Exploring Guerneville: My Neighborhood

Neeley's Beach courtesy Anna Bever, from the Russian River
Historical Society Collection, Sonoma County Public Library, ca. 1920

Our new property is in the Neeley Neighborhood which is midway between downtown Guerneville and an area known as Guernewood Park which is not to be confused with the area simply known as Guernewood. Our little neighborhood has three streets that parallel a curve in the Russian River. Closest to the river is Guernewood Road where we are, then Center Way and Neeley Road. A bit to the south is Neeley Hill and between our road and the river is a semi-private beach with a perfect place for swimming. Mr. Neeley deeded the beach for our neighborhood use years ago. 

Russian River at Neeley neighborhood, 2021
Guerneville and Guernewood are named for George E. Guerne who was one the earliest pioneers in Guerneville. He bought John W. Bagley’s share of the first mill in about 1860 and continued to own and operate the lumber mill as Heald and Guerne, and under various other names until 1889. 
Neeley's Beach, 2021
So, who was Neeley? The obituary for James R. Neeley (1941-2008) tells us that he was the fifth generation of a pioneer family of Sonoma County. James R was the son of the fourth-generation James Keith Neeley (1916-1996) and his wife Edith E. Lock. James Keith Neeley was the son of third-generation Keith Jacob Neely (1886-1977) and his wife Grace. The 1940 census tells us that Keith J. Neeley was a summer resort operator in Guerneville. He was the son of second-generation William H. Neeley (1850-1925) who was born in Bradley County, Tennessee but by 1900 was living in Guerneville and working as a mechanic. The first generation was William Horton Neeley (1801-1876) who was born in North Carolina and his wife Elizabeth Keith, born in Tennessee. Widowed William Horton’s death certificate is from Tennessee but it shows that he was buried in Healdsburg and had been living in Healdsburg before his death – most likely with his son. 

My guess is that Keith Jacob Neeley is the person for whom the hill, the street and the neighborhood are named. 


Ad for Neeley's Resort, San Francisco Examiner
11 June 1939 


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