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Fall 2009 | Volume 31, No. 4

Become a member of the Ferndale Museum to receive complete quarterly newsletters by mail

History of Humboldt County

Marji Smith has donated two items of local interest to the Museum—an original volume of Elliott’s 1881 History of Humboldt County California, and a Xerox copy of the life of Richard Johnston written by him in 1882. The original Johnston manuscript is at the Bancroft Library.

Richard Johnston was born in Ireland, went to Australia, and from there sailed to San Francisco for the Gold rush in 1849. He moved to Bear River with his wife Mary Lancaster in 1857. He tells about San Francisco, Weaverville, friends, neighbors, money troubles and Indian attacks. Richard, his wife, his young son, and two family Indians are buried in the Ferndale Cemetery.

Richard also wrote a diary for the year 1869, and you can read that too—revival meetings, traveling dentists, chasing heifers, trips to Ferndale, trips to the Mattole. Rob Roberts has transcribed both documents, and a printed copy can be found in the Museum parlor for interested browsers.

Membership Chairman

Virginia McDonald has been doing a superb job of handling the membership tracking, renewal, and reminder notices for an astounding 19 years! This has all been on a voluntary basis. We are very grateful for her efforts and time. She has recently come forward and requested that we find someone else to take over the position. Please contact us if you would be interested in helping us out in this respect.

Volunteer Christmas Party

It is that time of year again. We are going to hold our Christmas party on Wednesday, December 9th at 1:30 here at the Museum. Mark your calendars to reserve that date. Give us a call if you will be attending so we can add your name to our list and plan the refreshments accordingly.

Volunteer of the Year

Speaking of the Christmas party...you all know that this is the time we recognize a volunteer for their dedication, time, support, and involvement with the Museum. Please give us a call or send in a card with your nomination(s) for volunteer of the year. Remember this is for volunteers only—not Board Members or paid staff. We want to make the selection by November 16 so please call us the week of November 9 through November 13. Better yet, call us as soon as you read this and you won’t forget!

Upcoming Events

The Board of Directors is looking at fund raisers for 2010. On the list is a showing of the ever popular Tipple movies scheduled for February 25th.

We are lining up beautiful homes for a home tour that will probably take place in the fall.

Ann Roberts is putting together an informative and very interesting guided tour of the Ferndale Cemetery that will be in June or July.

Keep an eye on the newsletter, website, and look for posters around town for times, dates, prices, and additional information on these events.

A Puzzling Matter

\Are you trying to think of what to get someone for Christmas, birthday, get well, or some other special occasion. Maybe you are looking for a little something for yourself...Come down and look at the great jigsaw puzzle collection we have in our gift shop. Some large piece puzzles, some regular size pieces. Trains, boats, lighthouses, Christmas, children’s and more—we have a great selection. 

Gift Shop Highlights

You really need to come down and look at the selection of books we have.  Here are a few highlights:

Spotted Bear—Magical things happen in this enchanting tale of how spotted bears get their spots. This is a great children’s story with beautiful illustrations. $15.00

Color the Wildflowers of the Rockies  Great coloring book of flowers with a description of what you are coloring. $4.95

Nature’s Yucky I and II These two books are great for interesting the young boy (or girl) in your life. It will peak their interest in nature. $12.00 each

The Charcoal Forest This book details how fires help the forest. Colorful illustrations. Very interesting for children and adults alike.$12.00

Loons Great illustrations and filled with facts about these interesting diving birds. $12.00

You Can Be a Nature Detective Explains a lot of interesting facts to get children interested in observing nature. Great illustrations $14.00

I read through all of the above books and I found them interesting and very informative. They will make fantastic gifts for your child or grandchild. I know what mine are getting for Christmas!

An Introduction to Northern California Birds by Herbert Clarke

For the adults we have many more books

Wild Berries of the West—A color field guide to more than 150 berries and fruits of the western United States. With recipes to use them.  $16.00

Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest—beautiful color photographs to help you identify the flowers you see growing in the wild. $14.00

Northwest Weeds—Full color photographs of the weeds we see, both beautiful and ugly. Great for identification. $14.00

Northern California Birds—Easy to use field guide to introduce you to the marvelous birdlife inhabiting northern California. Full color photographs and information on the listed birds. $14.00

Edible and Medicinal Plants of the West—Full color photographic guide to the identification, edibility, and medicinal uses of over 250 plants species. These would be plants our ancestors used before we had the common corner drug store. $21.00

Come in early to get your books. If we sell out of them we can order more in time for Christmas if you come in this month. We have many more titles to choose from.

