Old Time Notes from The Beacon

130 Years Ago March 28, 1891

• Coasting vessels seem to have been out of luck the past week. Monday the schooner Ocean Spray, while trying to cross the San Francisco bar, outward bound, carried away her mainmast and had to return to port.

• The bark Ferris J. Thompson and schooner J. C. Ford collided off Meiggs wharf at San Francisco last week. The bark had her fore and main rigging carried away and her starboard bulwarks stove in. The schooner had her spanker-boom and part of her headgear and had her starboard bulwarks smashed.

• The steamer Jewel lost her propeller off Point Arena last week and sailed back to San Francisco Heads where she was overtaken by the steamer Sinal and towed into port. The vessel was bound for Caspar.

• S. D. Nolan, of Caspar, passed through town Monday with a four-horse team. He was moving a family from Caspar to Greenwood.

• A new skating rink was opened at Caspar last night — we are informed that one is also soon to be opened at Little River.

• “Tiddlywinks” parties are the latest. Several of them have been held in Mendocino recently.

103 Years Ago March 23, 1918

• The big barge, Johan Smith, owned by the Smith Lumber Company, and lumber that was laden en route from the Sound to San Francisco in tow of the tug Sampson experienced trouble off this coast the fore part of the week when she lost her rudder. In that condition, she proved a difficult tow and the tug could make little headway. In addition, the tug ran out of fuel oil. The steamer Coquille River, loading at Fort Bragg, was notified and she went to the tug’s assistance supplying her with the necessary fuel and also assisting her with the tow. For a while it looked like both vessels would have difficulty in managing the barge and the steamer Sea Foam just completing her load at this port, was notified. She went to the assistance of the Sampson and Coquille River, but found that they were making satisfactory progress and continued on to her destination. The barge was gotten safely to San Francisco with her cargo.

• The Mendocino Study Club met at Mrs. Frank West’s Friday. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: Mrs. Jas C. Rice, president; Mrs. Walter Higgins, vice president; Mrs. Charles Boyle, secretary; Mrs. E. R. Gauthier, treasurer; Mrs. F. C. Peirsol, reporter.

• The large roundhouse, which is being constructed by the Northwestern Pac. H. R. Co. and Albion Lumber Co., to house their many locomotives, is now nearing completion. It is a much larger and more up-to-date structure than the one which burned several months ago, being 120 feet in length and 60 feet in width.

75 Years Ago March 23, 1946

• Two new arrivals have attended to the population of Mendocino during the past week. A ninepound 2-ounce daughter was welcomed by Mr. and Mrs. Homer Drinkwater on March 19th, at the Redwood Coast Hospital. Little Beth Ann is the first child for this couple and the first grandchild for both maternal and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Gildo Canclini of Mendocino and Mr. and Mrs. C. Drinkwater of Melburne. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Carrol Gorden on March 19th at the same hospital. This is the first grandchild for Mr. and Mrs. Archie Gorden and a greatgrandchild of Mrs. Lupy Gorden.

• Another old-time landmark has gone the way of all landmarks. It’s the old ranch house on the Porter O’Neal place (now owned by H. Stornetta). Only the old fireplace chimney remains standing. The O’Neal family came to Point Arena in the early 1860’s and settled on this ranch. Their comfortable home, wonderful vegetable gardens and ever-open hospitality, together with the grand view of the old Pacific, made it a pleasant place to visit. We regret the passing of these old homes.

51 Years Ago March 20, 1970

• Bombing hoax caller was discovered to be a thirteen-year-old Albion boy who made three calls to Mendocino High School, and was taken into custody. He said he and his fifteen-year-old sister were tired of going to school.

• The County Board of Supervisors requested a Department of Public Health investigation of Water and Sewers in Mendocino and a public meeting was scheduled for 10 a.m., Monday, March 23, in Preston Hall.

• Eastman Kodak Company was sued for one-half million dollars by the Savings Bank of Mendocino County for selling them faulty camera equipment.

• Embree Reynolds announced his candidacy for judge of Big River Justice

Court.

• Death takes Priscilla Bassett … Mrs. Priscilla Bassett, the former Priscilla A. Lemos of Mendocino, passed away Sunday, March 15th at a hospital in Ukiah. Mrs. Bassett was born in Mendocino on June 20, 1907, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony B. Lemos.

• Cruttenden/Stilwell … a military air prevailed at the Feb. 28th wedding of Merna Cruttenden and Elwin Stilwell at the Calvary Baptist Church in Fort Bragg. Merna is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Cruttenden of Mendocino, and Elwin is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Stilwell of Fort Bragg.

30 Years Ago March 21, 1991

• A rare opportunity to learn about the use of color by an expert is being offered at the Mendocino Art Center. Hilda Pertha, who’s lived and worked in Mendocino permanently since 1967, will be leading the weekend workshop/demonstrations and will share with participants her knowledge of pigments and their use in composition. Pertha has ground her own pigments for many years and is the author of The Pigment Charts used in many schools. She is also the author of hundreds of articles on painting which have been published by West Art Magazine.

• Golf Notes, etc. By Harry Fortune: We’re all looking forward to the St. Patrick’s Day tournament, especially yours truly, as me parents were both born on the auld sod. As a matter of fact, my grandfather was a Lord Mayor of Dublin. They won’t let me play in the tournament because I’m too Irish — something to do about bringing leprechauns to help me game.