From stage coaches, early American horsemen, the Old Town Trolley , the gas powered car and the millions of footsteps in between , we need to do better remembering our potholes.

While there are many potholes in Humboldt, my interest is the fate of our many craters adorning Second Street in Eureka’s Old Town. For each one tells its own story; unique in its vantage point. You and I can just imagine what living history these potholes have seen!

Imagine when a mere Captain, and future US President Ulysses S. Grant in year 18-53 was stationed at Fort Humboldt and he fired his pistols in the air, somewhat inebriated galloping his horse down Second Street.

Incredible -- we have potholes that witnessed that! They are there now, ready to give your ankle a little twist and your car axle a lit’l tug. On second and C streets we even have some of the original horse posts that you’d tie your horse to when you went into a shop.

Now of course some potholes are younger. Cars and trucks added many more potholes to Second Street.

Instead of wasting time with Global Warming, CalPoly Geologists would be kept very busy with real scientific opportunity. A professional can check the different layers of time by looking at our deeper potholes from the side. Betwixt The different layers of asphalt the different strata of ages long passed show their stripes. You can clearly see when we had the floods of 55 and 64, and you can see where periods of great drought hurt local crops. And if you are lucky, our deepest potholes might even clue you in to the rainforest like terrain we used to have when the mighty dinosaurs walked the earth. It’s all there for you to appreciate.

This is important and that means our city council needs to get involved and select a committee of local leaders, the marginalized and other stakeholders should be chosen to keep these potholes preserved. Maybe some of our long time urban outdoorsman could tell us stories of more modern events that took place near some of the potholes.

Tourism would certainly benefit as we could have guides walk visitors along the road and stop at the more memorable potholes. It’s hard for high school and college aged kids to find work in Humboldt, there is a big opportunity here. Jobs would include dynamically telling the story of each pothole, driving golf carts or maybe even bicycle tours where everyone could gather in a circle and take a good look at the pothole. As Eureka continues tearing up C street with bulb outs and bike lanes and roundabouts, you might as well have an integrated tourist trap so that people from around the world can come to Old Town Eureka and experience our potholes.

This idea is perfect timing because most other industries have left Humboldt, but our Potholes are here to stay. If you want to sign the petition to make the Eureka Pothole Historic District, please let me know and I will send you the link. and that you for your support.

We hereby sign this petition to protect and memorialize the little craters on Second Street.