With a hot cup of tea before me in a wintery part of the United States, I am remembering my first experience with the history of Arcata when I visited George Woods, Arcata City Manager, and asked why the City was tearing down the “old city hall”. He said, “ the ceilings are too high, the floor slopes, the furnace blew up once and water seeps into the basement”. I had just moved to Arcata to complete a four year degree at HSU and had been involved in a survey of San Francisco Victorians which at the time their city of officials felt were not important enough to keep but some San Francisians felt otherwise. Today, as visitors of San Francisco, we are able to enjoy these magnificant buildings.

My city hall foray made me look around and notice the number of places that were condemned or vacant. As a candidate for the Arcata City Council in 1972, I ran on a platform to Save Arcata’s History. This became a slogan for numerous elections. But what happened was that homes were being rehabilitated, the Arcata Historical Sites Society was formed, a survey was completed for the City of Arcata by Susie Van Kirk, the Phillips House became a Museum and 90 buildings became Landmarks.

History moves on and another era of buildings are historically significant and part of the post World War II modernism movement. As with the rest of the United States, Arcata has their post WWII planned communities. Sunnybrae and Westwood were designed around the suburban concept of a shopping center, automobiles and ranch style homes and were perfect for the returning WWII veterans who were finishing their education, needing housing and getting ready to raise a family. A younger generation has started to restore these homes and magazines such as Atomic and Dwell are good resources.

Remember the A-frames of the 60’s and the one that sits on the curve of Spear Ave and Janes Road? As we age, so do the buildings and those over 50 years fit into the historic category.

February 10th presentation on Vanishing Neighborhoods was about the expansion of the 101 freeway in the mid-1970’s and how this neighborhood was reduced in size, some homes and apartments were moved while others were demolished. Arcata has lost housing stock over the years not only due to freeway expansion but to HSU’s campus expansion.

February 24th is Back to the Future: a tour of the modern resources along the Redwood Highway and March 10th is Speaking of Place: Revealing Landscape Narratives in Arcata and Humboldt County.

Now the tea is cold as I think of the wonderful time I have had learning more about Arcata’s history. The presentations are full of knowledge because you will be there to fill in the gaps. There are opportunities to learn more during the next set of three workshops preparing researchers and surveyors for the survey. Check the City of Arcata’s website for dates and places.