LETTERS
Originally published on LakeCoNews.com
Holdenried: The Kelseyville I see
MARILYN HOLDENRIED
POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, 23 OCTOBER 2024
Here is the Kelseyville I see: When I drive over the bridge and into town, I see a town that sits at the base of Mount Konocti. I sense a vibrant community with positive energy.
Over the past several months, I have been disheartened to hear and read that there are people who have shamed the people of Kelseyville, telling us we are not a caring town because of our name. If these people, most of whom are not Kelseyville residents, were truly involved in the everyday activities of this town, they would know first-hand the incredible caring community support that is central to Kelseyville. I am sure that other communities have this support, but this is who we are today.
I cannot help but wonder how people in the other Lake County communities, who are loyal to their hometowns, would feel if they were told by an outlier group that they need to change the name of their town. We have been told that we not only need to change the name of our town, but that a new name has been chosen for us without any input from the citizens of our town. This is just plain wrong.
In Kelseyville, I see volunteers in organizations, churches, schools and the business community who continually pull together to make this a caring town. I have seen the local 4Hers plant daffodils on Main Street and at Ely Stage Stop; I have seen Scouts post the American flags on the bridges and all along Main Street on patriotic holidays. Those flags were donated by Kelseyville organizations.
I see volunteers at the churches packing bags of groceries and handing them up twice a month. I see parents giving incredible extra hours to support the school activities. I see parents and teachers who coach our children and serve as leaders of youth organizations. I see the Kelseyville Lions’ Club serve breakfasts to benefit local organizations. I see the Kelseyville Sunrise Rotary Club donate to local charities and mentor high school youth.
The five successful major events that are presented annually on Main Street are a tribute to the energy and dedication of the many Kelseyville community volunteers. These events celebrate the people of our town and open their arms to visitors. These annual events, plus the summer street dances, bring thousands of people to our town. Tourism is alive and well here. There are no dark clouds here.
The name Kelseyville is a name that was assigned to us in 1882 by the US Post Office. Two years ago, I spent several hours reading and researching the minutes of the Lake County Board of Supervisors from 1880 to 1882. I could not find one mention of a motion or a statement of who made the decision to change the name of this town from Uncle Sam to Kelseyville.
In 1882, this area of Kelseyville was not a legal district. We did not have a designated district and supervisor until 1884. Our first supervisor was Lewis Henderson, a farmer who arrived with his family as a 5 year old boy in 1859. He served this community until 1908, when he was succeeded by John Sidney Kelsey.
Upon further research and in his obituary, I learned that John S. Kelsey arrived in this valley as a small child with his parents, William Henry and Annie Laurie Kelsey in 1872. After his father died in 1873, he was raised by his grandparents, Jack and Emma Jones Kelsey, who had arrived in 1873.
In all of the years of this community, there has never been a time, event or a mention of honoring Andrew Kelsey. It is a name that was assigned to us. We have never allowed the actions of this man to define who we are.
I believe the name came as an evolution of naming names. This was an historic practice in communities across this nation. In this town there are many streets that carry the name of early settlers. In the Kelseyville Riviera there are many streets that carry Indigenous names.
This community acknowledges the early history and importance of the Native Americans to this land. We hear their stories. Their stories are important. The pioneer families who came into this valley in the late 1800s to live and work this land also have their stories that are important. Let’s get together and share our stories.
The name Kelsey is NOT a derogatory or offensive name. The history with Andrew Kelsey is offensive and should be placed in its historical context. He was only here for two years, from his arrival in 1847 to his death in 1849. He was not here for years and years.
The name Konocti is not a name that our community has chosen. Konocti is the name of the mountain that stands tall in the center of Lake County.
Please vote NO on Measure U.
Marilyn Holdenried lives in Kelseyville, California.
Jordan: The story has taken on a life of its own
LOIS JORDAN
POSTED ON SATURDAY, 19 OCTOBER 2024
Kelsey and Stone. These are the names on the monument in Kelseyville marking the location of the first adobe home in Lake County. The land, along with cattle, was purchased in 1847 by a business partnership which included these two men.
Rebelling against the brutal and harsh treatment received while working for them, Pomo natives killed both Andrew Kelsey and Charles Stone in 1849. Some months later, May 1850, the U.S. Military launched an attack against Pomo hostilities known as the Battle of Bloody Island.
Decisions and actions taken by the military months after Kelsey and Stone were killed should be considered the cause of the Bloody Island Massacre.
Charles Stone fades into history known only as Andrew Kelsey’s business partner. Andrew Kelsey has become a man of infamy. When the name of one man becomes the catalyst for name calling, hatred and divisiveness, it's time to learn more.
