Ferry history and Rio Nido Info, Request for

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I am presently researching the Bay Area's love affair with the Russian River area (Rio Nido in particular) during the 40's and 50's when it was the IN SPOT to go during the summer months.

My research will cover the original modes of transportation to the Russian River during the late 1800's (Ferry Boats and trains), original settlers of the Rio Nido and surrounding areas and highlights up to the 1960's I lived in Rio Nido during the summer months of the 40's and 50's and hope to report the social side of life asI experienced it at that time but I need detailed help about the period 1860 - 1945.

I also need help on the original San Francisco Bay Ferry System. Who started it? When? Where did it go? etc. etc. I am familiar with Mr. Fred Stindt's publication - Trains to the Russian River, but I need more detailed information. Any help will be sincerely appreciated. Thank you!

-- Bill Nelson (Will800@aol.com), November 03, 1998

Answers

"Paddlewheel Days in California," by Jerry MacMillen (out of print, but should be able to find it through inter-library loan) has a lot about riverboats and ferries, but nothing, it seems, specifically about the Russian River. I don't know if the SF Maritime Museum would have anything for you or not, but you might give their reference dept. a try. I think there are some books out there about SF ferryboats. And of course, I always recommend looking in Melvyl, the on-line catalog for the University of California. Good luck.

-- dorothy (leland@dcn.davis.ca.us), November 03, 1998.

Bill,

Be sure to read "San Francisco Bay Ferryboats" by George Harlan (Howell North Books, 1967). It's an excellent work. Also, the Maritime Museum -- now known as San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park -- has extensive information on Bay ferry history. A good resource person is Mr. Leigh Newcombe at (415) 556-3797.

I'm looking forward to your book. I grew up in San Francisco and Westlake during the '50s and '60s, and remember that all the "neat" kids' folks seemed to have places on the River. Going there was the height of middle-class cool. (I didn't move in circles haughty enough to even aspire to going to the Lake -- Tahoe.)

Good luck!

John Martini

-- John A. Martini (John_Martini@nps.gov), November 04, 1998.


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