Grover Hayden Ladd: A New River Packer USED
Grover Hayden Ladd: A New River Packer USED
A book on the used bookshelf at the Humboldt County Historical Society bookstore technically might not belong there. Grover Hayden Ladd: A New River Packer by Gay Holland Berrien is set largely in Trinity County. However, the counties are neighbors, not only geographically but also in terms of their early history and ways of life.
This well researched and warm hearted book basically tells the story of the Ladd family, their friends and neighbors and all the aspects of Trinity life they interacted with. It delves into homesteading, placer mining, and the operation and importance of pack trains into this remote area. The founding and life in small settlements with their essential stores and school houses is covered, as is firefighting and forestry and the construction of needed roads and bridges.
The book begins with an informative account of the native tribes of the area and has extensive footnotes, appendixes and indices throughout. One of this book's special features is the number of photographs included, many of which were taken by Nellie Ladd, an early professional woman photographer who captured aspects of the time and place.
Published in 2014, this enjoyable book takes us through the earliest days of our neighboring county and up nearly to the present. In doing so, it makes the past seem personal and alive. The donation of this volume for resale at the Society is a real contribution to illuminating and preserving our history. We encourage local historical buffs with similar books on their shelves to do the same and bring the past to life for even more of us.
