Stroll through History 2022

October

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Mid-Century Modern homes featured in 33rd “Stroll”

By Anne Ternus-Bellamy Mcnaughton Media

Since 1989, the city of Woodland has celebrated its unique architectural legacy through an annual “Stroll Through History,” where visitors are invited to participate in tours of selected homes and neighborhoods.

There are private home tours, docent-led walking tours, bike tours and more, all of which provide a glimpse into the city’s history and how it evolved over the years.

This year’s tour, on Saturday, Oct. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., marks a bit of a departure from past tours, however, giving some love to Mid-Century Modern homes.

Previous open houses on the strolls have focused on a traditional mix of historic styles, including Victorians and Craftsman bungalows, and there will plenty of those during this year’s walking and biking tours, but this year’s stroll features private tours of five more modern homes.

Created after World War II, the Mid-Century Modern design featured minimalist principles of Scandinavian design as well as lots of windows and sliding glass doors to let in natural light.

One such home, deemed by organizers as the best example of mid-20th century modern exterior in Woodland, is that of Woodland City Councilman Tom Stallard and his wife Meg.

The interior of the home has Frank LloydWright-inspired features and the exterior features a Japanese garden designed by a Japanese master who also worked in the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park.

The Stallards’ home as well as four other MidCentury Modern homes will be open for private tours during the stroll.

Tickets for the open house tours can be purchased at https://strollthroughhistory.com/ tickets/.

Neighborhood tours

Then there are the docent-led biking and walking neighborhood tours.

Walking tours are free and led by trained docents able to explain the architectural features and history of stops along the way. Each tour lasts up to an hour.

A new walking tour this year will take participants through three blocks bounded by Cross, Pendegast, Third and College streets.

One block on First Street was subdivided in the 1880s and features Victorians, while the block across the street wasn’t subdivided until the 1910s and has a variety of house styles from the first half of the 1900s.

“The contrast in architectural styles from one

side of the street to the other is striking, awaiting to be discovered by strollers,” according to the Stroll Through History website.

That tour begins on the southwest corner of Second and Cross streets at 8:30 a.m.

Another walking tour focuses on College Street and its variety of house styles, from Victorian to Queen Anne to Bungalow, as well as the first modernist home built in Woodland in 1912.

“Join docent Barbara Graham, who has intimately studied this neighborhood over the INDEX

“Birds eye view of Woodland,” 1871.

Yolo County Archives

course of leading this captivating walking tour for many years, for a step back in time to experience Woodland’s formative years,” the website says.

Participants will learn not only about the houses themselves, but also who lived in them during the early days of Woodland.

“From a United States Congressman, a bank president, an author and a Women’s Christian Temperance activist, College Street was home to incredibly interesting and influential people,” organizers say.

That tour begins at 8:30 a.m. on the southeast corner of College and Lincoln streets.

Other walking tours focus on neighborhoods with Victorians, Craftsman and Bungalows and new tours this year even focus on unique barns, alleys and parks.

See the full list of walking tours, as well as times and locations, at https://strollthroughhistory. com/events/neighborhood/.

For those who prefer to pedal their way through history, there is also a free docent-led bike tour that will take participants through an exploration of the city’s trees, including many designated as city landmarks.

That tour begins at 10 a.m. at City Park, located on the corner of Oak and Walnut streets.

Landmark building tours

Even landmarks get some love on the Stroll Through History.

The Historic Woodland Train Depot will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and this year will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Sacramento Valley Historical Railways.

The Yolo County Administration Building at 625 Court St., will host an exhibit on Yolo County during World War I, with docent-led tours held hourly beginning at 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. Staff from the Yolo County Archives will be available to answer questions.

Other landmark tours include St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Woodland Opera House and more. Learn more at https://strollthroughhistory. com/events/landmark-tours/.

Stroll Through History features more than just tours, though. Other activities planned for the day include a pancake breakfast on Main Street as well as presentations throughout the city.

While most events are free and don’t require tickets, that’s not the case for the five houses open for private tours. These homes, organizers say, are “all unique expressions of a Mid-Century Modern style that began in the late 1940s and is still called “modern” today, more than 70 years later.”

Learn more about all of the events during Stroll Through History at https://strollthroughhistory. com.

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Woodland historic homes open for tour

321 Bartlett Avenue

Owner: Dixie Clark

Exterior: The exterior of this Mid-Century Modern home is both dramatic and unique. It was considered quite avande-garde and innovative as compared to other homes built in this era. Much of the façade is exposed cinder masonry blocks. The front room is bounded by seven floor-to-ceiling windows. Designed by Woodland builder, Gus Riede, in 1961-62, his daughter tells stories of Gus sitting at the kitchen table with drafting paper and photos of Frank Lloyd Wright’s (FLR) later “Usonian” home designs. Inspired by the mass productions of post-WWII Levittowns, Reide dreamed that his design could be the prototype for low-cost mass-produced Mid-Century Modern Levittowns. (Riede also designed and built three more homes further west of 321 Bartlett.) The flatroofed second floor is recessed behind the front room, leaving a first impression that this could be a single-story home in the FLR single-story Prairie style. The entryway features an open decorative cinder block wall that creates a private entryway under a covered breezeway. Square offset blocks outline a massive fireplace inside.

