Christmas Shopping

This will be the weekend I try to get it all done. It really is nice to have a truly "general" store in town like J.D. Redhouse, that's locally owned (not a "chain", yet), and stocked with good quality inventory. You can drive away from here with everything from a bale of hay, a pony bridle, and birdseed, to a bath mat, boots, and a bra (or berry smoothie). But what to get Mom?

Art Butterfield Memorial Photography Show

The fifth annual Willits Photo Club show, now named in honor of a late and inspiring member, opened Saturday night with a lovely and well attended reception. The latest information I have indicates there were 41 photographers exhibiting 318 photographs in all. This show runs through November 30th, and gallery hours are Thursdays through Sundays. Check the Willits Center for the Arts website for more specifics.

Right, so up above there, do you see the black and white photo of the jagged crest of the awe-inspiring Patagonian Andes? And next to it, the wraiths of clouds caressing the sheer granite cliffs of Yosemite Valley? Those aren't mine.

Mine are the four colored canvases stacked, meaningfully enough I thought, next to an open glass panel door. Each depict openings which are shut, in some way. But really, they are just three walls and a railroad car, and were posted on this blog earlier in the year. When I did catch a few people looking at them, the expressions were typically gape-mouthed bafflement. This is the first time I ever put up anything of mine in an art gallery, so some seriously narcissistic curiosity kicked in and I tended very much to linger in the front lobby area to see how people might respond. Or if they would even look.




Finally, someone mercifully reminded me that there were a lot of spectacular photos to see in the two gallery showrooms, the rest of the lobby, the hallway, the reception room, the stairwell, and the vast upstairs gallery and events venue. Did I mention there were 318 photographs, and a lot of people looking at them? Kudos to the hard working volunteers from the Photo Club, who spent countless hours organizing and installing this event. All I did was put my own up on the wall.

To see more of the reception for this show, please look at my Overflow blog. And of course, there's an Animoto, for those of you who like that sort of thing.

Shed Vines

In this photo from just a few days ago, these scarlet trumpet flower vines were a brilliant chartreuse. In the last two days of rain, they seem much more yellow, and ready to fall. This shed sometimes serves as a home for Fifi (le Velocipede).

Tomorrow, look for photos from Saturday's 5th annual Willits Photo Club photo show.

Craftsmanship

I love the looks of this "craftsman style" building. It has a small plaque saying it was build in 1905, one year before the massive earthquake that shook not only San Francisco, but Santa Rosa, Ukiah, and Willits. The brick facade of a hotel in town collapsed and killed a man, the temblor was so strong. Many brick chimneys fell down as well. But this office building must have weathered the shake, probably with some repair. I'm told it started out as quarters for Northwestern Redwood Company, not to be confused with the railroad company, and is located at the intersection of Commercial Street and the railroad line, diagonally across from the train station. It still seems to be in use, but I don't know who occupies it now.



For information about the Craftsman era of architecture, check out what Laurie said on her blog, Glimpses of South Pasadena

August Theme Day: Metal

I've been too timid to ask anyone what these tube vents are for, but they and the door are metal, painted a brilliant blue. There's no doorknob, only a key operated lock. It's at the back of a clothing shop. I wonder what would happen if you just reached in...

The first day of every month is a Theme Day among City Daily Photo Bloggers like me. This time around, 183 have signed up to interpret "metal". Click here to view thumbnails for all the participants. You will find yourself on a wonderful journey around the world.

Patriotic Storefront

It may be vacant, but this empty building on Main Street is still showing its colors. Today is Independence Day in the U.S. There will be a parade and rodeo today, but I'm one of the folks who always has to work during much of the festivities of our annual Frontier Days. I'll see what I can do about getting some pictures tomorrow.

Willits High School Entrance

About the only bit of architecture that comes close to the grand decoration of Pasadena-style Palladian, is the front portal to Willits High School. Someday, I'll have to check out the interior. My high school, elsewhere, was built in 1960 or so, and looks more like a Bauhaus concentration camp. I hope these kids appreciate what they have.

Vacant Service Station Entrance

I have long had fantasies of redeveloping vacant buildings in various communities I've lived in, or even just passed by. This is just part of a former vehicular service complex with sort of 1950's "modern" styling, right in the center of town on Main Street. An arts and crafts complex? Alternative power vehicle sales and demonstrations? A new home for the community theater? An International Youth Hostel? All I need is the money, because dreams, I have buckets full.

Neatly Stacked

Someone started cleaning up this derelict industrial lot in the center of town last weekend, and got rid of a bunch of trash and broken supplies, then smoothed over the dirt with a small tractor. I'm not sure if those are boxes or pulled-out drawers next to the shed, but the workmen took care that they don't look so derelict anymore.

