Vacation Resorts 1903 – Bennett Valley Area

Bennett Valley History

An article written by Marilyn Franc in the BVHA VOICE, dated January, 1984

From the 1850’s through the early 1900’s Bennett Valley and Sonoma Mountain homes and ranches hosted many a traveler looking for the peace and quiet the country offered from San Francisco and surrounding cities. A recent trip to the Sonoma County Historical Library found a very interesting publication by the Northwestern Railway on Vacation Resorts along their routes in Marin, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino counties.

Individuals or parties interested in a vacation resort could write for reservations… (Some Bennett Valley homes are then listed, such as Mrs. G. W. Mayfield.) Most of these vacation spots were advertised as being between 5 and 8 miles from town, guests to be met at the depot, offering meals, lodging, fishing, swimming, hunting, hiking, and daily mail delivery!! Rates were $6.00 per week, special rates for families.

…In talking with Mrs. Wm. (Ruth) Jacobs, Mr. Leonard Talbot, and the Brunings, many of the old homes took in summer guests, not necessarily as a resort for extended periods, but on occasion. Some of these old homes are still standing: the Bruning home (WALDRUHE), the Talbot home (for 2 years took in summer guests), the large home still called WALNUT LANE (present site of condos), the Witt’s, the Mayfield home BENNETT VALLEY having been located on the north side Lane off Sonoma Mountain Rd., and the Bremners’ home very near the Talbot’s in the Bennett Valley.

A profile of the WALDRUHE RESORT here follows as a result of visiting with Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bruning January 5th, 1984. Waldruehe (meaning “Forest Nest” in German) was owned and managed by the parents of Mr. Herbert Bruning at 6565 Sonoma Mountain Rd. Herbert Bruning was born to these younger children in 1910. The main house still stands and was built in two stages. The front part of the house was built in 1856 and included 5 bedrooms and a parlor. The kitchen and dining room were housed in a nearby building. In 1910 an addition was added to the back of the house and included a living room, a pantry, a 24’ x 24’ dining room, kitchen and bath. In those days the dining room would be cleared and used as a dance floor. Mr. Bruning’s sister played piano and people came from all around for the music and dancing. When the phonograph came along the piano became outdated but the people still came for the entertainment.

Guests arrived by spring wagon from the train depot in Glen Ellen. The narrow stretch of Sonoma Mountain Rd. between the Brunings and the bottom said grade… had been located on the opposite side of the creek. The present road having been put in by the senior Mr. Bruning many years ago after automobile travel became impossible on the bed rock road traveled for so many years by wagon.

The resort accommodated guests for the weekend, a week, or two weeks mostly during the summer months; occasionally guests came during winter. Choices of rooms included the main house, a 6-room cottage with beds or tents on platform. The Sonoma Creek boasted some 15 foot swimming holes, then.

Once a month saw a visit to Santa Rosa for supplies by horse-drawn wagons. The resort had a garden, chickens, and dairy cows for milk products. Several hogs were butchered in a year and all tomato products were home canned. Daily meals cost 25 to 30 cents. The elder Mrs. Bruning did all the cooking and reportedly cooked for the Kaiser in Germany before coming to this country. She came to this country with the influx of Germans fleeing the harsh military service in Germany then. In later years, butter and cream was sold to neighbors and to the Vella Cheese Company in Sonoma.

Jack London visited the mountain often riding horseback across the Bruning property. Mr. Bruning knew Martin Eden well, a subject of one of London’s books. Mr. Eden was a Swedish man who worked around many of the ranches from the Thompsons down into the valley. When haying time came, neighbors gathered together to help one another… (Mr. Bruning recalls) also, of attending the Enterprise school.

The original WALDRUHE RESORT consisted of approximately 200 acres across and uphill of Sonoma Mountain timbered with oak, madrone and bay. The purchase was made to preserve the timber and land. Later it was sold and developed into Waldruehe Heights by the Carpenter Family of San Francisco. The property was split into lots of 25’ x 100’. These lots with a cabin and furnishings went for $285.00 payable in monthly installments of $5.00, and included improvements, care when unoccupied and free of taxes and interest for 3 years. It was advertised as the “Switzerland of America”. Most people bought up several lots so as to have some acreage around their vacation cabin or permanent residence. Unimproved lots went for $100.00, payable in $2.00 monthly installments… At the time of the development approximately 22 cabins were built. Today about 15 homes are in the “HEIGHTS” and all but one or two of the original cabins remain. With the advent of the automobile most people wanted to travel farther from the city for vacations, so the trend for travelers to visit the routes along the railroad line in Sonoma waned.

Today, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Bruning continue to reside on the Bruning’s WALDRUHE RESORT site. They farm five acres of vineyard producing Gewurztraminer, Chardonnay and the Napa Gamay grapes. Most of the grapes are sold to fine wineries. They make some of their own wine and maintain a year-round garden. I would like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bruning for their warm hospitality and the time they took to tell this story. The history of the Resort and Heights are truly of historical importance to this area…