Interior: The front room features a floor-length fireplace and is full of light. The family had visited Japan in 1978. Their visit inspired a collection of many Japanese-style prints and screens and some Asian ceramics. These are interspersed with family memorabilia. In 1999, they began an extensive renovation, moving major walls, creating more livable spaces and updating a terrazzo family room. The kitchen and family room received new light-colored birch cabinetry which brightens the look and provides wonderful storage space. The footprint of the kitchen was enlarged to increase its utility. The kitchen, family room and first-floor bedroom all have large windows that let in wonderful light and provide broad views of the back yard. The stairs to the second floor are very steep and are therefore closed to the tour.

Gardens: The attractive backyard features an inviting free-form pool in the center and a Koi pond/water feature in the back left corner. These key features can be viewed from all of the firstfloor rooms. Look at the back of the home from the Koi pond to appreciate the unique Mid-Century Modern profile.

Ownership: Gus Reide and his wife, Norma, lived in the home for a year before selling to Tony and Sue Barber. They, in turn, sold to Jerry and Virginia Ernst. Then, Dixiana and James Clark purchased the home in 1975. Father James was Rector of St. Lukes Episcopal Church for 13 years.

This Mid-Century Modern home at 321 Bartlett Avenue was designed by Woodland builder Gus Riede in 1961-62.

Open Homes ticket information

Online and downtown tickets

Tickets are $30 online or in-person at the locations listed below. Tickets are $35 on the day of the Stroll — Saturday, Oct. 8 — and only available in person at Heritage Plaza at the Opera House. All sales are final; refunds are not available.

Prior to event

• Online: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-stroll-through-history-2022-tickets-415743659477.

• Corner Drug Co. at 602 Main St.;

• Vintage House by J at 519 Main St.;

Music

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

— Kevin Twitchell

1:30 to 3:30 p.m.

— Mike Ward

• Matthew Taylor’s Home at 510 Main St.

If you have purchased a ticket, either online or at a local store, you will bring your voucher/re ceipt to the Information Booth at Heritage Plaza on Stroll Day. The Information Booth opens at 8 a.m. The table will be next to the Heritage Plaza Clock. There, you will exchange your vouch er/receipt for an Open Homes Tour Ticket and Booklet. The volunteers staffing the information table will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the day’s events.

Courtesy photo

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

5 Hermosa Place

Owner: Bill Means

Exterior: As you approach the stately Means family home, its Mid-Century credentials are immediately obvious, thanks to its horizontal design, glass-faced entry and solid front door with knob at its center. Board and batten siding is made of clear redwood and the bricks are from a former Woodland hotel. Visitors might note a small, jalousie window at the upper left looking down on the entry. It was designed to allow homeowners, standing on a fireplace hearth, to see who is ringing the doorbell and even talk to the guest, making it sound like the voice is coming from an intercom.

Interior: This house is filled with wellmaintained original details, thanks to the stewardship of several generations of the Means family. The entry hall showcases a gorgeous Victorian fireplace and mirror which — though not indicative of decor for a home of this era — is nevertheless a vintage treasure because it was saved from a local historic house when it was demolished. Built-in storage is a notable feature throughout the home, lining hallways and spacious rooms. The house is flooded with light from large and numerous windows which illuminate interior features. Among them are an attractive kitchen whose vintage stove and plaid formica counters have survived intact for 66 years. A counter-height pass-through between the kitchen and family room offers safe passage for food and beverages and is blessed with sliding doors to separate the spaces, when desired. Bathrooms boast tile, tubs and design typical of the ‘50s decade. A grill and separate rotisserie, built into the family room and still used today, showcase the entertainment-focused lifestyle of the period. Woodland’s hot summers are bearable thanks to central heat and air conditioning, allegedly the first of its kind in Woodland when installed. And, a car can still be washed at home, regardless of outdoor conditions, due to a wellplaced drain in the garage floor.

Gardens: A large lot provides room for plenty of outdoor living, including a pool, patios and fruit trees. Of interest may be the solar system, which offers two distinct units: one from an earlier decade that still works to warm the pool, and a second, more modern system, remotely controlled through desktop and computer. Near the exit gate is an area with a sign that signals it was “Grandpa’s Garden,” where chrysanthemums once flourished.

Ownership: The current owner, William Means, purchased the house from the estate of his father, Les Means, in 2009. It was originally commissioned by Les and his wife Ev, whose brother, Al Thomas, designed it. Dale Warren was the general contractor. Mr. Means was Deputy DA

in Yolo County for three years before WWII intervened. Afterward, he returned to Yolo County and was elected DA from 1948 to 1956. He then went into private practice in the firm that is now known as Gardner, Janes, Nakken, Hugo and Nolan, Yolo County’s oldest law firm.

The entry hall showcases a gorgeous Victorian fireplace and mirror which — though not indicative of decor for a home of this era — is nevertheless a vintage treasure because it was saved from a local historic house when it was demolished.

Courtesy photo

This house is filled with well-maintained original details, thanks to the stewardship of several generations of the Means family.

1730 Cottonwood St.

Woodland Haven Preschool

Exterior: The original building at 1730 Cottonwood was built in 1972 by Jim and Bill Streng as part of their Streng Park subdivision in southwest Woodland. Working with architect Carter Sparks, the Streng Brothers built more than 3,500 homes in Yolo, Sacramento and Placer counties. The builders offered homeowners about 50 different combinations of floor plans and features, many of which can be seen on the homes around Haven. These “contemporary” homes — as they were called at the time — were designed to have character, but be affordable.

This structure maintains the original exterior design, including the pitched roof and domed skylight. The garage was removed as part of its repurposing as a school.

