*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 115--- [ad] Demorest Patterns and all kinds of Fashion Books at J. E. Mathews [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 115 RIO DELL AND VICINITY. Rio Dell is situated at the foothills on the south side of Eel river about 25 miles from the mouth of Eel river. About one mile west of the town stands a fine little saw mill with a cutting capacity of 20,000 feet per day. This mill is surrounded by timber enough to last for many years, and employs at present about twenty men, including those engaged in the woods connected with the mill. On the south bank of Eel river about one and one-half miles from Rio Dell stands the Pacific Lumber Co’s saw mill, one of the finest on the coast. It has a cutting capacity of about 100,000 feet per day, and over three hundred and fifty men are employed in the mill and woods. An immense tract of redwood surrounds this mill. Rio Dell is well located for a business town, being surrounded by the finest kind of a timbered country. Near the town is a fine ledge of sandstone suitable for building purposes. Like the sandstone of the other parts of southern Humboldt, when first taken from the quarry it is soft and easily cut, but after being exposed to the air becomes hard and stands fire admirably. Back from the river, south and east, for many miles, is much open land. Though hilly, it is very suitable for growing and well adapted to fruit culture, being the beginning of the great fruit belt of Southern Humboldt. This tract is being settled by a class of hardy, industrious people, who are building good houses, planting orchards and vineyards, and giving much attention to stock-raising. Rio Dell is located on the west side of what is known as Eagle Prairie, which is a charming piece of country containing about 1,500 acres of level land. Eagle Prairie takes its name, not from a bird, but from one of the early settlers whose nose resembled the beak of an eagle, and whose neighbors dubbed him "Old Eagle Beak." The soil of this prairie is very fertile. RIO DELL offers unsurpassed attractions to the tourist and pleasure-seeker. Here he will find a comfortably furnished and well kept inn, where he can loll in the beauties and charms of nature, eat fruit and vegetables to his heart’s content, and give his inner man sumptuous satisfaction. If he wants a moonlight boat ride he can take one on the limpid waters of Eel river, which, for the space of two miles or more, seems to have given up its idea of wandering. It forms a summer lake and displays a beautiful sheet of water. The hotel is kept by L. Painter, one of the most enterprising and liberal pioneers of Southern Humboldt. His energies and tact have secured the people of this section great local improvements. The visitor is enabled to enjoy himself and may live on abundance of fresh fruit, milk, butter and vegetables from the orchard, garden and dairy of Mr. Painter. HYDESVILLE. This prosperous little town is located on a bench overlooking the Van Duzen fork of Eel river and is about half a mile from that stream. It is on a beautiful site, some 290 feet above the level of Eel river, and is about sixteen miles from the bar at the mouth of that waterway. It was named Hydesville in honor of John Hyde, one of [ad] [ad] Gibbard & Lever Manufacture DOOR AND WINDOW FRAMES, BRACKETS SCROLL WORK, TURNING, ETC. ETC. Factory Second & L Streets. [ad] ---end---