622 Walnut Street, Petaluma, Calif. Photo taken by Katherine J. Rinehart on September 4, 2012

The house at 622 Walnut Street, Petaluma came to my attention several years ago while researching the history of my own Petaluma home which I suspected to have been constructed in 1912. As I scanned the Petaluma Agrus and the Petaluma Daily Courier (it wasn't until until 1928 that the two papers became one) looking for articles about the construction of our house I saw a headline that read: "New Home in the Hill Section"  in a May 13, 1912, Petaluma Argus. We live on the flat land so I knew it wasn't our house, but my curiosity was piqued.

The article described how a well known local contractor, J.P. Hanson, had "commenced work on a beautiful new bungalow for Mr. and Mrs. E. Boersing on their property at the corner of West and Walnut Streets."

The article doesn't provide the street address, but it was simple enough to look up the name Boersing in a city directory for Petaluma. Low and behold there is an Ernest Boersing, a clerk for Newburgh & Company,  listed as living at 622 Walnut Street in 1913.

By 1940, Ernest and his wife Eloise Boersing had moved to Oakland and the house at 622 Walnut Street was owned and occupied by Ralph and Louise Allison. Ralph worked for Pedranti Garage at 244 Main Street (Petaluma Blvd. North).

There is more to be learned about this house and other Sonoma County buildings. If that is the kind of thing that interests you then be sure to visit the Sonoma County History & Genealogy Library  at 211 E Street in Santa Rosa.

In the meantime if you are looking to purchase a piece of history then you will want to contact Robert and Elaine Ramirez of Century 21 Bundesen who are the listing agents. The house at 622 Walnut Street is offered at $395,000.