The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
BUENA VISTA As
A PICNIC RESORT
A Beautiful Sonoma Coun-
try Seat May Be So
Transformed.
The Railroad Company Said to
Be Bargaining With the
Johnson Estate

The San Francisco and North Pacific
Pacific Railroad, it seems is in a fair way
to carry out its aim of establishing a sum-
mer Sunday and everyday picnic resort
at, or quite close to, the city of Sonoma.
The latest news from that wine center is
that while President Foster of the railroad
is ostensibly after the Vallejo place for
such a resort he has another, longer and
a handsomer iron in the fire.
The other place, in respect to which the
railroad is said to have serious intentions
is Buena Vista Park. a beautiful country
seat less than two miles from Sonoma.
There is station at Buena Vista Park,
and the people of Sonoma do not object
to the location as they do to a location
at Sonoma and the Sunday crowds which
they fear would overrun the town. But
there is considera bic sentiment in the
valley and in Sonoma in regard TO Buena
Vista. The park is famed the valley
through for its beauty. and they would
not like to see the public turned loose
in it.
Buena Vista Park is one of the hand
soonest in California. The park proper
comprises about twenty-seven acres, and
is laid out in the same elaborate style as
Golden Gate Park, though on smaller
scale. 1t belongs to the estate OF the late
Mrs. Kate Johnson, a very wealthy
woman who died about two years ago.
BENJAMIN Bangs is the executor of the
estate. He could not be seen yesterday,
as he is out of town.
In the interview with him last Thurs
day concerning the Vallejo place Presi-
dent Foster Of the railroad company said
nothing about any desire on the part of
the com pany to get control OF Buena Vista
Park, but Notwithstanding the lack of
official information Sonomans assert that
q 'dicker" is on.
Buena Vista Park lies back of the foot
hills. Some of it is level and the other
sections have gentle slopes. 1t has fine
large residence upon it, built in the
French chateau style, with balconies and
minarets.
The grounds are large, the fountains
plentiful and the fora is the most vsrie-
gated in the valley. Babbling brooks run
through the grounds. The little water
courses are ,spanned by rustic bridges OF
UNIQUE pattern, and the elusive and sus-
picous trout is said to lie back in the
shadows awaiting the unsuspecting fly.
Buena Vista Park has everything neces-
sary for summer resort. The fine resi-
dence could be easily converted into a
casino and there are shady hooks and
corners enough for numberless picnic
at the sides of the walks and drives.
The late Mrs. Kate Johnson lived at
Buena Vista number of years before her
death. The house is said to have cost
$50 600. Mrs. Johnson was somewhat &C.
centric. For every thousand dollars she
put into the house she had pet cat
These eighty cats comprised the highest
stages OF feline evolution. Every known
species of domestic cat that ever laid un-
nar Kitchen Ia
in the moonlight on fence or roof, tar
get for bootiacks and ''any old thing"
that could be used for missile, was rep
resented in the menagerie, from the
stately angora 10 the common little kitten
that had wandered mewing that way, be-
cause it 'had no other place to GO"
The story goes that Mrs. Johnson be-
uueathed $25, ,0O0 TO Miss Helen Shellard,
an intimate iriend, on condition that s.she
kept the cats during their natural life.
Miss Shellsrd lives in San Francisco and
the number of cats that may be seen bask-
ing in the sun at her residence is evidence
that she is still faithful to the trust.
Much romance is connected with several
of the possessions of Mrs. Johnson. She
also owned and occupied at times in this
City fine residence on Post street. In
this residence was a fine picture from
Tennyson's Elaine painted by Toby
Rosenthal, q noted artist.
For this picture Mrs. johnson is said to
have paid S5O, 900. The house was entered
by a burglar one night, and the visitor,
possessing an eve for the artistic and beau
tiful even in the light of a bullseye lam
tern, cut the costly canvas from tue frame
and made away with it. The whole police
force of the State was put on this bur-
glary, and ii was finally traced to one
William Wallace, as distinguished in
criminal history as burglar as Rosenthal
was noted in art.