#23 Barbary Coast & Women's Improvement Park
#23 - Women’s Improvement Club/Dixon Brewery/Rossi Garage – northeast corner of C and First Streets (360)
At the turn of the century this property was called the Barbary Coast (the east side of First Street and around B and C Streets) and was home to the Empire Hotel (from Silveyville. The area featured a brewery, several saloons, a brothel, a Chinese laundry, a bordello, and an opium den. Although the area managed to escape both the great fire of 1883 and the earthquake of 1892, it could not withstand the determination of the Women’s Improvement Club. Mrs. Oscar Schulze had her husband purchase the land and remove the buildings. The site was then dedicated as a community park. Today the park continues as a space for people to enjoy picnics, festivals, and summer night movies in the park.
Francis Stern and wife were arrested in 1876, upon a charge of keeping a house of ill-fame. A jury trial was demanded, and nearly half the night was occupied in taking the testimony, the particulars of which are too disgusting to bear recital. The jury brought in a verdict of guilty, and Judge Brown fined Stern $299.99 and 100 days in the county jail, and his wife $100 or 100 days in the county jail.
By the late 1880’s, Dixon boasted a bank, seven hotels, two livery stables, four general stores, two drug stores, two jewelry stores, two millinery stores, two butcher shops, two barber shops, a lumber yard, four grain houses, a brewery, and a weekly newspaper. The Dixon Tribune, founded in 1884.
Rossi Garage serviced more than automobiles. Repairing cars struck by cows to hit and run accidents Rossi Garage was a huge asset to the community. Rossi’s Garage was a lost and found location for a woman’s hat left behind at a farm picnic in the newspaper on April 26, 1918. In 1921, Mr. Rossi bared half the cost of the auto repairs from a penniless woman with six children driving a Hudson that broke down. While the six children were in a state of hunger.
Fitzgerald garage became Rossi garage which featured a Caterpillar tractor model 35 on display.
Women’s Improvement Club
Ratified by the United State Congress on August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U. S. Constitution finally gave every
citizen the right to vote. Up until that time, women in the United States did not have voting privileges. That limitation,
however, had not slowed the women of Dixon in their determination in seeking to improve their social and cultural lives.
In the late 1890s a small group of Dixon women formed a successful “Shakespeare Club.” Some years later, that
organization club became the “Improvement Club.” The goal of this organization in 1899 was to work toward the civic and
social well being of the community. So here we are, 110 years later, a community still enjoying the benefits of the Dixon
Women’s Improvement Club.
In 1911 the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club recognized a need for a community library. Andrew Carnegie, the
philanthropist who founded The Carnegie Corporation of New York had made millions of dollars in steel and funds were
made available for libraries in communities which would become responsible for meeting certain conditions insuring
permanent upkeep. Even though the women were told Dixon was “too small” for a town library and the town fathers
considered the obligations were perhaps too much for Dixon, the women persevered by enlisting the aid and support of
Henry Petersen and his state legislative ties. His successful intervention resulted in the passage of a state law which
enabled our ladies to apply for the grant that later resulted in the establishment of our Dixon Library. On February 23, 1913,
the Dixon Carnegie Library was dedicated on land donated by the Schulze family. The dedication ceremony included
speeches by appropriate city dignitaries. According to the Dixon Tribune, the “Dixon Band played and plentiful
refreshments were enjoyed.” It was the first such library in Solano County and it certainly must have been a grand
celebration.
The ladies of the Improvement Club were not short on drive and ambition, but they did find they sometimes needed more
muscle and so they volunteered the men in the community. The Women’s Improvement Club Park that adjoins the library
hasn’t always been the pleasant, community spot it is today. Sometime around 1920 the ladies determined that a city park
would be a welcome addition. The location – along Main Street, between B and C Streets - was unsightly, at best, with a
collection of bordellos, bars and rundown shacks. Together, ladies and the men of the town volunteered to clean up the
property and the park was finally developed in 1933. There was a proposal, in 1934, to place some real Civil War-vintage
cannons in the Park, however, that did not meet with approval. Instead, the idea of using the Park for future band concerts
was definitely considered.
The property was officially turned over to the City of Dixon in 1922, with a clause in the transfer giving the Club a right to
build a clubhouse should they ever wish to do so and that no improvements or additions can be made to the Park without
the Club’s consent. In recent years, a bronze sculpture of three children perched on a log inspecting an insect on a twig
has been a welcome addition to the Park – it was a gift of art placed by the Williams family in remembrance of the late Joe
Williams.
