The Brooklyn towing a four-masted barkentine from Big River. (Gift of Emery Escola, Emery Escola Collection, Kelley House Photographs) November 8, 1930 - The wooden steam schooner Brooklyn sank while crossing the Humboldt bar at the entrance to Humboldt Bay. Seventeen crew members were lost; only the first mate survived. The Beacon reported, “The sea was extremely rough as the vessel attempted to cross [...]
The Jarvis & Nichols general merchandise store on the northeast corner of Kasten and Main Streets in Mendocino, 1907-1916. Jim Nichols is center and Henry Jarvis stands to the right on the wide concrete sidewalk and step in front of their store. (Kelley House Collection, Kelley House Photographs) November 7, 1907 - August “Gus” Johnson was installing concrete sidewalks around town. The Beacon reported [...]
Eight men posing in front of the Alhambra Hotel next to a large gaslight, purportedly the first in town, c. 1887. H.B. Seavey, the owner, is standing third from the left wearing a beard and vest without a coat. A tall flagpole, attached to the eave of the false front, sits on the second-story balcony. The balcony is constructed with crossed rails. A hitching post [...]
Nannie Flood Escola in her classroom at the Ellison School on the Little River-Airport Road, 1909. (Gift of Linda Mechling, The Nannie Escola Collection, Kelley House Photographs) November 5, 1912 - Miss Nannie Flood was the first woman in Mendocino to cast a vote for President of the United States. She marked her ballot a few minutes after 6 am, stopping at the polls [...]
This week we celebrate the bicentennial of William Henry Kelley’s birth. And who is this W. H. Kelley? That is a question many people visiting the Kelley House Museum want answered when they walk through the door. He was a remarkable man, and his tale is worth telling. William Henry Kelley in 1865, thirteen years after arriving in Mendocino. He spelled his family name "Kelly" [...]
Waterbury mantle clock, c. 1900. Owned by the Mendocino Lumber Company and subsequently owned by the Paoli family. Inscribed "Waterbury Clock Co.; Waterbury, Conn. USA." Currently on display in the Kelley House Museum. (Gift of Hazel Paoli) November 3, 1913 - Clocks at the mill were set ahead 20 minutes. This practice was carried out annually during the early days to allow employees a [...]
Buildings along Lansing Street between Albion and Ukiah Streets, Mendocino, looking northeast, c. 1912-1923. This photo was likely taken from the water tower at the Kelley House. The barn-like building on the left, on the northwest corner of Lansing and Albion Streets, is the livery stable first built by William H. Kelley, later owned by Switzer & Boyd, and then by Boyd & Daniels until it [...]
The Mendocino High School football team of 1930 posing on the field at the high school. Front row L - R: Tyrell Cox, Leslie Amundsen, Runar Stolpe, Burney Sjolund, Harold Hee, Ken Maxwell, Conrad Christianson. Back row: Trigger Martin, Leo Richardson, Ray Sjolund, Jesse Paoli. Standing L - R: Evald Burbeck, Hiriam Day Feary, Angus Russell. (Gift of Rene Borgna Tanner, The Rene Borgna Tanner [...]