The history of the Jenner area is best told by our local historian Elinor Twohy. For my part I know that the sister of Josephine Santos Wright married and built what is now Casa Panama with her husband in 1950.
History of the Jenner Area by Elinor Twohy
We know that Pomo Indians had been living here for 3,000 years; however archaeologists have recently uncovered significant evidence in the middle of Duncan's Landing which may prove that Pomos were here for 10,000 years.
'Pomo' is an overall name covering six language groups and several different tribes. The local tribe, know as the Del Rio Indians, was friendly with their neighbors from around Bodega Bay, the Miwoks. From a study of the middens, we believe that they had ceremonial gatherings at Duncan's Landing.
In the 1920's the two Penny brothers owned & lived on the twenty-nine acre island that is in the middle of the river, directly in front of the town of Jenner. One brother was drowned in an accident at sea. When the other brother became ill, he wished to live the rest of his life on the island & to be buried there.
Joe Santos had come from Guam, married a local Pomo woman, built a house near the river mouth on Goat Rock Beach, & started a family. Joe agreed to carry out Penny's wishes, & in return the island was deeded to him. Joe then built a house on the island, where the Santos family grew fruits & vegetables, raised dairy cattle, & sold their produce to townsfolk of Jenner and Monte Rio. The Santos family lived on Penny Island until 1948.
One daughter, Josephine Santos Wright, born in 1904 in the original house on Goat Rock beach, still resides in Jenner & provides us with authentic historical information.
In 1975 the island was finally acquired by the State of California Department of Parks & Recreation. It has become a sanctuary for animals and birds; recent sightings include foxes, a bob cat, a mink, great horned & barn owls, & both white & brown pelicans.