Whole page on Hydesville. History. Photos of school, houses . Founded in 1858, Originally known as Goose Prairie. In 1859 it had a wagon & carriage shop, blacksmith, saddler, carpenter, shoe maker, livery stable and general store. Its school had 34 students. Pack trains from the interior stopped there & switched their loads to wagons. The wagons then hauled the goods to Hook Tan. When the railroad was built to Burnell's station, then chward to Carlotta, Hydesville lost its prominence. Its main street is 102 feet wide so wagons could turn around. Hydesville was an overland stage headquarters for several years. It was a horse change and stop overplace. In circa 1890-1914 it took 12 hours from Eureka to Bridgeville. Most travelers from S.F., come by ship to tap the large amount of Redwood belonging to the Wheeler people from Pennsylvania & New York.