Children who grew up in Eureka in the 1920s were about as likely to experience the joys of sucking on a piece of ice as a child in the Mojave Desert. But there were a select few of us living on Brett Street (now 14th Street), who, for several years, enjoyed this rare treat every summer. How could such an unlikely pleasure happen in Eureka — and anyway, who needed ice in the center of the cool fog belt?

Well, it happened this way! Amos Christie, while a college student at the University of Washington from 1920 to 1924, spent his summers delivering ice for the Eureka Ice Company in a Model T pickup to various customers such as the Union Labor Hospital, the Humboldt County Hospital, Rosaia’s Fruit and Vegetable Market, Lazio’s fish wharf, the saloons on Second Street, and several “lady-of-the-night” houses. After all, a girl had to have a little ice for her customers’ drinks in the seclusion of her workshop.

When Amos Christie wasn’t going to school during vacation he became Eureka’s favorite ice man. Here he is with his leather apron and upturned collar—a fad of the day in (1922).

At the Union Labor Hospital the ice was used to make ice cream for the patients on Sundays, and Amos was the one who hand cranked the freezer. He fell into this chore naturally since he lived there, sharing a single room (No. 27) with his mother during the summer vacations. His mother, Mrs. Edna Christie, was the dietician for the hospital and always saw to it that the patients had a little to eat on Sundays.

Delivering ice often took him down Williams Street to Brett, where he was somewhat of a hero, partly because he was always good for a piece of ice, and partly because he was a college football player: he played for the University of Washington and on teams which went to the Rose Bowl twice.

About the same time, another football player. Red Grange, was gaining fame. He delivered ice in his home town in Illinois, so Amos was called “Eureka’s Red Grange,” although he was a tackle and Red Grange was a running back.

On Saturday evenings he occasionally went shopping downtown with his mother, and, of course, encountered a few of his lady-of-the-night customers who always recognized him and gave the friendly nod. His mother probably never understood the connection.

Amos Christie went on to become a physician, graduating from the University of California Medical School in 1929. After residency training in pediatrics at the University of California Hospital, postdoctoral fellowships took him to Johns Hopkins, Babies Hospital in New York City and the Harvard School of Public Health. Early in World War II he was Associate Director of the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C. In 1944 he became professor and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he made his greatest contributions to the medical world. It was here that he and his colleagues unraveled some of the mysteries of Histoplasmosis, a fungus disease which looks like Tuberculosis by x-ray.

It was here that he trained many great pediatricians, many of whom went into practice and others remained in the academic world. At one time 16 chairmen of departments of pediatrics had been trained at Vanderbilt by Amos Christie and his staff. Several became Deans and one became a Nobel Prize laureate.

So,if your son wants to be an ice man, don’t knock it! One of Eureka’s most illustrious natives started off that way!

###

Dr. Robert Quinn, a native Eurekan and now head of Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., 37232. 

###

The story above was originally printed in the September-October 1982 issue of The Humboldt Historian, a journal of the Humboldt County Historical Society, and is reprinted here with permission. The Humboldt County Historical Society is a nonprofit organization devoted to archiving, preserving and sharing Humboldt County’s rich history. You can become a member and receive a year’s worth of new issues of The Humboldt Historian at this link.

###

Today is the grand finale of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, and we’ve got a doozy of a guest. Please welcome Alessandro Capicchioni, the majordomo of all things Eurovision in San Marino!

Topics on the table: Our hometown champions the Piqued Jacks, and their flameout earlier this week. That time Flo Rida repped San Marino on the Eurovision stage. Mostly: Why don’t Americans “get it”?

You ready for this? The Eurovision final stages will be broadcast live in the United States starting at noon, on the Peacock streaming service. For Italian speakers: Our friends in the enclave have a free stream for you here. Keep your eyes peeled when the nations start announcing their votes — you just might see a familiar face!

Let’s take a moment to honor each of this year’s finalists. Please read names of the following countries aloud, in a solemn voice:

• Austria.
• Portugal.
• Switzerland.
• Poland.
• Serbia.
• France.
• Cyprus.
• Spain.
• Sweden.
• Albania.
• Italy.
• Estonia.
• Finland.
• Czechia.
• Australia.
• Belgium.
• Armenia.
• Moldova.
• Ukraine.
• Norway.
• Germany.
• Lithuania.
• Israel.
• Slovenia.
• Croatia.
• United Kingdom.

Now, our conversation with Signor Capicchioni. Video above, rough machine transcript below.

