Hacienda, Russian River, Sonoma, California

THE FUTURE…. A FANTASY

Hobson Creek Gallery, Cosmo Park on the Russian River.

Hacienda lost its identity when the Northwest Pacific Railroad could no long make the trains pay for their operation. Hacienda lost its identity when the golf course closed and the beautiful green expanse returned to a wilderness state. But the citizens stayed on and kept going to the beach, kept loving life in the redwoods. One day the idea was proposed of giving up the name, Hacienda. It was after all, primarily a corporate scheme to turn a bit of the river into a subdivision.

Our true founder, though, was not Hacienda, it was Anthony McPeak and his and Mellisa's idea of creating a resort farm, Cosmo. Cosmo was the name on that railroad station, and had the McPeak kids not sold the property, it might still be Cosmo.

So in this version of the future, the Hacienda Improvement Association decided to offer the idea of reverting the name back to the original historical name, Cosmo. The citizens were long used to Hacienda, but life had become very predictable. So the community decided to try the new old name.

With that change, there was a new found pride in the history of the small community. The decision was made to hang a sign on the former Hacienda Bridge, now Cosmo Bridge, that said, "COSMO WELCOMES YOU."

As fate would have it, a man in his 40's happened to be driving his convertible down River Road, and as he approached the bridge, he saw the sign, "COSMO WELCOMES YOU." He was delighted. This gentleman was a financially successful sculptor who just happened to go by the name, Cosmo. He felt fate was speaking to him and he had to investigate.

Cosmo, the person, purchased a cabin in Cosmo and fell in love with the place. Who wouldn't? Two years later he decided he wanted to make Cosmo his home and studio. Since he had a great deal of wealth, he purchased the former golf course. The entire thing. Cosmo then built a tasteful studio and home at the far end of the land and an art gallery in the very center. He hired a landscape designer and a small army of workers. Soon the old golf course was converted into a beautiful public park with flower gardens and little bridges that crossed Hobson Creek. The trees were covered in little twinkle lights that made the park look like it was Christmas all year round. The park was filled with the epic sculptures that had been wasting away in a warehouse in LA. His sculptures were very modern and not everyone's taste, but everyone agreed that the new park was unbelievable.

At the end of the park closest to River Road, Cosmo designed a very special sculpture, and everyone did like it. It was a large statue of Anthony McPeak and beside him, his wife Melissa. They faced the open land, the land where they had built their home and raised their children like so many of us here in our little collection of cabins on Russian River.

—•—

When Cosmo died, he donated his property to the county. People came from all over the world to see this remarkable park. Granting his wish, Cosmo was buried in the McPeak cemetery, the first new burial in a hundred years.

All the best stories end with dirt.

This story is fiction. At least as of 2017.

THE RUSSIAN RIVER REACH
Also check out the website I have done for the area from Mirabel Park to Korbel:
www.rr-reach.com

THIS PUBLICATION

The information on this web site is researched through the usual on-line resources, as well as the Sonoma County Library and assessors office. However, the fact that I found historically inaccurate information in official records, leads me to believe that I may have repeated misinformation unknowingly. Owner no longer able to maintain files.

People that have been helping:
Frank Patane, my next door neighbor, who has became an additional researcher and has provided valuable information to this document.
Dave Henry, neighbor and member of the Forestville Historical Society, who has shared photos and memories.

Hardy Fox at the river until end of life. Happy 2018.

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