Camp Meeker, California
Encyclopedia
Camp Meeker, California is an unincorporated
village
located on the Bohemian Highway, between Occidental
and Monte Rio
. It has approximately 350 homes on properties ranging from a couple thousand square feet to many acres, some flat and sunny, some on steep narrow gauge railroad type one-way streets. The population hovers around 2,461.
Set amidst redwoods directly on Dutch Bill Creek
, it gets an average of 55 inches of rainfall spread over about 70 average days during the winter season.
Located on the North Pacific Coast Railroad
(since abandoned), Camp Meeker was a center for logging the coast redwoods that built and then rebuilt San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake
. After logging the trees, Meeker subdivided Camp Meeker in 1898, and lots (each 25 feet (7.6 m) by 12 feet (3.7 m) with a one-room cabin) sold for $75. Around 1900, it was primarily a vacation place for people from San Francisco.
Fire protection is provided by the Camp Meeker Volunteer Fire Department. In 2003, the department claimed that Camp Meeker was the only place in Sonoma County which places fire hydrants every 500 ft (152.4 m).
As of December 2001, one-year class wild coho salmon
were spawning in Dutch Bill Creek. In 2002 Dutch Bill Creek was part of the captive broadstock program, and since 2006 juvenile coho have been released in the creek as a part of this program.
In November 2009, Camp Meeker revamped its recreational park on Dutch Bill Creek by removing a WPA
-era dam and installing a bridge in its place. The entire area was rebuilt by PCI, Inc. under contract with the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District after years of study.
Once home to the now legendary Camp Meeker Players who played at the outdoor stage and the "barn", both venues having returned to nature.
Before becoming a "village" Camp Meeker was a lumber "town" followed by a summer enclave with the "year rounders' and the "summer folk".
Prior to the Camp Meeker Players; locals and summer folk, put on extremely entertaining talent shows. Summer resident, Marion Labor; owner of a studio in San Francisco, choreographed Saturday night performances at the "Stage". Marion's work included but was not limited to; rehearsals, assembling and producing costumes, music and lighting. Logs provided seating for the shows. On occasion gentlemen from Bohemian Grove would take in our local performances.
After the shows, most would stop at the "shack" or store for light refreshments and beverages. Then head over to the "barn" for barn dances. Music was provided by our local musicians playing accordion, piano, drums (dependent upon who was in Camp). There were always polkas, the Bunny Hop and the evening always ended with Good Night Ladies.
Long before hosting his own late night television show, "The Zany World of Joey Bavaresco. Joesph Joe" Bavaresco lead teen activities in Camp Meeker. Most memorable was the aquacade spectacular he orchestrated many years prior to the removal of the WPA-dam on Dutch Bill Creek.
St. Rita's was the other women's club. Catholic Church held services there on Sundays. For a quick get away after services teens assembled on the porch. St. Rita's club held weekly Whist games and occasional auctions.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
located on the Bohemian Highway, between Occidental
Occidental, California
Occidental is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,115 at the 2010 census, down from 1,272 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Occidental is located at...
and Monte Rio
Monte Rio, California
Monte Rio is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California along the Russian River near the Pacific Ocean. The town of Guerneville lies east of Monte Rio, and Jenner is slightly north-west. The population was 1,152 at the 2010 census, up from 1,104 at the 2000 census...
. It has approximately 350 homes on properties ranging from a couple thousand square feet to many acres, some flat and sunny, some on steep narrow gauge railroad type one-way streets. The population hovers around 2,461.
Set amidst redwoods directly on Dutch Bill Creek
Dutch Bill Creek
Dutch Bill Creek is a north-flowing stream in the hills of western Sonoma County, California which empties into the Russian River at Monte Rio about from the Pacific Ocean.-Course:...
, it gets an average of 55 inches of rainfall spread over about 70 average days during the winter season.
History
Camp Meeker takes its name from Melvin Cyrus Meeker, a lumber baron who established several mills in the area circa 1866.Located on the North Pacific Coast Railroad
North Pacific Coast Railroad
The North Pacific Coast Railroad was a common carrier narrow gauge steam railroad begun in 1874 and sold in 1902 to new owners who renamed it the North Shore Railroad and which rebuilt the southern section into a standard gauge electric railroad.The NPC operated in the northern California...
(since abandoned), Camp Meeker was a center for logging the coast redwoods that built and then rebuilt San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
The San Francisco earthquake of 1906 was a major earthquake that struck San Francisco, California, and the coast of Northern California at 5:12 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is a moment magnitude of 7.9; however, other...
. After logging the trees, Meeker subdivided Camp Meeker in 1898, and lots (each 25 feet (7.6 m) by 12 feet (3.7 m) with a one-room cabin) sold for $75. Around 1900, it was primarily a vacation place for people from San Francisco.
Facilities
Camp Meeker is the home of St. Dorothy's Rest, a retreat center and summer camp.Fire protection is provided by the Camp Meeker Volunteer Fire Department. In 2003, the department claimed that Camp Meeker was the only place in Sonoma County which places fire hydrants every 500 ft (152.4 m).
As of December 2001, one-year class wild coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
were spawning in Dutch Bill Creek. In 2002 Dutch Bill Creek was part of the captive broadstock program, and since 2006 juvenile coho have been released in the creek as a part of this program.
In November 2009, Camp Meeker revamped its recreational park on Dutch Bill Creek by removing a WPA
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
-era dam and installing a bridge in its place. The entire area was rebuilt by PCI, Inc. under contract with the Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District after years of study.
Once home to the now legendary Camp Meeker Players who played at the outdoor stage and the "barn", both venues having returned to nature.
Before becoming a "village" Camp Meeker was a lumber "town" followed by a summer enclave with the "year rounders' and the "summer folk".
Prior to the Camp Meeker Players; locals and summer folk, put on extremely entertaining talent shows. Summer resident, Marion Labor; owner of a studio in San Francisco, choreographed Saturday night performances at the "Stage". Marion's work included but was not limited to; rehearsals, assembling and producing costumes, music and lighting. Logs provided seating for the shows. On occasion gentlemen from Bohemian Grove would take in our local performances.
After the shows, most would stop at the "shack" or store for light refreshments and beverages. Then head over to the "barn" for barn dances. Music was provided by our local musicians playing accordion, piano, drums (dependent upon who was in Camp). There were always polkas, the Bunny Hop and the evening always ended with Good Night Ladies.
Long before hosting his own late night television show, "The Zany World of Joey Bavaresco. Joesph Joe" Bavaresco lead teen activities in Camp Meeker. Most memorable was the aquacade spectacular he orchestrated many years prior to the removal of the WPA-dam on Dutch Bill Creek.
St. Rita's was the other women's club. Catholic Church held services there on Sundays. For a quick get away after services teens assembled on the porch. St. Rita's club held weekly Whist games and occasional auctions.
External links
- railroad-era image
- http://realestate.yahoo.com/California/Camp_Meeker/neighborhoods
- http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Camp_Meeker_Footbridge_11-12-2009.JPG#filelinks
