Masters Thesis

A Simple Chicken Ranch: History and Structure of the Veronda-Falletti Ranch, Cotati, California

Purpose of Study: This thesis consists of a historical overview and technical recording of cultural resources within the Veronda-Falletti ranch, a four-acre agricultural complex located in Cotati, California. The thesis includes a historic context that explains how the Veronda-Falletti ranch fits into the early 20th century agricultural economy. In addition, this thesis seeks to understand how the culture of the families who occupied the property shaped the landscape over time. This thesis concludes with recommendations that will assist the City of Cotati in making informed planning decisions for the Veronda-Falletti ranch property.

Procedure: As part of the literature review, this thesis includes a synthesis of the Bay Area's contribution to 20th century California poultry farming. Petaluma, California, one town south from Cotati, was the "world's egg basket" from the late 19th century until about the 1940's. Although poultry farming was popular in the Bay Area, many northern California farms diversified to protect their finances from cyclical market shifts, including the Veronda-Falletti ranch (Lowry 1993). This thesis aims to recognize how the Veronda-Falletti ranch is a vernacular landscape, which reflects the practices, values, and attitudes towards nature of those who once occupied and managed the property. Therefore, the main theoretical perspective framing this document is cultural landscape theory. Cultural landscape theory proposes that landscapes are physical representations of complex cultural creations (Knapp and Ashmore 1999:7-10). This framework is the most effective in assisting with the management and interpretation of cultural resources within the Veronda-Falletti ranch.

Findings: A preliminary architectural evaluation was conducted. It serves as a first step in preparing the property for potential nomination to the California Register of Historical Resources. The Veronda-Falletti Ranch contains one early 20th century home, three barns, a tank house, and various ancillary structures. This thesis provides first-time documentation for all historic-era cultural resources on the four-acre property including detailed descriptions and appropriate drawings or photographs. Resources were documented using Department of Parks and Recreation forms. The historic uses of this property were researched using previous architectural and archaeological reports and resource documentation accessed through the Northwest Information Center (NWIC) of the California Historical Resources Information System. Open space requirements under the purchase grant agreement were acquired through the City of Cotati. Further historical context documentation was gathered from the Cotati Historical Society, from the Sonoma County Library, and through personal conversations. Further resources include historical topographic maps, General Land Office maps, county records, census information, historical parcel maps and historical newspapers.

Conclusion: This thesis helps meet goals set forth by the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Opens Space District. The City of Cotati acquired the Veronda-Falletti property as part of the 2008 Falletti Ranch Conservation Easement Grant Deed and matching Grant Agreement. As such, the City is drafting a work plan that will allow them to develop "physical and programming improvements sufficient to provide public recreational, agricultural and educational uses of the property" (City of Cotati: 2013:1). Historic-era cultural resources management recommendations are included in the execution of this work plan and as part of this thesis. This thesis includes a comprehensive understanding of the Veronda-Falletti ranch as a cultural landscape that made contributions to the Bay Area poultry business. This ranch is important in that it provides a case study of a small-scale urban operating ranch during the period that Petaluma's and Sonoma County's poultry economy was booming. The thesis includes documentation and recommendations based on the layout and integrity of the cultural resources. These recommendations will aid the City of Cotati in its efforts to create and maintain a small-scale demonstration ranch as a public park. The City seeks to preserve the property as an open demonstration and a historic-era example of sustainable farming and ranching.

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