Historic Pinole: Quinan Divorce Shakes Society

Imagine this scenario taking place today. A woman asks in divorce court that she be allowed to use her birth name. Her husband, who is suing for divorce, doesn’t mind.

The judge says, “Uh-uh.” She not only has children with her husband, but she’s too old and she is solely responsible for the divorce, he rules. It just wouldn’t be right.

What might be hard for us to grasp today was possibly not as shocking almost 116 years ago. That’s when W.R. Quinan, assistant superintendent of the powder works plant outside Pinole, filed for divorce from his wife Caroline.