Functions of the Mattole Valley Historical Society:
To develop the land we've been gifted on the Petrolia Square to house a museum of Mattole history-related artifacts
To maintain an organized, accessible library/resource center with borrowing privileges for members, and which preserves records and historical artifacts for generations to come
To organize public social events with historical themes
To publish the semi-annual newsletter, Now... and Then
To conduct interviews, written or otherwise recorded, with old-timers who have spent an important part of their lives in the Mattole Valley
To maintain a website/blog which is helpful to historical researchers and attractive to new members
The scope of our interest is pre-contact (Native history) through to the present. We have just
recently shifted our focus to include in-depth study of the people and trends since the changes here in
the mid-1970s.
Geographically, we have a concentration of information from the lower Mattole Valley--that is,
Upper Mattole down to the ocean, with an emphasis on the Petrolia area. But we are seeking more from
the Honeydew and Ettersburg areas, and have a bit already on Bear River and Ferndale. Any historical
contributions concerning the region anywhere from Shelter Cove inland to the Eel River and northward
to Humboldt Bay would be very welcome.
Membership fees are $20.00. We would like everyone to be able to join. Dues and donations cover
the production and mailing of newsletters, office supplies, historical resources and documents,
computer costs, etc. We are currently planning grant proposals for building a new museum on the
Petrolia Square, and perhaps one day we’ll begin to pay the volunteers who make all this happen--so
far, nobody has been financially reimbursed. The Mattole Grange has been a great help. We currently
host most of our meetings and social events at the Grange.
Membership entails no obligations. You pay your dues, you receive the newsletter and are welcome
to borrow books, tapes, documents, etc., from the library. However, if you would like to sit on the
Board, you will enjoy our interesting and rewarding monthly meetings, at which we discuss the new
building plan, upcoming events, newsletter articles and schedules, finances, purchases... and history!
Let us know if you can join in the volunteer effort to preserve and celebrate local history in any way.
And be sure to let us know how we can help with your historical inquiry! We're here to share
anything we can find on the Mattole Valley's past.
Office hours are variable, and available whenever can be arranged by appointment. The Mattole
Grange is on the Mattole Road, 5 miles southeast of Petrolia and 9 miles northwest of Honeydew.