Thanks to information shared by two faithful and eagle-eyed subscribers, John Sheehy and Bill Wolpert, I have updated my latest blog. The Sonoma County Library photograph showing Santa Claus in a horse-drawn sleigh on Kentucky Street could not have been taken in 1953, as stated in the library’s cataloging notes, because the 1886 Petaluma City Hall is not visible in the image. It should be behind the palm tree. The city hall was demolished in June 1955 and replaced with a parking lot. So, the library’s photograph of Santa had to have been shot in 1955 or later.
In this photograph, also from the Sonoma County Library, you can see the City Hall, 19-25 Kentucky Street, and a portion of the Continental Hotel. The building that the Strand Theatre first occupied and later the Bowling Palace hadn’t been built when this picture was taken. That building, known as the Lepori Building, was erected in 1929 by the Petaluma Building & Construction Company and the Strand Theatre opened in April 1930.
Then & Now – Kentucky Street, Petaluma, CA
thanks for another fascinating piece Katherine. We lost some fine buildings on Kentucky- incl the City Hall.
You’re most welcome. This stretch of Kentucky Street really has lost a lot of landmark including the Presbyterian Church that was next door to the Carnegie Library.