###

Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar
When I put out to sea.

— Tennyson

###

The bar that Tennyson wrote of was metaphorical, but habitués of early day Humboldt Bay had a multiplicity of bars they could encounter that were all real and all — at least occasionally — dangerous.

Those that threatened Humboldters most frequently were not on the high seas, but in Eureka’s Old Town, where bars of the bibulous variety spelled peril for both the unwary and for those who sought it. Loggers were the biggest seekers, arriving Saturday nights on the “Whiskey Specials” — logging trains that took the “freshly scrubbed, beargreased” woodsmen from their worksites in the tall timber to First Street, depositing them by the tracks like so many loads of freshly felled redwood. From there, the intemperate pleasure seekers made their way saloonward, some faltering at the Fairwind, comer of First and F, or at the Snug, which snuggled next to Snug Alley just up F Street.

Those with greater capacity or determination managed to stroll or stagger all the way to Second Street — the “Deuce” — where liquor dispensaries like the Louvre waylaid most of the rest. The Louvre, now respectably reincarnated as a rare and used bookstore [Eureka Books — Ed.], used its architecture to entice the clientele to purchase more than drinks. The second-story balcony, still present, was situated in such a way that when a libation-minded logger tilted back his first schooner of beer, his line of sight would rise to just the angle necessary to view an enticing bit of ankle displayed above him by one of the Louvre’s lubricious ladies, thus alerting him there were more satisfactions available than that of merely quenching his thirst.

Some saloon patrons chose less costly pursuits, of which the barroom brawl was the most frequent. Here the aim was to avoid catching a case of “loggers’ smallpox,” the frequently found facial scarring caused not by a virus, but by the punctures that resulted from a stomping inflicted by an opponent wearing calk boots. Another pastime was attempting to stride atop the bar counter from end to end while equipped with such spike-soled footwear, as both bystanders and the barkeep tried (often with success) to knock the contestant to the floor.

A 1909 survey counted sixty-five saloons in Eureka, their corrupting effects abetted by thirty-two “houses of shame.” The bar tally had dropped to fifty-three in 1916, and it officially fell to zero three years later, with the start of Prohibition. Alcohol was still available along the Deuce, of course, but now it was found only in back rooms or behind closed doors.

It was not until April of 1933 that the suds flowed freely again. Barely had the shot glasses been broken out before shots of a different sort disquieted the Louvre. Its co-owners, Fred Carter and Tom Slaughter, had been bickering about the business for some time, when, on the evening of June 3, they commenced arguing in the Louvre’s lavatory. A pair of shots rang out and Slaughter ran for the back door. Carter, hard hit, fired a bullet at his fleeing associate; it missed and struck the door casing instead. Carter then staggered out into Opera Alley, where he shot once again at Slaughter as he dashed into the adjacent High Lead’s rear entrance. Carter then made his way back into the Louvre, to be attended by the bartender, C. L. Hoffman, as he died.

Slaughter’s subsequent trial was front-page news as his attorney called thirty-eight witnesses to prove that he’d perforated his partner in self-defense, while the prosecution placed most of its money on a single star witness, William Samuels, who was in the alley at the time of the shootout. Samuels’ effectiveness, however, was limited by his being blind, and, after some eight hours of deliberation, the jury failed to find Slaughter, despite his name, guilty of even manslaughter.

A block up Second Street, the Oberon Saloon seldom saw such unseemly behavior. An “exclusive” establishment that always offered an assortment of cold cuts to its patrician patrons, it attracted Jack London one evening in June of 1911, when the novelist was traveling up the coast.

Also attending the Oberon that night happened to be Pat Murphy, a strapping young college grad who’d come west to see his brother, Stanwood Murphy Sr., the president of the Pacific Lumber Company. Murphy and London began to talk. It soon became apparent that Pat, the ultraconservative Republican brother of a leading local lumber baron, found little to agree with in the pronouncements of one of the country’s most passionate proponents of Socialism. Seeing trouble brewing, attorney H. L. Ricks attempted to persuade Murphy to leave. His entreaties were disregarded.

Murphy later indicated that he had never started a fight in his life but had also never run from one once it started.

He didn’t run now when London, apparently deciding the fist was mightier than either pen or sword, punched him. Murphy not only stood his ground, but also eventually landed a solid left that briefly dropped London to the floor. The author subsequently departed Eureka with a better reputation for his writing than his right hooks.

###

This week on the Econews Report, we’re joined by Marc Hoshovsky and Bob Schneider, two of the authors of the new book Exploring the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument, which will be published early next year by Backcountry Press.

