Here’s a great photo of Wayne Maples — and behind that image is a remarkable Eureka story. Maple Service traces its roots back to the early 1960s, when two enterprising tradesmen, Wayne Maples and Don Melling, joined forces to meet a growing mechanical and plumbing demand across Humboldt County.
Around 1962, the two men built their business the way so many Humboldt companies have grown: by working with their hands, relying on their reputations, and supporting the construction community around them. At a time when Eureka was expanding its commercial footprint and modernizing older buildings, Maple Service became known for reliability, craftsmanship, and a willingness to take on both new builds and tough repair work.
Wayne was widely respected for his field expertise, his leadership on job sites, and his mentorship of younger tradespeople entering the mechanical trades. Don brought his own strengths to the partnership, and together they set the tone for a company that valued technical skill, transparent communication, and follow-through — values that carried through well beyond the founding era.
More than six decades later, Maple Service continues to operate in Eureka, still supporting projects throughout Humboldt County and still closely connected to the region’s builders and contractors. The company remains family-influenced as well: the photo was shared courtesy of Dale Maples, President of Maple Service, who continues to help steward the business through modern growth and industry changes.
From its humble beginnings in 1962 to its present-day operations, Maple Service stands as a great example of how trades companies become part of the fabric of Humboldt’s built environment — not just through the projects they complete, but through the people and partnerships that make the work possible.
