Administrator’s Notes
by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator
This endeavor is only possible because of the tremendous generosity of volunteers. They are kind and friendly storytellers; they are dedicated to preservation; and they are a part of our family. When the final tallies roll in, in 2025, we estimate our volunteers will have given over 11,000 hours of their time to help keep history alive and inspire reflection within our museum spaces. This sentiment of gratitude for museum and archives volunteers extends to all our fellow heritage organizations throughout the region as well.
Looking back over the last couple of months, we are also happy to announce two new staff members on our team. Kaitlin Kincade has joined as a Curator of Education, to assist in the ever-growing demand for tours, events, and student programs. Kaitlin has a wealth of knowledge to share and gave a very illuminating presentation on local Indigenous history at the Docent Guild’s “Love to Learn” on November 17. If you are not a member of the Guild, consider joining and you will receive invitations to these presentations. It is $10 a year and applications are available in our front office.
Don Ivey has also joined as our new Curator of Archives. We are fortunate to have the expertise which he gained over several decades in archives and records management. Don is already helping to improve and streamline the archival program and is a quick study on matters of local history.
I am also humbled and honored to have been selected as your new permanent Museums Administrator. I am learning a lot and looking forward to the journey ahead. Any plans for filling the Supervising Curator position will be decided in the new year. In the meantime, keep your eyes open for Ralph while he spends some of his retirement visiting our museums.
As we charge full speed into a new year, I wish everyone a happy and healthy 2026!
New Donation Highlight
By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections
This silver cup trophy was awarded to Auburn Grammar School, which won the grand prize in the grammar school category for the most artistic and original display at the Placer County Flower Festival in April 1931. The event marked the seventh annual festival and was held in Auburn under the sponsorship of the Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion. The top prize went to the Gold Hill Farm Bureau Center for the best general Farm Bureau exhibit. According to festival rules, the exhibition was open to all flowers and plants grown within Placer County.
The Women’s Auxiliary of the American Legion, officially known as the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA), was founded in 1919 and is the world’s largest patriotic women’s service organization. It supports veterans, military families, and communities through volunteer service, advocacy for veterans’ benefits, and youth programs.
The trophy is currently on display in the “Honoring Teachers of Years Ago” exhibit at the Benton Welty School Room Museum in Auburn City Hall. The museum is open Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
You are invited!
From Schoolhouse to City Hall: 110th Celebration
January 10, 2026 1PM to 4 PM
at historic Auburn City Hall * 1225 Lincoln Way, Auburn
Celebration marks the historic day that the Auburn Union School District transitioned into the modern era.
A special reenactment program at 1:30PM honoring the school’s original opening day.
Volunteer Christmas Luncheon
Thank you to all who joined us for the annual Volunteer Christmas Luncheon. This year we celebrated at the Foresthill Veterans Memorial Hall. With a wonderful turnout, a beautiful setting, and delicious food we couldn’t have imagined a more perfect way to celebrate.
Marae Lengtat and Rebecca McHugh received Docent Training Certificates.
Celebrating in festive style.
Let’s eat!
Winter Celebrations & Gold Rush Program
By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education
This December, the Placer County Museums were filled with holiday spirit as families gathered for two fun annual events. On Friday, December 12, more than 400 visitors joined us at the Bernhard Museum for S’mores and Stories, where the historic farmhouse was dressed for a Victorian Christmas. Guests roasted s’mores, sipped hot chocolate, enjoyed live music, and soaked in the magic of the season. The holiday fun continued with Classic Christmas at the Courthouse, part of Old Auburn’s Country Christmas festivities. Between December 12th and December 20th, over 600 visitors stepped inside Auburn’s Historic Courthouse to meet Mrs. Claus (all the way from the North Pole!), listen to stories, enjoy warm apple cider and cookies, create ornaments, and listen to live music. We are grateful to celebrate the season with our community and can’t wait to welcome everyone back next year!
Crafts
Mrs. Claus
Our popular Gold Rush Program returns this January and February, welcoming nearly 300 fourth-grade students to the Gold Rush Museum. During this immersive 2.5-hour field trip, students rotate through four hands-on, docent-led stations that explore how people came to California, the geology of the region, the tools of the trade, and the individuals who shaped this area forever.
Designed to align with classroom curriculum, the program gives students a strong foundation for understanding the California Gold Rush, or enhances lessons already underway at school. Interested in learning more? Please contact the Curator of Education for details.
Volunteer Spotlight
By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education
Placer County Museums can offer successful winter programs and student field trips thanks to the dedication of our incredible volunteers. This month, we’re excited to highlight Melissa Fiore.
Melissa moved to Placer County in 2019 from Tennessee, where she worked as an appellate attorney. Today, visitors may recognize her friendly face at the Placer County Museum or the Griffith Quarry Museum where her engaging personality makes history come alive. When asked why she volunteers, Melissa shared that she began as a way to learn local history and stayed because she loves meeting and connecting with the people who visit our museums. Thank you, Melissa, for all that you do!
Rocklin Historical Society
Doug Osella didn’t envision a field of dreams. His vision was a simple one – the creation of a small public garden to honor his aunt and uncle, Jennie and Arvo Minkkinen, longtime Rocklin residents and civic leaders.
Placer County’s first librarian in Rocklin, Jennie Wickman Minkkinen opened the doors of the branch library in 1943. Located in former granite city hall building on Rocklin Road, there were only 38 books in the collection when the library opened. By the end of the first year, the shelves held 774 books.
In 1965, Jennie oversaw the library’s move to the former home of the Finnish Lutheran Church across the street. As the city’s librarian for 49 years, she served generations of readers – from kids to parents to grandparents. Her husband, Arvo, was a member of the Rocklin City Council for 24 years, including eight years as mayor.
“The idea of a rose garden came from Arvo Minkkinen’s love of gardening,” Osella said. “He had a large rose garden on their property.” In late 2024, the Rocklin Historical Society joined Osella in planning how to turn a scrappy piece of land behind the Rocklin Library building into a tranquil garden. Work on the revitalized area, dubbed The Secret Garden, was finally completed in November.
In addition to paying tribute to the legacy of Rocklin’s first librarian, it also honors Rocklin’s historic ties to the quarry industry. The unique handmade granite curbing that borders the garden pathway came from the home of Jennie’s father, quarry worker Victor Wickman.
Rocklin Elementary School third graders agreed to donate the proceeds from their annual coin drive to purchase a granite bench. Rocklin Historical Society received support for the project from the City of Rocklin and the Placer County Library administration. Financial support was provided by Placer County Friends of the Library the Wickman family, Sally Huseby and the South Placer Rotary Club as well as donations from the community.
Placer County Historical Society
Joanie Maxwell and Rebecca McGuire
Joanie and Rebecca helped us celebrate the formal opening of the Auburn Old Town Post Office History and Welcome Center on Dec. 5th.
We had a great turnout for the Open House.
Stop in on Saturday or Sunday between the hours of 10:00 and 4:00 to take a step back in time.
Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting
Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.
Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information
