March 12, 1970
On the front page: The Dows Prairie 4-H Club is conducting a bottle drive to raise money for little Freddie Buckley of Eureka. Freddie, four years old, has been in the hospital, paralyzed, since last August and is struggling on the very slow road to recovery.
The only response Freddie can give so far is a little smile.
This past week Freddie has had a bout of pneumonia on top of all his other difficulties.
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Sam Merryman, owner of MerrymanÕs Restaurant at Moonstone, has announced his candidacy for Supervisor of the 5th District to oppose Incumbent Guy Rusher. ...
He was county supervisor previously, having served from 1955 to 1963.
Photo caption: ItÕs a bit large for a dinner bell, but these two tiny misses, Inga Daniels and Erica Daniels (cousins) of Trinidad, want you to know that they would ring it if they could on Sunday, March 15. ThatÕs the day the women of the Trinidad Civic Club will be serving dinner in the Trindad Town Hall. ... Proceeds will be used to help finance the placing of an anchor at the Memorial Lighthouse site where this 2-ton bronze bell is also located. ... Inga and Erica are the grandchildren of Mrs. Harold Daniels (Marnie) who has been active in Civic Club for over 20 years when the Memorial Lighthouse project was first started.
April 2, 1970
Front page photo caption: Twenty-three firefighters ... took six to eight minutes to ... control a blaze that enveloped the American Opinion Bookstore on St. Louis Road in Arcata Thursday morning. ... the 4 a.m. fire destroyhed about $3,000 worth of contents in the store. ... As the bookstore promoted a conservative or rigfht-wing philosophy, it was thought at first that arson might have been involved. However, it is believed by the fire department that the fire was caused by faulty ballast in a fluorescent light fixture, although the fire is still under investigation. ...
The Arcata police department was notified at 5:37 Sunday morning that a bomb had been planted on the second floor of the Hotel Arcata, set to detonate at 6 a.m.
Within minutes, members of the police and fire departments had evacuated the tenants ...
A 90-minute search uncovered no evidence of the device.
Within about 15 months, Humboldt Meadows, a proposed 135-unit apartment complex may become a reality.
By a 3-2 vote of the Arcata City Council approved the rezoning of an 8.27-acre section of land on Minor Lane near Alliance Road ...
The decision came despite the protest of 101 petition signers and 40 Westwood Village-Alliance Road-Susan Street residents in the audience.
In the Classies: FOR SALE — 1 pair new, size 4 1/2, Roller-Derby shoe skates — $20; one G. E. Show and Tell record player — $20; also 4 new girls dresses, size 12 1/2 and 14 1/2 chubby ...
Photo caption on the ÒMcKinleyville ProgressÓ page: The great egg rush of 1970 began at the McKinleyville Shopping Center ... when 1,000 kids hunted for 10,000 candy eggs.
April 30, 1970
Front page story, ÒFecal contamination lurks in McK ditchesÓ: Board director Tom Boring of the newly-formed McKinleyville Community Services District brought stark facts that contamination by human excrement exists in the McKinleyville area.
... Boring presented a report compiled by the State Department of Public Health and the Bureau of Sanitary Engineering which outlined chemical and bacteriological studies of the ditches along Central Avenue and their flow into Widow White Creek. ...
Entitled ÒInspection — Raw Sewage, McKinleyville, Humboldt County, California,Ó it reported that Òseveral of the suspected establishments investigated in the study area were proven, by dye tests, to contribute their septic tank wastes to the roadside ditch. The hazardous nature of the waste was established by Nessler Reagent tests and bacteriological analyses for coliform (a type of bacteria) and fecal coliform group.
ÒWe are of the opinion, therefore, that contamination by human excrement exists. ...Ó
From section, ÒTown & Gown — Views from the HilltopÓ written and edited by H.S.C. journalism majors: (By Alan Sanborn:) A few small radical groups are working quietly and devotedly at HSC to arouse the students from what they consider an apparent state of apathy.
