Today, Dec. 7, 1941, the attempt to form a new State of Jefferson went down in flames at Pearl Harbor. It is interesting to look back and see what some of the issues were back then..... There have been several attempts at forming a new state (Jefferson - 1941) from the mountain border region of northern California and southern Oregon. None has gained as much attention and retained it as the secession movement of 1941. For some background into the Gilbert Gable from Port Orford and others, including, members of the 20-30 club in Yreka, the Yreka Chamber of Commerce, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors, State Senator Randolph Collier and Judge John L. Childs of Crescent City made the most successful and most publicized attempt at creating a new state from the bottom portion of Oregon and the top portion of California. * * * The abundant supply of minerals and timber in this region was largely inaccessible due to the lack of sufficient roads and bridges into the rugged mountain border country. The local pioneering people grew weary of unfulfilled promises from Salem and Sacramento to help fund sufficient highway projects in the region while building campgrounds in the cities where there were more votes. Representatives from the mountain border counties involved met in Yreka, CA on November 17, 1941 to form an alliance to obtain federal aid for the construction and repair of bridges and roads. The Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors voted to allocate $100 to research the possibility of seceding from the state of California and joining the other counties to form a new 49th state. The Yreka Chamber of Commerce was very instrumental in persuading the Board. The local newspaper ran a contest to name the new state and the winning entry was Jefferson. The winner of the contest pocketed $2 for his efforts. Yreka was designated the temporary state capital where the ‘State of Jefferson Citizen’s Committee’ was formed. They proceeded to stop traffic on Highway 99 outside of town and handed their ‘Proclamation of Independence’ out to travelers. Jefferson made the papers nearly every day, competing with headlines of Germanys ravaging of Europe. The San Francisco Chronicle sent a young reporter, Stanton Delaplane, to cover the events. He traveled the rain-soaked roads to speak with locals to get a feel for the secession movement from their point of view. He got stuck in the mud down the Klamath River but that did not stop him from writing a series of colorful articles on the rebellion which earned him the coveted Pulitzer Prize. On December 4, Judge John L. Childs of Crescent City in Del Norte County was elected governor. A torchlight parade complete with horses, marching bands and sign-carrying young people riding in trucks was held in Yreka followed by a ceremonious inauguration held on the courthouse lawn. Hollywood newsreel companies were present to record the events, including the highway barricades. The State of Jefferson was off to a banner start. The newsreels were to air nationally the week of December 8, but tragically on December 7th Pearl Harbor was bombed and the State of Jefferson rebellion of 1941 came to an end. The people of the region went to work for the war effort and good roads were eventually built into the backcountry to access strategic minerals and timber. These same roads have helped countless numbers of rural families make a living from the land that continues to produce abundant, quality natural resources. The State of Jefferson state of mind remains in the hearts and minds of people everywhere. Tragedy Strikes - by Jim Rock Reprinted from the Siskiyou Daily News Nov. 24, 1941 What will the new state be named? Suggestions so far have included Klamath, Shasta and (by a San Francisco newspaper) Discontent. The Daily News believes the name should convey the idea of a land of plenty, vast mineral resources, or something else connected with the region involved. Bonanza has been one suggestion given serious consideration. The public is hereby invited to try picking a name. A cash award of $2 will be made by the Siskiyou Daily News for the best name submitted by noon this Friday. Entries may be left at the news office. Here Are Winner’s Reasons for Suggesting Name of Jefferson Eureka, California, Nov. 21, 1941 Editor, The News: Here is the new name for the proposed new state to be formed out of the counties in Northern California and Southern Oregon. I think it would be very appropriate to name the new state, JEFFERSON, after Thomas Jefferson. My reasons are as follows: 1 – Thomas Jefferson was the author of the Declaration of Independence, the great instrument that states that the people have a right to govern themselves. 2 – Thomas Jefferson is the outstanding American in my opinion. Through his influence and foresight the Louisiana Purchase was made, thus adding an immense area to the U.S. 3 – It was by his foresight that the Lewis Clark Expedition was organized and sent to explore the new Oregon country during his term. I firmly believe that this expedition saved this section as a part of the United States. So in view of these facts, the new state would be well named. I own some property in Del Norte county, so feel like I have the right to make the above suggestion. The creation of the new state would encourage thousands of people to move here. As it is, when people come to California, they first go to Los Angeles, or San Francisco, and crowd in those areas, thus passing up the sections that have so much to offer in new and undeveloped resources. I have stated many times in the past three years, that if Del Norte county, could be picked up and set in the Dust Bowl, it would be worth as billion dollars. It is worth that much more where it is, but it will take people to develop it. There must be some incentive for them to come. A new state would offer opportunities and have a pull to bring them. The new state would give more representation in Congress, thus increasing the importance of the western section of the United States. I have lived in two territories that came in as states, so have something to back up my statements mentioned above. The west was young when I first saw it. My folks were living in Washington when it came in as a state in 1889. I am Yours very truly, J. E. MUNDELL If you enjoy reading about our history, check out the ARCHIVES on jeffersonstate/archives.html
Posted on: Sun, 07 Dec 2014 22:00:55 +0000
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