Vignette 265 > Six Homestead Firsts

In January 1908, Homestead School opened.

In 1947, the Homestead Progressive Club approved the first uniform house numbering system.  Even numbers were on the right. 

In 1948, there was the first day of city mail delivery for Alto, Almonte, Homestead, Tamalpais Valley and Marin Heights.   No more RFD.  The Post Office Department would henceforth consider these communities as part of Mill Valley.  All mail had to carry a street name and a house number.

In 1954, Mill Valley’s first fast food appeared when Caesar Taverna opened C’s Drive-In on Miller in Homestead.  Hamburgers cost 19 cents.

In the 1950’s, the Homestead Chorus rehearsed and gave concerts in Brown’s Hall.  Words to the first rendition of The Whiffenpoof Song with lyrics by Biz Kibbee (on Montford) were: “To the tables down at Brown’s Hall, Where of potluck we partake, With the dear donated wines we love so well …  We are poor little sheep, From the Two Ay Em, Baa, baa, baa.”

 In 1977, the first page of Cyra McFadden’s “The Serial – a year in the life of Marin County” said the following: “…they too belonged to the ACLU and the Sierra Club and went to the Mozart Festival at Stolte Grove in Homestead Valley every year.”