The three major lift-wing organizations on campus are the Student Mobilization committee, the International Socialists and the WomenÕs Liberation. All three are relatively unstructured and have only a handful of permanent members, but their influence has been felt by much of Humboldt County this year. ...
May 25, 1970
Front page news: Trinity Hospital in Arcata has responded to a longstanding need for a coronary care unit (CCU) for the North Bay area.
Completed 2 weeks ago, the four-bed facility is scheduled to open ... contingent on the number of qualified nurses ...
The unit, costing $25,000, is completely equipped to deal with life-threatening emergencies ... and is designed to monitor both the patientÕs beart at his bedside and at a nurseÕs station ...
Book review: Toyon Review Õ70, Humboldt StateÕs literary magazine, released last week, approached pornography in its artwork, but its literary work is straightforward and amusing ...
This yearÕs edition included much poetry about nature, people, places and faith. There are verses about sustaining youth, feeling lonely, traveling on. The prose are full of vivid description ...
... Feedback after the first day of its sale was a comment that it was flippant. ...
Photo caption: Timothy G. Howe solved ArcataÕs housing problem by setting up housekeeping in a stump.
The 20-year-old junior drama major from Orinda, explained simply that about a month ago he tired of paying rent and thus spent a couple weekends building a home in a hollow redwood stump near the campus.
ÒAll it took was $10,Ó said Howe. ÒMy home.Ó
For a bathroom, Howe has many acres ... His home is equipped with a gas light, cot and radio.
Besides his constant companions — banana slugs — HoweÕs friends visit to play frisbee and talk. ...
June 18, 1970
Front page photo caption: Gail Straughan, Miss Humboldt, 1970, begins three days of glamour and hard work in her quest for the title of Miss California, and a chance to compete in the Miss American Pageant held later this year ... The Sparkling 18-year-old, blue-eyed blonde left Arcata Airport Monday for Santa Cruz where she will vie with 34 other girls from the Golden State. The 1970 graduate of McKinleyville High won her title during the Kiwanis-sponsored Miss Humboldt Peageant held during the Rhododendron Festival. ... Gail is the daughter of K. W. Straughan ...
Front page news: The Arcata Marina took another step forward toward reality last week with the completion of the 1,00 foot channel from McDaniels Slough to the small boat basin and the construction of a temporary gravel launching ramp.
The project, the first phase of a $2 million dollar marina complex to be located at the foot of I Street on the north end of Arcata Bay, is the result of a $90,000 grant from the State Department of Navigation and Ocean Development.
On June 1 a new store was opened in the McKinleyville area. A Western Auto Associate Store officially opened for business on Central Avenue next to Humboldt National Bank. ...
Don and Verna Allen, formerly of the area are the new owners ...
July 16, 1970
On the front page: The non-descript grey house at 1240 G Street will be missing in a few weeks.
Most every area resident since 1850 has seen the old house, but as time goes by, such structures blend into the landscape and, thus, become invisible.
Such was the way of Number 1240 until last Friday when Walker Tilley, grandson of Uniontown settler George H. Tilley, returned home for a day and reminisced about the now vacant structure, which will be torn down shortly for the new Stanton Restaurant.
According to the 76-year-old Arcata native, his grandfather bought the property in 1853 ... He said the house was prefabricated in the East and was one of the oldest in Arcata, adding that the foundation timbers were of eastern spruce and fastened together by one-ince diameter wooden pegs.
Tilley mentioned that Susie Baker Fountain had written of the house during her long career of chronicling HumboldtÕs history ... More of the houseÕs history came to light with Mrs. FountainÕs story in the September 19, 1957 issue of the Blue Lake Advocate ... George Ellsworth of Ellsworth, Maine ... Òcame around Cape Horn in the late [18]40s bringing with him the first prefabricated house and erecting it in Arcata ... he purchased the southwest quarter of Block 246 [bounded by F and G and 12th and 13th streets] and erected the prefab house, according to H . H. Gastman ...