Never heard of the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument? It’s an incredibly strange stretch of land, with absolutely unique geologic and botanical features, that stretches down from Lake County to Napa County. The land is part of a subduction zone that was thrown up from the deep ocean to the mountains, and as such it’s made mostly of minerals and rock types that you’re not likely to find many other places.

On top of that, the region has a rich and unique history that encompassed some 31 different Native American groups … and terrible acts of genocide at the hands of European settlers.

Check out this conversation, then check out the book, and you’ll almost certainly want to check out the Berryessa/Snow Mountain area on your next hiking trip.

LINKS:

• Exploring the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument at Backcountry Press.
• The monument’s Wikipedia page.
• The monument’s page at the Bureau of Land Management.

Wendy Morton Moon was born July 16, 1961, in Eureka and died on November 29, 2025, at home in Hoopa. Wendy was enrolled in the Hoopa Valley Tribe, and was of Karuk, Hupa and Yurok descent. Wendy was raised in Hoopa and Arcata.

Wendy’s fondest memories were of growing up on the Salmon River with her Gramma Bessie Tripp in the summer times. No lights, outhouse, good food, and good people. Wendy was married to Gerald Moon for 20 years. In that time, she worked at the valley schools and was a part of so many children’s lives. She always spoke up for the little ones when they could not speak for themselves. Wendy was very intelligent. Wendy loved children. Her grandchildren were her world. She loved to play pool, she loved good music, and man she could drive. With the very first car for her to be known for being a yellow corvette it goes without saying Wendy was pretty cool.

If you knew Wendy, you were blessed because she was the realist of the real and you knew there was no b.s. when it came to her. She was kind and giving and always helping anyone who asked. After working at the school, then as an EMT, the next chapter in life focused on manual labor and being outside every day. She worked for the AmeriCorps program for the full six years and it was the best time in her life. She always said she loved that job. Wendy built her own house. She was strong and resilient. Wendy was a spiritual person. She believed in dreams, she believed in spirits, she believed in Indian way. She helped her elders even as she began to become one herself. She was always a hard worker. One of Wendy’s famous quotes was “I just wanna be fucking happy.”

Wendy was preceded in death by her son Walter Hayes Moon, father Walter H. Morton (Sr.), brother Wayde James Morton, maternal grandparents Edward and Virginia Marshall, Jr., her paternal grandmother Louise (Tripp) Rails, and great grandmother Bessie (Jacobs) Tripp. There were many other people that came through Wendy’s life she would often remember fondly.

Wendy is survived by her children Kara Moon, Rosella Moon and Charlie Moon and his wife Cassidy (Lane) Moon, their children, Pearl Moon, Solo Sylvia, Jack Sylvia, Pauiila Colegrove, Chok Cook, Charlie Hayes Moon and Walter James Moon. Wendy is also survived by her mother Roxanne Burgess, brother Allen Burgess and sister Jennifer Burgess and her partner Justin Childs; brother Wally Morton (Jr.) his wife Brandy and their children Tristan, Nanya and Walter III. Wendy is also survived by her aunts Jennifer Singleton and Delma Powell, and uncle Victor Starritt.

Wendy’s family will be holding a graveside service at the Tripp Family Cemetery in Somes Bar on Monday, December 8, 2025, at 11 a.m. with a meal and sharing to follow at the Karuk Department of Natural Resources Office in Orleans.

Honorary pall bearers are Allen and Mike Burgess, Solo Sylvia, Jack Cruz Sylvia, Justin Childs, Rick Sanderson, Johnny Garisson, Jake Tripp, Bill Tripp, Wally Morton Jr., Walter Morton III, George Moon, Ed Masten, Timothy Perry Sr., Kevin Latham, Kevin Latham Jr., Jamie Melendy, Jeff, Brian and Chuck Singleton, Elton Baldy, Kevin Orcutt, Stevie Sanderson, Tahn and Mawahche Blake, Thomas Joseph, Kevin Rowland, Denny Colegrove, Bob Campbell, Sam Jones, and Little Gerald Moon Jr.

Special thanks to Tory and Toni Morton, Mary Nelson, Nora Conway, Christine Lucas, Lovae Blake and Tek-Wes McCovey during this difficult time. In all eras of Wendy’s life, she loved and cherished many students, friends and family members. Wendy’s family appreciates all the memories and love you gave Wendy over the years, and welcome those who can send her home to be with her Walter.

