Mendocino Bed & Breakfast
with Water Tower Lodging

By George Medovoy, Editor

MENDOCINO -- There’s "an element of fantasy" about sleeping in a water tower at Mendocino’s Joshua Grindle Inn. As early as the mid-1850’s, townsfolk here built the utilitarian water towers, some as high as 60 feet, in order to provide the resultant luxury, in those days, of having water piped into your own house.

As early as the mid-1850’s, townsfolk here built the utilitarian water towers, some as high as 60 feet, in order to provide enough gravity to build up water pressure -- and enjoy the resultant luxury, in those days, of having water piped into your own house.

Giant redwood tanks, on top of which stood windmills to catch the strong winds coming off the ocean capped the towers.

The presence of these water towers is why this coastal village became known over the years as the "town of water towers."

Of course, most of Mendocino’s trademark water towers have long since disappeared, victims of over a century of winter storms -- except for a handful that have been converted into bed-and-breakfast lodging by enterprising innkeepers, or in some other cases, built anew as loving copies of originals.

Behind the Ford House Museum

The water tower at the Joshua Grindle Inn and another located behind the Ford House Museum on Main Street are both copies.

This latter was built in 1991 for the movie "Dying Young," starring Julia Roberts. At the end of shooting, the structure was left standing -- to be admired by passersby...hopefully for a long time to come.

Joshua Grindle’s water tower sits behind the inn’s Italianate Victorian farmhouse, which was constructed by one Joshua Grindle, a successful North Coast lumberman, in 1879.

You can take your pick from a total of 10 guest rooms here -- one on each of the water tower’s three floors and others in the farmhouse and small cottage.

You might not expect it, but the water tower rooms come with all the comforts of home: antique dressers and desks set on light-blue carpets, fireplaces, cozy queen beds and singles, plus bath-and-shower combinations -- one with a deep-soak tub.

The outdoor surroundings on the two-acre Joshua Grindle estate are colored by lovely rhododendrons and cypress trees, which are so common in this part of California.

Check Out the Grey Whales

Between November and April, your stay will most likely include sightings of California gray whales, which make their way south on their 10,000-mile migration from Alaska to Baja California to give birth to their calves.

Even from Joshua Grindle’s front porch, you may be able to chance a glimpse of these giant creatures.

You may also be lucky enough to see the whales as close as 25 yards away from Headlands State Park, but if they stay far from shore, a pair of binoculars will be in order.

Former owners Jim and Arlene Moorehead authored a collection of what they called "recipes and ramblings" titled "Mendocino Mornings," with watercolors by Mendocino artist Erin Dertner.

To give you a taste of what it’s like to be a guest at the Joshua Grindle Inn, Jim and Arlene wrote:
"You’ve just arrived at the inn after a long day driving through the redwoods and visiting wineries and all you want is a nice, comfortable place to sit down and have a little refreshment. Our parlor is waiting for you stocked with cream sherry, mineral water, a selection of herbal teas, a jar of biscotti, and some devilishly delicious treats arranged on the sideboard."

Another wonderful reason to head north to Mendocino, the "town of water towers."

SPICY BAKED PEARS WITH YOGURT
Arlene Moorehead’s recipe for Spicy Baked Pears with Yogurt was recognized in the "1989 California Summer Fruits" Bed and Breakfast Inns Recipe Contest.

(Use largest Pyrex dishes)
11 large ripe pears
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 _ cups orange juice (or enough to make 1/2 inch of liquid in baking dish)
_ cup butter
cinnamon
mace
pinch of ground cloves
vanilla yogurt

Line bottom of glass baking dish with the brown sugar. Sprinkle sugar layer generously with cinnamon, mace and pinch of cloves (if spices are sprinkled on top of pears, the cinnamon will burn).

Slice pears in half, remove core and stem. Lay pears cut side down on sugar mixture. Dot with butter.

Next day: Pour orange juice over pears. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until pears are tender.

To serve, place pears cut side down in a serving dish, pour some of the brown sugar/orange juice mixture over the pear and top with a dollop of yogurt and freshly grated nutmeg.

IF YOU GO....
Information on the inn and the package: (800) GRINDLE, or visit www.joshgrin.com.