ÒMrs. Stanley Roscoe states she has been informed that Bret Harte once lived at this location ...Ó
July 23, 1970
Front page photo caption: Startled horses run about as Fred Dingler floats his hot air balloon across Highway 101 near Indianola Road. ... following his crossing of Humboldt Bay. Equally startled were many motorists who had stopped to watch the 60,000 cubic-foot balloon touch down on the freewayÕs right-of-way. ... There are only about 50 such balloons in the United States and about 75 in the whole world.
Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the new Mad River Beach Park were held July 21. The park, including a boat ramp, a graded and paved area, and restrooms, is located near the mouth of the Mad River. ...
Humboldt State CollegeÕs new Control Data Corporation 3150 computer installation is nearing the completion of its trial period ...
The center will process data for class registration, grades tabulations, administrative inventory control, facilities reports, special student and faculty research projects, and courses in computer systems and programming.
It is completely air conditioned to keep it a cool, constant temperature.
The HSC installation consists of ... :
A control console where the computer operator directs the various tasks to be accomplished. It contains a typewriter, buttons ... and a speaker to amplify the sounds made by the equipment. The operator can detect difficulties by a change in the rhythm or frequency of the sounds.
A card reader that can process 1,200 data cards per minute.
... A pair of disk memory units, each with a capacity for storage of 8.2 million characters of information.
... Two magnetic tape drive units [that] can store 800 characters per inch.
... A central processing unit with a capacity of 16,000 words. ...
September 3, 1970
A loss in sales of between 500 and 700 gallons of gasoline a day was recorded by Jim Bloxham, owner of Max and HimÕs Shell Service, 14th and G Streets, during the first few days of the new city ordinance that made G and H streets in Arcata one way.
Similar complaints were made by four other owners and managers of the six service stations between 7th and 17th Streets on the now southbound G ...
Meditation: you really canÕt describe it, and you really canÕt measure it.
This was the answer received from several of the 1,400 persons who attended the meditation insturctorsÕ courses held last month at Humboldt State College. Those asked to describe meditation didnÕt hedge on the answer, nor did they say it was a mystical process. Rather they indicated it as a process that someone learns and explains to himself through practice.
... Persons attending the month-long study sessions were not novices. Most all had been meditating for more than a year ...
Photo caption: ArcataÕs New Forest is what some people term the new utility poles being placed on 5th and F Streets, around Uniontown Square. Poles are to be expected, but how come theyÕre so crooked?
March 6, 1975
On the front page: A controversial rezoning for a planned industrial park got a favorable recommendation from the Arcata Planning Commission last week after an emotional and sometimes rowdy six hour session which one opponent likened to a filibuster.
The filibuster comment came after greatly outnumbered opponents got their turn to speak after more than four hours of statements by supporters of the Brizard Corp. proposal to rezone almost 100 acres of agricultural land to industrial use. The property is located south of 4th Street between South G Street and Highway 101 and north of KATA RadioÕs station. ...
Playing at the Arcata Theatre: ÒBirds Do It, Bees Do ItÓ and ÒWalkabout.Ó
Playing at the Minor Theatre: ÒThe Lords of FlatbushÓ and FelliniÕs ÒSatyricon.Ó
KidsÕ Matinee at the Minor: ÒSnoopy Come Home.Ó
Playing at the Arcata Drive-In: ÒMacon County LineÓ and ÒThe Italian Connection.Ó
Advertisement: KATYÕs Smoke House in Trinidad ... Now Featuring FRESH COOKED WHOLE CRAB, $1.50 lb., SMOKED SALMON, $4.50 lb. ... We supply CRAB for CRAB FEEDS!
May 1, 1975
Front page news: The extended grudge battle between residents of 29th Street and the Sun Valley Bulb Farm, continued last week as the residents unsuccessfully tried to block an emendment to the Arcata zoning ordinance which could allow the farm to continue to operate. ...
Residents of 29th Street adjacent to the bulb farm have a long-standing battle going which stems from a severe drainage problem the residents feel was caused by the bulb farm. While the city has installed a drainage system which has stopped severe flooding in the area, it hasnÕt repaired the relations between the residents and the farm.