Christmas Cards on Sale Now

Christmas cards specific to Ferndale are on sale at the Museum now also. Humorous and serious both available. These are really nice cards. Why spend hours looking at other stores when you can get cards here?

I can customize special orders of them for you if you purchase at least a dozen by inserting your name and whatever message you want printed inside. I work Wednesday and Thursday on customizing cards. These are a bargain for unique cards that are only available here at the Museum. $1.25 each or 5 for $5.00.

Customized cards available by the dozen for $12.00 a dozen.

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Fern’s Facts and Musings

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Q. Dear Fern, In Denis Edeline’s book, Ferndale...the Village,  he has some very interesting maps in the back. Did he draw them especially for the book? Signed, “Likes Old Maps”

Francis Land and Water building

Sanborn Map

A. Dear Likes,

Those are copies of Sanborn maps, which were put out by the Sanborn Company for over fifty years. They covered the United States. The maps were used mostly for insurance planning purposes. Today they are of great historical interest. The Museum has copies of all the Ferndale maps—1886, 1889, 1894, 1900, 1909, and a 1926 update. But not every street in town is covered, and if your house was built after 1926, you will not be on the map.

The maps show the outlines of buildings and their placement on their lots. It does not tell who owns the building, but it does tell if it was a house or what kind of a business structure it is, for example, a hotel, a store, or a blacksmith shop. The outline shows the configuration, bay windows, porches, and indicates if it is one story or two. They are interesting to look at because buildings do change over the years, or they might even be moved to a new location.

Here is an example from the 1926 Sanborn covering the west side of Francis Street. This is also Block 15 in Denis’s book. Block 15 is from our local survey numbering. It doesn’t have anything to do with the Sanborns. Reading from left to right we see number 99 Francis, the pink house that stands back from the road. Then Francis Creek.

The small building is the former Francis Land and Water Company world headquarters, but it is no longer there. Number 151 has not yet been built. Numbers 161, 171, 191, 207, and 219 all have pretty much the same original outline. So, it is possible to take Denis’s book, which also has many old photographs, and walk the blocks to learn about our older buildings.

We have all three of Denis’s books on Ferndale and the surrounding area for sale in the gift shop.

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Please submit questions to the Ferndale Museum for “Fern’s Musings”

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drawing of Ferndale Museum

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Ferndale Museum, as an historical and educational museum, is to foster an appreciation and understanding of the culture and heritage of Ferndale, the lower Eel River Valley and the area as far south as the Mattole River Valley. The objectives are to be achieved through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts that pertain to or were used by the residents of the area. The museum will conduct research and publish material of historic nature for the education and interest of residents and visitors to our area.


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Memorials

The Ferndale Museum thanks the donors and wishes to extend condolences to family and friends. This year Memorial Contributions were given to the Museum in memory of:

Jeff Alameda
Gloria Ambrosini
Angelica Beal
Bill Beal
Dorothy Belloni
Meridith Bryant

Phyllis Bugenig
Kenneth Cady
Albert Cardoza
Max Cardoza
Erla Chance
Ernest Christensen
Marie Cox
Brett Davie
Erica Dedini
Mary Del Oro
Phyllis Miner Don’t
Mary Hartley Fleek
David Frey
Wayne Garrett
David Graham
Blanche Grinsell
John Giacomini
Emily Lema
Edward Machado
Mary Machado
Helen Mann
Mary Marshall
Ada Martin
Bonita Mauney McMartin
Jack Medina
Billie Nielsen
Steve Renner
Jose Rosa
AuDean Spencer
Eldrid Spinas
Carl Trotter
Jubal Tuey
Miriam "Bitsy" Welch

The Ferndale Museum Board of Directors, June 2009

Officers: Donald Andersen, President; Joan Katri, Vice President; Irene Bryant, Secretary; David Carr, Treasurer.

Members: Norma Bessingpas, Lorie J. Ford, Kirk Gothier, Richard B. Hooley, George Nichols

Executive Staff: Jerry Lesandro, Director; Shirley Hopkins, Director's Assistant; Virginia McDonald, Membership.

Ferndale Museum
Post Office Box 431
Ferndale, California 95536-0431 USA
707-786-4466
museum@ferndalemuseum.org

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Ferndale Museum © 2009

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