The Western news., 1948-12-02
EUREKA NEWS
Christmas Tree Capitol

1t seems as though Eureka's
write-up in Golfers Magazine. writ
ten by Rafe Gibbs brought forth
much comment by residents of the
town. On being asked what com
ment l was going to make in the
local news, l decided to interview
a number of residents and get their
opinions of the article. Some ansW-
ers are not for printing find as a
whole 1t was a disappointment.
They were looking forward to some
thing rather special and surely not
what it turned out to be, as one
business woman remarked, Il was
very disappointed in the article as
1t did not give an authentic picture
Of our community or its Christmas
tree industry. 1t was my idea the
industry would be written up and
not individuals" Another remarked.
i am thoroughly disappointed as
1t could have been something very
nice if Mr.. Gibbs would have writ
ten the actual story instead of one
Of his imagination" Upon asking
a prominent business man he re-
marked, Il thing that Eureka was
very lucky IN getting recognition in
a magazine of the size and circula-
ton of Golfers" Mr.. Fetterly said,
1t seemed to me Golfers article
made a laugh of Eureka and our
Christmas tree industry" Mrs. Fet-
terIy remarked, 1T is hard to be-
heVe that Golfers would print so
many false statements in any article
or story, unless it was stated in fic- |
ton" Another said How can a !
Ghost town hase 1400 population |
and I'd like to see the same Mr.. !
Gibbs find an empty houst 70 |
move into without first building |
it. Another said, THE farmers
do not cut tWo-thirds of the trees
and where did he find that Indian?" |
Another business man said, 1T |
seems we end our tree season with |
a few Christmas carols around a /
tree. What about our Christmas
festival which lasts for two days
with q carnival. dance, tree tying
contests with valuable prizes given
and our Queen that is chosen each
year," Upon asking a Christmas
tree buyer he said 1T would have
been nice to have had few other
mentioned, several who
company /
Mr. Albee works for" A company
remarked, When was Mr. Belmont
ever in a Christmas tree yard un-
less it was to have this picture
taken. would think he would re-
sent being placed ahead of the ones
who actually worked and deserve
the credit" Another housewife said,
Who ever told Mr. Gibbs coffee
would plug a sink? After
all we do have sewerage disposal
n our Ghost town and perhaps it
would be interesting to the World
% know the Christmas tree capitol
las running water, and the rent
is collected and in ad-
vance. That Mr.. Gibbs will be
ucky if he doesn't get sued for his
alse statements" An old time resi-
lent says, Il am sorry it was writ
en- up the way it was, even though
{ was not supposed to be a COM
nercial and the man was being
'aid to write a good story This
S an item that will be read all over
he world or a good share of it
and it could have been a
'eautiful story which would have
old just as well and not have
leeQeQ TO rlQlcule our town ana
rec industry AS far as the trees
re concerned it is only about eight
weeks at the most. 1t just means
little extra money for Christmas
nd our real industry for the re-
nainder of the year is numbering
nd stock raising. We would all
ave very slender waist lines if we
depended on the tree industry for
living In all of the years I have
wed here Eureka has never been
Ghost Town as Rafe Gibbs of
he Golfers and Uncle Joe Deering
f San Francisco paper have both
allied us. We resent being pub
shed all over the World as a Ghost
own or one man town either"
In my travels l only found two
ersons who appreciated that kind