*** Source: History and Business Directory of Humboldt County, Lillie E. Hamm, November 1890, Eureka, Cal. *** ---page 187--- [ad] Pictures AND Picture Frames at Mathews [ad] HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES 187 Eureka in charge of one of the filtering company's most skillful mechanics. The filtering apparatus is guaranteed to deliver at all seasons and under the most unfavorable conditions of the water, a clear and sparkling liquid. The Ricks Water Co. have certainly not waited for "something to turn up" that may bring them success, but have with energy and enterprise turned the "something up" with remarkable skill. The company takes much pride in maintaining a high standard of improved facilities. They have made heavy expenditures of money, and they communicate freely with inventors and manufacturers who make the water supply question a special study. And it can be truthfully said that the Ricks Water Co. have meritoriously earned the appreciation which they enjoy. THE EUREKA ACADEMY AND BUSINESS COLLEGE This popular institution was established in the fall of 1886 by the present proprietor, Prof. Neil S. Phelps. The growth and success of this institution, from the date of opening to the present, has been phenominal. The comparative isolation of Humboldt county and the inconvenience of communication with other parts of the state have probably had something to do with the remarkable growth of the school, but the principal cause that has contributed to its success has been the enterprise and energy of Prof. Phelps. This gentleman had been for ten years an active teacher of Humboldt county, four years of the time serving as County Superintendent of Schools, prior to laying the foundation of his private school. He believed the people of Northern California needed and would support a really first-class school, and accordingly he engaged a full and competent faculty, and, drawing largely upon his own private means, fitted up the school with all the necessary apparatus and help to that end. That he was not mistaken was soon demonstrated. The accommodations of the school soon became inadequate for the attendance, and a new building had to be erected. During the year that followed this, too, overflowed. Up to this point Prof Phelps had more than doubled the capacity of the school and had met all the expense himself, using his own private means for that purpose. More room was absolutely imperative, and through the influence of the friends of the school the owners of the school property, a joint stock company, came to the rescue and the present fine commodious building was the result. Students from all parts of Northern California flocked to the school, and for two years it has ranked as the largest private boarding and day school in California north of San Francisco. PLAN AND SCOPE OF THE SCHOOL The school includes five departments, viz: Preparatory, Grammar, Academic, Normal and Business. The work in the Academic department includes several distinct courses of instruction which are calculated to prepare students for every department of the State University. These departments are not "sandwiched" one upon another in the same classes, as is the case in many private schools, but each department has separate instructors, all skilled in their own special work. [ad] Gibbard & Lever DEALERS IN ALL KINDS OF Furniture Cor. Third and H Streets Pioneer Building, Eureka [ad] ---end---