The Humboldt Project: Boating on the East Branch Near Benbow Bridge
is not just an Instagram account—it’s a living archive of Humboldt County’s rich history, brought to life one postcard at a time. For over two years, Steve Lazar has been sharing his vast postcard collection, most posts carefully timed to the anniversary of their original postmark. But this project goes beyond mere nostalgia; it’s a call to the community to help decode the past.
Every postcard tells a story, and with each post, we’re inviting you to join in uncovering the details that might otherwise be lost to time. Whether it’s identifying a location, a person, or unraveling the story behind a photograph, your knowledge could help piece together Humboldt’s history.
Take a look at this postcard from August 30, 1945 – 79 years ago, featuring vessels on the East Branch of the South Fork Eel River near the Benbow Bridge built in 1931.
What can you tell us about it? Your input could be the key to unlocking another chapter of our shared history.
Post card no. 4123
no. 4123 real photo postcard mailed to Oakland from Arcata on this day in 1945; the cards front features an assortment of people and watercraft borne for Benbow bridge, one of a number of Benbow scenes produced by Sawyer’s studio:
“Wed–P.M.
so far-so good
and what a Hi way!
we took to the Red-
woods — Hope the
Clai???s is going O.K–
I love the great out-
-of doors–I really
am Indian
Love
Tien Mae”
It’s clear that for Lazar, a member of the Humboldt County Historical Society, this isn’t just a hobby—it’s a labor of love and a race against time, a race against those with knowledge passing away and the knowledge itself being lost forever. One postcard at a time, Lazar is unlocking the past for all of us to see, before it’s too late.
For more information on The Humboldt Project, click here.
Note: The feature image for this article was edited to change the name of this column.
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Here’s something most people don’t know. They accidentally hit oil on the east branch, back before they knew how to tap it. And 55 gallons a day used to flow down stream until someone dynamited it sealing it off.
Another thought is that photo was taken before the redwood logging in benbow. It got logged in 50s I think then grew back fur and was cut in the 70s and now grows some oak and big grass fields.
Something people forget about that bridge, back in the day, it was the Redwood Highway US 101, just like Redwood Drive was thru Garberville, Redway and the Avenue of the Giants.
More water for August *** not sure if a dam produced it at that time and location?
Yes in the old days the Benbow family put in a seasonal dam as well as there was a hydroelectric installation downstream from the inn. The summer dam continued at least until the 80’s
The last year of the seasonal dam at Benbow was 2008. It was completely demolished in 2017.
A terrible day.
I remember when you could water ski on benbow lake back in the day.
I heard about that , they used to allow ten ski boats at a time . That was the 60s wasn’t it
my grandparents from Santa Monica spent every year in Richardson Grove, 1929-1943. They owned a Fish and Poultry market on the Santa Monica Pier. Stories flourished about this Bridge …
The historic US Postal Service deserved much credit and praise for deciphering such obscure cursive handwriting and successfully delivering the mail.
That’s how pretty much everyone wrote then, so it was natural for them.
Benbow’s was a classy place to stay. The food was tasty and imaginative. Haven’t been back since the 1990s when I took my Wisconsin relates there for a visit.
Could the writer be referring to a claim, as in mining claim? (Hope the claim is going OK) or some other type of claim?
Does the addressee or address hold a clue?
Puzzle me!
not a bad guess bill. thanks!
That is a beautiful picture of boating at the Benbow Bridge, but a current image is ugly since the dam was removed.
we beg to differ!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyD3K8SrH-S/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Finding this over a year after posted, my information may be old news. The Benbows had canoes available for guest use.