Arrangements are provided by Goble’s Mortuary and Garcia’s Florist of Fortuna.

###

The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Wendy Moon’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.

###

PREVIOUSLY

• The County Wants to Purchase the Eureka K-Mart and Turn it Into a ‘One-Stop Permitting Center’

###

A Bay Area commercial developer has reached a deal to sell Eureka’s vacant former Kmart property to mega-retailer Walmart, according to emails with city staff.

The emails, obtained through a California Public Records Act request, reveal that over the past year, current property owner McNellis Partners entertained a few different proposals for the eight-acre site, located at 4325 Broadway Street. The firm fielded interest from Tractor Supply Company, Alder Grove Charter School and the County of Humboldt before agreeing to a deal with Walmart.

The county, as we reported back in September, had hoped to retrofit the empty “Big K” warehouse, most recently home to cannabis company Papa & Barkley, into a collection of planning and building offices, creating a hub to serve as a “one-stop permitting center.”

Real estate developer John McNellis. | Image via LinkedIn.

But after agreeing to sell the property to the county for $5.75 million, McNellis Partners owner and principal John McNellis (pictured at right) suddenly and unexpectedly backed out of the deal, according to the emails we reviewed.

Shortly before noon on October 11, just three days before the Eureka Planning Commission was scheduled to conduct a conformance review for the acquisition, McNellis emailed county officials to say the deal was off.

“A retailing prospect has arisen for our property which, in our sincere belief, would be much better for the community as a whole than filling it with government offices,” his email said.

The Humboldt County Planning Commission was scheduled to consider approving the sale the following week, but McNellis asked county staff to put its approval process on hold and remove the hearing from its meetings calendar. 

McNellis had emailed Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery just a few minutes earlier, revealing the identity of his retailing prospect.

“We came to terms with Walmart late yesterday afternoon,” McNellis wrote. He acknowledged that “it will be a long way from that handshake to a closing” and urged Slattery to keep the deal a secret.

“[W]ould you and your staff please please not mention that Walmart is our retailer prospect…until Walmart publicly files for its initial approvals[?],” he beseeched. “Walmart values its privacy and we have found that city approvals go much more smoothly if we identify our major tenants at the last possible moment. Every tenant has its detractors within communities.”

Indeed, Eureka residents have a history of resisting the world’s largest retailer. The Arkansas-based company wanted to build one of its megastores on the waterfront “Balloon Track” property, but a pitched public battle ended in defeat for Walmart when Eureka voters rejected a rezoning measure at the ballot box.

More than a decade later, Walmart managed to sneak through the backdoor of the Bayshore Mall, taking over a space that had been vacated by the Gottschalks. Its grand opening was celebrated by dancing mascots and blessed by a local pastor.

The mall store is smaller than one of Walmart’s super-centers, and it’s unclear whether the company would keep that location if it opens a new one. Nor is it clear what Walmart has planned for the Kmart property, though emails reference the company’s desire to tear down the existing building.

In response to a request for comment for this story, a Walmart spokesperson emailed the following non-statement: “We’re always looking for opportunities to better serve our customers and communities. We have no additional information to share at this time.”

McNellis has not responded to voicemails and emails from the Outpost.

Slattery, Eureka’s city manager, told us that the deal is still on, as far as he knows, though he noted that the due diligence period will be followed by an escrow period.

Other emails released by the city show McNellis consulting with Slattery regarding potential permitting issues. A portion of the property, including about 20 percent of the existing building, sits in the coastal zone. The city manager warned McNellis that any new development onsite could trigger extra review and permitting requirements from the California Coastal Commission. He recommended that Walmart rebuild in the existing Kmart footprint, rather than demolishing the old store to make way for a new one.

But Slattery later informed McNellis that he’d been mistaken: The property is categorically exempt from needing a coastal development permit [CDP] for principally permitted uses.

“Since a grocery store is principally permitted in your property’s zoning district, there would be no need for a CDP for demolition or construction for a grocery store,” Slattery informed McNellis in an October 10 email.

Does that mean Walmart plans to build a grocery store there, rather than one of its superstores? The company owns and operates dozens of so-called Walmart Neighborhood Markets across California, and Slattery’s emails repeatedly refer to plans for a grocery store. (When we spoke with him, he declined to address the company’s specific plans, instead referring us to McNellis.)

There may still be a few permitting hurdles if Walmart proceeds with its plans. Slattery explained to McNellis in an email that if the company chooses to construct a new building (or to remove more than 50 percent of the existing one in its renovations), then it would likely need to relocate parking to the side or behind the building, away from the coast. 

