New Honeydew Bridge to Honor Two Families Whose Legacies Helped Shape the Mattole Valley

The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously last Tuesday (June 16) to dedicate the new Honeydew Bridge in honor of two men whose families have left lasting marks on the Mattole Valley: former Supervisor George Heinley and rancher and community leader Vernon Edward Shin.

The decision came after a presentation from Public Works Deputy Director Hank Seeman, who described the bridge as more than a transportation project.

Located at the junction of three county roads, the bridge serves as a gateway to the Lost Coast and a key connection for one of Humboldt County’s most remote communities.

Former Honeydew Bridge [Image from the County of Humboldt]

Under county policy, Public Works solicited nominations for a memorial dedication and received two.

• George Heinley, who settled in the Mattole Valley with his wife Margaret in 1866 and established the Heinley Ranch in 1872, served five terms on the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, totaling 17 years. Among his accomplishments was championing transportation improvements, including helping bring Fernbridge across the Eel River to fruition in 1911.
• Vernon Edward Shin, a World War II Navy veteran wounded in service, spent his life ranching in the Mattole Valley. He served on the Upper Mattole School Board, participated in livestock organizations, and owned the Honeydew Store, which remains in the Shin family and continues to serve as a gathering place for the community.

Public Works concluded that both men met the county’s criteria for memorial dedications because of their significant contributions to local history and cultural heritage, recommending signs be installed on opposite sides of the bridge honoring each man.

Representing the Shin family, Honeydew Store owner Robert Shin thanked the county for the new bridge, noting that it is “cleaned things up, made it a little safer, a lot quieter,” adding that residents no longer hear the constant rattle of vehicles crossing wooden planks. He also reflected on the long friendship between the Shin and Heinley families, saying they have remained close for more than a century.

Speaking for the Heinley family, Lisa Heinley traced the family’s history from George Heinley’s arrival in the valley during the 1860s through six generations of ranching. She described him as a hardworking public servant whose influence extended well beyond the Mattole Valley and requested that the bridge marker identify him as Supervisor George Heinley to reflect his years of public service. County staff said the wording change could be accommodated.

Supervisors shared personal memories of Honeydew while praising both families’ contributions.

Supervisor Rex Bohn, whose district includes the area, called the bridge replacement a 27-year effort and thanked both families for working together on the dedication. He noted the quieter crossing and said the recognition preserves an important piece of Humboldt County history.

Supervisor Steve Madrone recalled living on the Heinley Ranch decades ago and remembered the Honeydew Store, Sunday baseball games, and the sense of community that has long centered around the valley crossroads.

Supervisor Michelle Bushnell, whose family also has Honeydew roots, called the recognition “a great honor” that ensures the families’ legacies will be remembered.

Supervisor Natalie Arroyo reflected on arriving in Humboldt County in 2006, crossing the old bridge for the first time in the rain and finding help at the Honeydew Store when she nearly ran out of gas.

The board approved the dual memorial dedication on a unanimous 5-0 vote.

When the signs are installed, visitors crossing the new Honeydew Bridge will be greeted not only by one of Humboldt County’s most scenic landscapes, but also by reminders of two families whose histories have been closely intertwined with the Mattole Valley for generations.

On a personal note: this reporter’s son, Quinn Church, is an inspector working for Ghirardelli Associates who provide construction management services for Humboldt County on the Honeydew Bridge project, lending a proud Redheaded Blackbelt connection to this major undertaking. The new bridge also stands as another chapter in a long history of transportation projects that have shaped life on the North Coast. For this reporter, that history is personal: my grandfather met my grandmother in Garberville while working on the construction of Highway 101 through portions of Humboldt and Mendocino counties. Like those roads before it, the Honeydew Bridge represents more than concrete and steel—it connects communities, families, and generations.