Mendocino County CA Archives History .....Gualala 1880
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Carolyn Golowka http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00012.html#0002972 July 30, 2010, 2:08 am

Source: "History of Mendocino County, California...," published by Alley, Bowen 
& Company, San Francisco, CA, 1880
Author: The publishing company and Lyman L. Palmer, historian with that company

Page 371

Gualala – This little village is situated at the extreme south-west corner of 
Mendocino county.  The first permanent white settle at this point was John 
Northrope, who came there in 1857, and took up the claim on which the town now 
stands.  C. D. Robinson purchased Northrope’s interests in April, 1858, and in 
the following June he and his family moved to the place which they still 
occupy.  At that time a small “shake” cabin was all the building there was in 
that vicinity.  Mr. Robinson built a frame house, and at once began the hotel 
business, being the first enterprise of any character which was at on foot in 
the place.  In 1865 the Cole brothers constructed the first chute, which was 
purchased by C. D. Robinson in the following year, and has since been conducted 
by him, he having rebuilt it in 1875.  The first one was an old-fashioned apron 
chute, but the present one is a cable one, and has a donkey engine to draw the 
car back with.  In 1862 the Gualala Mill Company located their buildings about 
one-fourth of a mile south of where Mr. Robinson’s hotel was situated, and on 
the north bank of the stream by that name, near its mouth, and soon quite a 
little town sprang up around the mill, consisting of dwelling-houses, a store, 
blacksmith shop, and all other necessary buildings.  As the mill has remained 
at this point ever since, and is likely to for many years to come it will 
probably be the real village of Gualala for many years.  Messrs. Peters & Zadoc 
erected a building and opened a store opposite the Gualala hotel in 1869, which 
they continued for a year or two, since which time the store of the mill 
company has supplied the wants of the people in that line.
   The post-office and Wells, Fargo & Co.’s Express is under the supervision of 
c. D. Robinson, while communication is had with the outside world by the 
Western Union Telegraph, which is operated by Miss D. L. Robinson.  There is a 
daily stage from Duncan’s Mills, except on Mondays, and the city can be reached 
within twenty-four hours.  This line of stages is owned and operated by Messrs. 
Allman & Queen.  There is a ferry at this place, although an appropriation has 
been made by Mendocino county for the purpose of constructing a bridge across 
the stream whenever Sonoma county shall make a like appropriation.  This was a 
special Act of the Legislature, signed by the Governor, March 27, 1878, which 
was a sort of an “omnibus bill,” providing for several bridges and roads, and 
among other things it stipulated that the sum of $3000 should be used in 
connection with Sonoma county for the construction of a bridge across the 
Gualala river, but there seems to be no disposition on the part of Sonoma 
county to take any action in the matter; it is not probable that there will be 
any bridge there in the near future.  It would prove a great convenience to the 
traveling public if the river were bridged, although the ferry is efficient and 
safe.


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