Yreka's Miner Street Park arch has a unique history, restoration underway

The Yreka Enrichment Fund Committee has begun its next project – restoration of the stone arch and wall at the entrance to Miner Street Park. 

The stone arch has a unique history. It was made of the building stones exhibited in an arch at the Panama Pacific International Exposition in 1915. The stones are marble, gray and black granite, onyx, jade, red rock sandstone, rhodonite and various other stones obtained in the Marble Mountain country and various section of the county by Mr. J. B.  Russell. 

Mr. Russell polished the stone and travelled to San Francisco and built the notable arch that attracted universal attention. It took the gold medal for the largest and best stone exhibit from any state or country. In 1921 the arch was reassembled, slightly smaller in size, at the fairgrounds on the corner of Gold and Miner streets. Late in the 1920s the fairgrounds were moved to its present location. This site became Yreka’s Athletic Park and later Miner Street Park. The heading of the arch is engraved “Yreka Park 1921” under which is a span of stone with the carving “SISKIYOU” and a cobblestone wall is on each side of the arch.

The Yreka Enrichment Fund Committee dedicates this arch project in memory of the late David Franklin. David’s volunteerism was invaluable in the restoration of the “Yreka Welcome Signs” at the north and south interchanges, and the “YREKA” sign at the central interchange. 

The Yreka Enrichment Fund will be participating in “Giving Tuesday,” Dec. 1st. This endowed fund was started by a group of Yreka citizens who wished to support and reward Yreka’s nonprofits and projects in the city they love. Community Foundation of the North State, formerly Shasta Regional Community Foundation, professionally manages the Fund.  Please go to northstategives.org and give to the Yreka Enrichment Fund to help our community. 

Article submitted by Joan Favero with the help of Claudia East and the Yreka Journal, August 10, 1921.