The John and Louisa Kraeger family campsite located along the San Anselmo Creek, circa 1901
Camping seems to have changed over the years. In the late 19th and early 20th
century, Marin was a favorite location for families escaping the cold and fog of cities
around the bay. There were numerous sites along the creeks of the Ross and San Geronimo valleys that
catered not only to weekend visitors, but also to campers who would spend weeks,
even months, enjoying the sunshine and pastoral pleasures of Marin. This 1901
photograph is of the John and Louisa Kraeger family campsite along San Anselmo
Creek.
John Kraeger emigrated from Germany as a child in 1878 and Louisa in 1896 at age
21. They were married in 1896 and raised a family in San Francisco that included
daughter Freda and son Alfred. More than likely, Freda is one of the infants being held
in the photograph, as she was less than a year old when the image was taken.
The campsite is well stocked with a wood burning stove, cooking pots and pans, and
an open-air pantry for storing food, wine and dishes. The professionally lettered sign
reading “Camp Leisure” suggests that the site was visited often over the years and for
extended periods of time.
At the time this photograph was taken the Kraegers lived on 16th Street near Church
Street, moving eventually to Hill Street in Noe Valley. John died in July 1942 and
Louisa in January 1967, two weeks after her 92nd birthday, no doubt cherishing the
memories of summers spent with family and friends in the wild woodlands of Ross
Valley.
(Originally appeared as History Watch article in the Marin Independent Journal)