Pete, the Face of Geyserville
By DEBORAH SERVAL MITCHEL / Geyserville Correspondent
If you happen to be on the streets of Geyserville at 6 a.m., you’re likely to see Pete Stone starting his daily rounds.
With garbage bags hanging from his pockets, Stone’s first stop is usually the Geyserville Market, where he gets his first cup of coffee. Just before 7 a.m., he comes back in time to help open the Geyserville Mud coffee shop, putting out tables and chairs before he sits down for breakfast.
On Mondays he helps store owners put out their garbage cans, and on Tuesdays he helps them take the cans in.
For as long as anyone can remember, Stone has been lovingly cleaning Geyserville’s streets.
A few years back, the Geyserville Chamber of Commerce purchased signs and Syar Industries erected them on both ends of town. “Geyserville thanks Pete Stone,” they say.
A man of few words, Stone has little to say about the honor, or about himself for that matter. Locals don’t ask, accepting him at face value and protecting him as one of their own.
Stone says his family was on its way to Oregon from Monterey in 1961 when they stopped in Geyserville. They bought a house and never left.
Stone graduated from Geyserville High School, spent a few years as an Army firefighter at Fort Riley, Kan., then joined the Geyserville Volunteer Fire Department. Forty years later he is still volunteering.
He didn’t learn to drive, so twice a day Stone walks into town from the house he shared with his mother until her death. In 1976, he says, “the town started looking like a dump, so I started picking up trash.”
Townsfolk have quietly supported him over the years, providing meals, work and hundreds of garbage bags, the type Stone prefers. No one speaks about it. They just do it, considering it part of life in a small town.
At a time when most people Stone’s age are retiring, the only thing that slows him down is bad feet. As he says, “It comes with getting old.”
Each year the Chamber honors him with a dinner and gives him a gift certificate to his favorite restaurant, Adel’s in Healdsburg. People protect him, and some wonder what will become of the place when Stone is too old to continue.
“It will look just like L.A.,” says Doug Waelde of North County Properties, only partly in jest.
Read about all 10 people chosen as Towns’ “Faces of Sonoma County.”
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What a wonderful story about a great guy. I have many times given him a lift to Adels from Geyserville on my way home to Healdsburg. He seems to know everyone and particularly their history in town.
Did you know that Pete spent 7 years collecting cans for the Geyserville Children’s Center? He would pick them up from the road and with the support of Bosworths would store them for us. Every other month I would take a full truck load to be recycled – usually yeilding $150 – $250 which would go towards supplies or special events for the kids.
He is a man that is constantly giving back.
Thank you Pete!
I’ve often been astounded at Pete’s deep knowledge of people that I know far and wide. Where he gets his information, and how he manages to retain every fine detail, confounds and impresses me. The way Pete quietly goes about his daily routine of selfless generosity, reminds us all how good people can be. Geyserville is so fortunate to be able to call Pete Stone, one of their own.
The other day, I asked him if I could take a picture of him. He was only willing to grant my request if I promised not to put it on Facebook. I’ve complied, but am pleased to see this article by Deborah celebrating such a good man.
Thank You Pete for all the times you took out the garbage when I worked at the Geyserville market Deli .. your a super guy .. Kathleen Hale Of Geyserville Ca
He helps everyone in town… Keeps our streets clean. Takes out the garbage cans.. All for nothing in return.. Pete, each one of us thanks you…
I saw Pete this morning on the way to work, and got re-reminded how lovely it is to live in Geyserville!!!
Pete is the Guardian Angel of Geyserville! Thank you for ALL of your kindness, humor, and exceptional history lessons, Pete!
I had the pleasure of spending four heavenly weeks in Geyserville in September 2012 when I was house-sitting for friends. During my stay I frequented the Geyserville Mud and had the occasion to see Pete a fair amount. What a lovely article and a sweet honor that great little town bestowed on him! I can’t wait to get back to my favorite coffee shop!