The village of Mendocino has been a national preservation district for decades and the Historic Preservation Board, dedicated to keeping things they way they were, is the closest thing to a governing body. So Mendocino stays fairly pristine with the entire village a window on the past. But a series of events this year is putting a new spotlight on Mendocino, a town founded by lumber barons in 1852.
- The Study Club of Mendocino celebrated its 100th anniversary this year and has published a walking town of historic homes.
- The restored 1909 Point Cabrillo Light Station, now a state historic park, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the lighting of the light.
- The Presbyterian Church, one of the oldest in the western hemisphere, is celebrating 150 years.
- Five “house museums” (Kelley House, Ford House, Lighkeeper’s House, Light House and Guest House) have joined together to market their little corner of the coast.
But what energized me to make note of these was the introduction of historian Bruce Levene’s new photo history, “Perley Maxwell’s Mendocino.” At the Kelley House’s regular 3 pm program (4th Sunday of each month), Levene, best known as the author of “Mendocino & The Movies” unveiled the newly published book with a one-hour video with music and dialogue. Thanks to two years work by Levene, who donated his time to this fundraising venture for the Kelley House, the work of photo hobbyist Maxell comes to life.
The book is derived from 400 glass negatives created by Maxwell and now stored in the Kelley House archives. Apparently, the slides almost ended up as glass panels for a glass greenhouse roof when building materials were scarce during the Great Depression. There’s more to the story and how the slides were rescued. But you’ll have to buy the book for $24.95 (it’s well worth it). You’ll find it in Gallery Books and at the Kelley House, www.MendocinoHistory.org, in Mendocino Village.
Also highlighted in the book is the 2002 Mendocino High School projected, directed by teacher Bill Brazill, collaborated with a group of students and created the Then & Now Project. The students took 25 prints of Perley Maxwell’s glass slides, found the exact location they were taken a 100 years ago, and photographed them as they appear today. Many of those photos are on display at the Kelley House, as well.
If you’re a history buff, Mendocino Village is the place to be this year.
