Mendocino lost one of its earliest structures in 1936, when the “Company Barn” succumbed to flames. The 70-year-old landmark, originally built as a skating rink, had served a variety of roles over the decades, reflecting the town’s evolving needs. Situated south of the intersection of Lansing and the now-defunct Old Coast Road, the barn was fully engulfed when the fire was discovered. The volunteer fire company responded, but when they arrived, there was nothing they could do except safeguard the adjoining properties.
Cows at the Company Barn on the bluff east of the Ford house in Mendocino. (Gift of Alice Earl Wilder)
The building’s origins trace back to a more festive era. In its early years, it was a vibrant center for social gatherings, featuring a smooth curved pine floor perfect for skating and dancing. On July 4, 1872, the rink was the heart of a grand Independence Day celebration, its interior adorned with American flags, floral decorations, and a towering eagle emblem. The rink’s transformation into a barn came as the town’s priorities shifted, housing work animals for the Mendocino Lumber Company, then becoming a bark mill in the 1920s, and later serving as a storage facility for local residents like Casimero Silvia and Joe Quaill.
At the time of the fire, Silvia had been using the building to store a small hay crop, which he had recently harvested, and Quaill had several tons of hay stored there. Silvia also lost plows, harnesses, and other farming equipment. Quaill had been keeping his large truck in the barn but had taken it to his shop that day to get ready for an early morning trip.
This wasn’t the first time the barn had been threatened by fire. In 1894, some boys went swimming on a nearby beach and started a fire. The flames got out of control but were put out before reaching the barn. In 1899, a home and shed on the property had been destroyed by a fire, but the barn once again was spared when several men stationed themselves on the barn’s roof and extinguished the sparks that fell there.
Books Make Great Gifts! Mendocino (Book 1) by Kelley House founders Dorothy Bear and Beth Stebbins offers a brief history of life over Mendocino’s first 120 years. Discover the town’s unique architecture and family histories, illustrated with many black and white photos. $25.