###

JOHN KENNEDY O’CONNOR:

Welcome to what I’m very sorry to say, and very sad to say, is the last of our San Marino Conversations. Three interviews we’ve been having this week while I’ve been here in this beautiful European nation, this microstate nestled in the heart of Italy. And for our last conversation I’m very happy to welcome Alessandro Capicchioni. Did I say that right?

CAPICCHIONI:

Yes.

O’CONNOR:

Because I usually get it wrong.

CAPICCHIONI:

Yes.

O’CONNOR:

Now, Alessandro is the head of delegation for the Eurovision Song Contest for San Marino. Now I’ve been very honoured to be invited to be here this week because I have a very small, very small part in the show tomorrow night. But sadly San Marino will not be participating in the grand finale this year. This must be very disappointing for you after all your hard work.

CAPICCHIONI:

Yeah, but we’re used to it. It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last time. We just passed three times in our Eurovision history, which is not very long, but still it’s 14 years long. So, and we are the micro-state taking part, the smallest country and the country without friends, without neighbours. So it’s very hard for us to be in the final. We know it, we go and we are prepared to it, we are prepared to everything and we are prepared to joy when it happens.

O’CONNOR:

And you will still though come back next year, you aren’t disappointed and think, oh what’s the point of this? There is a real reason for San Marino to participate on this great international stage.

CAPICCHIONI:

Of course, that is a great opportunity for us to be very international. We are a landlocked country, Italy is surrounding us. We share the same culture with Italy, so we are often confused with Italians. And that’s a great opportunity for us to stand out as an independent country, as an independent television. And we also we have the full liberty, freedom to decide how to take part with an internal selection, with an international selection. So it’s up to us. It’s a huge opportunity. So once we confound our choices, then we’re happy.

O’CONNOR:

Now our audience in Humboldt County and in the city of Eureka — and also we cover Del Norte County as well — I know they really got behind San Marino in this year’s contest because we had this rest of the world vote this year. But the EBU, who organized the contest, they do seem to be making a big effort to push the contest in the US, but I’m not seeing that it’s getting any traction. Why do you think the US really could never understand what Eurovision is all about?

CAPICCHIONI:

Well, yes, I have never really thought about this but probably the United States have a different music culture and a different approach to music in television. This could be the reason. The Eurovision Song Contest is something very particular that is born in Europe and has grown up since like 56, I think, so it’s many years and it is particular and it’s unique. I don’t know any television that does national programs as Eurovision. Eurovision exists only a union of television, of European televisions. So that might be the reason. I mean Eurovision is so particular, so unique that it’s difficult to export its format outside the country.

O’CONNOR:

Now there was an attempt last year — the American Song Contest was launched on NBC and by all accounts, I don’t know if this is accurate, it was a disaster, was the word that was used. Apparently it was the most unsuccessful entertainment format NBC had ever used, which is very worrying. And again, I wonder why. I felt that you have this conflict in Europe, so it’s a competition, you know, the Dutch and the Italians and the British and this matter. But interstate, I don’t feel you have that between New Yorkers and Californians.

CAPICCHIONI:

I see two levels. The first level is how many states are composed in the United States.

O’CONNOR:

Well there’s 50 states but they also have territories like Samoa and Puerto Rico. So there’s something like 58. 

CAPICCHIONI:

First, at the first level, you have the competition among the states. So 50 states potentially fight against each other to have one single performer winning the internal selection, the national selection, which is already international because we’re talking about 50 different realities. And then this performer, after such a long way, has to go to Europe and fight against 37, 38, 40 more nations. It’s a long way. Second, the music that is played on Eurovision is not often recognised by the market.

O’CONNOR:

That’s very true.

CAPICCHIONI:

Apart from Rosaline last year, from Armenia with the song Snap, which exploded over the platforms. But I don’t remember a lot of songs.

O’CONNOR:

Success.

CAPICCHIONI:

Yeah, but there could be a problem because American music industry is leading the world, basically, and you have the highest number of stars, probably. And will these stars take part in that selection to compete with a strange music done by half-unknown European countries like San Marino or like Azerbaijan?

O’CONNOR:

Well, that almost happened in the American Song Contest because they did have Michael Bolton, and they did have Macy Gray, two huge international stars. Macy Gray got knocked out in the first stage and the contest was won by this very young Korean girl from Oklahoma so it was all a bit strange. But many American artists have actually taken part in Eurovision Song Contest.

CAPICCHIONI:

This is true.

O’CONNOR:

And probably the most famous of all was Flo Rida, the rapper. Yes, I remember him. Which country did he represent? It was us. It was San Marino. This is incredible. How did Flo Rida get to be representing San Marino in Eurovision?

