April 18, 1906 - “An earthquake shock of remarkable severity visited the entire Mendocino coast” at 5:13 am, according to the Beacon. A rumbling noise preceded the full force of the quake. “So violently did the earth shake that many people were thrown from their beds. Men, women and children fled precipitately from their houses and from the hotels, many of them in their night clothes. [...]
April 16, 1880 - Mendocino Coast pioneer Albert Maxwell died at 4pm at his home in Mendocino, “after a lingering and painful sickness,” according to the Beacon. Albert, a well-known carpenter and builder, had constructed the home at 45164 Little Lake Street just two years earlier. Born in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in 1829, Albert married Jane Randall in 1852. The couple had two daughters before Albert [...]
April 10, 1909 - The buzz-wagon craze had come to Mendocino, according to the Beacon. “Buzz-wagon” was a slang term for the automobile, perhaps because the early-day gasoline engines were so noisy. The first Beacon report of an automobile purchase appeared in May 1903: “Abbott Colburn, who recently purchased an automobile, has thoroughly demonstrated their adaptability for traveling purposes even on the coast, where the heavy [...]
Group photograph of friends taken on July 4, 1878.Back row L to R: Alexander MacCallum, Leonard Barnard, Archibald Yell, Dr. Tracy Hubbard Smith.Front row L to R: Daisy Kelley MacCallum, Libbey Briggs, Nellie Malone, Kate Carlson. (Photographer: George Irving Hazeltine; Gift of Nannie Escola) April 8, 1856 - Leonard “Len” Barnard was born in Maine, the son of Ira and Susan Barnard. In 1868, [...]
Harry Richard Boos, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Simon Boos, sitting in a child's chair holding a toy armadillo, 1923. On the back of the photograph is a reference to the 1914 newspaper article. (Gift of Jacqueline Boos Tucker) April 4, 1914 - An armadillo caused a bit of uproar in town. The Beacon reported that “Mrs. Simon Boos is having a great deal [...]
April 1, 1911 - The Mendocino Beacon reported that John Bowman and Frank Pacheco had begun manufacturing soda at the recently reopened Mendocino Bottling Works plant on Evergreen Street. This building was located on the now empty lot just south of Cafe Beaujolais. A soda factory had operated intermittently at this location since 1882, and John’s father, George H. Bowman, had managed the Mendocino Bottling Works [...]
These two images, taken almost 116 years apart, show the Jarvis & Nichols Building located on the northeast corner of Main and Kasten Streets in Mendocino. Today, this elegant building is home to Gallery Bookshop. The Jarvis & Nichols Building, 1907. (Photographer: Perley Maxwell) The Jarvis & Nichols Building, 2023. (Photographer: Robert Dominy) Designed by L. A. Morgan and built in [...]
March 28, 1920 - Robert “Bob" Permenter was born in Humboldt County, the son of John Oscar and Gerda (Boesen) Permenter. Bob spent most of his childhood in Caspar and attended the local schools. He was always interested in music and became an accomplished pianist. Bob graduated from Mendocino High School in May 1937. The commencement ceremony showcased the Class of 1937’s musical talent. Mildred Nolan [...]
Studio photograph of Charles D. "Charlie" Norton, c. 1874. (Gift of Evelyn Larkin) March 26, 1869 - Charles D. “Charlie” Norton was born in Mendocino, the only son of William H. and Margaret Flanagan Norton. William and Margaret owned the Norton House Hotel, located on the southeast corner of Lansing and Main Streets. Charlie attended the early-day schoolhouse located near the northeast corner of [...]
March 20, 1943 - Mrs. Mabel E. Tomlinson died at her daughter’s home in Monterey at the age of 65. Although she had left Mendocino in 1901, the Beacon noted that “old-time friends here” would remember her maiden name, Mabel Rainey, and be sorry to read of her death. Mabel was the granddaughter of pioneer residents John and Anna Mann, who lived on a 100-acre ranch [...]