Andrew Kelsey came West as a young man of 20 and was 28 when he was killed by the Pomo in\ 1849. There is some history of his travel West and his participation in the Bear Flag War in 1846 but not too much is known about him that is pertinent here. To my knowledge there are no letters, journals, or diaries attributed to him, nor did Andrew Kelsey leave an account of his interactions with the Pomo.
Kelsey spent 1847 to 1849 (two years) in Big Valley and is accused of creating an atmosphere of suffering and trauma. Seventeen decades later this has become an issue dividing our community.
Lorna Sides, member of the activist group Citizens For Healing, believes changing the name of Kelseyville 174 years later will bring respect and healing for past wrongs. She and this group, in concert with local tribes, chose the name to replace Kelseyville. Lorna Sides then submitted the application to the Board on Geographic Names. The action of one person has made a decision for all of us and caused more division than this community has seen in decades, if ever.
Having waded through histories of Napa, Lake, Mendocino, and Sonoma counties, reading studies and writings of Kroeber, Schoolcraft, Benson, Heizer, Gibbs, Susman and Parker, reading countless historical newspaper articles, combing through Mauldin’s collection of narratives, studying treaties, digging through encyclopedias and historical book collections, I am convinced we cannot tell with any certainty what really happened prior to the military incursion. We just don’t know what we don’t know.
The narratives we have been given regarding the “atrocities” of Andrew Kelsey and the tragic events on Bloody Island are for the most part based on oral history which is difficult to substantiate. Events recorded decades later often contain misinformation, sometimes embellished, exaggerated and conflated through the years.
This story has taken on a life of its own. Many conflicting accounts exist today. One example is the number of Pomo killed in the Bloody Island attack by the U.S. Troops which vary significantly. Pomo Chief Augustine in 1880 states 16 were killed; Captain Nathaniel Lyon, in 1850 tells us at least 60, no more than 100 perished. Numerous newspapers of the time reported casualties as anywhere from 200 to 400. The most egregious number is in the Sept. 26, 2024 DailyMail.com article which lists the death count at 900!
John Parker, PhD, well known Lake County historian, in text of his talk “The Kelsey Brothers: A California Disaster,” which includes the story of Bloody Island, says: “In my 40 years of research, I have never seen as many different versions of the same events as I discovered while researching this talk.”
When facts of an event that occurred 174 years ago cannot be verified as being truly accurate, what reasonable person thinks they should be used to force the community of Kelseyville to change its name?
Vote no on Measure U.
Lois Jordan lives in Kelseyville, California.
Quistgard: History cannot be erased by changing a town name
CATHERINE QUISTGARD
POSTED ON WEDNESDAY, 16 OCTOBER 2024
I am an 80 year old Northern Californian and a resident of Lake County for 35 years, over 30 of them in Kelseyville. I have found it to be a truly friendly country town.
In that time I had occasion to know and respect several of our Lake County supervisors. In the last several years I have been disappointed in the Fifth District supervisor, Jessica Pyska.
More than a year ago this situation of a possible town name change was known by the county supervisors. Why, at that time, didn't Pyska call for a town hall meeting to notify her constituents of the application submitted to the United States Board of Geographic Names?
I've been a business owner, raised children and grandchildren here, belong to a faith community, participated in and held office in numerous organizations. I'm no stranger here; but was very surprised and appalled that this went county wide and we have Measure U on our voter ballot.
History cannot be erased by changing a town name or knocking down a statue of some perceived wrong doer. We must learn from the errors of the past and move forward together in harmony.
The following is a verbatim quote from a poster announcing a gathering in Upper Lake in June 2024 regarding a Bloody Island Sunrise Ceremony and is attributed to Clayton Duncan, who is member of the Robinson Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians.
Oh Ma Rum Da-Hud De Ka
I know the messenger, flint man
I know the message — a strange people and all the destruction they will bring but we are also told to keep our faith
Do not be hateful, but forgiving
Do not be greedy, but share
Try and get along as best as you can revenge is only for the fools
We are here because of the blessings from our Creator and we are a part of the landscape, like the oak tree
It is time for change and to go back to balance
Harmony and respect for all creation is a respect for self
Yos A Me Wa Hud De Ka Bak Ko De
I have 2 questions: No. 1 and foremost, who perpetuates the trauma and suffering endured by the Pomo people during the 1800s?
No. 2: If measure U passes and goes on to the United States Board of Geographic Names and Kelseyville's town name is changed; who is going to do all the paperwork and pay all the fees to change all of our passports, driver licenses, deeds, trusts and estate plans, vehicle registrations, LLC’s, banking, insurances, business and household accounts, etc.? Would that fall into the job description of our District 5 supervisor, Jessica Pyska?
Catherine Quistgard lives in Kelseyville, California.
Green: The legend of Mount Konocti
BARBARA GREEN
POSTED ON THURSDAY, 10 OCTOBER 2024
I recently stumbled across this beautifully written Legend of Mount Konocti.
