Old Time Notes from The Beacon

130 Years Ago Jan. 3, 1891

• The steamer Ajax, which sank a few months ago just north of Shelter Cove, went to pieces during the late storm, and the wreckage is now strewn along the beach.

• One side of the Greenwood mill is running full blast. The band saws do excellent work, and everything is satisfactory. The electric light is a great improvement, but can only be appreciated after having groped around machinery for some time in the dim light of a kerosene lamp. All places in which the company has an interest are illuminated with electricity, and consequently the town derives a great benefit therefrom. When will Mendocino wake up from her lethargy and pull up abreast with the times?

• The steamer Coos Bay makes only one trip a week now — arriving here Tuesday and sailing Friday morning at 9 o’clock. This is done on account of the difficulty experienced in landing during the winter, and will continue until spring when she will resume her two trips a week.

• The Mendocino and Ukiah stage line is now owned and operated by Mr. Forse alone, that gentleman having recently purchased the interest of his partner, Doc Curtis.

105 Years Ago Jan. 1, 1916

• At a very pretty church wedding which took place at Willits Dec. 27, District Attorney Hale Mccowen, Jr., of Ukiah and Miss Hazel Blosser of Willits were made man and wife, the ceremony being performed by Rev. George H. Jones, a cousin of the bride.

• Miss Blanche Akers, one of Mendocino county’s most popular young teachers, and J. H. Lawson of Santa Rosa, were married at that city last Monday.

• Miss Priscilla Lemos and Master Winifred Daniels were the prizewinners in the voting contest conducted during the month of December. Miss Lemos received 1,919 votes, which was 850 more than the number received by her nearest competitor. Her prize was a handsomelydressed life-size doll. Master Daniels, received 2,124 votes in the boys’ contest, leading his nearest competitor by 1,215 votes. His prize was an Ives electric railway, with complete equipment.

• L. L. Nocentilli, proprietor of the Albion pool parlors, was in town the latter part of the week.

• The steamer Noyo, which recently ran upon a reef near San Diego, was in port this past week, under the command of Captain Hammer, for a load of lumber.

95 Years Ago Dec. 26, 1925

• Martin Sutor of the Crystal Bakery here, who carried a quarter-page ad in the special numbers of the Beacon, reports that he had a big run during the holidays, especially on fruit cake, selling all he could make and filling a great many orders for mince and pumpkin pies.

• The Mendocino Lumber Company made a very acceptable gift to the men of families working in the local plant as a Christmas present in the shape of a turkey to each for Christmas dinner.

• Several of our local sportsmen attended the big turkey shoot on the Bishop Ranch at Ten Mile last Sunday. Bill Conkey and Walter Richmond were among the number who drove up. The shooting was at 200 yards at an eight-inch bullseye offhand. Walter brought home a fine turkey.

• Rudolph Larsen, who is a student at the University of Nevada, arrived home this week to spend the vacation period with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Larsen.

55 Years Ago Dec. 31, 1965

• Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Brest of Mendocino entertained a large group at Christmas dinner.

• Funeral services were conducted for Charles P. Zumwalt, 87-year- old Boonville silver miner, who died on Christmas day. A native of Placentia, Calif., and a resident of Boonville for more than 37 years, Zumwalt was a widower and is survived by his stepgranddaughter of Boonville.

• Something new was added to the Christmas scene in Mendocino last Sunday. It was sparked by the community improvement and beautification committee of the Mendocino Study Club, whose chairman is Mrs. George Miles. The pine tree in the triangle was converted into a community Christmas tree. The decorations were made and hung by the Boy Scouts and a devoted group of the club members headed by their president Mrs. Dan Grant of Albion and Mrs. Ernest Balyeat of Little River.

• Among the college students seen home for the holidays have been Robbie Nelson from Humboldt State at Arcata, Beth Ann Drinkwater from San Francisco State, Kathy Shrode, Steve Schlafer, Doran Lydick, George Stellman, and many others.

30 Years Ago Dec. 27, 1990

• Mendocino lost its eldest native-born citizen with the passing of Aileen (Francis) Gomes, age 93, on Dec. 18, 1990. Aileen fell at her home here, fracturing her hip a few weeks ago. Born Jan. 7, 1897, at the family home, 44461 Little Lake Road, East Mendocino, she was the daughter of Manuel Francis and Maria Isabella (Madeira-saudades) Francis, early Mendocino pioneers. Her father was fatally injured in a woods accident on Big River in 1902, and her mother subsequently married Manuel Mathews. Aileen was married Oct. 10, 1915 to Joe Gomes of Mendocino. Having acquired the property at 44470 Flores Street in the settlement of her father’s estate, Joe built their family home at that location, prior to their wedding. She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Geraldine Costa of Mendocino, Mrs. Babe Story and Mrs. Joyce Pereira and one son, Mendocino Fire Chief of many years, Eugene “Foggy” Gomes. She is also survived by her brother, Edward Mathews of Mendocino.