Embedded Files
James Bennett purchased his property from General Vallejo in 1852
An ancient inland sea once covered Sonoma and Napa Counties. Colliding continental plates created the mountains and hills. Bennett Valley is squeezed between three of these mountain peaks: Taylor Mountain, Sonoma Mountain and Bennett Mountain. This ancient sea, along with volcanic ash, has made Bennett Valley lush and fertile.
Plentiful food supplies in this area supported many Indians of the Pomo, Wappo and Miwok tribe. However, by 1837 most of these native people had been wiped out by a smallpox epidemic introduced by the Spanish soldiers, who came around 1834 with General Vallejo.
The 1849 Gold Rush brought many settlers to this area, including Missourian James N. Bennett, who settled in the vicinity of the high peak called “Yulupa”, on property he later purchased from General Vallejo. In 1853 he was elected to the California State Assembly. Eventually, that same high peak and the entire valley were named “Bennett” after him.
Agriculture began to spread throughout the valley as settlers trickled in. “Men and women who came in search of gold in the mines found agricultural gold in the sunshine drenched valley.” By 1884 Bennett Valley was highly productive. Robert Thompson, an historian of that time, stated that Bennett Valley had about 15,000 acres of land and a population of 300. The farming activities that he described included vineyards, orchards, grain, livestock and dairies. Other historians of that time noted: “It was possible to grow virtually anything in Bennett Valley”... “Bennett Valley is almost one continuous vineyard.”
Another early settler, John Shakleford Taylor, settled in Bennett Valley in 1853 and owned 2,000 acres, on the mountain named after him, Taylor Mountain. He maintained a dairy and stock ranch for over one-half of a century, dying in 1927, at the age of 99. Taylor’s property “comprises some of the richest and most productive hill and valley land in Santa Rosa Valley. There were also several coal mines on Taylor Mountain...” The White Sulphur Springs on his property became a large resort for a time, but after the 1906 earthquake, these springs became inactive. “Mr. Taylor was instrumental in getting the first race track started for the county fair on property adjacent to his at the north side.”
Other Bennett Valley farmers who have been active in this area include James Jamison (who was also a County Supervisor),William and Ruth Jacobs, the Guenza Brothers, E.F. Bethards and D.W. Batesole.
One of the historical landmarks is the Bennett Valley Grange Hall, which was built in 1873, and is the oldest continuously used Grange Hall in the United States. The local Bennett Valley school district was formed around 1851 and was called the “Santa Rosa School District”. About four years later, Santa Rosa formed its own school district and it was called the “Courthouse District”. Another landmark in Bennett Valley is the old barn which housed the blacksmith shop, operated by Mr. Dana Bremner, a Wisconsin blacksmith. Along with his family, he also ran a post office and a family resort in the same location from 1880 until about 1904. This same old barn is still visible along Bennett Valley Road today.
Timeline
1869
1869
1873
1926
1971
Bennett Valley Homeowner's Association (now the BVCA) formed
Page updated
Report abuse