by Penny Hutten (Author), Forestville Historical Society (Author)
Visitors to Forestville are taken aback by its picturesque valleys laden with roaming vineyards. However, Forestville is more than a gateway to the Russian River; it is a diverse array of businesses, wineries, farming, and recreation. Forestville grew from the Spanish land grant traded by Capt. Juan Bautista Rogers Cooper from his brother-in-law Gen. Mariano Vallejo in 1834 into the town known by passing travelers as "Swindle Rig." In 1867, the town was named Forestville after Andrew Jackson Forrister, a saloon owner. It was set apart from other settlements by having the first powered sawmill in California and the Faudre Chair factory, the largest manufacturing plant in Sonoma County of that era. Collectors still seek out the factory's rawhide-bottom chairs. As a popular stop on the railway line, many vacationers from San Francisco passed through on their journeys to the Russian River. In 1963, the town continued to be different, setting aside land for a community youth park, so it is no wonder the town's slogan is "Forestville the Great Life."