Hobson Creek Watershed History - The 1900's
At the beginning of the 1900's, the Russian River area had been "discovered." The Hobson Creek Watershed, owned by the McPeak family, opened up their home and their land into one of the first premier resorts along the river, inviting vacation-goers to relax on their farm, which was kept mostly as "wild land" with areas still cultivated for produce and goods. The McPeak land even boasted mineral springs, seen on early maps. Where are they now?
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By the end of the Roaring 20's, the Russian River area was hot. Vacationers came from all around to enjoy the River and its picturesque surroundings. They could rent cabins, tent, or stay in one of the many upscale resorts along the Russian. Though the area had already been mostly logged, it was still a unique and wonderful place. Some vacationers chose to buy their own piece of paradise. Once logged, the so-called "era of subdividing began in the region. Access roads were built, and large tracts were broken up into vacation lots along the river and within the shady canyons. These buyers were called "cottagers" and they could buy their land and build a cabin for $75. A big draw to our area and watershed was the nine hole golf course that was built in the flat lands around Hobson Creek. The nearby swimming hole was also noted as being "the best" along the river. The train brought people in, until 1935, when the train service faded and disappeared. That however was replaced with a paved new River Road that brought vacationers in. |
One of the resorts so popular back in the 20's, 30's, 40's and even into the 50's was built right on our watershed. The once-named Cosmo Farm, became the Cosmo Farm Resort into the 1920's. Finally, after 1926, it became the Hacienda Inn. Later it was known as Skippy's, or some called it Skippy's Tavern. The building still stands today, though in great disrepair. Look closely and the fruit trees around it still bear fruit and its tennis courts below are buried just below a blackberry thicket. Original owners around the resort had access to these amenities along with the many tourists and guests.
The Hacienda Inn ran ads in Bay Area newspapers from 1928 until at least 1930. The Great Depression had begun. In 1931, Harold Smith the owner started running an ad advertising the sale of the riverfront home but no mention of the resort. In 1932, Harold's name was replaced in the ads by a new owner, Marie Dutreau. Rates were $22.50 per week for tents and $25/week for a cabin. But no ads were run for several years until 1935 and the resort must have struggled. Another owner had taken over and rates had dropped. Only a few ads were run under this new owner before the Hacienda Inn disappeared from the papers for good. Skippy's ran as a resort into the 1950's and on for decades, as the canyon became more permanently settled by home owners.
During the 1940's after the Great Depression had done its worst, projects like the several-year-long building of the Hobson Creek Bridge were undertaken. The bridge comes just west of the Hacienda bridge and spans Hobson. Large portions of the active channel were rebuilt with smooth, tall concrete walls.
During the 1940's after the Great Depression had done its worst, projects like the several-year-long building of the Hobson Creek Bridge were undertaken. The bridge comes just west of the Hacienda bridge and spans Hobson. Large portions of the active channel were rebuilt with smooth, tall concrete walls.
In the 1950's, the old Hacienda Inn had been replaced by what locals remember as Skippy's. These decades were the boom years for our area - many came here to vacation and to live.
By the 1960's, the population along the Russian River had exploded. The number of vacation homes went up dramatically due to the second homes that were built by people living in the greater Bay Area, mostly from San Francisco. More and more people began to occupy those vacation cabins and permanent residency went up. If you look closely at the 1963 aerial photos, a much bigger portion of the Hobson Creek Watershed was cleared and cultivated. The area has come through a time of great growth, economic downturn and recovery. The watershed itself is recovering too as the new and old generations of full-time residents learn about and protect the land around them. |