The Petaluma Elks 901 Baseball Team 1924. Photo courtesy Sam Brown
I recently met Sam Brown, grandson of Joe Tuttle - founder of Petaluma's Tuttle Drug. Sam brought in this wonderful photo and allowed me to scan it for the Library's collection. Since it will be some time before we are able to catalog the image I thought I'd share it here.
The photo appeared in the Petaluma Argus Courier on June 30, 1949. The Argus identified the players as left to right, top row: Joe Tuttle, second base; Bob Ayers, center field; Bill Evart, pitcher; middle row, Alden White, short stop; Wis Studdert, first base; Dr. F.H. Phillips, manager; Ned White third base; Jack Lauritzen, pitcher and left field; bottom row, Bill Thomas, right field; Ham Farrell, catcher. Any of these names sound familiar? If so, be sure to let me know.
Using the Library's subscription to Ancestry.com and other sources I discovered that Joseph Wilford Tuttle was born in Petaluma on September 9, 1884, to Cyrus and Margaret Tuttle. Cyrus came to Petaluma from Canada as a boy with his parents in 1870 and grew up to become a rancher. Margaret was from Ireland and like her husband came to the United States as a child.
Decorating parking meters in front of Tuttle Drug Co. at 113 Main Street, Petaluma - 1955. SCL Photo No. 11762
When the Elks baseball team photo shown above was taken, Joe was 40 years old and a veteran pharmacist. After graduating from University of California San Francisco in 1906 Joe went to work for John Clark of the Clark Drug Company at 113 Main Street. Some time later Mr. Clark sold the business to Joe and J.W. Tuttle Drugs was established. In 1912, Joe married Agnes Breckwoldt, daughter of Julius and Louise Breckwoldt. The couple had two children: Margaret (Sam's mother) and Lloyd.
Construction of Tuttle Drug Co. at 132 Keller Street, Petaluma - 1967. SCL Photo No. 12818
Joe Tuttle retired from life as a pharmacist and drug store owner in 1940 and for a time enjoyed hunting and fishing. After World War II, Mr. Tuttle decided to return to work and became a deputy county assessor and later tax collector for the City of Petaluma. He sold the drug store to Lester Pometta and Ray Butler who retained the Tuttle Drugs name. Harold Erikson, who joined the firm as a partner in 1945 and later bought Butler's and Pometta's interests in separate deals to become sole owner.
In 1967 the Tuttle Drug Company, as it was now known, moved to 132 Keller Street. The store closed in 2004 and today the building is occupied by the Social Club restaurant.
