Keep Machine Clean and Oiled…

Couple of folks thought the Del Norte product from yesterday’s post was typewriter ink. Could be.  The typewriter above was in the same collection in French Gulch.

As was this…

It would be fun to learn whether or not typewriter ink was produced in Del Norte (looks like “Crescent City” on the box as well). If anyone learns anything, please let us know.

Acme Garnishing Set & Oriental Mixture Tobacco

This is one of many  photos that will be coming from my trip to French Gulch-a gold mining town just off Hwy 299 west of Redding. Please let me know if you can identify the product from Del Norte County.

Killing babies should haunt you forever

Continued from Previous Post …

Indian children faced risks when living in white households as servants, but staying in villages with their families was even more dangerous.

The other day  I went wandering (in my car, so not as primitive as it sounds, but still pretty great) onto the Wildcat and into Petrolia  ( a tiny northern California coastal town for those who are unfamiliar), where I found the Pioneer Cemetery.

I really had little thought of posts for my blog until after I’d followed a road,

Road to Petrolia Cemetery

 

Murder that began an obsession

I was “talking” with a friend over email today about how frustrating it can be when folks have historical information and don’t share.  

Fortunately it only took me a few minutes to realize what a hypocrite I am.

I started this blog, and my obsession with our local history, because I found the record of an inquest that occurred after a Native American woman was brutally murdered in our county in 1862.

And while I’ve shared some of the details of Lucy’s murder  and the stranger-than-fiction fact that I found her son’s 1928 obituary on the wall of our new (very old) house two years AFTER I found the transcript,   I’ve never posted the transcript itself.  Perhaps because of my (maybe never to be realized) desire to write a book.  To tell Lucy’s whole story.  Whatever.  I have yet to write a book.  And may get hit by a bus tomorrow.

 And so here is the transcript.

There may be typos (ignore ‘em please).  There will also be some weird grammatical errors as the handwritten record is difficult to read in places but I wanted to keep my transcription as true to the original document as possible.

 Today I’ll just post the whole document and hopefully over the next few weeks I’ll add what I’ve learned about Lucy and her children in the years since I discovered the transcript.

  

Humboldt County Courthouse

Transcript of microfilmed records of Inquisition  into Lucy’s Murder-Union, 1862                                                                

 12 January 1862

Murder of Squaw in Arcata

Lucy (Indian woman) Coroner Inquest held 15 to 17, January 1862.

Ordered

 

Inquest held before Byron Deming Coroner of Humboldt on the 15^th day of January 1862 to inquire as to the cause of death of an Indian woman found dead on the premises of John Preston in the Township of Union, County of Humboldt, State of California, Sunday morning, January 12^th, 1862.

 

More about Helena

Of course now I regret not taking a photo of this one from the road. Actually, I regretted that before I ever took this photo as my socks (worn with open-ish shoes) were completely filled with terrible, sharp, pokey burrs hidden in what looks like lovely grass.  If you go to Helena, wear solid shoes and long pants.  But I digress…

Our friend Skippy was kind and generous enough to share some great historical info about Helena.  I’ll just pass it on from him. Thank you, Skippy !

By far one of the best histories of the area comes from editors/authors Jerry Rohde and Lowell Bennion in their 2000 book, Traveling the Trinity Highway. Mr. Rohde, Bennion, and others, have devoted 6 pages of interesting stories, excellent old pictures (including an old Trinity County Historical Society’s picture of the Schlomer building as Lynette photographed), and a well documented history of the ghost town, North Fork, later known as ‘Old Helena’. I encourage the reader to check out their book. It’s a fascinating and well documented history taken from primary sources– and a delightfully good read. A highlight is the sidebar story, The “Wedding” of Craven Lee, a surprising account of one of the first residents.

Ghost Town of Helena (Just West of Weaverville)

Helena, July 2011

Darn, I just figured I’d come home and find a whole handy history online that I could post along with these photos. No luck.

Helena is a “ghost” or deserted mining town about 15 miles west of Weaverville.

It is only 1/4 mile off Hwy 299 and so worth the drive.

The building above is the first I saw to the right of the road, though it was the last I explored.

Door was open…

Though why I found this appealing and wanted to venture further, I can’t explain…

Camp Curtis in Arcata

Camp Curtis, Arcata

Per the California State Military Museum:

Today, all that remains of Camp Curtis is a California Historical Landmark. Before its official establishment in September 1862, it was called Camp on Janes Farm and was used by local volunteer companies of the California Militia as early as 1858 during the “Indian Wars“. Camp Curtis was the headquarters of the 1st Battalion of Mountaineers of California Volunteers from 1862 until 1865. In 1863, Captain George Ousley and 34 soldiers of Company B of the Battalion first garrisoned Camp Curtis near Daby’s s Ferry [per LCM--this is at Essex, off Hwy 299 between Arcata and Blue Lake] and then moved to Fawn Prairie on the Hoopa Trail.

A bronze tablet commemorating the camp’s site was unveiled on October 5, 1930. Location: Take the Sunset Avenue off ramp from US Highway 101, go North 0.9 mile on L. K. Wood Boulevard frontage road in Arcata

[Click HERE for current photos of the location and bronze tablet]

From the War of the Rebellion Letters-correspondence records from the Civil War.

HEADQUARTERS HUMBOLDT MILITARY DISTRICT, Fort Humboldt, September 22, 1863.

Lieutenant E. HALE,

First Battalion Mountainers, Cal. Vols., Commanding Camp Curtis:

SIR: In placing you in command of detachment at Camp Curtis, the district commander had in view the protection from Indian hostilities the town of Arcata and adjacent settlements. This will be your special duty. With the force at your command it is believed that you can prevent the murder by Indians of any more citizens in that vicinity. It is not expected that you will send parties on distant scouts, but that your command will be constantly alert and use all possible endeavors to kill or capture all wild Indians which may venture into your neighborhood. You are at liberty in your discretion to send a few men at a time on short scouts, say, to Little River, Angel Ranch, Mad River, &c., but not when it will interfere with the protection of Arcata and its immediate vicinity. Upon Lieutenant Middleton’s arrival your command will be increased by five men of Company B. While you hold command at Camp Curtis it is expected the necessary discipline will be observed – a guard at night, the regular roll-cals, &c.

By order of Lieutenant Colonel S. G. Whipple.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A. W. HANNA,

First Lieutenant and Adjt. First Batt. Mountaineers, Cal. Vols.,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Uniontown (Arcata), Summer of ’53 (1853)

Folks that have known me awhile can attest that I seldom stick with any interest in particular (outside of my family obligations) for any length of time.  Yet… yet, two years later I am still posting to this blog. 

I’d like to think I’m not often motivated by external influences, but the local interest and extremely generous contributions of visitors makes this, well, just a heck of a lot of fun.  This time around “thanks !” goes, once again, to Skippy…

What a beautiful ‘Grand Old Dame’ of a school building gracing Arcata in 1897. Arcata had become a booming and thriving town by this time; electricity already having made its appearance a few years prior along with the other modern marvels at the turn of the century. It wasn’t always this way for the previous generations– the pioneering parents and grandparents– of the Arcata youth pictured here.

44 years earlier Arcata– then called Union– was just becoming a settled place; a crossroad of lush agriculture, supplies, and transportation for the Trinity mines to the east. Judge John Carr gave his first impressions upon visiting Arcata, reminiscings likely to have been remembered by the immediate ancestors of these school children:

“A Trip To Humboldt”
“During the summer of ’53, hearing of the beauties and richness of Humboldt county, I made up my mind to visit that section. Buying a mule, I started from Weaverville, to take a more extended view of the resources of this county. On my arriving at Big Flat, on the lower Trinity, there were rumors of the Indians having broken out and being on the war path. I found waiting for company Judge Peters and two others, and we were joined there by General Denver, all bound for Uniontown, now Arcata…

Arcata Union Newspaper; various dates: 1895-1905

Visitor “Skippy” was generous enough to share the following as a comment after my post/photo of Arcata High  and (Skippy, I hope you understand that) I just didn’t want to risk anyone missing this great info…

Per Skippy:

Here’s some of the exciting Arcata news that these pictured high schoolers likely would have known about at the time. Arcata was a happening and progressive place:

“One of the large timbers on which the engine and dynamos for the Arcata Electric Light Works will be placed in position shortly was hauled Wednesday. One end was fastened to a pair of truck wheels and the other end dragged. It required three span of horses to drag it and then considerable difficulty was experienced in turning corners. Electricians Taylor and Littlefield are hard at work wiring the residence on the hill. About 500 lights have been put in up to date. The arc lights are ready and so soon as the incandescent dynamo arrives and is put in place Arcata will have her lights.” Read more about electricity in Arcata here

Advertisement: ‘”The Glorious 4th is coming so let the Eagle SCREAM and Old Glory FLUTTER to the Wind from the mast heads. Arcata Celebrates and Begins the Day’s festivities with a National Salute of 13 Guns at Sunrise. A Grand Procession will form at Armory Hall, at 9 o’clock in the following order: 1) The Arcata Cornet Band. 2) Co, B, 10th Inf. Bat., N. G. C. 3) Citizens on foot. 4) School Children in Floating Palace. 5) Officers of the Day in Carriages will parade though the principal streets, terminating on the plaza which will be beautifully decorated for the occasion. …’”