Interior: The home includes an atrium, brick fireplace and the master bedroom is now the office. Walls were added and the other bedrooms were removed as part of the conversion to being a school. Multiple skylights provide natural light in the two main rooms.

Ownership: Pamela Hillis purchased the new home in 1972 with the intent of turning it into a school. She also purchased the two empty lots to

Stroll through History

Music entertainment

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. — Katie Rose

the south and ultimately built the second building at 1738 Cottonwood in 1975. This second building was purpose-built to be a school, but designed to reflect the style of the original house. A Montessori school operated at this site from 1975 until 2021. The center is now owned by the AokiSlaven Trust and a non-profit organization operates Woodland Haven Preschool. The preschool opened its doors in August and is expected to provide care for approximately 100 children from 3 months to age 5.

Working with architect Carter Sparks, the Streng Brothers built more than 3,500 homes in Yolo, Sacramento and Placer counties, including this one at 1730 Cottonwood St.

Courtesy photo

The preschool opened its doors in August and is expected to provide care for approximately 100 children from 3 months to age 5.

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

212 Toyon Drive

Owners: Erik Daniells and Sara Shelley

Exterior: Built in 1963, this wonderful example of Mid-Century design was in major need of not just TLC but major renovation and retrofitting of its vintage features when acquired by its present owners in 2021. A new metal roof replaces the original composition shingles. Intact characteristics such as the angled roof, pillars, stone and plated glass are now complemented by newly installed concrete hardscape and lush landscape that harmonizes with the home’s linear modern design, welcoming you to its gracious entry.

Interior: Architectural firm Studio Oxeye and Stony Creek Construction were called upon to reimagine and rework this home without compromising the integrity of its original features, many of which were created by Ray Colombara, whose custom wood craftsmanship has been a source of Woodland pride since 1955. The terrazzo floors were a welcome vintage find, as were well-maintained wood accents like the foyer’s walnut doors disguised to hide floor-toceiling storage. Likewise, a carved screen that separates the entry from a spacious dining room is still an eye-catcher. Lighting in the dining room is provided by three new George Nelson fixtures chosen for their era-appropriate look. In the kitchen, the ceiling has been raised and a skylight added. New mahogany sapele cabinetry designed and built by Ray’s son, Craig, of Colombara’s Cabinet and Millwork, provides for modern-day family enjoyment. The living room boasts a massive stone fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wet bar showcasing an original Nutone system whose radio is still in use. A “brain room” created from a garage closet contains two tankless hot water heaters, a whole house water filter and other “techy” additions. Walls have been strategically moved in the master bedroom suite to accommodate a contemporary style bathroom, with heated floor. Slight shifts in the original floorplan also allow for laundry and a mudroom that open to the pool. The pool and patio additionally benefit from an innovative reconfiguration of the guest bathroom to provide easy access from the outdoors.

Gardens: The gardens surrounding this lovely house are a work in progress, as the owners focus on the home’s interiors for a near-term move-in date. As with other aspects of the thoughtfully designed property, the outdoors will reflect the comforts and lifestyle of the mid twentieth century. Included will be a pool lounge, outdoor shower and spa.

Ownership: This house was originally built for Orville and Elizabeth “Betty” Geer, but most of the remaining history of the property is difficult to trace due to the complexities of a trustee sale,

Music entertainment

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — The Barn Stormers 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — David Riggs

foreclosure and brief corporate ownership. It is believed that there have been three or four distinct owners, but their identities are not well documented, except for that of present owners Erik Daniells and Sara Shelley, whose restoration is creating a new chapter… and new lineage … at 212 Toyon Drive.

The living room boasts a massive stone fireplace, floor-to-ceiling windows and a wet bar showcasing an original Nutone system whose radio is still in use.

Courtesy photo

Many of its original features were created by Ray Colombara, whose custom wood craftsmanship has been a source of Woodland pride since 1955.

Stroll through History

10 Toyon Drive

Owners: Tom and Meg Stallard

Exterior: This is perhaps the best example of Mid-Century Modern architecture in Woodland. The best views are from the backyard showing a dramatic horizontal massing, a wide profile with a flat roofline, floor to ceiling windows, and a screened-in pool / patio lanai combination. The south end features multiple elevations while the main home is single story. The street façade is, in contrast, reclusively understated with plain masonry walls and high clerestory windows along the roofline.

Interior: The interior is mostly finished with clear-grain redwood walls, cedar ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Shoji screens adorn most doors and other closures. Full-length windows surround the interior pool and patio. (There is almost no visible drywall.) Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired features include a cantilevered balcony extending from the music room above the first floor and submerged bathtubs. The Stallards have added strategically-placed skylights in several rooms and a sitting room, with reproduction stained glass, along the back west wall. Decorative highlights include two full-wall Japanese screens and an antique caned chair and desk. Ask about the renovated 60s bomb shelter and the hidden “Nancy Drew” door accessing the basement.

Gardens: The Japanese Garden was designed a Japanese master who also worked in the Japanese Garden in Golden Gate Park. The Koi pond is fed by a stream and has a waterfall. Carefully placed rocks, tailored cypresses and three temples surround the pond. Finally, a protective wall of bamboo screens the garden from the rest of the world.

Ownership: The home was designed by Robert Crippen and built in 1961 for Lynn and Elinor Keys. Tom and Meg Stallard purchased the home in 1984. Their love for their 20th century modern home is just part of their appreciation of unique architecture. They have been “Heritage Heroes” for their work in restoring (and rebuilding!) many of Woodland’s 19th century downtown buildings to their former glory.

