Pics: College of Marin Gym Fire

JasonLewis · Status: Offline

RE: Pics: College of Marin Gym Fire

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

The traffic signal in my fire shots was on College Ave. at Stadium Way, and was there primarily for students to cross College Ave. to COM's facilities on the other side of the street. They weren't as extensive then as they are today, but there were some, mainly athletic. There was also some kind of National Guard building there.

As for beauty of the campus these days, well, I admit I haven't been up close and personal with it recently, just seen it driving by, but for beauty I don't think it can hold a candle to all the old Mission-style buildings that used to be there, like Harlan Hall with its tower. Today - well, to me it looks like Anywhereville.

And oh yes - I don't care what anyone else says, it's Marin Junior College.

Paul · Status: Offline

That is a great resource the Marin County Library offers of micro - films
of past IJ's. I have never used it but my family has. How far back do they
go ? I understand that one can have copys of pages made for a fee
( around $10.00 ? ) , but I don't think anyone could post any photos
from there on the internet.
Steve C , I know there were traffic signals in San Rafael in 63 - 64 , but
I don't remember them in Kentfield , but because there was the College
there , it makes sence.
I am very glad that they decided not to sell the College of Marin to
developers proposed a few years ago. Remember they wanted to
build a new campus down by the freeway and expand IVC ?
The Kentfield campus is beautiful and could never be replaced by some
cheap buildings down in the flats. Also think of the students ( young and
old ) from Southern and West Marin who would be required to travel all
the way up to Novato to attend class.
I wonder what the College District and developers had cooked up for
the site ?. It would have the biggest ripoff in Marin history . I beleive
the land for the College was donated to the County by the Kent
family , as was Muir Woods and many other places in the State.

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

I was down at the Civic Center library today and managed to track down the details of the fire in microfilms of the Independent-Journal.

The fire occurred on Monday December 16, 1963, Arson was suspected, based upon eyewitness reports of an individual seen running from the building shortly before a large explosion blew out the windows, and the structure was soon engulfed in flames. The wooden gym floors with their multiple layers of varnish were cited as among the reasons for the intensity of the blaze. The I-J article says that the building had been condemned as a fire hazard by the Kentfield Fire Department three years earlier. Apparently it was still being used for PE classes, however, and it said that some COM teams had lost all their uniforms and other equipment in the fire. The building, built in 1931, was insured, and the article also states that the new "$1,5000,000" gym was already under construction at the time.

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

Here's where the COM gym was. The traffic signal is at Stadium Way. The area along College Ave. between the gym and Stadium Way was an athletic field then.

-- Edited by Paul Penna at 05:54, 2007-04-25

SteveC · Status: Offline

Where Paul exactly was that ?

I played Pop Warner football on a field where they built the science building behind Woodland
Market (Jolly Mkt?), so I would think the gym was next to that.

But now I notice a traffic signal.
I don't remember any traffic signals in Marin circa '63/4.

I love the '58-'60 T-Bird and that really classy fire truck though.

Paul Penna · Status: Offline

Either December 1963 or January 1964. Anyone know the exact date?

From our house at 9 Arch St. in Larkspur we heard the Kentfield fire horn in the distance. A bit later, the Larkspur horn blew the out-of-town (today we'd call it mutual aid) signal. I ran up to Walnut Ave. and saw the smoke, and persuaded my father to take a drive up there.

From Magnolia near Hillview Gardens:

Vintage car alert:

Nice view of one of Kentfield's main engines: