Arlynda Bridge, c.1907 & Ferndale Creameries

Bridge over Salt River, c1907. Arlynda (Corners)

Huh. There is a low bridge and a high bridge. Not sure why.

According to Dennis Turner’s Place Names in Humboldt (I have the old edition) Arlynda was the name proposed by John Gardner Kenyon in 1882 for what (I think) used to be an independent community 1 1/2 mile north of Ferndale. Turner says Arlynda is an Indian word meaning merchandise or property. Apparently the first creamery in Humboldt County was founded there in 1890.

Not sure if it was this one…

Probably not one below either-as it looks like it backs into a hillside and it is flat around Arlynda.

Tyrell’s Creamery, Ferndale [Peter Palmquist]

Oysters in Humboldt in 1932

Humboldt Bay Oyster Seed Dike, 1932 (Bonnut/County Collection)

Apparently the folks at the North Coast Journal knew back in 1995 that “Oysters have been commercially grown and harvested in Humboldt Bay for more than 100 years” but I had no idea.

And the industry continues to grow.

In August of 2011, the Times Standard reported that the Headwaters Fund put $200,000 into the industry. The funds are allowing the  Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District to go through the lengthy and expensive  permitting process for mariculture plots and then lease the “pre-permitted” property to oyster farmers—drastically reducing the costs to those small business owners.

According to Dawn Elsbree, Executive Director of the Headwaters Fund, the Humboldt Bay Harbor District is now about half way through the grant and working on the pre-permitting process.  They have been mapping the bay and working with regulatory agencies to resolve environmental concerns. They are also preparing a US Army Corps permit application and a CEQA initial study,  as well as finalizing the model they’ll eventually use to evaluate potential project effects on phytoplankton. Apparently state and federal agencies are watching the project and shell fish growers are interested as well – and  there seems to be potential for the project to be a model for other communities.

I have the original grant proposal but can’t figure out how to attach to my blog–email me if you want me to send you a copy- historyaddicts@gmail.com.

And visit my friend Sebastian’s website, Aqua Rodeo Farms to get better acquainted with one of our local oyster farmers.

Eureka, c. 1923

7th & G Streets, Eureka. C 1923

There are a lot of cool things going on in this photo…

I wish I had more time this morning-I’d try to identify the buildings.  I wouldn’t be surprised if many are still standing, even if they are hidden behind new facades. 

If you look carefully at the commercial buildings downtown, especially between C & F streets, along 5th Street, you’ll notice the gables of old houses behind more “modern” and squared storefronts.  Sound Advice, a stereo store, I think, is one example.

Present day (ish)

Incentive to quit the filthy weed, Arcata 1863

I went though some old newspaper archives recently and am obviously having fun with what I found.

Apparently “progressive” Arcata has a long history with filthy weeds…

Humboldt Times, 28 March 1863

Arcata Anti-Tobacconist–Our sister city, across the Bay, has taken another progressive step, in the organization of a league whoe one idea is to discourage the use of the filthy weed.

Some ten inveterate victims of this habit always fallacious and at present extremely extravagant have pledged themselves to abstain from the use of tobacco in any form during the year 1863, under penalty of a fine of ten dollars, which in case of forfeiture is to be applied to the school fund of the town.

We consider this a good arrangement; for if they really succeed…   it certainly will be to his advantage, while if his resolve melts away like the smoke of his discarded meerchaum*, the ten dollars remains as a tangible benefit to the school fund, which will gain what he loses.

*meerchaum: a claylike mineral used to make tobacco pipes

Fortuna Train Depot, early days

Fortuna Train Depot

This is a great example of repurposing an old structure.

This old train depot is now the Depot Museum in Fortuna.   It contains all kinds of fun historic displays, as well as some historic documents for those researching genealogy or other specific topics.

The building was moved from it’s original location at the foot of 8th Street to Rohner Park (take first Fortuna exit and keep driving about 3 ish miles.  The park entrance is on the left). 

A google search found me this photo, which has even more great period details. 

Fortuna train depot, c. 1914

A saloon uses up boys…

The beginings of prohibition

The potential legalization of marijuana is a very hot issue right now… Kym Kemp (AKA Redheaded Black Belt) maintains a blog that touches on this topic quite frequently.

Legalizing or criminalizing certain substances has come up often throughout history. According to Wikipedia,  the first half of the 20th century saw periods of prohibition of alcoholic beverages in several countries:

Halloween in early Arcata?

Looking north up H Street, Arcata

It was only when I magnified this photo that I noticed the creepy masks in the window.

Washing clothes has never been fun

Arcata Laundry 1881

According to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey,   folks dedicate a little more than 1/2 hour a day to household chores , including laundry.    Can you imagine how much longer it would be if we still used this?

Clothes "dryer"

Before powerlines cluttered the Blue Lake sky

Looking south down H Street, Blue Lake

 

Once upon a time, there were no power lines.

But there were lights…

Gas Lamp

And pigs, apparently.

Tragedy of the Donner Party Saves Other Lives

Wagon Camping

I decided to take a short break from the topic of Reservations after I read a story that mentioned the Relief Companies formed in California to help the pioneers arrive here safely.

According to Wikipedia, the memory of the Donner disaster prompted Californians to fund relief teams during the gold rush. They sent men eastward along the trails to take food and water to overland emigrants.  In her diary, Sarah Royce, a woman who began the journey with her husband and two-year old daughter, Mary, in 1849, credited such a Relief Party with saving the lives of herself and her family.

I think it is easy to overlook the fact that many, if not most, of the emigrants seeking their fortune in California didn’t know what they were doing.   The Royces prepared for their journey across the country by reading  the book Fremont’s Travels, and noting the often conflicting suggestions of other travelers, who, like the Royces,  were  “were utter strangers to camping life and were setting out for the ‘Golden Gate’ “.   

Pioneers set out for the west and experienced floods, food shortages, broken wagons, hostile natives, and more.  If they survived these challenges and reached Utah,  the Great Salt Lake Desert  and Sierra Nevada Mountain Range awaited them.   The Royces got as far as Salt Lake City and then found  “two small sheets of note paper, sewed together  and bearing on  the outside in writing the title, ‘Best Guide to the Gold Mines, 816 miles’, by Ira J. Willes, GSL City”  to help them the rest of the way.

The “book” was handwritten by Willes, who had been to California and back the previous year.  Royce said the description of directions, distances and good camping places seemed pretty clear until the author mentioned the  Humboldt River [not connected to Humboldt county in any way], “when poor camping and scarcity of water was mentioned with discouraging frequency.”  After that point, author Willes suggested they look for a new track the previous fall,  which “might be better.”

As life and other work calls, I will continue this  topic tomorrow…