Ferndale, CA
History
Ferndale Cemetery
Ferndale Cemetery - 2008
The Ferndale Cemetery is a popular tourist attraction, built onto a hill with markers going back 140 years. From the top are great views of the ocean, town, and Eel River Valley.
The earliest burials were on private property. In 1868, hillside land was purchased from Grace and Francis Francis, with two additional parcels being acquired over the years. Also in 1876, H.H. Niebur was appointed to take charge of the Cemetery and the Cemetery records. Niebur produced a list of the fifty burials which had taken place between 1868 and 1876.
Since that time, the Cemetery Association and the Ferndale Museum have maintained these files and have computerized them or family members and for historical researchers.
The Ferndale Library
Ferndale Library - Early Years
Celebrating 100 Years in April of 2010
Ferndale residents had started their own “library” by 1880 in the way of a “Reading Room” that housed approximately 200 volumes, location unknown, mentioned in the Ferndale Enterprise in 1880 in an advertisement.
In March of 1904, the local Native Daughters formed a committee to look into the establishment of a free library in Ferndale and a new public library opened in the Paine Building in November of the same year. At the end of the first month, the library contained 689 books, a good supply of newspapers and magazines, and an ever-changing set of 50 books, changing every 3 to 6 months, with the Traveling Libraries System of the California Sate Library.
Library Hours:
| Mon | Closed |
| Tues | 12 – 5 pm & 7 – 9 pm |
| Wed | 12 – 5 pm |
| Thurs | 12 – 5 pm & 7 – 9 pm |
| Fri | 12 – 4 pm |
| Sat | 12 – 5 pm |
| Sun | Closed |
The Ferndale Museum
Ferndale Museum
The historic village of Ferndale was founded in 1852. The Ferndale Museum preserves and exhibits the history and heritage of this still thriving dairy community with it’s lovely, well-kept Victorian houses and storefronts.
The museum features the artifacts, furniture and items that have survived since the town was founded and displays them in room-like setting of the Victorian era. Also featured are an operating seismograph, a telephone switchboard, working crank phones, farm and logging equipment, a barber shop and a complete blacksmith shop. Exhibits change during the year with major annual changes and are thoroughly researched, clearly identified and artfully displayed.
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There seems to be a lot of activity on the Museum’s Facebook page! A lot of old photos and people asking questions, getting answers from others in the community. CLICK HERE to join in the discussion or just visit the page |
The Museum is just one block off Main Street and is open
Wednesday – Saturday 11 to 4 and Sunday 1 to 4
Open on Tuesdays from June – September.
The Museum is closed on Mondays and the month of January.
Located at the corner of Shaw & Third Streets
707.786.4466
PO Box 431, Ferndale CA 95536
Visit their website at www.ferndale-museum.org
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