One hundred years ago today, the Humboldt Times was reporting that the 11-mile wagon road from Orick to Orleans was set to open May 1, 1922.
The newspaper said, “The new road is regarded as one of the best for heavy travel in the county.”
The road — which cost about $28,000 to construct and cover with a heavy coating of rock — passed by the Sherman Lyons Ranch and went out as far as the Tomlinson Ranch in Orleans.
Plenty more was happening this week in 1922 as well. For instance, on April 28 of that year, the Humboldt Times ran an article stating that the Upper Mattole region of Humboldt County was expecting “a record spring crop of potatoes.”
The paper continued: “Farmers in this section are (also) busy preparing for corn planting, while some wheat yet remains to be sown. The entire crop outlook promises to be one of the best in the history of the county.”
Despite two or three recent frosts, the Humboldt Times said that “no fruit is thought to have suffered as a result and a big apple crop is predicted by local growers.”
That same day, the Humboldt Times said that The Kandy Kitchen, at 531 Fifth St. in Eureka, had changed ownership. The new owner was Frank Brennan and the manager of the candy store would be J. E. Williams, well-known representative of the Eng-Skell Co. of San Francisco. Albert Higures — who worked in some of the best confectionary shops in San Francisco — was tapped to be the primary candy maker for The Kandy Kitchen.
On April 29, 1922, the Humboldt Times reported that private detectives Clarence Stitt and Charles Hendricks were “attacked by an infuriated mob numbering over 100, armed with clubs, shotguns and knives, when they sought to obtain evidence against alleged violators of the Prohibition law at Wildwood (Rio Dell).”
The investigators both received serious injuries and “were only saved from certain death by County Dry Operatives William McKay, A. P. Cheetham and Stephen Hash, who came to their aid and dispersed the mob with drawn revolvers,” the paper said.
Stitt and Hendricks were rushed to Sequoia Hospital, the newspaper said, and were treated by Dr. Carl Wallace, who announced he believed the men would recover in time.
Fishing season opened on May 1, 1922, “with indications of one of the best seasons in the history of Humboldt County,” the Humboldt Times said.
The paper reported that, “Good fishing is looked for in most all of the neighboring streams, with bait fishing in the lead for the opening few weeks, though some good fly fishing will be available in the middle of the month. … The best fishing will be found in the smaller streams in view of the fact that they clear up much faster than the larger ones and a few warm days are expected to see the popular trout seething the surrounding streams.”
On May 3, 1922, the Humboldt Times said that Dorothy Timmons would soon be opening a “women’s specialty shop” in conjunction with the Vance Beauty Parlor in the Vance Hotel building at Second and G streets.
“In addition to securing exclusive designs from Eastern markets, Mrs. Timmons has made arrangements to import choice Irish laces, exquisite needlework and real linens,” the newspaper noted.
It added, “When completed, the shop will be on a par with the best equipped exclusive women’s establishments maintained in the large cities.”
Local folks were very excited about the “Wildflower Show” opening on May 4, 1922 and being presented by the Eureka High School biology department.
The exhibit was under the direction of Constance Reston, head of the EHS biology program. Assisting her was Mrs. W. Kildale, who set up most of the floral arrangements.
The show was also slated to feature “an elaborate program consisting of many musical numbers,” according to the Humboldt Times.
Heather Shelton can be reached at hshelton@times-standard.com.
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