More 1887 photos of Sonoma Valley

In the process of researching our old historic vineyard, I ran across a whole slew of photos taken in 1887 from Sonoma Valley that I think are just beautiful. Though they bear a tangential relationship, at best, to the aim of this site, I thought they might be of interest to some of you. A few things to think about when looking at them:

1. How small most of the trees on the valley floor are. According to some accounts I have heard, the Wapo indian tribe, which made the valley a part-time residence prior to the Spanish missionaries, would apparently burn large tracts of land for farming– this could account for the lack of large vegetation on most of the valley floor.

2. No euculyptus! The tree was brought in later, as people thought the fast growing tree would be ideal for fuel and paper, among other things. Unfortunately, the tree took over, but since it was so oily it would cause chimney fires and was of little use in paper-making.

3. Beautiful architecture. I just love the large, wrap-around, decks on most of the estates.

4. How many vines there were. These photos were taken just as phylloxera vastetrix began its reign of terror. Though some of these vineyards were planted to varietals we are familiar with such as Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, many were planted to inferior mission varieties. Much like the outbreak of phylloxera in AXR-1 rootstocks in the late 80’s was a blessing in disguise (allowing people to replant on better trellising, with better clones, less vigorous rootstock, etc. etc.), the outbreak in the 1880’s allowed for replanting of better vinifera varietals.

5. That all of Sonoma Valley was essentially divided up by 5 or 6 enormous estates. The Buena Vista property took up the whole south-east corner. Vallejo has everything where the town is now. Caleb Cariger had the entire south-west part of the valley. The western edge of the valley, until Sonoma Mountain, was owned by George Hooper, Sonoma Mountain and current Glen Ellen by William McPherson Hill, and the center valley by Senator George Hearst (where our vineyard is). Wedged in between were a few smaller estates, but the valley was dominated by large landowners.

The town of Sonoma. The vineyard in the foreground is the Lachryma Montis vineyard of General Vallejo. It no longer exists.

Vineyards belonging to General Hooper on the flank of Sonoma Mountain. These vineyards are approximately where Mcrea vineyard, which goes to Steve Kistler, and is much smaller, lies now.

The residence at the “sobre vista” estate of Joseph Hooper.

The residence of William McPherson Hill.

The residence of Colonel Rogers. Just beautiful.

The “castle” at the Buena Vista estate. It burned several years later.

Grape arbor and hammock at the Ewell residence. Check out that mission grapevine!

Fountain at Vallejo’s Lachryma Montis estate.

The vineyards of William McPherson Hill. The vines towards the left make up the top of the current Old Hill Vineyard, the oldest in Sonoma Valley.

The residence of Caleb Cariger.

A road running through the property of Maxwell (where Lucky’s is now and the Boys and Girls Club)

The Winery of O. Rufus.

Another shot of William Hill’s property. What is that creature in front of the tree?

“Gift Vineyard” check out the early trellising and tight spacing of the vines in the vine-row.