Mill Valley Lumber Yard

The exhibit includes William L. Patterson, who graduated in 1911 and became a pioneering civil rights leader, as highlighted by the Mill Valley Historical Society in 2021.  The exhibit also focuses on the creation of Marin City as the then-best integrated shipyard on the West Coast, and the history of redlining and racial covenants in Marin, among others.

Snoyman also found a newspaper piece about the marriage of “Louise Anderson and Oren E. Lovett Jr., who were married in Reno on Thursday, October 19, by the Rev. Eickelberg. The bride has resided in Mill Valley for 18 months, being employed at Marinship. She was formerly in charge of Kay’s Gift Shop in Fairbanks, Alaska. She has a daughter who attends Tamalpais High School. The groom, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Oren E. Lovett of 268 East Blithedale Ave., has lived in Mill Valley since 1916. He is a graduate of Tamalpais High School. He enlisted in the Navy and after a year’s service received an honorable discharge. He is now employed at Marinship.”

It was an enjoyable time in Mill Valley. Residents spent time at Mill Valley’s first restaurant, built in 1891: a two-story clapboard building known as the Mill Valley House on Miller Avenue. In addition, it was also one of the town’s first hotels. Owners Jesse and Lotte Bundy were known for their tasty veal stew and berry pies. In addition, the ice cream and lunch parlor were frequented often. In the evenings, silent movies were shown in a hall built with a plank floor. After the movies, the local children would fish for any coins that might have slipped between the boards.