The Dixon Women’s Improvement Club has been an active part of Dixon’s development and social structure for almost one
hundred years. The ladies continue to support many of the local needs as well as supporting national causes. They fully
supported the passage of the 19th Amendment – of course! In the 1920’s, they secured a community nurse, worked to get
laws passed requiring the pasteurization of milk and urged the establishment of child care centers. In 1939 they sponsored
and assured staffing of the well-baby clinic in Dixon (it served for 41 years). During World War I and World War II the club
wrapped bandages, sent care packages to servicemen and worked in the blood donor service. During the Korean Conflict
and Vietnam they continued to send care packages and provided cookies to the men and women stationed at Travis AFB.
In 1967 the club ladies were asked to furnish Christmas bags for men stationed in Vietnam. They complied and continued
to make them until 1969. The Club has sponsored Campfire, Brownie and Girl Scout Troops and they have gifted to the
City of Dixon street signs, barbecues and benches for local parks, lighting in the parks and tennis courts. They provided
playground equipment in Hall Park. The ladies of the Club have contributed to the Dixon Historical Society, the Health
Center and the Senior Center,
During its many years of service to our fair city, the club has enjoyed many social activities as well. They have staged
musical programs featuring local talent, sponsored book reviews and special speaking engagements – can you imagine
what it must’ve been like in 1952 to hear what the audience may have heard from the speaker on drugs and addiction? It
was, even then, “…an appalling thing that is threatening our young people.” The club held fund raisers…progressive
dessert-bridge parties, home tours, speakers from Holland on how to grow tulips, and countless other events. Today, the Dixon Women’s Improvement Club continues to support and serve the community of Dixon. The Club works
together for the general improvement, beautification and promotion of the best interests of Dixon, just as they’ve been
doing since 1899. They are active in the annual Christmas Tree Lighting and the Farmers’ Market. In 2006 they published
a history of Dixon; issues are available at the Dixon Public Library. In 1934 they voted to meet on the third Wednesday of
the month and so it is today. I guess you don’t change something when it’s working well!
Private Grammar and Secondary schools existed here in Dixon from the late 1870's and in 1891 the public Dixon Union
High School was created after passage by the State Legislature of the Union High School Law in 1890.
We only know of this early school history from unofficial records such as Tribune articles, old yearbooks and fragmentary
personal records such as diplomas.
Officially, the earliest school system records that can be found date from August 6, 1940 so the question is: where are the
earlier records of the Dixon School System?
Now, this is where the HELP WANTED part comes in: we (The Dixon Historical Society) have searched all the obvious
buildings, offices and storerooms in Dixon and come up empty handed. We are hoping someone in the community could
give us some clues as to where the ancient school records might be found. Maybe, a former custodian, secretary, history
teacher or administrator knows where these precious historical files are waiting to be rediscovered; if you might know,
please identify yourself and help us preserve the history of the Dixon School System.
If you know anything that might be helpful in locating the old school records, please contact Hayward Melville at 707-678
-4573 or hagavard@gmail.com.
3/1.1900 ----The property belonging to the estate of Henry Miller, deceased, was sold at public auction last Saturday by
Administrator Chas. Schirmer. The property consisted of a house and lot on Main street in the locality which is popularly
known as the "Barbary Coast." Its location was a hindrance to its ready sale and it was knocked down at $200, F. Karrick, a
laborer who has been in this section for several months past being the purchaser.
1903/04/01
- April.
FIRST STREET LANDMARKS DISAPPEARING. Ere this week is ended many of the landmarks which have
stood on First street, between B and C streets will have disappeared, and the erstwhile Dixonite who
finds occasion to return will be obliged to admit that we have at least become progressive enough to
clean out the "rookeries." The buildings have stood in the places now vacant for many years, ever since
the early history of the town. For many years they have been unprofitable and grown more and more
unsightly until Manager O.C. Schulze of Eppinger & Co., originated the idea of buying the property
outright. Mr. Schulze has been conducting a sort of "damaged goods sale" and buyers have razed the
buildings to the ground and hauled off the old lumber. The Thodt- buildings have been purchased by nearby farmers who are using it to excellent advantage for
repairs and other work on their ranches. The buildings were constructed largely of lumber commonly
used for ceiling purposes, and being carefully removed from the old buildings it is in extremely good
condition. While only high board fences will for the time mark the former location of a lot of unsightly
structures, the town will be rid of a veritable fire trap that has for years menaced Dixon town and caused
insurance rates to hold at an almost prohibitive figure.