Music entertainment

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Gabe Lewins 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — James Drips

Perhaps the best example of Mid-Century Modern architecture in Woodland, the home at 10 Toyon Drive was designed by Robert Crippen and built in 1961.

Courtesy photo

Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired features include a cantilevered balcony extending from the music room above the first floor and submerged bathtubs.

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Our Community Forest: Landmark Trees Bike Tour

This 10 a.m. tour, led by docents Steve Radosevich and Rolf Frankenbach of the Woodland Tree Foundation will begin at City Park, at corner of Oak and Walnut streets. Bicycle helmets are required to join the tour.

Trees, they symbolize Woodland — the “City of Trees.” This has been Woodland’s motto since at least 1930. But the community’s identification with its trees stretches back to 1861 when the town’s godmother, Gertrude Freeman gave Woodland its name. Some of the monarch valley oaks from that era still remain, although they are gradually disappearing due to old age, disease, development and removal. Once the scene of thousands of valley oaks, today, Woodland contains less than 900 of these native oaks of appreciable size, mixed among a wide variety of trees planted in abundance by

Woodland citizens throughout its history.

Some of these prominent tree species — including valley oak, cork oak, American elm, paradox walnut and Canary Island palms — have been designated city landmarks.

Discover these fascinating trees and others by strapping on your helmet and following Steve Radosevich on a leisurely ride around the core area as he discusses current efforts to preserve and expand the community forest to combat global warming.

Learn where Woodland’s largest and oldest trees are found, how the age of large oaks are determined, and where world-renowned horticulturalist Luther Burbank’s walnut tree is planted, and efforts to reintroduce oaks to Woodland.

Look for acorns to collect, germinate and plant to contribute to the growth of Woodland’s community forest as we work together to cool our planet.

Ken Byes/Enterprise file photo

Bicycling Strollers tour historic Woodland in 2021. Docent Steve Radosevich and Rolf Frankenbach of the Woodland Tree Foundation will lead a tour of Woodland’s landmark trees.

Stroll through History

Enjoy a neighborhood walking tour

Special to The Enterprise

Free guided walking tours are small groups led by trained docents who are able to explain the architectural features and history of stops on the tour. Tours pass by homes but do not allow access. To see this year’s selection of five private residence interiors, purchase tickets for the Open Homes Tour at strollthroughhistory.com/tickets.

Each stroll lasts approximately 45 to 60 minutes. All terrain is flat on city sidewalks. Wear comfortable shoes and bring your camera. Stroll walking tours start at times and locations noted below.

“Lots of Time” or How Woodland’s Historic Neighborhoods Were Created — New tour

This 8:30 a.m. tour, led by historian Jim Lapsley, starts at southwest corner of Second and Cross streets.

Architecture is a form of fashion, and styles go in and out of fashion. Much of the reason for a neighborhood’s dominant architectural style depends upon when the land was subdivided into lots, allowing home construction. This fascinating tour walks though the three blocks of “Bynum’s 1871 Addition to the City of Woodland” bounded by Cross, Pendegast, Third and College streets.

One block on First Street was subdivided in the 1880s and is still largely populated by Victorians, while the block across the street wasn’t subdivided until the 1910s and has an array of house styles from the first half of the 20th century. The contrast in architectural styles from one side of the street to the other is striking, awaiting to be discovered by strollers. Take a deep dive into Woodland’s history as you stroll through different eras of architecture while discovering how Woodland neighborhoods were created.

College Street Pioneers and Preservationists

This 8:30 a.m. tour, led by historian Barbara Graham, starts at the southeast corner of College and Lincoln streets, at historic Woodland Christian Church.

College Street has a variety of upscale house styles, including Victorian-era Italianates, Queen Annes, Craftsman Bungalows, and the first Modernist home built in Woodland in 1912. Join docent Barbara Graham, who has intimately

studied this neighborhood over the course of leading this captivating walking tour for many years, for a step back in time to experience Woodland’s formative years. Learn about these upscale, renovated houses and who lived in them during the early days of Woodland. From a United States Congressman, a bank president, an author and a Women’s Christian Temperance activist, College Street was home to incredibly interesting and influential people.

Fabulous First Street’s Architectural Treasures: Parts 1 and 2

Note: This tour will be divided into two parts to capture the grandeur and beauty of the entire street.

The 9 a.m. tour, starting at the corner of First and Lincoln streets, is led by Chris Holt, architect, artist and Woodland Planning Commissioner. The 10:30 a.m. tour starts at First and Cross streets in front of Gable Mansion, and is led by Mary Aulman, of the Yolo County Historical Society.

Richly diverse with a wide array of Victorians — including the California State Landmark Gable Mansion — First Street contains a stunning variety of well-preserved architecture spanning the period from 1860 to the present, epitomizing Woodland’s extraordinary cultural heritage and social history. The homes set along this beautiful tree-canopied street have been lovingly restored by many homeowners over the last 50 years, including the Victorian at 638 First St., winner of a Great American Home Awards Grand Prize for restoration work, and the fabulous Gable Mansion. This exceptional tour will capture Woodland’s extraordinary social and economic history embodied by its exceptional architecture.

Using Color to Preserve Character: Woodland

Painted Ladies — New tour

This 9:30 a.m. tour starts at the northwest corner of First and Lincoln streets. It is led by Don Easton, professional house painter.