“Arcata has demonstrated the fact that a good (4th of July) celebration can be gotten up on short notice and carried to a successful issue in spite of the fact that almost every other place in the county had a celebration also. As early as Monday morning the decorating committee commenced delivering redwood trees around the plaza and up the principal streets … by Tuesday night the town looked like a miniature park. …The 4th opened with the firing of the national salute on the plaza … The first event of the day was the hose tournament … The Calithuptian parade from Alliance came into view … There were about 75 wheels in line and some very funny and original costumes were seen. The man who couldn’t keep his pedals caused much merriment as did also the man with the hay rope whiskers. After circling around the plaza they gathered around the bandstand where Grand Calithumpian Orator Tim Spaulding, addressed his motley followers. … After the noon intermission, the afternoon games and races were called. The first was a 6 mile, free for all, bicycle road race, beginning and ending on the plaza … Celebration Gossip: Everybody said those 2 little girls in the Calithumpian parade were “just too cute” and those 2 boys fooled lots of people including the Calithumpians themselves.”

See a similar parade on the plaza here

From “Special Notes: ‘”$25 Reward will be paid for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the party or parties that stole my chickens. We have in our midst a genuine chicken thief. Chickens come home to roost, and this thief will be caught, for I know you just as well as if I had caught you in the act, for you, like some other thieves, forgot to cover your tracks. … It is well known that I am a confirmed invalid and a party that would steal chickens from me, would steal acorns from a blind sow. I live in the Frances house, and my name is Peter McGeorge.’”

In the “Special Column” : ‘”For Rent — A nice six room, sunny cottage, two blocks west the plaza. Rent $5.50 per month, inquire of Gustave Muhlberg.”

Mulberg adopted Charles, Lucy’s son.  Read more about Charles here

“T. J. Crawford has accepted the agency of the Imperial ($105) and the Elliot ($85) Bicycles– and will have four new wheels up on the steamer to-day. Any prospective buyer may have use of wheel for one week, and if not satisfactory in every respect, have the privilege of returning the same. Mr. Crawford will sell on easy installments to reliable persons. Call and inspect the wheels at Crawford’s store.”

“Russell, the bicycle, horse and all around thief, was finally captured at the Jacoby Creek quarry last Saturday and Howell’s horse and Martin’s rifle and pistol recovered. He is now in jail in Eureka awaiting conviction and sentence. As well as being a first-class thief, he is a first-class liar. He denies, without blinking his eyes, that he was at Trinidad, or that he robbed Martin’s cabin or stole Howell’s horse.”

See cool bikes here

Advertisement: “Back Again From Europe! By the solicitation of many friends and patients, Dr. H. Ehrlich the Eminent Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon From Berlin, Germany, will make his next visit to Arcata, Tuesday, April 25th, Union Hotel, 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., One Day Only and return once a month. Do you want that Catarrh cured? Do you want that Deafness cured? Do you want to see with those Weak, Watry, Dim Eyes? If so, go and consult Dr. Ehrlich this trip.”

</b “Advertisement: Customers should bear in mind that with every purchase made by a lady amounting to $1 or over, she receives a high grade toilet article free. And every school child, with a purchase of a pair of shoes, receives a valuable and instructive pocket encyclopedia. Humboldt Manufacturing Co.”

Front page news: “Arcata not only has a fine natural park now, but a beautiful picnic ground as well, and the number of spirited men and women who helped to make Park Day a success may well be proud of their efforts… Men were seen wending their way up towards the park carrying axes, brush hooks, mattocks and other tools, and by the middle of the forenoon, a considerable clearing was the result, and brush fires were burning in every direction … People were surprised at the extent of the level land available for a ground, there being about 5 acres in one piece. Just above this is a sort of bench, making an ideal place for a band platform. The place where the dance platform will probably be located is level, without stumps … Several trees suitable for hanging swings were left, and when the work is completed, as fine a picnic ground as can be found in the country will be seen. …”

(Arcata Union Newspaper; various dates: 1895-1905)

THANK YOU SKIPPY.  THIS WAS AWESOME !

Mendocino Indian Reservation, 1857

Mendocino Indian Reservation, 1857

Ok, keep clicking to get to the source of the photo…

And then (and this is important if this format drives you crazy like it did me–for those of you, likely most of you, that already figured it out-ignore the following),

you need to go to the top left hand corner and  adjust the zoom… and then click on red box imposed over the miniture image in the left corner below the zoom setting.  Then with your mouse still clicked, move that little box around.  It will shift the larger image (zoomed) around so you can see segments of the image in better detail.

It seriously took me months to figure this out.  Clearly not something I should be boasting about but it is true.

This painting is remarkable–and not.  I would like to think the artist tried to accurately capture what he saw.  The source cite says that it was complete while the painter, Edouart,  was a member of a hunting party in 1857 to present to Mendocino County.