LAKEPORT >> In a letter to the editor of the Record-Bee forwarded by Alan Fletcher, Citizens for Healing’s effort to rename Kelseyville to Konocti was outlined. The rebranding effort was also referenced by another: Alice Green, delivered at the Lakeport newspaper office earlier this month concerning the above proposition.
Green’s letter, a pen name, but also known as Blevans (maiden name) will be referred to as Alice Green for this story, she noted her grandmother was Gladys Kelsey.
“I am the only person living in Lake County who is an actual descendant of the Kelsey line. Green said she and her husband moved to Lake County because his parents retired here. Not long after we settled in, my family said, ‘Oh, by the way’… and explained to me what my relatives had done here. I was horrified, but my aunt Bethany cautioned me not to tell people I was a Kelsey. Because she was afraid, they wouldn’t like her.”
Clarifying, Green said, “The generation previous to mine was ashamed enough to caution me not to bring it up. If I can help to right this wrong in some way, feel free to reach out.” She added, BGNEXEC@usgs.gov is the email address for the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) Domestic Names Committee, which approves and manages the names of natural features. Green is in support of the proposal for the name Konocti.
Yet the group, Save the Name of Kelseyville Committee, has a different perspective. Marilyn Holdenried is their chair and the group includes some prominent Kelseyville business leaders. Holdenried noted her committee is comprised of many people who are multi-generational community members. “The people who live and work in Kelseyville choose to see the image of what this town represents today. We are families who take part in our community through schools and organizations.
“We welcome visitors throughout the year with our festivals,” she said. “The leaders have worked for years building a loyal following. It is inconceivable to think you can change the name of a town and expect it to regrow in a short time. Erasing the name of our town will not change the past. Consideration should be given to the impact of divisive discourse on the residents of this town. A forced change to the name of our town will result in irreparable harm to this community, both emotional and economic.”
Carolynne Jarret is a retired former Konocti Unified School District teacher teaching first, second, fourth and fifth grades since 1983 in Burns Valley, city of Clearlake, and reading director at Pomo Elementary School. She also served in the Konocti District until her retirement in 2002, but was elected to the Konocti School Board for two terms and retired again in 2010. She noted she understands the feeling of Tribal communities regarding the rape, murder and stealing of their land. “But changing the name to Kelseyville will not change history.” she said. “What’s more, there is no (proposal) to change the names of businesses, (businesses including Kelseyville).”
Jarrett proposes an idea that might satisfy both sides: Put up another plaque similar to the one commemorating Kelsey, while leaving that one is place. “Give more information, she said. “Kelsey was a pioneer settler.” But she clarified, he did horrid crimes against the Pomo, and other tribal communities. Jarrett further explained that a new plaque could summarize how the crimes committed were perpetrated. She pointed out people already have been talking about changing the Kelseyville name for years.
“They expect the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) Domestic Names Committee, would decide,” said Jarrett. “I feel it should be Kelseyville people who should put it to a vote. I was told it was an unnamed retired lawyer who put forth the idea to change the name. I was quite in shock about the Press Democrat article,” Jarrett said. The article she alluded to was titled, “Lake County Group working to change the name of Kelseyville to redress violence against tribes.”
It was written by Austin Murphy. “I just feel the Healing Group is going outside the community,” Jarrett said. “Their intentions are good, but it’s the wrong way. It will not promote healing, but people will really be upset about it. Previously the Record-Bee published a commentary by Ariel Carmona, managing editor, titled, “It’s way past time Kelseyville rebranded.” He went on (paraphrasing), despite few cases of racial instances in Lake County, the local area was never completely unaffected from country wide racial strife of two years ago (2022 by that time). But incidents eventually compelled the Board of Supervisors to shape a proclamation supporting tolerance and inclusion in Lake County.
At a BOS meeting in spring 2022, the board authorized a $33,000 contract for a consultant to run “community vision forums.” The contract enlisted the cities of Lakeport and Clearlake to contribute the lump sum of $10,500, with the county pitching in the remainder of the cost of $22,500. In spring 2022, the BOS approved a $33,000 contract for a consultant on the vision forums. The contract calls for both the City of Lakeport and Clearlake to pitch in a collective $10,500 (The County is footing the rest of the cost at $22,500.)
