Timeline
Early-Mid 1800s: First Settlers Arrive
1852
First settlers David Wharff, W.J. Hardin and J.M. Palmer arrive in the area.
1865
Antone Ronsheimer and brother John Formschlag purchase 10 acres of land where Penngrove now stands, clearing it for the purpose of farming.
1876
Town is named “Penn Grove” by Railroad—this is later changed to Penngrove by the Post Office.
Mid 1800’s
Horse and oxen-drawn travelers between Petaluma and Santa Rosa would stay in the first structure, the Eagle Hotel.
Mid-Late 1800s: First Major Industry
1870s
Before businesses were established, Basalt Paving Stones were the major industry in Penngrove, employing as many as 200 men in three quarries. In 1875, 700,000 paving blocks were made. In 1876, immense quantities of stone paving blocks were piled along the tracks at Penn Grove Station. During this time, the Northwestern Pacific Railroad passing through the town is completed.
1878
A new spur is placed on the railroad to accommodate shippers of stone paving blocks.
1878-9
1,456,500 stone paving blocks are shipped to Petaluma.
1894
350,000 blocks are sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad.
1895
Penngrove block makers fulfill contracts in San Francisco.
Late 1800s: Businesses Begin to Emerge
1875
The Petaluma Broom Factory is established.
1877
Eagle School begins operation with 25 students, expanding to 36 by 1883.
1882
Penngrove Post Office is established.
1895
The Post Office, express office, telephone office and railroad station combine to become a single, established business. After falling into debt a year later, the business is taken over by A.J. Ronsheimer.
1895
Denman Creamery is built on the southside of town.
1896
A store north of the railroad tracks is opened, and the Post Office is moved.
1898
Episcopal Church is built.
Early-Mid 1900s: Expansion & Poultry Farming
1902
Evart Produce is built next to the railroad tracks—a feed mill will be added in the early 20’s.
1910
Poultry farming begins to develop in the area.
1911
Penngrove is the shipping point of a large poultry effort.
1918
Penngrove Hatchery is founded by E.E. Carter. The hatchery has a capacity of 364,000 eggs in its seven incubators, and hatches more than a million chicks in 1948.
1921
Major renovations and additions to both sides of the main town block begin, as does construction of the bank building and Women’s Club House.
1940s
Penngrove is heavily involved in the poultry industry with several egg-buying plants, a large egg-receiving depot and a feed sales station. Hundreds of farms large and small operate around the town. More than 40,000 hens supply hatching eggs to the Penngrove Hatchery.