CAPICCHIONI:

I told you, we have the freedom to choose how to take part, that’s amazing. Well, I can’t remember really precisely the details, but it’s been that he was thinking what is it, and we got in touch with him and we proposed him and he said, yes, why not? And there was first the song, he updated the song, he wrote part of the song, and then he came to Rotterdam and he sat with us in the green room after the performance. It was amazing.

O’CONNOR:

It was incredible, it brought the whole show alive I thought because it was the last performed song — there was Sunit who’s an amazing artist doing her thing and then suddenly exploding onto the stage was Flo Rida and I actually said I think they’re gonna win in the end.

O’CONNOR:

There was a Chicago guy, Jimmy… I’ve forgotten his name, sorry. He represented San Marino as well, but he sang with a San Marino singer. Yeah, but… Jimmy Wilson.

CAPICCHIONI:

Yes, he was living in Germany. He moved to Germany some years ago, so he spoke perfectly German. And then he met the producer, he was with us that year. But yes, he was American, was perfect American, definitely yes. Well…

O’CONNOR:

I’m disappointed you didn’t make the final this year but of course we will be watching tomorrow and we will enjoy it. I think many people in Humboldt County will be watching the show this year as well, if only just to see me because I have the most important part in the show.

CAPICCHIONI:

You’re more than welcome to say they vote for San Marino. It’s a honour for us.

O’CONNOR:

No, it’s an honour for me and I really appreciate it. Alessandro, it’s been an absolute delight. I do want to thank your colleagues at RTV for inviting us into this beautiful studio, all the cameramen here as well. This has been amazing. Thank you for hosting us for a Humboldt Conversation. It’s a pleasure. For a San Marino Conversation. And thank you for joining us. Join us again. I’ll be back in the US on Monday and I look forward to seeing you there.

Joel John Roberts, born in Eureka, April 16, 1939. Peaceful passing May 9, 2023 at St. Joseph Hospital.

Joel was a local longshoreman for 35 years in Eureka local 14, until he retired.

Survived by his wife of 63 years, Priscilla Ramsey Roberts, grandson Mathew John Roberts and Mathew’s sons Darian and Bentley; his sister Roseann Straw and her daughter Jeannie Rush of Mad River; cousins Wesley Fulton of Arcata and his sister Titia Fulton, of Campbell, Calif.

He was preceded in death my his parents, Albert and Kathleen Johnson Roberts and two sons, Kenneth and Dennis Roberts.

Mathew recently married Jessica Roberts and became stepfather to Jessica’s four daughters. Finally, girls in the family. 

Visitation is on Saturday, May 13, 2023, 2 p.m. at Paul’s Chapel in Arcata. Sorry for the lateness of this timing. Private burial Ocean View Cemetery.

Give our boys a hug. I love you, Priscilla.

###

###

Press release from Cal Poly Humboldt:

Today, California Governor Gavin Newsom shared a revision of his administration’s proposed state budget for 2023-24 fiscal year.

As highlighted in the CSU Statement on Governor’s May Revision 2023-24 Budget Proposal, the May Revision maintains the $227.3 million ongoing funding increase to the CSU that was included in the Governor’s initial budget proposal. Newsom’s plan also includes a new approach to funding a portion of the investment in Cal Poly Humboldt’s polytechnic transformation.

Under this proposal, Cal Poly Humboldt would still be able to deliver the critical projects needed to support enrollment growth, expand access to affordable housing, and build infrastructure for new programs.

The proposal calls for shifting $201 million in General Fund support for Cal Poly Humboldt infrastructure projects to bonds issued by California State University. In exchange, the state will provide $16 million in new, ongoing funding to cover the cost of servicing the debt for polytechnic infrastructure projects. This proposed change is related to one-time funding, and does not impact the ongoing polytechnic funding of $25 million.

The issuing of state revenue bonds is a standard process in the CSU to support infrastructure projects. Currently, for example, Cal Poly Humboldt is strategically using system revenue bonds to fund part of the new Student Housing Project at St. Louis Road.

In 2021, Gov. Newsom and the state legislature approved $458 million ($433 million in one-time funding and $25 million in ongoing funds) to help support the polytechnic vision.

Funding from that historic investment was allocated to launch academic programs. It was also allocated to fund extensive infrastructure improvements and new facilities that directly support student success and retention and allows Cal Poly Humboldt to build out new programs and enhance current academic offerings.

HUMBOLDT TODAY: There have been multiple arrests for felony sexual crimes this week; law enforcement have released an image of the suspect in a recent Hoopa bank robbery; plus, San Marino week continues! Catch up on the Humboldt day that was in today’s online newscast with John Kennedy O’Connor.