A new (or mostly new) building could also face discretionary design review, Slattery says, though in an October email he told McNellis that staff was working on an amendment to remove that requirement. That proposal would go to the city council for approval in three to four months’ time, he noted.

“If the property is developed in this manner as a grocery store, there would be no need for a CDP or other Planning permit at the discretion of a Board or Commission,” Slattery advised the developer. “The only requirement would be associated building permits.”

Press release from the County of Humboldt:

The County of Humboldt is excited to announce that Justin Hopman is anticipated to be appointed as the county’s new Director of Aviation at the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 9.

Justin Hopman, C.M., ACE, brings over 15 years of aviation experience to his new role as Humboldt County’s Director of Aviation. Most recently, he served as the Deputy Director of Operations and Maintenance for the Titusville-Cocoa Airport Authority on Florida’s Space Coast, where he oversaw the management, operations and development of a multi-airport system and licensed Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spaceport. He led major improvement projects, including runway rehabilitations, new hangar construction and navigational system upgrades, and he is currently completing a new air traffic control tower project. Before his work on the Space Coast, Hopman held operations roles at Orlando International and Orlando Executive airports. 

“I am thrilled to join Humboldt County as the new Director of Aviation,” said incoming Aviation Director Justin Hopman. “As the heart of regional economies and the front door to the world, airports generate economic growth, sustain livelihoods and open endless opportunities for trade, tourism and human connection. Across my professional career, I’ve focused on creating and maintaining safe, efficient, community-centered airport operations. I look forward to bringing the same commitment to Humboldt County’s system of airports.”

The incoming Director of Aviation will oversee the management and development of Humboldt County’s six airports. Responsibilities include managing daily operations, leading capital improvement projects and guiding long-term planning to improve safety and service. The Aviation Director will also work to strengthen airline partnerships, support general aviation and collaborate with key aviation partners to enhance airport services and regional connectivity.

“I am excited to welcome Justin Hopman to Humboldt County,” said Third District Supervisor and Chair of the Board Mike Wilson. “His hands-on leadership style and experience managing complex airport systems will be a tremendous asset as we continue to strengthen aviation services and plan for the future. His background in airport management and commitment to safe, community-focused operations make him a valuable addition to county’s leadership team.”

Hopman is anticipated to begin work as Humboldt County’s Director of Aviation on Jan. 5, 2026.

For more information on the Humboldt County Department of Aviation, please visit FlyACV.com.

PREVIOUSLY

• Man Engulfed In Flames During ‘Flare-Up’ at Scotia Power Plant

Nine months after a man employed by the Humboldt Sawmill Company was set afire at their Scotia power plant in March, the company has been fined $37,000 by California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). 

The worker, around 40 years of age, suffered second-degree burns when the company’s wood-fired energy facility flared up. The flames enveloped him for 20 seconds until he jumped from a 10-foot balcony to escape. He landed on his hand and was in “excruciating pain,” according to the caller that made the original 911 call in March. The heat was brutal enough to melt the beard off of his face. 

The fireball was caused by hot ash falling out of a hopper that had had its motor removed. 

Cal/OSHA originally fined Humboldt Sawmill $68,650 in September, but the penalty was reduced on appeal, handed down by their appeals board on Monday. The settlement fines were eliminated for insufficiently reviewing their Emergency Action Plans with their employees and failing to find the hazardous conditions. Fines were reduced for poorly implementing injury training, improper use of Personal Protective Equipment, and failing to prevent the explosion.

Reached today, the Humboldt Sawmill Company is working on a comment. We’ll include it when received. 

###

If you’ve lived in Eureka for any length of time, you’ve surely come across a copy of “Eureka: An Architectural View,” often referred to simply as “The Green Book.”

Published by the Eureka Heritage Society in 1987, “The Green Book” is an extensive inventory of approximately 1,600 “architecturally significant structures,” nearly half of which are listed on the city’s Register of Historic Places. The book features black-and-white photographs of 1,200 historic structures — ranging from Victorian-era mansions and Craftsman-style bungalows to Classical Revival commercial buildings — that date back to the 1860s. It is a truly remarkable work.

But how did “The Green Book” come to be?

###

Mary Ann McCulloch holds a copy of the famous “Green Book.”

During a recent talk at the Humboldt County Library, sponsored by Uplift Eureka, Mary Ann McCulloch of the Eureka Heritage Society went over the extensive history of “The Green Book,” which was born out of a local effort to stop the demolition of historic buildings in the 1960s.