Authenticity in architecture expresses period, value, history and enhances its place in our community. Inspired by the colorist movement sparked by San Francisco’s “Painted Ladies” and the New England preservation and restoration society, Woodland-based house painter, Don Easton, has painted many of Woodland’s charming historic homes. He will lead a tour of several Victorians discussing exterior home colors

Sue Cockrell/ Enterprise file photo

Above, Strollers discuss the 1890 Queen Anne Victorian built by Seattle architect Edmund R.Lowe located at 458 First St.

Right, Don Easton will lead the “Woodland Painted Ladies” tour that will discuss “Using Color to PreserveCharacter.”

Stroll through History

and the Craftsmanship Operating Procedures. Learn craftsmanship tips and techniques used then and now to preserve the integrity of some of Woodland’s architectural treasures.

Craftsman and Bungalow Heaven: Pendegast and Elm Street Tour — New tour

This 10 a.m. tour, led by architect Chris Campbell, starts at the northwest corner of Pendegast and College streets.

This educational tour winds its way along Pendegast Street filled with rustic Craftsman style houses and beautiful gardens, ancient oak trees and revival-style houses from the early 1900s, lovingly restored by their owners. Stroll by a historic school site that began with Oak Street School in 1889 and continues today as Dingle School — originally built in 1924 as Woodland Grammar School. An ancient oak on campus is now designated a city landmark. There is a colorful mural on the multipurpose building. The Dingle neighborhood features many fine examples of bungalows from the 1910-20 period.

Barns, Alleys, Oaks and Hidden Surprises

— New alleys added

This 10 a.m. tour, led by Mark Aulman, starts at the corner of Second Street and Dog Gone Alley, just south of Main Street.

This fun tour is full of surprises that kids (and adults) will love. This stroll will begin at Dog Gone Alley, one of Woodland’s two downtown alleys, and weave its way into hidden residential alleys. Strollers will discover some of Woodland’s seldom seen places and observe several barns and carriage houses from the horse and buggy days. Towering native valley oak trees and other specimen trees planted by families from bygone days will be discussed.

Beamer Park Tour

— New tour

This 10:30 a.m. tour, led by Jim Bohan, starts at the Beamer Arches at Third and Beamer streets.

Shortly before World War I, Bay Area developer, Hewitt Davenport, subdivided the old Richard and Rebecca Beamer homestead and hired prominent landscape architect, Mark Daniels, to design something different for Woodland: an upscale, master planned enclave with curved streets and round-about with fountain, an architectural gateway, a public park-and pricey home lots set among ancient valley oak trees. A private train

was chartered from Sacramento to promote the grand opening of Beamer Park in June 1914. The complete build out of the Park took more than 40 years, interrupted by WWI, the Great Depression and WWII, and accounts for the broad range of housing styles. Several talented builders left their mark on Beamer Park, including William Fait and Joseph Motroni, whose works will be highlighted on this tour. Recent improvements to the public park and tree-scape will also be discussed.

The Beamer House — an elegant colonial plantation style home at 9 Palm Avenue — is the oldest recorded home in Woodland, dating from 1860, and was built by Richard L. Beamer, a cabinet maker from Virginia. The Beamer Park neighborhood was established when the home’s acreage was sold in lots to the Keystone Development Group in 1914 by his son, R. H. Beamer.

Ken Trott leads the Barns, Alleys, Oaks and Hidden Surprises walking tour.

Crystal Vagnier/ Enterprise file photo

Ken Byes/ Enterprise file photo

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Corner Drug celebrates 125 years of service

Aaron Geerts Enterprise staff writer

Fine wines the world over are turning green with envy as they can only dream of aging as well as Corner Drug in Woodland. Come November, this — quite literal — brick-and-mortar business will celebrate 125 years of service and stands as a testament to generations of unparalleled work ethic in Yolo County.

Corner Drug’s 125-year story begins back in 1897, when it was opened by a man named Wallace Pond. Since then, Corner Drug’s gone through renovations, endured pandemics, world wars, big-box competition and has had a handful of owners. Right before the turn of the century in 1999, Karl Hanke sold ownership of Corner Drug to his daughter, Lisa — who was also a pharmacist.

Like mother like daughter, Lisa’s daughter, Sara, became a pharmacist as well and is now one of the managers along with her husband, Erik Daniells.

“I met my spouse, Sara, when she was going to pharmacy school at UOP in Stockton and she’s a third-generation owner. Her grandfather was a deliver boy and clerk back in the ’40s. Then he went to pharmacy school, got his license, bought in and became an owner. Then Sara’s mom, Lisa, became an owner and a pharmacist, so it was kind of destined for Sara to become one as well,” Daniells said. “I joined up around 2016 when there was a break in my theater schedule and started helping with deliveries and cashiering and have been an owner now for a couple years. Sara and I also have a little girl named Iris, who’s 3. We call her the junior intern because she hangs out here sometimes.”

While many pharmaceutical entities can’t be trusted as far as they can be thrown, Corner Drug has been building trust with customers for generations. Although this trust isn’t indicated by any Internet poll, it rings loud and clear through the innumerable anecdotes older customers bring with them through the doors. For Daniells, it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being an owner of this historic business. Of course, it all rounds

To celebrate its 125 year milestone, Corner Drug is having a celebration on Friday, Nov. 4. The revelries will be taking place from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include live music, giveaways as well as speeches and dedications from distinguished guests.

back to the selfless service Corner Drug has not only provided Woodland, but Davis as well.

