Bayside Corners, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and protecting Bayside’s historic charm. Established to ensure the maintenance and revitalization of Bayside's landmarks, Bayside Corners focuses on community-driven efforts to foster a sense of local pride and connection.
Temperance Hall: A Historic Landmark
Built in 1882 by the International Order of Good Templars, Temperance Hall has served the community for 143 years. It has hosted countless events, including meetings, live music, celebrations, education programs, voting, and more. Learn more about its history here.
Notably, the Hall has been continuously owned by Bayside organizations since its construction, and since 2013, it has been owned and operated by Bayside Corners, Inc.
For the past 30 years, the Hall has been home to Mistwood Educational Center, a nonprofit school offering an exceptional K-12 academic program. The Hall remains a vital community gathering space, bringing people together for education, celebration, and connection.
Background Leading To The Need For This Project To Save The Temperance Hall
In the early 1980’s, the County removed the original Old Arcata-Jacoby Creek corner, constructed a large alternative curve in the road for motorists, and fenced and graveled a strip of land to occasionally dump piles of road construction debris. This marked the beginning of the declining appearance of the corner property at the center of Bayside’s historic district. Each time Old Arcata and Jacoby Creek Roads were resurfaced and widened, the stormwater runoff further damaged the Grange and Temperance Hall foundations, compromising these historically significant buildings.
Over the past 40 years, this neglected public space has been part County, part City, part Water District, part School District – with no entity accepting responsibility for its deterioration. While the Temperance Hall has been used and repaired by Mistwood, a small private school, it is vacated after 4:00PM every day, on weekends, during breaks and summer months. It is during these periods that the property has appeared abandoned and roadside dumping happens.
In December 2024, construction of a roundabout was completed 35 feet from the Temperance Hall. With the new streetlights and sidewalks introduced to historic “downtown Bayside” roads, this property and historically significant Hall are attracting increased public attention and primed for this project’s Capital Fund Drive. Our place-making project focuses on the rehabilitation of the Hall, its interior upgrades, landscaping and site beautification with a mini-park on the property.
The Community
Economic and Demographic Description
Bayside-Jacoby Creek Valley-Indianola area is an unincorporated community of about 2,000 residents. It has 40 home-based businesses and nearly 10 office/storefront businesses with over 180 employees. Several Bayside historic barns are converted to art studios and offices. The largest employer is Jacoby Creek School District with 80 employees. Jacoby Creek Valley’s pastoral beauty is home to several special niche agriculture businesses with fruit orchards, vegetables, florals, goats, and grassfed beef. Many residents are small businessowners and healthcare or education professionals. Indianola Mobile Home Park is an affordable land-lease community built in 1965 with a total of 70 home sites. Approximately 30% of the community’s population is retired.
IDENTIFIED NEEDS
Bayside surveys have consistently indicated that residents especially appreciate its natural beauty and its historic character. They have four main concerns:
(1) Traffic safety (motorists speeding on Old Arcata and Jacoby Creek Rds.)
(2) Serious flooding from high tide combined with Jacoby, Washington, and smaller creeks’ overflow during rain season.
(3)The need for Bayside to have a trained team (CERT) for emergencies and disasters preparedness, response, and resilience.
(4) The U.S. Census and other demographic data indicate that Bayside’s population is aging and an increasing number of residents live alone and don’t drive. The Bayside Temperance Hall is part of the social infrastructure needed as much now as when it was built 143 years ago. Needs (3) and (4) will be addressed by Bayside Corners at the Temperance Hall as it becomes a vital community gathering place for organizing and useful for all to enjoy. An updated community survey recently designed with the assistance of Cal Poly Humboldt Sociology professor James Ordner is currently being distributed to residents to learn how they most want the Temperance Hall to be used. A similar survey of Humboldt’s community organizations will inform us of how the Hall can best serve their needs.