The Corner of 3rd and E Streets in Eureka

This week, we'll hear from museum Director Ben Brown, who recently spoke on KINS' Community Comment. Listen to the KINS Community Comment to hear about the history and future of the corner of 3rd and E here.

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Early Settlement and the Huff House

Eureka had a humble beginning with few buildings as depicted in this 1854 painting. The corner of what is now 3rd and E Streets was originally homesteaded in the 1860s. It's earliest recorded use was as a garden for one of the early founders of Eureka.

In 1871, the locally famous Huff House was built on this site, later renamed the Bay Hotel. It was destroyed by a spectacular fire in the late 1880s. The Bay Hotel was the temporary home of the Newsom Brothers architects when they were supervising the construction of the William Carson Mansion and other homes in the area.

The First Bank of Eureka

Until the 1960s, this area of Eureka was referred to as North of Fourth, as you can see from the map what the many amenities that were offered- including 64 saloons, 46 "Bawdy Houses", and 14 churches.

The Bank of Eureka and the Savings Bank of Humboldt County opened a two-story brick building on this site on July 1, 1890. The original board of directors included William Carson. (Top and center of image to the right).

In July of 1911 the brick building was demolished to make way for a new building and the bank offices and vaults were moved across the street during construction.


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The 1911-1912 Bank of Eureka building was designed by the San Francisco architect Albert Pissis. He was one of the first Americans to study at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. He was a major figure in the Neoclassical (Classical Revival) movement, particularly Beaux-Arts, and introduced that style to San Francisco beginning with the Hibernia bank building in 1892. The bank had a policy of staying open late every Saturday night to wait until the loggers arrived from the woods to cash their checks. In 1954, Bank of Eureka merged with Crocker-Anglo London-Paris National, later Anglo Crocker, then Crocker Citizen, but in 1957 the bank moved out and the building sat vacant.

Cecile Clarke and Her Museum

Cecile Clarke originally began the museum at Eureka High School in the 1920s. Never marrying or having kids, Cecile was an independent person who devoted her life to history and this region. She loved all things history, with a special affinity for Native American items and culture. She also helped form the Humboldt Historical Society and the local chapter of the Gem and Mineral Society.

Cecile Clarke purchased the old Bank of Eureka building in 1959 and moved the collection down from the High School. On June 8, 1960, the Clarke Memorial Museum opened its doors. Cecile Clarke dedicated the museum to her parents, Joseph and Annie Clarke, Mendocino County pioneers of the 1860s. The name was later changed in 2000 to Clarke Historical Museum to reflect the museum's dedication to preserving and presenting the history and culture of the region.

The Museum Expands: Nealis Hall

In 1904, The E Street Theater opened up next door to the Bank of Eureka Building as a vaudeville theater with "moving pictures on the Bioscope." After a few years, it was torn down and replaced by the Theater Margarita, which eventually became the Empire, the Orpheum, the Orpheus, and lastly in 1938, the Liberty Theater, which went out of business in 1958. 

In the late 1970s, the owner of the defunct Liberty Theater, George Mann, agreed to sell the land  to the City of Eureka if they promised to add an additional wing to the Museum. With the help of a federal Economic Development Administration grant awarded to Eureka in 1979, an addition to the museum was built on the old Liberty Theater land. That additional wing became Nealis Hall, which now houses the Native American collections of the Clarke Museum. In the time since then, various community members and families have donated items to be preserved and displayed in the hall for the enjoyment and education of museum visitors.

Jim Nealis moved to Eureka in 1941 and worked for Pacific Telephone and Telegraph where he eventually became District Manager for Eureka. He was described as a "good natured, gravely - voiced friend" by those who knew him. He was well-known throughout the community and was a longtime board member for the Clarke Historical Museum.  He played a large role in the agreement between the City and the Museum to ensure the construction of Nealis Hall, which the Museum named after him in his honor.
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"If a problem arose on the horizon, the first thought was to "Get hold of Jim Nealis. He knows what to do.""
​-Times Standard, Eureka, April 30, 1971 "Phone 'Operator' Nealis Ending Official Career"

The Clarke Museum Today

Today, the Clarke Historical Museum and the Eureka Visitor Center share the space and offer tourists and locals advice on the best places to stay, eat, shop, and things to do, while grounding everyone in the rich history of this area. We’re excited to announce that the roof was recently replaced on the historic building and we’ll now focus on other needed infrastructure projects like improving the wheelchair ramp to ensure accessibility for all and expanding our display space by shifting our archives upstairs and reopening the old vaults for exhibits. Other needed improvements include projects that will get the building back to its former glory by adding back chandeliers and wall sconces and painting the inside of the building to highlight the terrific details.

The Clarke Museum remains committed to preserving and presenting this region’s history and culture by honoring and learning from previous generations and teaching the next generation as they become tomorrow’s future leaders!

Listen to the KINS Community Comment to hear about the history and future of the corner of 3rd and E