The Humboldt Project: A Steamship, a Rhyme, and a Mystery from 1907

The Humboldt Project is more than just an Instagram account—it’s a living archive of Humboldt County’s past, meticulously pieced together one postcard at a time. For nearly two years, Steve Lazar has been sharing his vast postcard collection, aligning many of the posts with the anniversary of their original postmark. But this isn’t just about nostalgia; it’s an open invitation to the community to help decode history. Every postcard tells a story, and your insights could help preserve details that might otherwise be lost to time.

Take a look at this postcard, mailed from Ferndale, California, over a century ago on February 12, 1907. It’s addressed to Mr. Ellise Roberts at 526 Second Street in Reno, Nevada. The image on the front shows a steamship pulling away from a dock, its decks lined with passengers, American flags fluttering in the wind. The photograph is credited to photographer Garrett in Ferndale, an early documentarian of life on the North Coast.

The handwritten message on the card reads:

“2-11-07 – If a body write a body and a body don’t reply, should a body write a body and ask a body why. Yours until Nigraga [sic] Falls. G.A.B.”

The playful phrasing echoes lines from Robert Burns’ 1782 poem “Comin’ Through the Rye,” which was later popularized in American folk culture. But who was G.A.B., and what was the nature of their relationship with the recipient? A one-sided exchange? A joke between friends? A message lost to time?

As with many of these century-old artifacts, we are left with more questions than answers. That’s where you come in. Do you recognize the name Ellise Roberts? Can you identify the steamship in the photograph?

Each postcard in The Humboldt Project represents a small but tangible link to the past. Through collective knowledge, we can rediscover forgotten connections, bring old stories to light, and preserve them for future generations. Join the conversation—your insights might just unlock the next piece of Humboldt history