For whatever reason, much of the story of Del Norte’s history seems to start with the death of a white settler named “A. French.” Many times his is the next name found in articles right after explorer Jed Smith. I’ve never been able to learn what the “A” stood for. As the story goes, in…

A U.S. Marine with ties to Nevada has been killed in Afghanistan.  Sgt. Joshua Robinson had lived in The Topaz Ranch Estates, south of Carson City, while stationed The Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center at Pickel Meadow.  Robinson, who grew up near Nelson, Nebraska, died August 7 while on combat operations in Helmand Province. A spokeswoman with the…

In 1992 a movie directed by Penny Marshall, starring Tom Hanks, Geena Davis and Lori Petty hit the big screen. Since, “A League of Their Own,” debuted I have always watched it with the memory of a family doctor we had while growing up. “What would Dr. Wagner think about this movie?” I nearly always manage…

Josiah Gregg is generally credited with the rediscovery of Humboldt Bay and authoring the book: “Commerce of the Prairies.”  However he should also be given credit for establishing the first overland route that led to Del Norte County. Gregg died on February 25, 1850, from injuries received after falling from his horse. The location of his grave…

When I was a youngster there was only one “World Bank,” I ever had to worry about. It sat on a shelf in my bedroom, where I deposited pennies I found on the play ground, sidewalk, floor or wherever. Don’t you wish things were still that simple? I sure do.

There’s a small body of water called Dead Lake, jus’ southeast of Del Norte High School. Sadly, I became acquainted with this body of water when skipping school. All I had to do was go west on Washington and turn right just before McNamara Air Field and head northerly a few hundred feet and I’d…

As a youngster, I was vaguely aware of the political undercurrent that was taking shape in Klamath. I only knew what I did because I would lay awake listening to the conversations of those who came to my folks house for a later dinner and drinks. Many of the people who came by were Native…

In fourth grade our class was introduced to the history of California. I wasn’t as interested in the state’s history as much as I was the local history of the northern most part of the state. Fortunately I grew up when there were still enough tribal elders around and willing to share their people’s history.…

Long before personal computers, the Internet and blogging, I used to write little one page thoughts about that which interested me. In the mid-90s, I collected up as many of these little vignettes as possible with the hope of publishing them one day in booklet form, entitling it: “Lost Coast of Del Norte.” Instead, what follows…

While the bride was away for a family reunion in San Diego, I decided to take matters into my hands and paint the living room — or at least one wall of it. This has been something I’ve been trying to get her on board with for nearly two years. The color I selected is…