History in the raw
Arcata last week kicked off its year-long celebration marking the 150th anniversary of the city, and I’m sure it will be a wonderful party, just as Eureka had a good time a couple of years ago marking its 150th.
But for the record, Arcata is really celebrating the 150th year since the politicians in Sacramento officially recognized the city at the north end of Humboldt Bay. Of course, Arcata (like Eureka and many of the oldest cities in northern California) was founded in 1850 during the gold rush, and had a whole passel of exciting, degenerate history before they were officially incorporated.
The truly smart “miners” in 1850 were those who mined the pockets of those rushing to the Trinity gold fields. The Union Company laid claim to what is now Arcata (first named Union), and the Mendocino Exploring Company grabbed Eureka. Then commenced a string of corrupt dealings that first put the county seat in Union (through a rigged election), then shifted it to Eureka in 1856 (through back-room political dealings).
Interestingly, Union — which initially was the most prosperous community because of its closer proximity to the gold fields, until Eureka became a timber capital — was incorporated in 1854 when it became the county seat. So going by that benchmark, its 150th anniversary should have been in 2004, two years before Eureka’s.
However, the state supreme court ruled that while Union’s voters had OK’d incorporation, the Legislature had not, and the charter was dissolved. That’s why the city (given the Indian name Arcata in 1860) celebrates its “official” anniversary this year.
No wonder the two towns have been rivals for more than 150 years.
This era is described in a fascinating North Coast Journal article by Jerry Rohde published during Eureka's sesquicentennial in 2006. Another tidbit I learned: One of the losing candidates for the state Assembly seat from Humboldt — a seat used to finagle the county seat for Eureka — was E. D. Coleman, editor of the Humboldt Times, predecessor of the Times-Standard. He was a pro-slavery Democrat and a resident of Union.
It would be fun if the celebration could include some recognition that the earliest settlers in those lawless days included more than a fair share of drunks, murderers, thieves, ladies of ill repute, thugs, racists, corrupt businessmen and politicians for sale. But I’m sure the concerts, art shows and festivals will be fun, too.