Step right up: Circus comes to Eureka this week in 1924
Over multiple days, the Humboldt Standard in 1924 promoted the coming Bob Morton Circus.
Several articles noted the “bevy of beauties” to be seen in the coming attractions. One article, on April 9, 1924, noted local young ladies were invited to be part of the festivities.
“You ladies that are busy like an army of sweet little butterflies in the big popularity contest for the Sciots Circus starting next Monday — we have interesting news for you,” the paper stated. “One nice evening next week you will be the judges in a real contest, the `Venus de Milo' contest of the ladies of the Bob Morton Circus Company. You will have to decide which one of the 15 lady-performers of the circus is the most popular with you — which has the best figure in your opinion — which one you admire the most.”
An ad for the circus published April 10 said it was set to take place April 14-19. It promised automobiles would be given away each night of the weeklong event. The show grounds was at 7th and F streets.
The ad promised “20 high class circus acts” and stated it was “a real circus and second to none.”
Changing face of Eureka
The editorial board of the Humboldt Standard noted the city was changing in the April 5, 1924, edition.
“Do you realize that a new Eureka is appearing just as rapidly carpenters, masons and builders can generally construct a new city?” the board asked readers.
It noted there was once a 25,000 club in the city as a means to build up the population to that goal number. But even in 1924, few people knew the club had once existed because it was long gone.
“That was before the days of the railroad, the automobile tourists, the redwood and similar influences which has changed the whole aspect of things in this part of the state,” the newspaper stated. “Then Eureka was comparatively unknown. It was a lumber town to be reached only after difficult
and unpleasant travel by sea and only a minority of adventurous individuals made the journey.”
The changes made Eureka a tourism destination. City leaders were working to make it a “model town,” which the newspaper lauded as happening at “an astonishing speed.”
Arcata telephone operators don new attire
Arcata telephone operators were some of the first to have a designated uniform. The women were featured on the front page of the April 8, 1924, edition of the Standard. “Division Superintendent W. J. Vernard, with headquarters at Santa Rosa, has endorsed the plan and is convinced that it will appeal to telephone operators general,” the newspaper noted in the caption. “The whole thing is simply a determination to wear simple uniform attire while on duty and the telephone operators pictured above are the pioneers in the movement.”
The women in the photo above are, from left, Lottie Davies, Marguarita Fagerson, Martella Aggaler, Maonta Murray, Mrs. Myrtle Davies and Mrs. Belle Washington.
Hoof and mouth quarantine violated
The Humboldt Standard reported violations of a hoof-and-mouth outbreak in Northern California that was plaguing local cattlemen. The outbreak of the disease was an ongoing situation in early 1924.
More than 500 deputies and 100 commissioners were hired at a rate of $5 to erect fences and attempt to control the outbreak.
Many roads in dairy and agricultural sections were closed.
“The abandonment of the proposed plan to establish a figurative dividing line across the northern part of California for the purpose of establishing a patrol to hold in check the epidemic of the foot and mouth disease is expected as the conference of supervisors and other officials representing 27 counties.”
The newspaper reported a “more satisfactory system can be arranged.”
April Fools arrival of unique calf
A six-legged calf was born in the Table Bluff area April 1, 1924. The rancher said it was no joke.
“A. Marks, a salesman who was a visitor at the (Antone Fisher) ranch, said that the calf was perfectly normal and had plenty life. The extra pair of legs is attached between the neck and shoulders and is just the same as the hind legs.”
The ranch invited curious residents to visit the calf. The Humboldt Standard reported visitors called it an “honest-togoodness freak.”
Ruth Schneider can be reached at 707-441-0520