*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 105--- [ad] Oil Paintings and Engravings at J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 105 the way. A few years and enterprisiug capital will remove them, then we can with assurancy expect a progress that will equal any that has ever been made on this coast. FERNDALE AND VICINITY. Ferndale is in point of population, the largest town in Southern Humboldt, and is favorably located on the south side of Eel river valley. The town may be said to have been in existence for about twenty years. It takes its name from the quantity and size of the fern that grows in the vicinity of the town. Its population is about 1,200 and it is located about one mile south of Salt river, at the foot of a range of hills which bound Eel river valley on the south. Francis creek is a clear, swift little stream, flowing through the town, offering excellent facilities for drainage. Ferndale is well situated for a business town, nearly all the farmers of main Eel river valley doing their trading there, besides being a trading post for the residents of a large area of country south of it. Ferndale has four schools with about two hundred and fifty scholars. It is amply supplied with Churches and Fraternal Societies; it has capacious halls, in sufficient number to accommodate a much larger town. Mr. Ira Russ and the members of Ferndale Lodge, No. 193, F & A. M., combined and erected the Masonic Temple, a structure of magnificent proportions, and modern architecture; Mr. Russ also completed one of the handsomest and best devised edifice (excepting the county Court House) in Humboldt. The building is fire-proof, in so far, as a wooden structure can be made fire-proof. The walls are built of solid wood, nine inches thick; the partitions are also solid wood about seven inches thick and hard-finished. It would seem impossible for any fire to gain headway. The roof is so arranged that it can be flooded in a few moments. In a compartment off the main hall up-stairs, are properly arranged several sections of hose, which are fastened to water pipes with heavy pressure derived from the Ferndale Water Works. The facilities to suddenly extinguish a fire in this building are unexcelled. The upper floor is conveniently arranged for offices of every professional calling. The ground floor will be occupied as a Bank (branch of the Humboldt County Bank). Ferndale is guarded by two police officers, and maintains a well organized fire department. L. Canepa conducts the American Hotel, which is second to none in the county. Barnes and Scott, the pioneer livery men, run the American stables and stages. The most popular mercantile establishment north of San Francisco is the "Brick Store," conducted by Messrs. Russ, Earley & Williams. The firm is reliable, energetic and enterprising, enjoying a very liberal patronage. W. B. Alford is the popular Justice of the Peace and druggist. He also carries a full line of books, stationery, and musical instruments. Mr. B. B. Nichols, the artistic interior decorator, deserves special mention. Mr. Nichols possesses the American grit which is at times necessary to succeed in an undertaking against adverse [ad] Gibbard & Lever --MAKE A SPECIALITY OF—- Ornamental Mantels Cor. Third and H. sts, Pioneer Building, Eureka [ad] ---end---