Lawrence Truitt, attorney representing 29th Streeters, told the commission, ÒLife was sweet on 29th Street before the bulb farm went in; the bulb farm went in and suddenly there was flooding.Ó
He also cited problems with dust and spraying of pesticides and herbicides which drift onto adjoining properties ...
From ÒTrinidad Currents,Ó by Joanna Nordby: Rural Trinidad, Inc. is a recently formed non-profit organization of concerned citizens in the north Trinidad area. Their avowed purposes are:
Ò1. First and foremost, to protect the combined values of rural life and the unique natural beauty of rural Trinidad;
2. To encourage planned growth and development of our rural community;
3. To be alert to all issues and events affecting our growth and development;
4. To uhndertake studies of such issues and events and, when appropriate, to distribute related objective educational material throughout our community.Ó
June 12, 1975
Front page photo caption: Bicentennial activities Sunday in Trinidad brought out a large crowd for the morning recreation of the Spanish discovery and naming of Trinidad 200 years ago. The Trinidad chamberÕs fish feed was a big success as well, and there was some concern for awhile there would not be enough food to go around. Some Indians were unscheduled participants in the landing ceremony, using the occasion to protest inequities by passing out literature, chanting and holding up signs such as ÒYankee go home.Ó Above, the acting Spaniards and ÒThe MonksÓ singing group commemorate the discovery of Trinidad as part of the crowd looks on.
Dedication ceremonies were held ... for the $1.3 million Redwood Sciences Laboratory on the Humboldt State University campus.
The formal observance of the beginning of construction ... was marked by the planting of a Òmoon tree seedlingÓ grown from seed taken to the moon on Apollo 14. ...
June 26, 1975
From ÒOrick News,Ó by Thelma Hufford: It was a memorable occasion for the descendants and friends of Lewis Keysor Wood ... June 15, when a grove of redwoods at Prairie Creek State Park was dedicated in his honor.
Wood was a member of the Dr. Josiah Gregg party that discovered Humboldt Bay in December 1849. The dedication was fitting this bicentennial year ...
The spirit of the pioneer Wood seemed to prevail throughout the program and dedication. ... A number of the hardy descendants took a walk to the grove with a ranger to view the site purchased by the Save the Redwoods League. As one of the descendants, Lewis K. Wood IV, said, ÒIt is ironic that a grove of redwoods is dedicated to WoodÕs memory, as no doubt the exploring party endured hardships while traveling through the redwoods, but it is a perfect memorial, as these large and ancient trees live on in L. K. WoodsÕs memory.Ó
Photo caption: Construction of the 11th Street overcrossing has been completed, and the street is now open to through traffic. The 14th Street overcrossing has been closed as work begins to remove the structure and replace it. ...
August 14, 1975
Front page news, ÒMinor house needs new site,Ó by Howard Seemann: The lot on which the old Minor house stands will become a parking lot after Sept. 6.
Meanwhile, the search goes on for a new location. Alan Feuerwerker said ... he had two inquiries about purchase of the building at 1061 I St., but no definite offers.
ÒIf someone is willing to sell as a lot for a reasonable price, weÕd like to turn it into a rental,Ó he said. ... If a location cannot be found by the Feuerwerkers, he said they would sell it for a Ònominal price.Ó
The building is owned by Ben Feuerwerker ... Speaking for his father, Alan Feuerwerker offered to wait 30 days before demolishing the structure, Òbut we need the parking.Ó The City Planning Committee had recommended to the [City] Council that it consider requiring an EIR before demolition. On the other hand, a consultant hired by the city to review the proposal found that it is not particularly historical or architecturally significant.
... Minor Waters, of Eureka, a grandson of Minor, told the council he could see no historic significance to the building. ...
The house and its Òmirror imageÓ next door, apparently were built by Minor for his daughters and later deeded back to him ...
Karen Buffington, who owns the Òmirror image,Ó defended the home built in 1884 as representative of MinorÕs contribution to the community. ... Jo Appleton, who served on a historical site committee which studied structures for possible preservation said the Minor house was Ònot considered qualified.Ó ...
The vote not to require an EIR was unanimous ...