Comments on: PD Columnists Smith & LeBaron Join In A New Christmas Story by 7 Writers

By: Digitale.Stories

Digitale.Stories — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 04:26:39 +0000

Jeff, thanks for your message. My source is The Press Democrat’s April 13, 2006 story looking back 100 years to the earthquake. The link: http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20060413/NEWS/60412021. The story says “some 20 square blocks … had been laid to waste” in a town of 6,700 people. Thus, the phrase “much of Santa Rosa” doesn’t sound off base. The story also says “at least 100 people perished” and it recounts what Jack London wrote to a relative: “Santa Rosa got it worse than S.F.” As for your comment about the city having the biggest red light district between San Francisco and Portland, that doesn’t seem very astonishing. Even today, what town between San Francisco and Portland is that much bigger than Santa Rosa?

By: Jeff Elliott

Jeff Elliott — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 23:12:02 +0000

First, the 1906 quake didn’t “level much of Santa Rosa.” The fires and collapsed buildings were only found downtown, mainly 4th street. Fewer than a handful of residences are known to have been seriously damaged. The death toll stands at 78 exactly, with another five or so possible if you stretch the parameters, so please don’t say “the quake killed at least 100 people.” I’m particularly interested in reading the descriptions of this “small farming town.” Which chapter will mention that Santa Rosa at this time had the largest red light district between San Francisco and Portland? Lots of holiday merriment at the corner of D and 1st street, I’ll bet.