Memories of Somes Bar #2, 1954

Somes Bar, circa 1950

Langford’s Store at Somes Bar  One early spring day in 1954 we, Mom, step-father Gordon and me, drove the three miles down the Salmon River Road to the store. Mom needed to mail a letter and the post office was in the store. We also needed ice for the ice chest. The store was a … Read more

PHOEBE’S MOTHER SAYS

   While researching families for inclusion in “The Book,” many interesting items are located that demonstrate how wise and knowledgeable the Karuk people were. This is one such example.    “Kate Jackson of Ishi-Pish taught her daughters, Jennie (Jackson) Donahue and Phoebe (Jackson) Maddux, about living around the Klamath River.  Kate advised against swimming in … Read more

Old Somes Bar, Long Lost and Barely Remembered

Somes Bar had a split personality. There was the Somes Bar along the Salmon River and the Somes Bar on the Klamath River. Karuk villages existed in both places. The photo shows the area where Abraham Somes established a store and boarding house along the Salmon River. It came to be known as Somes  Bar. … Read more

Let’s Remember Forks of Salmon

Does anyone remember the old sign along the road when you reached Forks of Salmon? It said, “YOU ARE NOW ENTERING AND LEAVING FORKS OF SALMON, CALIFORNIA”    And that was true, around the corner, past the Bennett Store, across the bridge, and that was it. Maybe there were other buildings that have escaped my … Read more