Larkspur was a cool town in the early 60s. The Rose Bowl was still there, the dump was in operation near Hall school, a great place to look for treasure after closing time. Mabel Culpepper's tiny real estate office, Archer's Chevron, and the hill at the corner of Magnolia and Doherty Dr., all leveled. Probert's Auto dealership and gas station where the Tavern (Lark Creek Inn) now stands. Larkspur Lumber where the Lucky "mall' is now. The train running along William Ave and through town. The tunnels open to Mill Valley and San Rafael. A great place (and time) to grow up.
Wow wow wow!!! Amaaazing photos! I grew up in Larkspur, some of these things I heard about from my older brother and parents, some I totally remember, and haven't seen in 30 years until you posted these photos!
I remember playing in the area where that (wonderful) neighborhood Meadowood was back in the early 60's. The Tadder kids used to call it Paradise. It was a fun area with all kinds of trails and creeks. I vaugely remember some old buildings back in there. I have not looked it up in the Larkspur History books. Larkspur was a hip place back in the 60's. I lived up in the canyon and could hear " the Beatnicks " playing bongo drums up in the hills. Kim Craft's mom kept a scrapbook of all the articles in the IJ about Larkspur which he showed me a few years ago. Many articles about hippies living in run down houses with dirt floors and no electricity- remember the " Juke Savage " house. And the house Dickens burned down stoned on LSD.
Jason, I believe I read in the history of Larkspur book that someone decided about 100 years ago that perfect conditiions were found there for growing.
It was a much larger piece of property. It included that tract of tiny homes near and along William Ave. (Heather Gardens) built at the end of WWII and sold for about 8K a piece. and then in the 80's the family developed that wonderful neighborhood (Meadowood) in between the nursery and the previous tract.
That family's house has three driveways, one from each of those projects, and also at the end of a street that runs along the railroad bike path. Something to do on your next walk; find all three!
That was the Niven's nursery. They mainly grew orchids. Jim Niven was also a Larkspur firefighter, and in the late '70's he was killed when the fire truck he was riding on rolled over while responding to a fire. After that, firefighters could no longer ride on the back of the truck. This was a very tragic story. It happened on Magnolia, between the Raquet Club and Bon Air bridge.
The nursery property is going to be sold by the family and developed. Larkspur has been putting together a plan for about 10 years now. It is controversial, because of the housing to be built and the traffic issues.
Also, I've tried to register for this site, but nothing happens. Don't know what I'm doing wrong. I'll keep trying.
I was just out walking in Larkspur yesterday and came across those old rundown greenhouses behind where Alpha Beta used to be. (I believe it's now an Albertsons now.)
Does anyone know what these things were growing originally and how they've come to this current state of disrepair?
Jason
P.S. Just to let you all know, if you create a username and log in as a Member the system will tell you when people reply to your messages.
