*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 91--- since labored efficiently and effectively in this field. It is well and carefully edited--typograhically it shows the supervision of an experienced printer. Unlike the early journalistic ventures in Healdsburg, the Enterprise was a success from its first issue. It was bravely launched, and may prosperous breezes continue to swell its sails. There are seven churches in Healdsburg: one Methodist, one Methodist South; one Presbyterian; one Baptist; one Christian; one Catholic; one Adventist. There is one Masonic Lodge; one Lodge of Odd Fellows; one Lodge of Good Templars, and one Grange. The Odd Fellows and the Masons have each a hall that would do credit to a city of greater population than Healdsburg. The Grange is by far the most prosperous in the county. They have a large hall, beneath which is a co-operative store, patronized not only by Grangers, but by many people of Healdsburg who do not belong to the Grange. The Grange numbers among its many members many of the most enterprising and in- telligent citizens of Russian River Valley. Healdsburg has for its source of wealth, first the rich agricultural lands which surround it. Nothing can surpass the fertility of the soil of Russian River and Dry Creek Valleys. In the virgin state, under favorable circum- stances, they would produce one hundred bushels of wheat or corn to the acre. The fertility has been maintained nearly at its maximum by the annual overflow of the streams, which brings down a rich alluvial mold, fertilizing the land as the delta of the Nile is fertilized. Fortunately this rich land is cut up into small farms from twenty to one hundred acres each, which fact adds greatly to the prosperity of the town of Healdsburg. There is neither extreme cold in winter nor heat in summer in the town, which is protected from the harshness of the summer winds by the hills upon the west, and the winter climate is moderated by the great equalizer of tem- perature--the sea--with its warm current sweeping from Asia to the northwest coast of America, whence it turns southward, and materially affects the climate on the coast of California. The town is well supplied with water of the finest quality. It can be ob- tained in wells, pure and soft as rain water, at no great depth below the surface. Besides this, water is brought to the town from Sotoyome mountain, which we have before mentioned. A bold, limpid and sparkling spring flows from the bosom of that shapely hill as if Nature designed it for the special is of the fortunate people who were in the future to found a city at its base. The water from this spring supplies the town for domestic purposes, and has a sufficient fall to be used effectively in case of fire. Healdsburg is built on gravely soil, and to this fact the town is indebted for its excellent streets and drives, which do not get dusty in summer or muddy in winter. There are a number of places of interest near the town. The noted Geyser springs but are sixteen miles away. Litton Springs, a popular and fashionable summer resort, is not more than four miles distant. At the head of Dry creek are the widely-celebrated Skaggs' springs, which are crowded every summer with visitors. The quicksilver miles of Sonoma are in easy reach of Healdsburg; the Sousal mies are but seven miles; the Oakland is *** end ***