[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15222]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING TOWN OF GLEN ELLEN AND GLEN ELLEN POST OFFICE ON 130TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 26, 2002

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the town of Glen 
Ellen and the Glen Ellen Post Office on the occasion of its 130th 
anniversary.
  Located six miles north of Sonoma and established on July 19, 1872, 
Glen Ellen and its Post Office enjoy an interesting history. In the 
beginning, the small settlement was to be named Lebanon by early 
pioneer John Gibson. A document dated June 4, 1872 indicates he was 
also first to apply to the postmaster general in Washington, DC, for 
the creation of a post office. However, for reasons unknown, the 
application was never answered. Fortunately, another was filed on July 
19, 1872 allowing the town to establish the community post office, 
which was named Glen Ellen after the wife of Colonel Charles Stuart, 
Ellen Mary Stuart. These early residents had built their home and ranch 
at the base of the Mayacamas, just east of what is now Hwy. 12.
  Over the past 130 years the Glen Ellen Post Office has been guided by 
the experienced hands of a long list of postmasters. The first being 
the highly respected steamboat captain from San Francisco, Charles 
Justi. He served as postmaster for nine years until the reigns were 
passed to John Gibson, the original petitioner for what was almost the 
Lebanon Post Office. Gibson served for three years until his partner, 
Charles Crofoot succeeded him on November 28, 1888. Crofoot, who served 
for nearly four years, was followed by a long series of esteemed 
guardians of Glen Ellen's treasured institution. Today, located in the 
picturesque vineyards of Jack London country, the Glen Ellen post 
office is presided over by postmaster Kip Fogarty.
  Even during the 1880's Glen Ellen was a tourist destination. During 
its heyday many people came and stayed at the Glen Ellen Hotel. The 
area, now known as the Valley of the Moon, was already becoming known 
for vineyards when winemaker Kate Warfield, daughter of Post Master 
Mary Overton, won national awards for her Glen Ellen wines produced at 
Ten Oaks Vineyard on Dunbar Road.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to congratulate Glen Ellen on this historic 
birthday and the Post Office for its 130 years of faithful service and 
commitment to the residents of the Glen Ellen community.

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