“What’s really important for us, we try to reduce barriers to access. It’s difficult for some people to come down to the pharmacy and get their medication. So, we started delivering to Davis nursing homes, facilities and also residences a number of years ago before COVID,” Daniells explained Corner Drug’s connection to Davis. “We had to close our doors during the pandemic, and switched to curbside pickup and did free deliveries. That really ramped up our Davis deliveries, and that’s when we expanded to Winters and other outlying communities trying to make it easier for people to access the medication they need. And it’s still free delivery, too.”

Delivering since before delivery apps, Corner Drug used to bicycle customer wares across the county. With that sort of effort and dedication to their customers, it’s no wonder Corner Drug is dubbed “The Store of Service.” Of course, service not only applies to taking care of customers, but the employees as well.

“It’s an honor to carry on the legacy because so many people have worked here. Not just the previous owners but the clerks, the delivery drivers, pharmacists, it’s been a team effort for, really, that whole 125 years,” Daniells said. “I love people who come here for the first time because we have these old pharmacy antiques in our mini museum in our store. The other part is our regulars who come in and share stories of our history. It’s just special to hear those stories of, ‘oh I came in here when I was a kid,’ or ‘I used to work here in the seventies and take naps in the basement.’ My mother-in-law has so many of those personal stories working here over the years.”

From their old-school candies to their over-thecounter section to their wide variety of toys and free gift wrapping, Corner Drug is as handy and helpful in 2022 as it ever was over the past 125 years. To celebrate this milestone, Corner Drug will have a celebration on Friday, Nov 4. The revelries will run from 5 to 7 p.m. and will include live music, giveaways as well as speeches and dedications from distinguished guests.

To stay up-to-date on The Store of Service, one visit their website at cornerdrugco.com, visit their social media accounts by searching @cornerdrug on Instagram and Corner Drug Co on Facebook. Or visit the store in person at 602 Main St. in Woodland.

“It’s an honor to carry on the legacy because so many people have worked here. Not just the previous owners but the clerks, the delivery drivers, pharmacists, it’s been a team effort for, really, that whole 125 years.”

Erik Daniells Corner Drug Store owner, pharmacist

Amy Shuman/Courtesy photo

Corner Drug has been building trust with customers for generations in Yolo County.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Landmark building tours and events

Special to The Enterprise

Historic Woodland Train Depot

1120 Lincoln Ave.

9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The Historic Woodland Train Depot will be open for tours from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Stroll Through History. This year we will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Sacramento Valley Historical Railways, the nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Historic Woodland Train Depot. In addition, we will be celebrating the restoration of the Southern Pacific Section Tool House funded by a generous grant from the Stroll Through History.

Visit www.WoodlandTrainDepot.org and follow on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ SacramentoValleyHistoricalRailways.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

515 Second St.

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

This Gothic-Revival style church has graced the corner of Second St. and Lincoln Ave. since 1912. Don’t miss the three stained glass windows above the altar. They were created by the world-famous Louis Tiffany Studio and installed in 1922. There will also be a 30-minute organ recital by Dean Mora at 11:30 a.m.

Woodland Opera House

Main and Second streets on Heritage Plaza

10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Opera House will be open for tours. Tickets are also available to see the play “The Ghost of the Woodland Opera House.” Check woodlandoperahouse.org for ticket availability and times.

Woodland Christian Church

509 College St.

The church and museum will be open for tours from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. This Mission Revival style church was dedicated on October 16, 1949. The museum tells the history of the church and also of Hesperian College. Don’t miss the picture of the college as it looked when it was dedicated at the exact hour of Lincoln’s inauguration in 1861.

Boy Scout Cabin

515 Lincoln Ave.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open house and a rummage sale. Ken Byes/Enterprise photo

The Woodland Opera House will be open for tours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For ticket information about the play “The Ghost of the Woodland Opera House” visit woodlandoperahouse.org.

Chapman University Archives/Courtesy photo Hesperian College building, constructed in 1860-61, Woodland, ca. 1862. Chapman University was founded by members of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as Hesperian College in Woodland on March 4, 1861.

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll through History

Stroll Through History downtown events

Special to The Enterprise

There will be a lot to see downtown on Stroll Day. To start the day, the Kiwanians will be serving their famous Kiwanis breakfast of pancakes, sausage, juice, coffee and bananas – FREE –beginning at 8 a.m. in the Plaza. Main Street will be closed from First to Third streets. There will be four antique firetrucks on display, as well as Model T and Model A antique cars.

Yolo County and WWI exhibit

Yolo County Administration Building, 625 Court St.

The County Administration Building is hosting an exhibit on Yolo County and WW1. Docent-led tours through the exhibit will be held on the hour from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Each tour lasts 40 minutes. Anyone is free to walk through the exhibition on their own.

Staff from the Yolo County Archives will be on hand to answer questions about Woodland’s history and also to help anyone doing research on their historic house or Yolo County history. Cookies and lemonade will be provided.

Lil Porter, the Smallest Theatre in the Wild West and Museum of Local History

Porter Building 329 College St.

11 a.m. to noon

Visit the tiny museum of local history including Woodland movie houses, Porter family, Dead Cat Alley and Old China Town and the future home of Opryolo. Occupancy is limited to four at a time. Presented by Woodland Parlor 30, Native Sons of the Golden West docents Dani Schaad and Barbara Cotter.