In the 1950s, during the post-World War II economic boom, the United States rapidly expanded its housing stock to accommodate tens of thousands of returning veterans, many of whom chose to abandon city life for new suburban developments that were more cost-effective for growing families. 

“The unparalleled surge in demand for housing … was a boon to the area’s lumber industry,” according to “The Green Book.” “While the scope of commercial architecture in Eureka was somewhat limited in the post-war years, the city’s residential areas continued to expand and develop, reflecting the preference for the suburban lifestyle that embodied the changing social structures and attitudes of the period.”

It was around this time that the demolitions began. 

“Many people felt that the Victorians in post-war Eureka were too large, too ugly and too hard to care for,” McCulloch explained at Wednesday night’s talk, prompting groans from the audience of 40-plus local history enthusiasts. “They just didn’t fit the style of the day, and so that a lot of them were either demolished or modernized.”

Several Victorian-era mansions were demolished in the 1950s, including the Buhne Mansion, Huntoon House and Porter House. McCulloch flipped to a sepia-toned photograph of the Sumner Charles and Amelia Carson home, located at the corner of Sixth and J streets. The Colonial Revival home, built in 1914, was demolished in the 1960s to make way for the Times-Standard building.

“Before they demolished it, they allowed the community to tour it, and I begged my father to buy the house. Unfortunately, it had already been sold. I don’t think he would have bought it anyway. I was spoiled to a point, but not that spoiled,” McCulloch laughed. “It was a fabulous house, and to have it gone — well, what can I say?”

The “out with the old, in with the new” approach inspired several local people to take action, including Ray and Dolores Vellutini, Bob and Barbara Maxon and Norton Steenfott, who bought up old buildings along Eureka’s waterfront. “They believed wholeheartedly in saving Old Town,” McCulloch said.

This effort led to the formation of the Eureka Heritage Society, which was established in 1973. Shortly thereafter, the organization launched a citywide survey — led by Dolores Vellutini, Sally Christensen, Muriel Dinsmore and Ted Loring Jr. — of more than 10,000 structures, including not only private homes and commercial buildings, but also garages, carriage houses, water towers and other outbuildings.

“When Dolores agreed to take on the task of heading up the survey, she didn’t realize she was undertaking the most extensive survey of historic structures in California at that time,” McCulloch said. “The ultimate goal was to plan for the preservation of Eureka’s heritage, know the locations, problems and potentials of the city’s outstanding structures and neighborhoods, the forces that were making some structures deteriorate, and gain insight into how to stop and reverse the deterioration.”

Milton Phegley became the de facto leader of the group of 30-plus volunteers sent to photograph the 10,000-odd structures. Speaking at Wednesday’s talk, Phegley admitted he didn’t fully realize the scale of the project.

“I’d come to find out maybe a couple years later that I raised my hand too high and too fast,” he laughed. “We provided the leadership for it — prepared the survey sheets, loaded and processed the film and made the little contact sheet prints that went on the survey cards.” (Those original survey cards — including those that were not published in “The Green Book” — can be viewed in the Humboldt Room of the library.)

After wrapping up his bit of the surveying work, Phegley left for San Diego for graduate school in 1975, where he would go on to study geography and city planning. While he didn’t have a hand in putting together “The Green Book,” he said the surveying experience proved to be a good exercise for his future career in planning. 

Volunteers would spend another decade poring over the survey results, researching the history of each building and subjecting it to the same criteria used by the National Register of Historic Places, with the hope that those selected would one day be eligible for nomination. The Eureka Heritage Society worked with a San Francisco-based architecture firm to help edit and organize the information for publication.

All told, production of “The Green Book” would take 12 years to complete. “This book, we hope, will stand as a testimony to the uncommonly rich architectural heritage of our city, as well as to the dedication, enthusiasm, and talent of all those who contributed to its realization,” Vellutini wrote in the book’s introduction.

Over the years, McCulloch said the heritage society has considered resurveying some of Eureka’s neighborhoods or updating “The Green Book” in some form to include buildings that weren’t considered historic at the time of its publication. Unfortunately, the money isn’t really there. 

“Today, historical surveys can cost upwards to over $1 million,” she said. “Perhaps someday we’ll get $3 million or $5 million, and then we’ll be able to do a whole ‘nother survey again. But until then, this remains as a snapshot of what Eureka was like in the mid-70s.”

More information on “The Green Book” can be found at this link. You can also find an interactive map of Eureka’s historic homes, complete with photos and descriptions, here.