Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
JIMTOWN STORE
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In 1840, Cyrus Alexander was on a scouting expedition for a wealthy San Diego trader, Captain H.
D. Fitch. Alexander worked for Fitch harvesting sea lions and otters at the time when Fitch decided
to expand his empire. Alexander's new task was to look for unclaimed land north of San Francisco
that might be suitable for raising cattle. He was expecting part of his compensation for the search
to be some of that land.
His first stop was a large valley, which had already been claimed by George Yount and later
was named Napa. Over the hill, he found a place that he described as “the brightest and best spot in
the world.” This valley, irrigated by the Russian River, became part of the Fitch empire, and Cyrus
Alexander was contracted to run the operation. In exchange, he would receive both livestock and
8,800 acres in what would eventually be named the Alexander Valley.
The 1849 Gold Rush lured three brother farmers from Missouri to California. Samuel, Thomas,
and Harmon Heald set out to make their fortune in the rivers and creeks north of San Francisco.
Finding little success, and suffering from various medical problems, they eventually went into busi-
ness supporting the prospectors and the commerce that surrounded the mad dash for gold.
Samuel bought an interest in a mill along the Russian River and Thomas became his operations
manager. Then Harmon, attempting to recover from his medical problems, built a small sanitarium
in the form of a squatter's cabin along the main road in the area. Passing traffic encouraged him to
include a small addition that served as a general store. This enterprise became the nucleus for the
town of Healdsburg.
As other settlers moved into the area, the town was eventually paid out, lots were sold, and other
failed miners went into business, providing services for the few who succeeded, and for the others
attracted to the quest for riches. The land itself was formally owned by Captain Fitch's widow, who
was forced to sell it to pay the taxes due on the very large land holdings she inherited. While most
towns in the area were named for the principal landowners, this town was named for Harmon
Heald because most people thought of him as a “clean, upright, beneficent character.”
Jimtown Store has been a landmark since 1895, when it served as the general store, post office,
and meeting place for residents of the valley. The landmark had been abandoned for some time
when the late John Werner, and his wife, artist Carrie Brown, discovered it in 1989 while visiting
from New York City. Falling in love with the town, the building, and the local inhabitants, they
set about reviving the former general store into a very special eating establishment. The current
property includes a large general store, a renovated migrant worker's cottage, and two large barns