03/01/1920
CLUB WILL VOTE ON PARK. The Women’s Club of Dixon will take a vote, next Weds. on the matter of buying certain lots
for a down-town park. O.C. Schulze Inc. magnanimously offers to deed the Club its lots north of the post office, with the
stipulation that they shall be used only for park purposes. The dance pavilion will be moved off. The Fire Department tower,
of course, will remain, as the use of the lot was promised for ten years. By the planting of vines the tower would prove to be
no detriment.Mesdames E.K.Wilson, Herbert Schulze, Almeida and Robben were at Woodland, Tuesday, and secured an
option on the Hyatt lot formerly owned by W.R. Madden, and they also have an option on the Clark-Little lot on the corner.
1921/04/08
April 8: CLUB AGREES TO DEED PARK LOT. Messrs. J.H. Petersen. W.J. Weyand and E.K. Wilson conferred
with the Woman Club, Weds. Afternoon on the matter of community building. nronncinn to the Club that
it deed the north corner lot to the high school district with the agreement that the erection of the building
and its maintenance be done thru the school district.
The women took a vote on the proposition, which was for acrentanr2 nc plan. Tentative plans were
shown to assure the Club that it is the intention to erect a community building that will be a credit to the
park. The next step will be a vote by the district on accepting the lot and issuing bonds for erection of a
building, which will not be done in the immediate future because of the present financial stress.
MAY DAY AND SPECIAL FEATURES: Over four hundred flags and pennants have arrived for street
decorations, The grand stand on Civic Centre Park Site will be large enough for all the literary exercises
with a platform 30 x 30 feet for the May pole and folk dances by the kiddies and the band concerts, The
siren tower has been electrically wired for illuminations and a monster big bonfire will burn all evening
on the north west corner of the area. parade will assemble on C street and march the full length of First
street from Railway track south and then counter-march on same street north to C street again where
the literary exercises will be held.
This week's issue of the Tribune is the old-time May Day Annual. Five hundred extra copies will be
printed, each containing a coupon good for 20 votes, (for May Queen).
09/01/1930
---The Standard Oil Company has notified the Womans club of the termination of its lease of the corner of
their park, now used for an oil station. The lease has been paying the club $50 a month. Giving up the
corner has been made necessary by the opening of the west side routing of the highway. The station will
be removed and the ground placed in park condition. Someone now suggest in a facetious way that the
club lay out a peewee golf course.
1932/02/01
The planting of the drooping cherry tree in the down town park on Monday afternoon was a pleasing little ceremony. The
Auxiliry was represented by Mrs. Chapman (chairman), Mrs. Ed. Schaeffer and Mrs. Leo Marvin; the Club by Mesdames
Timm, Dudley and E. Rohwer. The grammar school Band, under the direction of Miss Taylor, made its first public
appearance, playing "America" and "Star Spangled Banner." Mrs. Marvin gave a short address on Washington, Mrs.
Schaeffer dedicated the tree and presented it to the Club. Mrs. Eggert Rohwer accepted it in behalf of the Club. The high
school girls' glee club sang "Trees."
WOMENS CLUB WILL TURN PARK OVER TO TOWN. At the special meeting of the Women's Improvement Club
Wednesday afternoon, it was voted to deed the Club park to the town with the condition that it must always be maintained
as a public park and that the Club may build a club house on a section of it at some future time. The understanding is that
the Club retain the management of the park. In the acquiring of lots and payment of paving costs and taxes the Club has
expended a total of $18,000.
1925/04/01
April
J.H.PETERSEN FILLS PARK. J.H. Petersen made the members of the Womens Club glad when he
informed them that there would be no charge for the dirt and he had paid the bill for hauling it from his
ranch four miles south of town to the park site north of the post-office. C.E. Schmeiser has superintended
the hauling of the dirt, J.L. Kilkenny, the leveling of the ground, and J. Ahern, another public spirited
citizen, contributed the surveying. High school boys will install the sprinkling system.
Lee King and wife have leased the F. Smith house on the west side.Write your text here...
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