The Old Incline and County Road South of Mendocino, 1929 - 1933. View of the remnants of the Mendocino Lumber Company's inclined tramway that ascends the bluff from Big River. On the right is the elevated bridge that brought non-vehicular travelers from the Big River Flat, up through a 50-foot gap between two houses, and onto Main Street just west of Evergreen Avenue. It was once [...]
On this day in Mendocino Coast history… November 26, 1966 - Jennie K. Mantyla of Comptche passed away at a Ukiah hospital at the age of 83 following a long illness. She had been bedridden for twelve years and had spent four years in the Redwood Coast Hospital in Fort Bragg before being transferred to Ukiah. Studio portrait of Jennie Mantyla, 1907. Jennie was [...]
November 22, 1909 - Mendocino druggist Charles Oscar Packard became the first person to be arrested for violating the community’s Dry Law prohibiting the sale of alcohol. This law was enacted following an election the previous July, which put 9 saloons and 5 hotel bars out of business. Packard was brought before Judge John Francis Murray at the Big River Justice Court, where he pled not [...]
November 20, 1903 - Joe Silvia survived a horrific accident at the Shipping Point. The following day, the Beacon described what happened, “Why Joe Silvia is alive to tell the tale of the accident that befell him yesterday morning when he was suddenly knocked off the wire chute platform to the rocks forty feet below will probably forever remain a mystery. As the load of lumber [...]
November 18, 1928 - Funeral services were held at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church for James William “Billy” Mullen, who served as Mendocino’s Postmaster for four decades. He had been in declining health for about 4 years and had suffered a stroke just a few days before his death. Studio photograph of Carlson & Mullen Family Members, c. 1885. Seated are Edward Carlson and Theresa Mullen. [...]
It’s easy to associate pears with Ukiah, apples with the Anderson Valley, hops with Hopland, and grapes with just about every inland valley, but how many of us connect peas with the Mendocino coast? Surprisingly enough, old-fashioned garden peas were once a profitable crop here. Early settlers quickly learned that the coastal marine terraces were excellent places to grow root crops like beets, turnips and potatoes, [...]
November 15, 1950 - Mrs. Katherine “Kate” M. Gorman died suddenly at the age of 90. The Beacon described her death as, “bringing to a close a life filled with love for her family and friends and usefulness to her community. She was loved by all who knew her and she was kind, generous, and a loving mother.” Portrait of Kate Gorman, c. 1880. (Studio: [...]
Frank Mathison in France, c. 1917. Frank Mathison of Little River enlisted in the US Army during World War I and served in the 5th Company 20th Engineers in France. After the war, Frank worked as a woodsman until he retired. On the back of the postcard is written, "From Frank Mathison, somewhere in France.” November 11, 1918 - Town residents rejoiced over the [...]
November 8, 1926 - The first Mendocino Boy Scout Troop held an organizational meeting. Troop Reporter Francis Nichols wrote in the Beacon, “B. S. A. Troop 39 met at their club rooms. At 7:30 the Scout master blew his whistle. This meant inspection. All the boys passed. Then we went out into the alley by the side of the club and played some games. Asa Bishop [...]
November 6, 1888 - A quiet wedding took place at the John Dougherty House on Ukiah Street. Miss Bessie Dougherty, only child of John and the late Elizabeth Dougherty, was united in marriage with Music Professor Charles Millard. The Beacon reported that, “The bride is one of Mendocino's daughters, widely known and much respected. The groom, however, is somewhat of a stranger among us. Last spring [...]