VACATION BEACH
on the Russian River in Guerneville, California
Guerneville is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County, California, United States. The town is historically known for the logging community, formed in the late 1800s. Guerneville is also known for its natural environment, liberal atmosphere, and proximity to wine-tasting and redwood forests. It was founded by the Guerne family in the 1850s.
Guerneville is built adjacent to the Russian River. Redwoods grew in the riverbed with such vigor that just a few centuries ago, the valley had the greatest biomass density on the planet, according to local lore. The local Pomo Indians used the area as a summer camp and called it "Ceola" which meant "shady place." Except for a large stand of ancient trees preserved in the Fife Creek watershed, now the centerpiece of Armstrong Woods Park, many of the trees were logged in the 19th century, giving rise to the first English name for the place – "Stumptown." The annual town parade still commemorates the old place name by calling itself "Stumptown Days." The present name Guerneville was introduced to honor Swiss immigrant George Guerne, a local businessman of the 19th century who owned the town's sawmill. By 1870, there was a U.S. Post Office in Guerneville; it was listed by the name "Guerneville".Although locals may be found selling T-shirts that say "Don't call it Guerneyville", many have called the town "Guerneyville" in spelling and pronunciation since the 1800s. The extensive redwood forests on the surrounding mountains are less than 200 years old, having been replacement plantings for much of the logging done in the 19th century.
The area became popular with wealthy vacationers from San Francisco and surrounding communities in the late 19th century. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad linked the town to the Ferries of San Francisco Bay in 1877. Even with the demise of train service in the late 1930s, the area's resorts remained popular with vacationers who came by automobile through the 1950s. A local movie theater, the River, was built near the beach and showed double features throughout the 1950s and 1960s. The coming of jet airplane travel in the 1960s marked a period of decline for many of the older resorts. Winter floods in 1964 caused a further decline in business conditions. A renaissance took place in the late 1970s as large numbers of gay entrepreneurs from San Francisco identified the area as a prime recreational destination for weekends. Many older resorts benefited from increased tourism, and the town's businesses began to thrive.
[Source: wiki]
The first inhabitants in the area were the Kashaya Indians and at the turn of the 19th Century, Russian people from Sitka, Alaska settled in the coastal area founding Fort Ross in 1811 and erected buildings at Bodega Bay. They had come to collect sea otter pelts and to grow food for their Alaskan colony. In 1841, being unable to adequately support themselves and Sitka, the Russians sold their stock at Fort Ross to John A. Sutter. After 1842 Americans began settling in the area as a result of Bear Flag Revolt, Mexican-American War, the Gold Rush, and California’s admission to the Union.
Logging of the Redwood forest and mining for quicksilver (mercury) were the primary interests in the area. The largest Redwood tree from this area was known as “the Monarch of the Forest” at a height of 367 feet 8 inches with a circumference of 45 feet. The oldest Redwood in the area was proved to be over 3,300 years old and would have attained a diameter of 17 feet when Christ was born. The boom of the logging industry was during the period of 1870 to 1910 and as a result of this, Guerneville acquired a nickname of Stumptown. Upon realization that lumber resources were finite and thanks to actions taken by James Armstrong much of these giants have been preserved. Railroads of narrow and broad gauge came into the area in the late 1800’s to serve as tools to the lumber and mining industries of the area.
And later these railroads served to provide a means for vacationers to come into the area from San Francisco and other areas. With the end of the logging and mining industries, vacationing and tourism became a major business for the Russian River area centered around Guerneville. Vacationing was the major attraction during the 1920’s until about 1935. But by 1935 as a result of various disasters and the economy, the railroads had gradually been dismantled. From the pioneer days of the area to the present, Guerneville and other Russian River towns, have managed to survive floods, fires, the 1906 earthquake, and other disasters. Today the Russian River Area continues to grow at its own pace. Even with a few floods of our own time the Russian River continues to thrive. The Russian River remains a great vacation area for many people from around the world; a place where people come to enjoy its beaches along the river, to wander amongst the amazing Redwoods, and to enjoy its many other splendors from the vineyards to the Pacific Ocean. The River is home to people from all walks of life and we are all proud to be a part of the community.
[Source: RR Historical Society]
