History of Healdsburg Frog Pond

As told in a book called Sacred Sonoma by Ann Markell the center plaza was a frog pond. The pond caused people to become ill if people went to it. Samuel Barrett said the pond was gone by 1908. The cemetery in Healdsburg is built on a former village site known as frog pond place. Apparently William Fitch who founded the town in the mid 1800's drained the pond when he settled Healdsburg. The people did not go into the pond and stayed away from it. The entire Russian River and Dry Creek areas had many village sites situated along the banks.

Frog Pond has now become a fountain in the center of the plaza where people enjoy to meet and children play in the water. There are many live performances and events in ans around the plaza in Healdsburg. It is similar to towns in Mexico where I have visited which usually have a center with a green park.