Irmulco, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Irmulco
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"Seventeen-foot redwood stump. Cut January 1933. Age 1500+ years. Noyo River, about 3/4 mile above railroad trestle over Redwood Creek and between Irmulco and Shake City, Mendocino County, California" (photo by Emanuel Fritz)
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 Irmulco
Location in California
Irmulco
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mendocino County |
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) |
Irmulco was once a busy logging town in Mendocino County, California. It was located about 12 miles (19 km) north of Comptche. The town sat at an elevation of 436 feet (133 meters) above sea level.
Contents
What Was Irmulco?
Irmulco was a community built around a lumber mill. This mill was very important for cutting down huge redwood trees. These trees were then turned into lumber. The town was connected by the California Western Railroad. This railroad helped transport the cut timber.
How Irmulco Got Its Name
The name Irmulco comes from a shorter version of "Irvine and Muir Lumber Company." This company owned the rights to cut down trees in the area. They also owned the lumber mill in Irmulco. The mill mainly processed redwood trees.
Life in a Logging Town
Life in Irmulco revolved around the lumber mill. In December 1909, a stagecoach service started. This connected Irmulco to the railroad. A post office opened in Irmulco in 1911. It stayed open until 1927. When the post office first applied, about 220 people lived there.
By the early 1900s, Irmulco grew quite large. It was home to a couple of thousand people. They came to work at the busy lumber mill. There was also a schoolhouse for the children.
Challenges and Changes
The logging industry faced challenges. In November 1912, heavy rain caused problems. About 50,000 feet of logs were washed out of the Irmulco Dam. Part of the dam was destroyed in 1913. Around 1914, a mill that made redwood shingles also operated there.
The main mill might have closed for a while. It was planned to reopen in March 1917. New managers and workers were hired. Sadly, a logging train accident happened three months later. An engineer was killed in the accident. In 1921, a fire destroyed the schoolhouse. Several homes were also lost.
The End of Irmulco
By 1927, the area around Irmulco was mostly cut-over land. This meant most of the valuable trees had been harvested. The town's peak was over.
In October 1928, a big fire destroyed what was left of Irmulco. The fire started in the caretaker's house. It quickly spread through the old town and mill. It burned almost everything. The fire then moved up the Noyo River. It destroyed more land that had survived a fire two years earlier.
In 1930, the Irvine & Muir company sold the town site. They also sold the timberland. The buyer was James L. Robertson. He was the mayor of nearby Willits. The land still had some good buildings. It also had a good water supply from springs. Robertson planned to start a ranch there.
A small lumber mill opened near Irmulco in 1946. This showed that some logging continued in the area.
Images for kids
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Map/diagram submitted with Irmulco post office application, 1911
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California Western Railroad map, 1915
