From the Classroom

Wickersham Building

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  • "The following is a student created blog regarding the history of the Petaluma Watershed. This blog is part of a series from students at Casa Grande participating in the Watershed Classroom with educators Paula Biancalana and Jolene Thinnes."

I visited the Wickersham building, located at 170 Petaluma Boulevard. This was the site of a former bank built in the 1880s. The Wickersham Building is not only believed to be the site of Petaluma’s first telephone, but was most importantly a post for supplies to be delivered from the river. Being backed to Water Street, his building provided an ideal place for boats to load off goods and then for trains to pick them up for further transportation. It still remains today as a prominent piece of Petaluma’s history and as a tribute to Isaac Wickersham, who did many successful things with him life including starting the first bank, I.G. Wickersham Company. He went from selling hay and cattle, to serving as a district attorney and a Notary Public. The life of Isaac Wickersham will always be remembered in the town of Petaluma.

By Molly Cubba