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This 1873 "Map of the Town of Calpella, Mendocino County", drawn from official surveys by G.W. Blake, offers a detailed representation of Calpella during a formative period in its development. This map delineates the town's layout, including its streets, plots, and significant landmarks, providing valuable insights into the urban planning and land distribution of the era.
This map was likely produced during a brief period when Capella was seeking to reinvigorate interest in settlement. An article in the Merced Tribune on September 21, 1872 noted that:
The town of Calpella, in Mendocino county, has taken a frost start lately, and is erecting a number of new buildings, among them a fine hotel.
This newspaper notice coincides with the re-opening of the Capella Post Office.
Calpella is situated north of Ukiah in Mendocino County, on the northwest side of Lake Mendocino. The town was founded in 1858 by Colonel C.H. Veeder and his son-in-law, James Pettus. The town's name honors Kalpela, the chief of the nearby Pomo village of Chomchadila, with "Kalpela" deriving from the Northern Pomo language, meaning "carrying mussels down." In its early years, Calpella vied with Ukiah for regional prominence, reflecting its initial significance in the area. The Calpella post office opened in 1860, closed in 1868, reopened in 1872, was discontinued for a time, and moved in 1920.
Rarity
The map is very rare, with this possibly being the only known example.
We were only able to locate a single map of Calpella, Map of the town of Calpella Mendocino County, dawn by George H. Baker and Thomas Smith in 1870 (Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley)
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