History Part I

In April 1941, the first horse show was staged at the Napa Fairgrounds. It was a gala affair. Grandstands were full. One hundred twenty one horses participated in the 12 classes offered: Hunters, Jumpers, Stock and Hackamore Horses, Polo Ponies, Pleasure and Trail Horses, Five-gaited Horses, Palominos, Children’s Classes and even Musical Chairs. Purses offered were $10 and $20 added. This show was held in conjunction with the Nationwide War Bond Drive. The Club continued to hold the Annual Spring Horse Show at the fairgrounds through 1948. There was no show in 1949, as the ring was torn down at the fairgrounds.

On November 2, 1944, the Club voted to buy 17 acres in the Alta Heights area from Walter Lutge and Mrs. Elsa Moore (price not known). This spot was quite rural at the time. Great plans were made for a clubhouse and arena when money was saved. But development interfered with those dreams. As entered in our ledger, on January 31, 1948, a portion was sold to the City of Napa for $500, which is now a part of the Alta Heights Reservoir. In May 1948, another parcel was sold to J. A. Osborne for $12,336.46. He subdivided it into the present site of the Latter Day Saints Church and 41 surrounding lots. Also in May, a third parcel was sold for $3,693.03 to Charles Julian, who subdivided it into 11 lots. The final piece went to the Napa School District in 1948 for $1,620. This is now the eastern portion of the Alta Heights School property.

This turnover of property enabled the Club in August 1948 to purchase from Andrew Sheveland 31.90 acres and the milking barn that formerly housed a string of 100 Holstein cows for $19,l00. This acreage was originally a part of the Spreckles Stock Farm.

Then, with many, many hours of hard work on the part of our members, the barn was remodeled into the present clubhouse. An item of interest: the concrete watering trough was kept intact, filled with dirt and made into the large attractive planter that now acts as a divider between the main hall and the bar.

After acquiring this property, first priority was a horse show arena, because then we were in dire need of money to make improvements. Ed Berry, now a Lifetime Member who wears a 50-year pin, secured the material for the grandstand from a surplus source in Vallejo and donated it to the Club. Members constructed it. Money was borrowed from the Bank of America to build the arena and paid back after the next horse show was held on April 23, 1950. The next year, we again borrowed money and built 10 box stalls, paying off the loan from the next horse show profits. The next year, we borrowed again and completed the 20-stall barn that stands today.

Improvements went on…the horse show restrooms, the concession stand, and the horse show office. About 1949, the south addition was added on the clubhouse, making a spot for our bar. Betty and Roy Robinson of Maples Stables in Woodland donated the old bar that stood in dignity with its highly polished pillars, crystal chandeliers and it even had a brass rail. At one time, it was located in a barroom on Mission Street in San Francisco.

Many elbows were bent here until 1964 when the present bar addition was completed. In January 1958, porches were added on the north and east sides of the clubhouse. The present bar addition was completed in 1964, enclosing the north and east porches and adding a storeroom and a ladies lounge

NVHA History 2

In summer 1979, the kitchen remodeling was begun, extending the west wall out 12 feet and more than doubling the working area. All of these improvements were done by members. Work days through the years were well attended, and we really had fun and the feeling of accomplishment. As mentioned in the Hoofprints, a typical work day was held on October 16, 1963. There were 35 men and 12 ladies who started at 9:00 AM to repair the stalls, paint the stable roof, repair the wood fences, paint exterior of the restrooms and general cleanup. There was a lunch break with hot dogs and coffee served by the arena.

Work ended by 4:00 PM and a potluck dinner was served by the ladies at 5:00 at the club. Some work days started with a Gin Fizz breakfast. We always had a good turnout for those. All work days, the ladies served a hot lunch in the clubhouse for the workers. Trail rides, breakfast rides, sometimes just rides were held periodically, weather permitting. Thinking back when the Club was very young (and we were, too)…

On December 15, 1940, a fox hunt was held on the Melone Ranch in the heart of the valley. Riding to the hounds was a memorable experience, although the fox was borrowed and had to be returned in good shape.

There were rides to Vallejo Lakes, Egan Bros. Ranch in Wooden Valley, Paradise Park, Valley of the Moon overnighter, Hussey’s Ranch on Partrick Road, State Hospital property (now Skyline), and even Sugar Loaf in Berryessa.

But the highlight of the year was the annual trek to Aetna Springs in Pope Valley. The hardy riders trailered to Calistoga Fairgrounds and left about 9:00 AM on Saturday and rode over the old Oat Hill Mine Road to the Resort. The less hardy would arrive by car in time to greet the riders at the Springs and all would lunch together in the grand old rustic dining hall. The cost of the weekend was $12.50, that included Saturday lunch, dinner, dancing, midnight barbecue, overnight accommodations in the old picturesque cabins (with chain toilets), and Sunday breakfast and lunch. In June 1962, the price was raised to $14.50 for the weekend. Your horse was stabled, too. I think that the last trek was in 1971, an end to many great memories.

We have had several membership drives over the years. Two stand out in my mind. In 1960, there were 81 members added to the roster, and in 1963, we added 60 new members. Twenty-five year pins have been presented to 71 members and seven members have their 50-year pins. We have 280 members at this time.