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Making History Blog

Fire Claims Remains of Mendocino Mill

December 12, 1945 - The remains of the Mendocino Mill on Big River Flat burned to the ground at 3am. Burned Mendocino Mill on Big River, 1946. View looking southwest of the remains of the Mendocino Mill on Big River after the building caught on fire during its dismantling. The main steam engine has yet to be scrapped. The bridge over Big River can be [...]

By |2022-12-11T11:21:02-08:00December 12, 2022|

Fire at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church Manse

December 10, 1916 - A small fire occurred at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church Manse on Main Street. The Mendocino Beacon reported that the ringing of the fire bell early in the evening “brought practically the entire population of Mendocino out of doors. To the relief of all, however, no mounting flames met their eyes, the blaze being extinguished within a few minutes after its discovery. The [...]

By |2022-12-09T11:53:37-08:00December 10, 2022|

Spotlight on Angela Lansbury: Muse of Cabot Cove

The Kelley House’s new exhibit, Angela Lansbury: Muse of Cabot Cove, is a tribute to the beloved actress and her impact on Mendocino. The exhibit examines her illustrious life and career, in particular her role as Jessica Fletcher in “Murder, She Wrote.” The iconic TV series had an impact on Mendocino that ranged from hiring locals for the filming to boosting tourism. Most of all, the [...]

By |2022-12-06T12:42:14-08:00December 8, 2022|

Charles Luiz

December 6, 1889 - Charles C. Luiz was born in Mendocino. His parents, Antone and Annie Lazarus Luiz operated the Lisbon Hotel on Ukiah Street until they sold the property in 1906, and Charles attended Mendocino schools. Antone also ran a general merchandise store on Main Street, in the building where Highlight Gallery was most recently located. After Antone retired in 1909, Charles opened a clothing [...]

By |2022-12-05T14:18:29-08:00December 6, 2022|

Captain Henry Nelson

On this day in Mendocino history… December 4, 1916 - Captain Henry Nelson died suddenly while visiting relatives in New York. His remains were returned to California and buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Oakland. Born in 1844 in Sandefjord, Norway, Henry left home when he was thirteen, returning two years later to visit for a few months. This visit was his last trip to Norway. [...]

By |2022-12-03T14:11:37-08:00December 4, 2022|

Sutherland’s Garage

December 2, 1932 - Ralph C. Sutherland took over ownership of the S. & E. Garage on the east end of Main Street, buying out his partner (and brother-in-law) Charles Escola. Ralph, who had been the head mechanic for nine years, renamed the business, “Sutherland’s Garage.” In addition to repairs, he sold tires, batteries, oil, and radios. In 1934, he began selling new Plymouth and DeSoto [...]

By |2022-12-01T17:07:21-08:00December 2, 2022|

The Old Incline and County Road South of Mendocino

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 [...]

By |2022-11-27T10:43:02-08:00November 28, 2022|

Jennie Mantyla

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 [...]

By |2022-11-25T13:26:45-08:00November 26, 2022|

C. O. Packard Arrested

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 [...]

By |2022-11-20T12:13:39-08:00November 22, 2022|

Joe Silvia’s Accident at the Shipping Point

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 [...]

By |2022-11-20T06:15:16-08:00November 20, 2022|
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