In the early 1900s, Mendocino was known for more than just lumber; the town had a reputation for apples, too. In 1911, local farmers organized the first Apple Fair inside the Odd Fellows Hall (now Highlight Gallery, at Kasten and Ukiah Streets), featuring displays of local produce, games, and entertainment. The event was such a success that the Farmers & Apple Growers Association decided to build a permanent home for it. In October 1912, the newly constructed Apple Hall opened on the southeast corner of Kasten and Little Lake Streets (where the Mendocino Community Church stands today), just in time for the second annual fair.
Mendocino Lumber Company Float for the Third Annual Apple Fair, 1913. (Kelley House Photographs)
The third Apple Fair, held November 15–22, 1913, was the biggest and brightest yet. Apple Hall was transformed into a dazzling showcase, filled with polished apples in red and gold, draped greenery, colorful bunting, and glowing Chinese lanterns. But the main attraction came midweek: the Apple Fair Parade. Locals and visitors lined the streets to watch marching bands, schoolchildren, fraternal groups, and whimsical floats make their way through town under clear November skies.
The highlight of the parade was the Mendocino Lumber Company’s float. Described by the Beacon as “the best thing of its kind ever seen here in a parade,” it featured a detailed miniature of Mendocino Bay. The float included a model of the wire chute system used to lower lumber from the bluffs to ships below, and the rocky bluffs of the shipping point were carefully recreated using real rocks. A tiny version of the steamer Sea Foam sat anchored in the harbor. Along the sides of the float, “The M. L. Co” was cleverly spelled out in shiny red apples.
The Apple Fair remained a beloved Mendocino tradition for several years, but by the mid-1920s, Boonville became the host of the Apple Fair.
ON TAP AT THE KELLEY HOUSE: The History of Brewing on the Mendocino Coast traces the deep roots and rich stories behind one of Northern California’s most spirited industries—from the small breweries that served the local lumber workers to the craft beer renaissance that put Mendocino on the national brewing map. Thursday-Monday, 11AM – 3PM.