
Other news: an article about Homestead School having six new teachers, a new administrator, a new secretary and a librarian.; The CONSERVATION CORNER column reports that HVIC was well represented at the July Board of Supervisors Meeting on the West Marin Water Plan. There are ten ads for local Mill Valley businesses— only Jolly King Liquors, still exists.
Currently, the Headlines is sent to every home in Homestead—all residents are automatically members of the Homestead Valley Community Association. Since April 2000, there have been monthly history articles—this is the 139th.
If you have comments or questions about this article or other topics
pertaining to the history of Homestead Valley,
please feel free to e-mail Chuck Oldenburg.