A city landmark explained. Welcome to town!” cries the Orland Arch

A welcoming sight

Before the four-lane cement ribbon of Interstate 5 cut its way through the middle of the Great Central Valley, Highway 99 meandered through the farms and orchards of California, a two-lane roadway connecting the larger communities, like Sacramento, to the smaller, bucolic towns of the Sacramento Valley.

In fact, in our neck of the woods, there existed Highway 99 East and Highway 99 West. 99E ran from Sacramento to Red Bluff through Yuba City and Chico; 99W ran on the west side of the valley through Williams, Willows, Orland, and Corning to Red Bluff. 99W is now a frontage road to Interstate 5, but it is still well traveled. Tooling north along 99 today, you would eventually come to Orland, and on the north entrance to that city, you would find the Orland Arch.

Arches were a significant addition to valley towns in the 1920’s. They announced the entry into whatever town they adorned, and way back when, they were lit up at night to make sure you knew what town it was. A brightly lit archway ensured the comforts of a motel or two, restaurants, and gas stations. The arches were, indeed, a welcoming sight for weary travellers.

The Orland Arch was constructed in 1926, and its span over the highway served as a kind greeting to cars and trucks entering the town. It had eight lights to make sure people saw it, and it was one among many in the valley. Williams still has its arch coming into town. The Orland Arch consisted of a metal frame made of stucco and cement, with rock from nearby Stony Creek, and was designed to look like the bow of a covered wagon.

Over the years, weather, neglect, and the presence of Interstate 5, a few hundred yards away, made the arch lose its importance as the northern gateway to-and-from Orland. A remodeling project restored the arch, and the painting of the exterior was made possible by the Orland Pride group along with Orland Economic Development Council member Gary Campbell and past president Leon Ponci, who eventually raised $2,400 for new lights. Additional funding of $5,000 by local businessman Eddie Grewal covered the remaing cost of the new lights, and the arch was once again completely restored.

If you travel around the Orland area, you will find a smaller version of the arch on the grounds of the Orland Free Library located at 333 Mill Street. Additionally, the Orland Cemetery District has arches over the entrances to the Graves Cemetery, Orland Catholic, Orland IOOF (Oddfellows), and Orland Masonic Cemeteries.

The next time you’re in Orland, take a leisurely drive out Old 99, pass under the Orland Arch, and continue north to Corning. It’s a pleasant alternative to the 75 mph rat race on The 5.