Asa and the Holstein Queen, Tilly Alcartra

Freeman/Schmauderer Bldg., 539 Main St.

11 a.m. to noon

Tilly Alcartra was Yolo County’s most famous milk cow. She was not only a local celebrity, but an internationally-renowned milk production champion who set world records from 1914-1920. Learn about the life and times of Yolo County’s Holstein Queen (also to be celebrated at TILLYfest, Bluegrass Woodland on Nov. 5). Presented by Woodland Parlor 30, Native Sons of the Golden West docents Rich Westphal and Ellie Dolan.

Porter Theatre, 1945, showing the location of Lil Porter, 2022.

Photo by Richard Mann published in David Wilkinson’s book “Hollywood Comes to Woodland” (available from Yolo County Historical Society).

Richard Mann/Courtesy photo

Lynne Gough/Courtesy photo

Tilly Alcartra at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, 1919, taken by Lynne Gough, author of Asa and the Holstein Queen.

Stroll through History

A stroll through tree history

By Don Shor Special to The Enterprise

As you stroll through older neighborhoods, take a moment to look up. Much of the charm and ambience is provided by the large trees that form a canopy above you.

Many of the trees providing shade, cooling the pavement, reducing the sun’s glare and making healthier air, were planted way back when those neighborhoods were first built.

Davis, Woodland and Winters have many trees that were planted in the early part of the 20th century. Here and there, even older trees remain.

What are our historical trees?

When European immigrants came to the Sacramento Valley in large numbers at the time of the Gold Rush, they found enormous oaks, Western sycamores and cottonwood trees. There were California black walnuts, and in our region stream willows along the creeks, and Valley oaks.

“When New York Tribune correspondent and author Bayard Taylor passed through in 1850, he reported that Sacramento’s ‘original forest trees, standing in all parts of the town, give it a very picturesque appearance. Many of the streets are lined with oaks and sycamores, six feet in diameter, and spreading ample boughs on every side.’”

Unfortunately, the newcomers often destroyed those grand old trees by cutting them down or due to fires.

“By 1854 Sacramento had become the state capital, and roaring conflagrations had destroyed even more of its original giant sycamores. The fastgrowing native cottonwoods planted in their place were unleashing drifts of irksome white silky down from their seed pods that snagged and littered, clumping up on sidewalks and streets.”

Fortunately, tree plantings began in earnest wherever new homes were built. New residents planted the familiar elms, oaks, ash and maple trees they knew from back east, all of which flourished here with adequate water. Our native black walnuts were joined by English walnuts as well as hybrids.

Do trees live hundreds of years?

Some species can. But drought, flooding, increased heat and encroachment by housing and farming take their toll. Some of the oldest and biggest trees locally:

• Some we know the exact age: the Shakespeare Oak in City Park in Woodland is a Valley oak that was planted by the Woodland Shakespeare Club in 1916.

• A Paradox walnut — a hybrid (English walnut crossed with black walnut) created by Luther

Our native Valley oaks (Quercus lobata), right, are some of the biggest, oldest trees in our area.

Planted in your landscape, they can grow moderately fast and eventually attain great size.

The male variety of Chinese pistache called ‘Keith Davey,’ left, is bright red (and fruitless). A new hybrid pistache called Red Push features colorful spring growth as well as fall color.

Burbank — was donated to Woodland by Burbank and planted on Arbor Day in 1925 at the corner of Oak and Walnut Streets, also at City Park. There is a grand specimen of Paradox walnut in Davis at the Lutheran Church on E. Eighth Street, probably planted around 1950.

Paradox has been used as a rootstock for English walnut (some walnut orchards use Paradox rootstock; others use regular black walnut rootstock) and occasionally the rootstock overtakes the top. An enormous Paradox walnut on my farm likely originated that way from the 1920s.

• Ages of other trees can be estimated: two Valley oaks shown on the Tree Davis Great Tree Search are at least 380 years old.

The grand old trees that you see in older neighborhoods are likely several decades to a century old. College Park, the lovely leaf-shrouded neighborhood directly across from the entrance to UC Davis on Russell Boulevard, was established in 1923 (outside the city limits at the time) and many of the older trees in that neighborhood were probably planted then.

Where did the elms go?

Most of elms, alas, died out from Dutch elm disease in most parts of the U.S., and removed due to elm leaf beetle in our area, in the 20th century. I remember a few great tall specimens in downtown Davis in the 1970s and 80s. At least one great American elm, probably a century old, remains on Third Street in Woodland.

Good news for elm lovers: several generations of tree scientists have worked to select and develop new, disease- and beetle-resistant elm varieties suitable for urban tree plantings. Performance trials include a site at UC Davis and several of these new elms have become available at nurseries. Elms are returning to America’s cities.

Elm alternatives

Zelkovas, which are in the elm family but don’t share the disease and pest issues, were often planted as substitutes, starting in the 1940s when the elms began to die out. They are the trees shading Elmwood Drive in Davis.

Many species of oaks, such as this London oak (Quercus robur) , are well adapted here for drought and heat tolerance. Just keep in mind that they grow to be very large trees.

Also in the 40s, Chinese elms (Ulmus parvifolia), resistant to the pest and the disease, became popular especially in Southern California. Drake elm is a very graceful, spreading form of the Chinese elm. Ulmus parvifolia has become an important parent in hybridizing new resistant varieties.