Carnegie Library

According to the plaque in front of the building, it served this area from its completion in 1915 until the current library was opened down the street in 1989. That's a lot of years for an initial investment of $1,000, and brought to simple rural communities something we take for granted - open stacks for citizens to freely browse and borrow at will. Librarians are heroes in the battle to keep information available to everyone, preserving democracy even in the face of efforts to create an imperial regime.

Few examples of this ornate and monumental building style survive in Willits. Today it houses the local community cable channel, which is funded by the contract with the regional commercial cable provider. Among other things, they televise city council meetings and event calendars. One corner of the structure also holds the KZYZ community radio studio, a "satellite" of the main studios of KZYX over in Philo, extending the reach and participation of far flung populations in their public radio station.

Chevy in Cherry Condition

Yokum's Body Shop uses their front showroom to house and display their perfectly restored '56 Chevy, which serves as an example of the talent and craftsmanship they offer. The local vintage car club, The Shifters, has their annual Community Fest coming up soon.

Book Juggler Back Door

There's something pleasing to me about a healthy-looking wall, unblemished by gang tagging, in good repair, and neatly painted. Willits is not untouched by the plague of vandalism and gang activity. Every time the skate park is hit with graffiti, the city closes it. I just read it's happened twice in the last two weeks. I wonder who pays for the clean-up.

This wall is on Wood Street, near the corner of Main. When I looked at this on my computer, I felt like I had posted it before, then remembered the Windsor Mill post. Some similarities anyway.
BookJugglerBackDoo Jigsaw Puzzle

Grange Building Entrance

This fine old building was originally an elementary school, built in the 1920s. It was sold in the 1960s to the local grange, and provides meeting space with a well equipped kitchen, assembly hall, and classrooms. A few rooms are rented to commercial and community enterprises. I understand that long delayed roof and subfloor maintenance is now urgently needed. I hope they can find the resources.

Stained Wood Wall

This is actually the side wall of an empty row of storefronts which face to the left around the corner.
StainedWoodWall Jigsaw Puzzle

St. Francis in the Redwoods

This Episcopalian church was consecrated last year, and they are still working on the landscaping. It sits beside a firestation, at the intersection of Commercial Street and Highway 101, so it has high visibility as well as a noisy environment. The design solution was to use straw bale construction for the walls. Dozens of community members responded to the call for helpers in the bale portion of the work, and were educated in the process. Information on line about the church indicates it is only the third straw bale one in the country.

I wanted to stand further back to get this shot, but that would have meant getting hurt by traffic. I was in the gutter as it was. The moon always seems so much bigger when seen with just the eyes.

Dr. Raymond Babcock House

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004, this was home to a man whose influence is felt in Willits even today, nearly half a century after his death. He was a "country" doctor only in the sense that he served the needs of a rural area in whatever medical capacity was required - pediatrics, obstetrics, general surgery, oncology, internal medicine, emergency trauma, you name it. But he kept very up-to-date on the latest developments and techniques of his time, and was superb at diagnosis, and, in short, was the driving force behind the creation of the hospital in town. He had served as a medic in World War I, and as a member of the American Legion, helped organize the original annual Frontier Days Rodeo as a community fundraiser. There's a book coming out about him soon; I can barely mention all that could be said. I will add that he "knew" the racehorse Seabiscuit personally, and cared for his jockey Red Pollard after a severe injury.

In more recent years, I recall seeing Dr. Babcock's son-in-law, George Akins, out in this yard. He would trim these hedges while wearing a white short-sleeved shirt, thin dark tie, light wool suit trousers, and a fedora. Another decent and intelligent man, honoring the legacy of his esteemed father-in-law. George died not long after his wife, Jane Babcock Akins, several years ago.

Windsor Mill

Windsor Mill, with the corporate name of WindsorOne, is a major employer in Willits, and produces high quality specialty plywood and molding products sold internationally. They often operate around the clock to meet demand.

Dog with Koi Pond

This trompe l'oeil koi pond is my favorite bit of public art in Willits. It's been on this concrete step up to a pair of shop doors for years, but the fish are still vivid and delightful. Click on the image for a larger view.
DogWithKoiPond Jigsaw Puzzle

Abandoned Railcar with Doe

These Northwestern Pacific Railroad cars haven't moved in years, and generations of black-tailed deer know it. Can you spot the doe grazing beyond this manzanita bush?

A couple of these cars have caught fire from squatters trying to keep warm. It's extremely dangerous for the volunteer firemen to go in when they are burning, but they do if they think there's a chance someone is inside. I'm not one for naming names, but today I salute Willits-born Fire Chief Jeff Smith, now on his second day of retirement. One of the most gracious, capable, and committed people you'll ever want to know. He's earned some rest after 31 years of service. [edited for more years of service than I originally heard!]
AbandonedRailcar Jigsaw Puzzle

639 in the Rain

Older homes such as this once housed loggers, mill workers, and railroaders. There are still a few of those jobs here now, but not too many. Someone told me theses houses were usually built without foundations because it was thought the town would be temporary. But Willits is still here, and so are most of the houses.