Held-Poage Memorial Home & Library, Ukiah CA

Category & Type :

Museums

Location :

603 West Perkins Street , Ukiah CA

Phone :

707-462-6969

Website :

http://www.pacificsites.com/~mchs/heldpoage.htm

Information about Held-Poage Memorial Home & Library...

This library has an extensive history of local events and a gallery of over 13,500 photos.microfilms, documents, maps scrapbooks, Great Registers, genealogies, extensive newspaper collection and artifacts (including Mendocino County native basketry) - all relating to Northern California history.
     
The house itself is on the historical registry and was deeded to the Mendocino County Historical Society in 1969 by William P. Held.  William's parents: William D.L. and Ethel Poage Held, moved into the Queen Anne Victorian house, located on the corner of Dora and Perkins Street in Ukiah, soon after their marriage in 1903. Built for the munificent sum of $2,000, it remains much the same structure as originally designed by Mssrs. Orr and Evans, with the addition of a new kitchen and second bathroom while the family was still in the residence.
     
The senior Held, known as "Billy," served in the California State Legislature between 1904-1912. Elected Mayor of Ukiah in 1928, on 1932 he became Judge of the Superior Court of Mendocino County where he served for 12 years.  Meanwhile, Ethel tended the home and children: William and Kathryn.  Ethel died 3 April 1953 and her husband 1 March 1968, the year after the family home was donated to the Historical Society.
     
In July of 1976 the Society formed the Held-Poage Memorial Home and Research Library Trust Fund to provide an income that now endows the facility. This community resource, dedicated to the preservation of archival materials relating to county and state history was greatly augmented in 1983 when Estle Beard, lifetime Mendocino County resident and historian, left his extensive collection to the society's growing collection.
     
To facilitate research, volunteer staff members are available by appointment.