One hundred years ago this week, more than 3,000 local folks attended the “Farmers Picnic” at Camp Bauer in Korbel near Blue Lake.
The June 20, 1924 Humboldt Times newspaper said, “This is estimated to be the largest outdoor gathering in the county during 1924. The number (of attendees) increased during the evening when numerous picnic devotees, who were held elsewhere during the day on account of business, were able to attend the festivities.”
The picnic included all-day dances and plenty of outdoor games, including a “mother-in-law race” which saw a large number of entries.
The Humboldt Times added, “Speaking numbers, which made up a large part of the programs in recent years, were cut to a minimum … as the picnic was intended to be an affair of enjoyment and serious addresses about the dull business of farming were out of place.”
The June 21, 1924 newspaper reported that Frankie Murphy, “crack welterweight of Oakland,” would meet Earl Forse, “clever junior lightweight of San Francisco,” in a match at the Fort Humboldt Post of American Legion boxing show at Armory Hall on June 22 of that year.
The Humboldt Times said, “Murphy has met and defeated some of the outstanding welterweights along the coast while Forse, who will be about 12 pounds lighter, has done likewise.”
During a training session earlier in the week at Armory Hall, the newspaper said that Murphy was overheard telling Forse, “I’ll teach you to pick on bigger men Saturday night.”
Also on June 21, 1924, news spread about the death of Olive Coulter who was “one of the oldest residents of Humboldt County.” The 93-year-old died of “natural infirmities” at the home of her daughter, Elizabeth Holmes, at 833 C St., Eureka, the Humboldt Times said.
“Mrs. Coulter was born in Indiana and came to Humboldt County from Missouri across the plains with oxen in 1853,” reported the June 22, 1924 newspaper.
Coulter, wife of the late James Coulter, had three daughters, Mrs. John Devoy, Elizabeth Holmes and Mrs. Louraina Barnum. Other survivors include her grandchildren, including Fred Barnum, Bert Holmes, Claire Devoy and Mrs. Sam Silkwood, all of Eureka, as well as her great-grandchildren and her great-great-grandchild, Merle Connant of San Francisco.
The Humboldt Times said, “Having lived in this county continuously for the past 71 years, Mrs. Coulter was well-known and also leaves a large number of friends.”
On June 24, 1924, the newspaper said that Eureka merchants and others in the community were preparing to visit Coos and Curry counties in Oregon in mid-July of that year.
“It is the intention of the (Eureka Chamber of Commerce) committee in charge of this tour to secure as large a representation as possible to make the trip to the north,” the Humboldt Times said. “… The Coos, Curry and Del Norte Counties Roosevelt Highway Association, acting as host for the Eureka delegation, will be emphasizing the importance of the Roosevelt Highway to this section” throughout the tour, which was to include stops in various Oregon cities along the stretch of highway.
Lou Persons and William Hanna, the only original members of Eureka’s volunteer fire department Engine Co. Number Two still in active service, “occupied the seats of honor at the celebration of the 51st anniversary of the organization (on June 23, 1924) at the city hall headquarters.”
The June 24, 1924 Humboldt Times said, “Persons gave a pleasing address to the younger members, outlining the founding of the company and the numerous changes that have taken place. Hanna, though not quite as spry as Persons, responded with great vigor when called on for a speech … and read a list of the charter members who are still living, which numbered six.” (In addition to Persons and Hanna, the surviving charter members were R. F. Duff, F. A. Weck, W. J. Burwell and George Delmore.)
Fred Barnum — also a veteran fire department member — was the emcee for the evening and Eureka Mayor Oscar Lord gave a speech at the event. too.
The June 26, 1924 Humboldt Times reported that “The Women Who Give,” opening at the Rialto Theatre in Eureka on that night, “will no doubt create considerable local interest as the majority of the ‘water stuff’ in the film was shot in and about the regions of Eureka.”
The new production was an adaptation of “Cape Cod Folks,” Sarah McLean-Greene’s novel about the New England coast, the newspaper said.
The Humboldt Times noted that, “A wonderly realistic shipwreck with a fishing schooner smashed to pieces on the rocks, a life and death struggle with a huge swordfish, the firing of a fireman’s cottage and tense dramatic moments too numerous to mention, all tend to make ‘Women Who Give’ a photodrama that no lover of motion pictures will care to miss.”
Heather Shelton can be reached at hshelton@times-standard.com.
