This event will begin with a walk down memory lane, with an excerpt by local writer and artist, Marylu Downing from her novel, Tales from the West Pole, in which she and her family first ‘discover’ the Union Hotel. Barbara Gonnella will then be joined with iconic historian, Gaye le Baron in conversation about our beloved Occidental and its vibrant history. All our book events are free, but donations are gratefully accepted.
Watch the event on YouTube beginning at 4 PM on April 11, 2021.
Occidental is a picturesque village in West Sonoma County nestled between Salmon Creek and Dutch Bill Creek watersheds. William “Dutch Bill” Howard is considered the first permanent European settler in 1849, but he was not Dutch, and his name was not Bill—he was actually Danish and had assumed a new identity after deserting a ship to look for gold. Howard and another early settler, logging baron “Boss” Meeker, were instrumental in shaping early Occidental. The North Pacific Coast Railroad arrived in 1876, requiring construction of the country’s highest wooden trestle. The railroad allowed much faster communication and transportation of people and goods, including redwood, charcoal, tanbark, and produce. Italians also started arriving in the 1870s, opening authentic Italian restaurants, which have now served generations of families. In the 1970s, a culture clash occurred between ranchers and farmers with hippies and artists, but together they fought to maintain the beauty and character of Occidental.
Union Hotel proprietor Barbara Gonnella and educator Mary Pozzi worked with author Bob Dougherty and local historians to create this visual history of Occidental. Many unpublished photographs are drawn from the Gonnella’s and other private collections as a tribute to the pioneers of this unique community.
Barbara Gonnella
As a child, Barbara Gonnella grew up on playing on the historical Coleman Valley School House Ranch. Her great grandfather Innocente Illia purchased the school house property in 1892 and ran it as a dairy ranch. Though Barbara often played on the Coleman Valley School ranch, she grew up on a working dairy in northern Marin County. She and her sisters often hiked across the beautiful hillsides of their Marin ranch to play in the Pacific Ocean. Barbara’s affection for school and sport inspired her to study at Sonoma State University followed by a teaching credential from Dominican College. Barbara would teach swimming on her summer breaks at Ives pool in Sebastopol. Lucille and Marge Gonnella were two of her favorite water aerobics students. Soon Frank Gonnella was taking lessons too. Barbara and Frank wed in 1984 and dedicated themselves to running the Union Hotel while celebrating the birth of their daughter Gien.
In the late 1800’s Innocente Illia (Barbara’s great grandfather) would ride his horse to the Union Hotel as he often frequented the saloon. In 1925, Carlo Panizzera (Frank’s grandfather) purchased the Union Hotel from the Gobetti family. A thread of history weaves beautifully thru their family heritage and the Hamlet of Occidental. Hence the inspiration for the book “Occidental” Arcadia publishing.
Gaye LeBaron
Gaye is a native Californian and a 69-year resident of Sonoma County. She wrote her first column for The Press Democrat, after several years as a reporter, in 1959 and was the daily columnist until her retirement in 2001. She continues to contribute a “historical perspective” column twice monthly. She is the author, with three other researchers, of a two-volume local history -- “Santa Rosa, a 19th Century Town,” and “Santa Rosa a 20th Century Town,” and, with Vermont author Bart Casey, “The Wonder Seekers of Fountaingrove,” a history of Santa Rosa’s 19th century Utopia. She lectured for 35 years on Sonoma County history in SRJC’s Community Education program and has taught several courses for Sonoma State University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. Her husband of 56 years, photographer and SRJC art faculty member John LeBaron, died in 2014. Their daughter, Suzanne and grandson, Trent Potter, live in Oakland, son Anthony lives in Mobile Alabama. Born in Humboldt County, she moved with her family to the Sonoma Valley in 1950 and graduated from Sonoma Valley High School in 1953. She received an AA degree from SRJC in 1955 and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1957.