Sometimes great trees are destroyed by mismanagement. Black walnuts were planted along Russell Boulevard in Davis (then Lincoln Highway, US 40) by the LaRue family around 1876.

Courtesy photos

Stroll through History

The trees were topped a hundred years later, began to decline and have gradually been removed. A few black walnuts have been replanted among the older ones, and over the last two years Tree Davis has planted a hundred oak trees of four species, from Highway 113 all the way to the city’s edge, to provide a new tree canopy along Russell Boulevard for future generations.

Stroll through History

Many species of oaks, uch as this Shumardi oak, right, are well adapted here for drought and heat tolerance.

A spate of tree plantings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries provided the canopies of trees that shelter our oldest neighborhoods now.

Sycamores and plane trees, ash, Chinese pistache and walnut trees were widely planted decades ago. An interesting addition to the area tree population occurred after WWII when many cork oaks were planted in the late 1940s on and off the UCD campus. There are excellent examples on Olive Drive in Davis, on the Quad on campus, and here and there throughout older neighborhoods in both Woodland and Davis. Cork oak, an evergreen species native to Portugal, is well adapted to our region as it is tolerant of drought, able to subsist solely on our winter rainfall once established.

London planetree is the most widely planted tree still around in large numbers in Davis, Woodland and Winters. An inventory of the city trees of Davis showed London planetree makes up the highest percentage of Davis trees in numbers and species importance value (a measure which includes the leaf area). Our native Valley oak is second in that measure, followed by coast redwood, Chinese pistache and Chinese and European hackberries. Chinese pistache is a significant part of the canopy of older neighborhoods in Valley towns and provides much of our fall color.

Some other widely planted trees include crape myrtles, and locally and a little surprisingly, Canary Island pines. For some reason these upright pines with the drooping needles were planted a lot, especially in east Davis, in the 1960s. They’ve done very well since Canary Island’s climate is like ours. Another horticultural import, from those lovely islands off the coast of Morocco, is the Canary Island date palm — that monstrous palm you see around old farmhouses.

Improved varieties

Diseases and nuisance factors sometimes show up when a species is widely planted. Planetrees from the original hybrid get mildew and anthracnose blight on the leaves, causing significant leaf drop in spring. Resistant varieties such as ‘Columbia’ have been introduced. The fruit litter and reseeding of Chinese pistache are obviated by the popularity of ‘Keith Davey,’ a male cultivar which has the added attraction of bright red fall color. A new pistache hybrid called ‘Red Push’ is becoming available as well which could help with species diversity.

Another tree popular for fall color is Ginkgo biloba, below, the Maidenhair tree. Ginkgo trees are very tolerant of a wide range of growing conditions.

The London planetree (Platanus x acerifolia), left, is thought to be a cross between the Old World plane and the American plane trees that occurred as a natural hybrid, a couple of hundred years ago, when they were growing near each other. Exceptional pollution tolerance has made it a common city street tree everywhere, and they can achieve great size and age. New varieties are very disease resistant.

More brilliant fall color comes from the lovely ginkgo tree. Many decades ago, Ginkgo biloba was grown from seed and heavily planted in the eastern U.S. (there are several thousand in Washington D.C. alone). Ginkgo trees are dioecious (separate sexes), so half of those trees produce fruit that contains butyric acid. One article describes this as having “the scent of rancid butter,” which is one of the more charitable descriptions.

Ginkgo trees are impervious to pests and diseases and can live hundreds of years, growing slowly to enormous size, but with female trees dropping putrid fruit, their greatest threat is from an axe or chain saw. Make sure the tree you plant is a grafted male cultivar.

There have been some unfortunate choices in tree plantings.

Chinese tallow trees and Calleryana pears, planted in large numbers in the 1970s and 80s, proved problematic and are no longer recommended, nor are the varieties of ash trees that have come along over the years (Modesto, Moraine, Raywood ash). Those each have problems, and now with the Emerald ash borer moving inexorably toward us (found in Oregon in July 2022, evidently established there), ash trees are no longer recommended at all. They do make up a lot of the tree canopy in some neighborhoods, and some have lovely fall color. Planning to replace the ash trees in Sacramento Valley cities should be happening now.

Coast redwoods, — popularized by Dr. Elliot Weier for whom the redwood grove in the UC arboretum is named — were widely planted from the 1940s and are especially common in neighborhoods from the 1970s and 80s when selected cultivars were introduced. Unfortunately, Coast redwood is not drought tolerant even when mature, and thus isn’t suited to our hot interior climate without summer irrigation. Trees in parks near irrigated turf are doing okay, but when lawn watering stops, a lot of redwoods are dying after several years of drought. Deodar cedars and the native Incense cedar are better conifer choices for us going forward.

Planting for the future

Adaptability to climate change is a key factor in selecting trees to plant. The goal is a mix of species capable of growing and thriving despite greater extremes of drought, heat and flooding.

Davis and Woodland maintain lists of Landmark Trees: outstanding specimens identified for age, size, historic value, or being of a unique species.

• The City of Woodland has honored Landmark Trees and preserves their history here: https:// www.cityofwoodland.org/1189/Landmark-Trees

• The City of Davis keeps a roster of Landmark Trees and Trees of Significance here: https:// www.cityofdavis.org/home/showpublished document/3244/637740329754600000

• Tree Davis maintains a map showing significant trees in both cities, and in Winters, here: https://www.treedavis.org/tree-map/

What are the old tree species that are still with us?

Courtesy photos

Stroll through History

Stroll through History