Irmulco, California Explained

Irmulco
Pushpin Map:California#USA
Pushpin Label Position:bottom
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in California
Pushpin Image:California Locator Map with US.PNG
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:County
Coordinates:39.4222°N -123.5175°W
Elevation M:133
Elevation Ft:436

Irmulco is a former logging town in Mendocino County, California. It was located on the California Western Railroad 12miles north-northeast of Comptche, at an elevation of 436feet.

The name comes from an initialism of the Irvine and Muir Lumber Company. The Irvine and Muir Lumber Co. owned logging rights in the county and two lumber mills, including the one at Irmulco.[1] The mill primarily processed redwood.[2] In December 1909 a stage coach connection with the railroad was opened at Irmulco. A post office operated at Irmulco from 1911 to 1927. At the time of the settlement's application for a U.S. post office, the local population was about 220.[3] In November 1912, heavy rain washed "50,000 feet of logs" out of Irmulco Dam. The Irmulco Mill Dam was partly destroyed in 1913.[4] There was a redwood shingle mill at Irmulco around 1914.[5] The mill may have shut down for a time as it was slated to reopen in March 1917, and the owners had hired a manager, a woods boss, and a sawyer. Three months later the engineer of a logging train was killed in an accident at Irmulco.[6] A fire in 1921 destroyed the schoolhouse and several residences.[7] At its peak in the early 20th century, Irmulco was home to a couple thousand residents drawn there by the lumber mill.[8] Circa 1927, the area was described as "mostly brush, and redwood cut-over land with some non-merchantable timber of various kinds".[9] The remnants of the mill and most of the surviving buildings were destroyed in a fire in October 1928.[10] According to the Ukiah Dispatch Democrat, the roof of the caretaker's house in the "old town" caught fire and "in a very short time practically all that was left of the abandoned town and mill was a raging inferno. After burning the buildings the fire raged up the south fork of the Noyo and destroyed all that was not burned up in the fire two years ago." In 1930, Irvine & Muir sold the townsite and the timberland to James L. Robertson, the mayor of nearby Willits.[11] At that time, the land was said to have "plenty of good buildings for ranching operations. The land lies along the Noyo river and Redwood Creek...There are numerous springs and a good water supply, which was used when the mill was in operation, consisting of two 25,000 tanks fed by springs. This water is piped to the buildings. The land is also on the railroad and has a spur track to the old store building which will be remodeled for a barn." Robertson planned to establish a ranch in the area.

A small lumber mill was opened and operating near Irmulco in 1946.[12]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with ... c.1. . 2023-10-24 . HathiTrust . 115, 116, 669 . 2027/chi.082957699?urlappend=%3Bseq=688 . en.
  2. News: 1957-03-27 . Forty Years Ago - March 30, 1917 . 20 . Ukiah Daily Journal . 2023-10-25.
  3. Web site: Record Group 28: Records of the Post Office Department - Series: Reports of Site Locations - California: Mendocino - Modoc - NAID: 68230398 .
  4. News: 1913-07-26 . Irmulco Mill Dam Is Partly Destroyed . 1 . Mendocino Coast Beacon . 2023-10-24.
  5. News: 1994-02-10 . Edward Melville . 5 . The Press Democrat . 2023-10-25.
  6. News: 1957-05-29 . Forty Years Ago - June 1, 1917 . 13 . Ukiah Daily Journal . 2023-10-25.
  7. News: 1921-09-30 . Fire at Irmulco Destroys Many Homes . 1 . Ukiah Dispatch Democrat . 2023-10-24.
  8. News: 1976-09-13 . Skunk Line Stop: The good life at 'Risch Station' . 13 . The Press Democrat . 2023-10-24.
  9. News: 1927-09-09 . Forest Fire Raging at Irmulco Yesterday . 8 . Ukiah Dispatch Democrat . 2023-10-24.
  10. News: 1928-10-06 . Fire Saturday Burns Old Town of Irmulco . 4 . Ukiah Dispatch Democrat . 2023-10-24.
  11. News: 1930-11-08 . Irvine & Muir Co. Sell 3000 Acres of Land at Irmulco . 6 . Mendocino Coast Beacon . 2023-10-25.
  12. News: 1946-01-05 . Are Operating Small Mill Near Irmulco . 7 . Mendocino Coast Beacon . 2023-10-25.