From an article in the Sonoma Tribune with the date unknown, c1940; and photos from the family album.

From notes taken by Miss Ruth McDonald after an interview with her uncle G. S. Harris, Sonoma, former livery stable proprietor.

A very interesting account of old horse and buggy days was given to the Sonoma Valley Historical Society last Friday evening. The society met at the home of Mrs. Elizabeth Lutgens, resuming its meetings after the holidays.

Jerry Linehan owned the first livery stable, which stood on the site of the present Standard station and former Safeway store. The stable was fire-swept in the sixties and ruined Linehan financially.  Messrs. Schetter and Carriger then started a stable and later came Frank Gorbeley, who drove the stage to Lakeville.

The principal of the Sonoma schools, Mr. Ennis (related to Roy Pauli) also bought into the livery business. His hostler was an Indian called Big Jack.  In 1883 Granville Harris bought out Ennis for $2000.  It was Corbeley and Harris then a partnership but Harris became sole owner of the business in 1887.  F. Clewe owned the property. The late Ben Cook was hostler for 22 years. They had about 20 head of horses and the drummers (traveling men) were the best customers as they hired rigs to call on the trade.  Harris ran a stage then to Lakeville to meet the steamer "Gold". (This was probably at Bodwell Landing, established in 1879 by Mr. Charles Augustus Bodwell.)

He also met the first S. P. train that came to El Verano.   Mr. Harris finally bought the big lot where the Palace Garage now stands He purchased and moved the old railroad round house and other buildings of the N.W P (Northwestern Pacific , for you railroad buffs, don't miss the sample photo gallery of special collections.) railroad from the north side of the plaza to the new site.  Jack Kearns, Jack Shiffington from the Biggins and Spencer ranches, went to work for him.  Granville owned some fast trotters and pacers then---Fairmont and Sweetser.  Thirty horses for hire were in the stalls, and wine buyers became good customers as they drove to the Sonoma valley vineyards. About 1890 Joe Ryan, 17 years old, later to become proprietor, and Sheriff of Sonoma County, came to work for Harris. "Cap" Joy, an Englishman who had worked for Graves, wealthy horseman and owner of the Knight ranch near Vineburg, drove a sprinkling cart and was another employee.

With the popularity of the mineral springs and summer resorts, the livery business prospered. The El Verano boom had also made things lively for a little while.

In 1907 Mr. Harris sold out to Joe Ryan. The property was finally disposed of by Mr. Harris to the late Al Griffith, and Ryan moved his stable to Boyes Springs. Jimmy Sterling, Emil Cornelius, Tudie Estes, Will Peterson and others worked for Harris and Ryan.

Mr. Harris recalled that in his day hoboes often slept in the stable and worked around the barns, but they were a careful lot and he never had a fire.

He bought the first hack Sonoma had ever possessed, but when it was used the very first time (at General Vallejo’s funeral) it collapsed. A gurney with driver seated outside was run to El Verano for a time by the progressive liveryman.  Granville Harris, past eighty, is a retired businessman and orchardist now and looks the same as in the old days when his well-known cigar and merry eye were familiar to everybody.  He lives at the old Cooper Harris ranch south of town where his sister, the late Janet Cooper made her home many years.  His sons live with him.