"Many summers ago, two giants, one named Kah-Bel, lived on Bartlett Mountain, the other named Konocti lived on mountain bearing his name. Konocti had a beautiful daughter named Lupiyoma. Kah-Bel, wishing for the hand of Lupiyoma, caused a fight with her father, resulting in the death of both. Grief-stricken, Lupiyoma shed tears over the body of her lover, Kah-Bel, causing Little Borax Lake. Her father, lying down where Konocti now stands, died, and his daughter's tears caused the bubbling water in the springs in what is now known as Soda Bay."
Based on this heart-wrenching legend, I believe it would be disrespectful to rename the town of Kelseyville Konocti.
The name Konocti belongs solely to the sacred mountain.
Please join me in voting No on Measure U. Let's preserve the amazing history of both Mount Konocti and the beautiful town of Kelseyville.
Barbara Green lives in Kelseyville, California.
Jarrett: Something other than ‘Konocti’
CAROLYNN JARRETT
POSTED ON FRIDAY, 02 AUGUST 2024
I am sorry that I was unable to attend the last Board of Supervisors meeting to give my input on the proposed name change for Kelseyville.
Here’s what I think: If our elected officials are unwilling to take the heat and make a decision, then …
The question of the name change should be left up to the people of Kelseyville.
However, if the name is going to be changed, I think it should be changed to something other than “Konocti.”
I was a teacher and board member in the Konocti Unified School District.
To name Kelseyville Konocti will cause undue confusion.
I am sure that there are many meaningful words in native languages which could better describe the community.
Please do not use Konocti.
Carolynn Jarrett lives in Clearlake, California.
Panella: Name change will have negative economic impact on entire Kelseyville community
GREG PANELLA
POSTED ON TUESDAY, 05 MARCH 2024
I firmly believe that changing the name of Kelseyville would be a mistake.
My wife and I set our roots down in Kelseyville years ago. We are raising our three amazing children here. We farm pears and run a manufacturing company here in Kelseyville. We are deeply involved, and invested in the community of Kelseyville.
My wife and I were fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to purchase Stokes Ladders in 2012. My grandfather, Russell Stokes, founded Stokes Ladders, in his garage, right here in Kelseyville in the early 1960s. Ever since then, we have been sending our Stokes ladders of all shapes and sizes to customers from all over the US and Canada, to South America, the Middle East, Europe, and Australia.
On each one of these ladders over the past 60 something years, we have proudly stamped into the step: STOKES LADDERS, KELSEYVILLE, CA, right at eye level, on hundreds of thousands of ladders. Over the years, the font and styles have changed, but it has always displayed KELSEYVILLE, CA in all caps. There are people all over the world who have seen our name, KELSEYVILLE, CA.
When you change a name, you change a brand, you change our identity. Kelseyville has been building its brand for decades. I recently read a brilliant article by Brian Fisher: “A sucker punch to the people of Kelseyville.” He described in great detail all of the brand work that has been done on our behalf to build the name of Kelseyville into what it is today. He would know more than most the importance of brand recognition as a marketing executive.
I have a great example of this from last June. My brother was married in Palisades, California. I had never heard of this place. I had to look it up to know where it might be. This was pretty unusual as a guy who has lived in California my entire life, outside of military deployments.
I have always been interested in geography, so I am very familiar with the state of California. I didn’t realize until I was there that I was in what was previously known as “Squaw Valley, California.” I bet everyone has heard of Squaw Valley, California. If I were to look up “places to go snowboarding,” I probably would have scrolled right past Palisades to a different name that I was already familiar with.
I want to set emotions aside for a moment, and look at what would happen if we were forced to change our name.
By forcing the town of Kelseyville to change its name, which is interchangeable with brand, you will be doing so in full and complete understanding and recognition of the negative economic impacts you will be imposing on our town.
Business on Main Street is already tough enough. Main Street as everyone knows is the heart of Kelseyville. Any reduction in foot traffic, whatever the percentage, will directly affect Main Street’s bottom line. The bottom line that puts on all the events we know and love here in Kelseyville, and which brings in much needed tourism. The bottom line that affects the local employee’s ability to earn a livable wage.
A name change will have a negative economic outcome for our entire community, either directly, or indirectly.
By forcing this on our town, you will be forcing this reality on all of us, including the citizens you think you are helping.
Greg Panella lives in Kelseyville, California, home of “STOKES ORCHARD LADDERS, KELSEYVILLE CALIF” circa 1960s and “STOKES, KELSEYVILLE CA, USA,” present day.
Prather: The name ‘Kelseyville'
TIM PRATHER
POSTED ON TUESDAY, 05 MARCH 2024
It’s time for everyone to stand up and speak out about the proposed name change of Kelseyville.
