Tales from the Madaket
“Some of these guys who come on board, the ones around 50 years old, they say things like, ‘I used to take the Madaket every day to Samoa to ride my bike and play on the beaches,’” said Wood.
Zerlang, who’s been on the phone with her husband while we talk on deck, hangs up and says, “His name’s Tony Leonardo, the guy who was born on the boat.” Apparently, Tony’s pregnant mom was en route from Samoa to Eureka to the hospital but Tony was in a hurry.
Yep, all kinds of stories lurk about this boat. One day, said Zerlang, as she and a crowd of tourists were at dock waiting to depart for a cruise, they watched as a naked woman leaped from the Samoa Bridge. “We untied and took the boat over to pull her out of the water,” said Zerlang. The poor woman, however, swam to shore; the Madaket crew supplied her with a blanket.
Rebuilding the Madaket , 1989
But about that baby, Tony Leonardo — that’s sure something, to be born on such a narrow little boat, probably crowded with dusty millworkers and whatnot. Quite a tale. Tuesday morning, Tony Leonardo wasn’t home to relate the story of his origins, but his wife Gerry was.
“Actually, that’s a tall tale,” she said. “He was born in Samoa in ’33 — at home. His mother worked at the Eureka Inn. And she used to ride the Madaket acrcoss the bay from Samoa.”
Gerry Leonardo said about five years ago, her husband was gabbing with some crab fisherman at the foot of C Street, and he told them the whopper about his being born on the Madaket . The story rapidly became legend and now even the Madaket crew believes it. “It’s not the truth,” said Gerry. “These guys just like to joke.”
Well, tall tales, real tales, whatever — the museum and Madaket folks want to hear them. You can e-mail your memories of traveling on the Madaket to 100yearsmadaket@gmail.com or send them to P.O. Box 282, Samoa, CA 95564. Send photos, too. And, adds Wood, let her know what sort of celebration you’d like to see in 2010.
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on the cover
Railroad!
Proposed lines ‘set rich blood a-tingling’ in early 1900s
Some Other Proposed North Coast Railroads
Choo-choo Fantasies
Exposing this east-west rail nonsense
seven-o-heaven
Undeterred Will
Will chides Andrew for lack of attention to detail and makes plans for his inevitable victory.
Recent short stories
June 11, 2009
Eye of the Beholder
June 11, 2009
Double Down
May 21, 2009
Pearls and Swine
Hank Sims
Today
44th Annual Kinetic Grand Championship Race
STAFF PICK / events, art, outdoors, sports, for kids, free / 9 a.m.-6 p.m. A 3-day, 42-mile kinetic sculpture race over land, sand, mud and water! LeMans start at the Noon Whistle on the Arcata Plaza. Follow the race through Manila, Eureka and into Ferndale on Memorial Day for the Glorious Finish. kineticgrandchampionship.com. 889-3024.
Flow 2012 Fashion Show
STAFF PICK / events / 8 p.m. Arcata Theatre Lounge, 1036 G St. Student designed and produced clothing. Fundraiser for Arcata Arts Institute. $35/$25 students. artsinstitute.net. 822-1220.
Woodside Preschool's Rummage/Bake Sale
events / 8 a.m.-noon. Woodside Preschool, 900 Hodgson St, Eureka. www.woodsidepreschool.com. 445-9132.
Lanphere Dunes Restoration
STAFF PICK / outdoors / 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Meet at Pacific Union School. Help remove non-native invasives at the Lanphere Dunes Unit of the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Tools and gloves provided, wear work clothes and bring water. Carpool to the protected site. 444-1397.
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