FURTHER READING: 

• Arcata Man Arrested on Suspicion of Sexually Assaulting Two Children, Sheriff’s Office Says
• McKinleville Man Arrested for Possession of Child Pornography After Weeks-Long Investigation, Sheriff’s Office Says

HUMBOLDT TODAY can be viewed on LoCO’s homepage each night starting at 6 p.m.

Want to LISTEN to HUMBOLDT TODAY? Subscribe to the podcast version here.

###

Representatives from Cal Poly Humboldt, California State University, the City of Arcata and more gathered at the long-vacant Craftsman Mall site in Arcata Friday morning to celebrate the official groundbreaking of the university’s largest-ever student housing development. 

“This project underscores Cal Poly Humboldt’s exciting future as a polytechnic,” Tom Jackson, president of Cal Poly Humboldt said during the ceremony. “Student housing will be the first facility built as part of our polytechnic agenda, and also demonstrates our commitment to honor the designation with great responsibility as we continue to maintain the commitment to invest infrastructure resources for our polytechnic transformation.” 

The university (back when it was still HSU) purchased the property in 2020, saying that it would be set aside for some kind of future development. Many Arcata residents no doubt remember that for several years the property was slated to be developed into a large-scale housing development known as “the Village” — a proposed project that was met with controversy, community debate and seemingly endless deliberations from the Arcata City Council, until the developers withdrew their application in 2020. 

As many people would have guessed, the university decided to use the property to build additional student housing and announced plans for the roughly $200 million project earlier this year. Developers Sundt Construction and SCB Construction expect to complete the project by 2025. 

The facility will consist of two large buildings, hold 241 units (a combination of two, three and four-bedroom apartments) and will house up to 964 students.  In addition to the housing units, the site will hold 328 parking spaces, a covered bike storage, recreation facilities, a fitness center, a courtyard, common lounges, study and conference spaces and a café/market that will be available for students, university employees and other members of the community. The facility will also meet LEED sustainability standards, with electric vehicle charging stations and a high-efficiency irrigation system for the landscaping.

President Tom Jackson and Larry L. Adamson, alumni trustee

Mike Fisher, associate vice president for facilities management, said during the ceremony that the university will also be creating an “accessible shuttle service” that will provide transportation between the new student housing site, campus, off-site parking and the university’s new Health Care Education Hub, which will take over the old warehouse on Samoa Boulevard. 

Fisher added that Cal Poly Humboldt partnered with the City of Arcata to complete a segment of the Annie and Mary Trail, which will run alongside the housing site and connect to Sunset Ave. The entire trail is planned to eventually connect from the Bay Trail all the way to Blue Lake. 

Arcata City Manager Karen Diemer told the Outpost that developers should complete the segment of the trail by the time the housing development opens in 2025 and that the city and the university will likely share trail maintenance duties. Diemer added that she is excited to see a housing project finally moving forward on the Craftsman Mall site. 

“People talk a lot about the relationship between the university and the city and the truth is we are completely interwoven,” Diemer said during the ceremony. “Building and partnering on this future housing for students is just one really natural extension of that partnership.”

Trinity Bowie with her award-winning painting.

Press release from St. Bernard’s Academy art teacher Maya Makino:

When Trinity Bowie got a call from an unknown number she assumed it was a spam call. Luckily, she picked up, because U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman was on the line. He was calling to congratulate Trinity, a 17 year old junior at St. Bernard’s Academy in Eureka, for winning the Second District congressional art competition, a nationwide high school visual art contest.

The winning piece from each district is displayed at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. for one year. Trinity and the other winners will be flown to D.C. to be honored at an awards ceremony.

Trinity’s painting, “Balance in Two Worlds”, was created as part of her Advanced Placement Art portfolio, which focused on modern indigenous culture. Trinity is a member of the Bear River Band Rancheria.

In her artist’s statement Trinity wrote: “This is a painting of myself after a ceremony in my traditional regalia, that is all hand-made. As I stand looking at a modern world it feels like there is no place for Native Culture anymore. The church is a major element (considering the decades of damage the catholic church inflicted on my people, especially during the boarding school era.) The blue jays in the tree show significance because their feathers are important and used to make the veil in the flower dance (women’s coming of age ceremony) Which I will be having for myself very soon.”

Maya Makino, Trinity’s art teacher at St. Bernard’s Academy, said, “Trinity is an exceptional artist and student. She is a focused artist who creates pieces with deep layers of meaning. I’m excited for Trinity’s bright creative future.”

It happens that Trinity will fly to D.C. on her 18th birthday. What a way to celebrate!