UPDATE: So we made another trip up to the North Coast last week and noticed that this sign is gone. However, the plaque dedicated to Big Diamond the circus elephant (described in the story below) remains in place.
So we were driving the Redwood Highway in northern Northern California, when I spotted this sign just off the road, tucked away behind some bushes next to a nondescript building. It's located amid a tiny commercial area along the highway that goes by the name of Orick, but it isn't exactly a town; I think it would need at least one gas station to qualify for that title. Rather, it's a "census designated place," which more or less means some people live around there. Orick has clearly seen better days and Sue was not impressed, explaining that even if there was a gas station, she wouldn't stop to use the bathroom. Harsh! But us sign hunters are a different breed, and a classic neon sign like this one demanded pulling into the empty parking lot for a few pictures.
Right about that time a man came around the corner of the building. He told me he's taken up residence there. "Yup, I live in the bar," he explained. He told me it used to be a biker hangout, which last went by the name Hawg Wild Bar & Grill. Judging by the Yelp reviews, it sounds like it was a colorful place with good food. "The only watering hole for 40 miles in either direction." The new resident invited me inside, which is now just a big empty shell. The former biker bar owner had a thing for decorating with skulls and chains. The new resident has painted out most of the skulls, but he showed me some of the remaining artwork. I would paint it out, too. In the building's current state, it's kind of creepy. The new resident hopes to open it up as a video game arcade to give the local kids something to do other than drugs. I do wish him well in that endeavor.
I went back outside to take photos of the other side of the sign, when I noticed an historical plaque put up by E. Clampus Vitus, a fraternal organization that claims to be either a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." The sign, which has the authoritative look of the real ones installed by the state, reads:
"'Big Diamond,' a circus elephant expired near here in 1927. His skinned hulk was buried. Years later, his bones were unearthed and speculation arose about a Humboldt mastodon until investigators were enlightened by people who'd seen the pachyderm's ignominious end."
You've got to chuckle at the thought of some hapless locals, a couple of generations removed from actual events, thinking they had just stumbled onto a rare and valuable ancient fossil. But never mind that. My question was, why would they skin Big Diamond before burying him? Curiosity got the best of me so I went into research mode and came up with this 1967 article from the Eureka Times-Standard, which both addresses the question at hand as well as providing a cautionary tale for future fossil hunters.
Remember The Elephant
We have big trees, big rivers and big mountains. But did you know we also have a pretty good sized roadside "landmark" in Humboldt County, too? An elephant--the real circus kind--rests quietly along US 101 as trucks and automobiles whiz by. I am certain the old performer isn't at all disturbed, for the confusion probably brings to his mind days of former glory--of other parades. Probably, a thousand years, or so from now, some archeologist is going to be surprised when he unearths the old animal's bones. And, in case he does, and the world is still here, and the files of The Times-Standard are in existence, this bit of information may save the gentleman a lot of concern. I had to go back into some of the old newspaper files of the 1927's to find what I wanted to know about the "elephant in the redwoods."
"'Big Diamond,' one of the major attractions of the 'Honest Bill' animal show, which is touring Northern California, is' dead," The Humboldt Times reported. "The big elephant collapsed by the wayside some five miles north of Orick, Friday. (September 30, 1927), but not until his day's work was done. "The circus was en route to Orick. In attempting to travel the new highway which is under construction, ten heavy trucks loaded with show equipment mired down and were unable to navigate. 'Big Diamond' and his partner were called into action. Placing their heads on the back of the trucks, one by one they pushed the heavily laden vehicles out of difficulty and to where they could continue on their own power. Shortly after the last truck was pushed into the clear, 'Big Diamond' collapsed. He strained every effort to gain his feet again, but his once known strength failed him. His trainer, J. J. McConnel, stayed by his side until death overtook him yesterday afternoon (Saturday, October 1, 1927). The huge elephant, however, was conscious up until his death. 'Come on, Diamond, it's time to show,' McConnel said to him a number of times and each time Diamond would strain himself to get up. 'Big Diamond' was valued at approximately $10,000. He had been an attraction in various shows for a number of years. In death he was as popular as in life, for more than one hundred Humboldters called to see him."
The story doesn't end there. Several years ago, Harry E. Gift of Eureka added this part of the yarn: It seems the contractor was a man named Hauser working on that piece of highway. The owner of the elephant just could not go away and leave a dead elephant beside the road, so he told Hauser an elephant's skin was very valuable, and he could have it if he could take it off and dispose of the carcass. Hauser agreed. He skinned the beast and then with the help of a large power shovel, a grave was dug and the old nine ton elephant was properly buried. A truck was obtained and the skin was taken to Eureka where it was spread out and salted. Then Hauser hunted the world over but could not find anyone who wanted to buy an elephant skin. Finally it became rather on the not so good side and Hauser had to hire the old Batim Garbage Company to take it away and dispose of it. It was rumored Hauser adopted a new slogan after that experience: Never accept a dead elephant.