*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 121--- [ad] J. E. MATHEWS, Agent for Daily, Weekly and Sunday EXAMINER [ad] HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY 121 Luther & Co., is the manager. The town is pleasantly located in a rich section, and has every reason to hope for increased growth and prosperity. FRESHWATER Is situated nine miles northeast of Eureka, three miles off the Arcata and Eureka stage road, and on the Freshwater Railroad. This town is the supply depot for the entire valley and surrounding country. The enterprising merchant, Alex. Coeur, carries the most complete general merchandise stock in the county. C. M. Foster, the pioneer stage driver and stable keeper, runs a stage twice a day to and from Eureka. Geo. E. Shinn, the postmaster, stationer and book-seller, is another enterprising citizen. He is alert to the wants of the community, and keeps apace with the progress of the county. Richard Allard, an old pioneer, is the genial host of the Summerville Hotel. P. McAleenan, the general merchandise dealer, enjoys the esteem and a liberal patronage of the people. CAMP GRANT The general resources of that tract of land in Southern Humboldt, known as the Camp Grant section, which is enclosed in an area of 35 miles on the main Eel river and 30 miles on the South Fork of Eel river, are as yet but little understood. That this country is bound to be recognized as the great fruit belt of Northern California no one acquainted with the climate and character of the soil can doubt. The general surface of the country is mountainous and covered with a heavy and valuable forest of redwood timber, diversified with prairies and large tracts of level and rich bottom lands. On the banks of the river are found many fine houses. Most of the farms were originally covered with a heavy growth of pepperwood or California laurel. There still remains fully three-fourths of this valuable land to be cleared, which is being done as fast as the developments of the country are assured. Camp Grant proper is situated on the south bank of main Eel river, about two miles and a half above the mouth of the South Fork. It is located on a level body of land with two miles frontage on the river, and about half a mile wide in the center, with the foothills coming to the river’s edge at either end, forming a semi-circle. Of this body of land, about sixty acres are under cultivation, the balance being covered with pepperwood, redwood and other timber. It has an elevation of about three hundred feet above the sea level. The climate is delightful, the mercury seldom remaining at the freezing point twenty-four hours at a time. In summer it ranges from 70 deg. to 90 deg. in the warmest part of the day, seldom going over 100 deg. The nights are cool and pleasant. The following kinds of fruit and nuts grow or could be grown to perfection in this region: Apples, pears, peaches, prunes, oranges, grapes, English walnuts, soft and hard shell almonds, etc. Prune trees bear heavily and ripen early, and can be dried in the sun in from two to three weeks. The apples and peaches grown here are a surprise to the people [ad Gibbard & Lever make a Specialty of Bedroom and Parlor Suits Cor. 3d and H Sts Pioneer Bdg, Eureka [ad] ---end---