To start with, if you were to change the name of Kelseyville, the taxpayers would be paying a tremendous amount to enforce the name change of state and county offices/districts and businesses, such as the Kelseyville Post Office, Kelseyville Schools and Kelseyville Fire Departments … just to name a few.
With the fire department it’s not just a simple statement of saying, “We will have a new sign on the building.” It’s having to remove all decals on every truck and every building and pay for new decals and labor to put them on.
Additionally, it will be changing all uniforms as well as badges and/or hats and anything else that has the name Kelseyville in it.
A good example of an enormous waste of government spending was years ago when the state changed the name of “CDF” (California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection) to “Cal Fire.” Sounded like a good idea from some idiot who got politicians to agree to it and then realized they had to change all the decals on every truck in the state along with new signs for every “CDF” building and all uniforms, badges, business cards, etc. for every one of those employees in the state.
The cost ran into millions of dollars and what did it accomplish? Half (if not most) of the people still refer to it as “CDF,” and the bottom line is what does “Cal Fire” stand for? You guessed it, “California Division of Forestry and Fire Protection.” They perform all the same duties, but wear a different name at the taxpayers’ expense.
Regarding all of the Kelseyville schools:
You might erase the name, but good luck trying to tell people that they can’t say “I grew up in Kelseyville” or “I went to school in ‘Kelseyville’” or “ I’m gonna run into Kelseyville to get groceries and fuel.”
You simply can’t erase history, good or bad. Are all Kelseyville graduates going to destroy their Kelseyville yearbooks? I don’t think so.
From a business perspective: Do the proponents of the name change think they can force local businesses like Kelseyville Lumber, Kelseyville Pharmacy, Kelseyville Food Center and Kelseyville Appliance to change their name? Again, that’s just a few of the businesses that have the name Kelseyville in them.
Any business that supports changing their name, just go ahead and do it!
Local businesses will be hit with a huge expense, again, not with just a new sign on the building, but changing any clothing, advertisements and business cards, emblems and decals on their vehicles, etc.
Again, this is an unnecessary change that will have no effect on people who will continue to refer to it as “Kelseyville.”
The Board of Supervisors does have the power to take a stand on this issue, the supervisors could be unanimous on their recommendation to the Board on Geographic Names.
Tim Prather lives in Cobb, California.
Fisher: A sucker punch to the people of Kelseyville
BRIAN FISHER
POSTED ON FRIDAY, 23 FEBRUARY 2024
My husband and I discovered Kelseyville on a cold, rainy Sunday in February 2001 when we reached the top of the Hopland Grade and took a deep breath as we admired the vast expanse of Lake County.
Looking down, it was hard for us to reconcile what we had just been told at an open house in Sonoma when the Realtor said, “They don’t like your kind in Lake County.”
Soon after the first visit we bought a ranch in Kelseyville which eventually became our full-time home. We found people open, accepting and willing to change long held stereotypes. We quickly became known as the “Guys on Gaddy.”
We started a business in downtown Kelseyville (www.suiteonmain.com) and joined the Kelseyville Business Association. We opened our ranch up to weddings, memorials, fundraisers and community gatherings. To say that we were welcomed by the Kelseyville community would be putting it mildly.
One didn't have to scratch too far below the surface to figure out who the town was named after. It has always been a conundrum for us. A town born at a time of so much anger and violence has healed itself and become a welcoming community, a town of festivals, strong family values, good neighbors, successful businesses, civic pride and acceptance.
Myself and others took on the project of building the town's visitor website www.visitkelseyville.com. We bought the URL and built a brand deck that provided a roadmap of economic prosperity to the community.
We invested countless hours into marketing Kelseyville as the friendly country town it has come to be known.
We looked at our demographics and realized that we were not speaking to all of Kelseyville’s 3,500 residents, principally the Latino community. We set about making changes and from that exploration the “Dia de La Independencia” festival was created which now rivals any of the largest festivals in Lake County. We pride ourselves on being a community for all.
Having spent many decades in marketing in the San Francisco Bay Area and also having worked on some of Lake County’s biggest brands — Steele Wines, Visit Kelseyville and now Visit Lake County — I can say from experience that a name change from Kelseyville to Konocti would set our town and the county back several decades. While it will vindicate some well-intended people, it would deliver a gut punch to the town.
Truthfully, given this decision will be made by individuals who have never been here, it really is more of a sucker punch to the people of Kelseyville.
I would argue that we are in a far stronger place today to demonstrate who we are and what we stand for as the united community we have become.
Our tiny little town sits in the long shadow of a far bigger reminder of those who inhabited this land well before us — Mount Konocti.
That landmark should not be diluted into one town’s name. It would be repeating the same mistake as when The Highlands was renamed after Clear Lake.
Kelseyville is not perfect but we strive to be a town that looks to building a future that is for everyone and in no way represents the beliefs and values of one of its abhorrent founders.
Brian Fisher lives in Kelseyville, California.