The Kelley House Museum recently accepted a donation of items related to the Kelley family, passed down to a descendant of Otis Kelley, William and Eliza’s youngest child. Most of the items relate to the first generation of Kelleys born in Mendocino, primarily Daisy MacCallum and Elise Drexler. Daisy was a dedicated diarist. When we accessioned a collection of 27 diaries written by Kelley family women [...]
Katy Tahja posing with books available at the annual Kelley House Book Sale. While gathering books for the Kelley House Museum book sale, some real treasures materialize! This annual sale takes place on Sunday, May 24 from 10am to 3pm. Why would Mendocino’s K-8 School Library be donating what looks like useful teacher reference books? The internet is one answer, and the age of [...]
Norman de Vall for Supervisor. Matchbook Cover, 1978. (Gift of Bruce Levene) Mendocino recently lost two beloved residents, both of whom had a special connection to the Kelley House Museum. Norman de Vall and Rick Sacks will be missed by many in the community. In late 2019, the Kelley House exhibited “Wind & Water: The Nautical Collection of Norman de Vall.” The exhibit showcased [...]
The first dirt track auto races on the coast were held right here in Mendocino, where Headlands State Park now exists. Organizers of the 1921 Apple Fair wanted the Fair “to be bigger and better than ever” by adding auto and horse races and a rodeo. Joshua Grindle, president of the Fair Association, appointed committees and set the plan in motion. A location for the track [...]