My older sister and I playing cowboy's and indians at home
Growing up in Sonoma County was like living in a dream. Our home was one of three on the outskirts of what was to be a new subdivision next to the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
The first years of my existence, our yard (one & a half acres) was the wild west and our undiscovered country (see photo). The oaks serving as our “cover” as we played. As I grew, the neighborhood called “Willowside Estates” was forming. I was free to explore the home sites, the freshly bulldozed roads were my make believe “motocross track”. I remember the dirt was so fine in places, it was like playing in a foot of wheat colored flour. I always had to be careful not to lose my shoes.
As families started moving in I had more kids to play with. Our closest neighbors, adjacent to us on the south side was the DeMeo Family (Jack and Judy). I looked up to their oldest son Tommy, he played the drums (very cool) and was a great guy, he always had time for a squirt like me. Then there was my buddy, Robert Diggs Wright. We called him ”Skip”, his dad was a merchant ship captain so he was known at home as “the little Skipper”.
We ran wild, playing in the oak filled countryside, pastures or in and about the neighborhood. We would leave the house in the morning to visit friends in the neighborhood. We would head home for lunch and then back out and ride our bikes until dark. We would occasionally go as far as the brand new “Coddington Center” in Santa Rosa but usually only as far as the Kettleson ranch (now the Balletto Farm) on Guerneville rd) where our friend Mark’s grandparents lived.
Obviously in those days there was no way for our parents to get a hold of us. If they needed us, they could give a yell out the back door and if we didn’t come right away, they pretty much knew where to look. As a teenager there was much fun to had and trouble to get into (not that I got into any) in and around the Santa Rosa Golf & Country Club that had been built there in the early 1960′s.
As an adult I became the real estate authority in this neighborhood and have thus far sold or re sold many of the homes there. It is still a beautiful neighborhood, now of more than 200 homes; each on about a half acre with nice wide streets and lots of fond memories. More stories to come…
I had a cowboy hat just like that when I was just about that age. This post brought back all sorts of memories about discovering kid sized wildernesses in the urban environment where I grew up. Thank you for the glimpse into your past.
That’s how the wild wild west was won! With big boots and a fast gun…
Hi Ron – Wow! What great memories of growing up in such a beautiful location. With that history, you are certainly the person to know Sonoma Real Estate well! Bravo! ~ Saucy Girl
My honey Earl grew up in the bay area and he always tells stories of going to the “country” to play – he meant what is now wine country – back then very different! Great sharing Ron – I love it!
Ann Evanston
The Warrior is Within You
I really enjoyed this posting – brought back great memories growing up in Marin and Napa counties…we have photos with the same hats and boots…amazing! Thanks to Ann Evanston for sharing on Facebook.