The Placer, A Voice of History

Thursday, February 27, 2025

March-April 2025

Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

It’s almost March and that means we’re just wrapping up the winter Gold Rush 4th Grade program at the Gold Rush Museum and Spring Living History is around the corner. It’s going to be a very busy spring with Living History at two sites, preparations for Heritage Trail 2025, and our Exhibit Team breaking ground on a new exhibit that may take more than a year to complete.

As I mentioned in the last issue, I plan to retire soon and my last day will likely be this fall. Until then, I thought I’d take a gander at what was happening in the Museums Division 20 years ago when I had just started.

In February of 2005, the Museums Department became a Division of the Facility Services Department; Parent Teacher training for Living History had four sessions in February and March of 2005 with 28 teachers and 142 parents attending (all our trainings are virtual now!); It’s in the Bag, the first exhibit that Exhibit Technician, Jason Adair and I worked on, opened on February 10, 2005; and on March 26, 2005, Dr. Bob LaPierre gave a presentation on Gold Rush Medicine in our Placer County Museum gallery.

That’s all for now. I’ll keep bringing up stories from the memory vault with each article until my last.

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This ribbon of the Order of the Knights of Pythias dates to around 1895, when the Colfax Lodge No. 200 was established.

The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization founded in 1864 by Justus H. Rathbone, who was inspired by the Greek legend of two friends, Damon and Pythias. When Pythias is sentenced to death by a tyrant ruler, he is allowed to leave temporarily to settle his affairs and Damon agrees to take his place as a hostage, knowing he will die if his friend does not return on time. When Pythias returns as promised, the tyrant , moved by their loyalty, releases both friends. The core principles of the Knights of Pythias are "Friendship, Charity, and Benevolence," and the organization’s rituals and teachings are based on the friendship between Damon and Pythias.

There are over 2000 Knights of Pythias lodges today that continue participating in community service projects, volunteering in local charities and hosting social events.

Golden Drift Historical Society and Museum

by Sarah Fugate, President

Members of the Golden Drift Historical Society (GDHS) fund efforts to preserve and promote the rich history of our area. For just $25 per year, you can be a part of our accomplishments.

In 2024, the Golden Drift Historical Society collaborated with the Chinese Historical and Cultural Project and Placer County to restore Dutch Flat’s Chinese Cemetery. They hosted a successful Dutch Flat History Day and funded the restoration of historical school banners at the Dutch Flat Community Center. GDHS also supported the digitization of the Isaac Coffin Diary, now displayed at the Golden Drift Museum. With grant funds, they built a traditional funerary burner in the Chinese Cemetery and ensured it is fire-safe. GDHS is a self-governing membership organization that uses dues and donations to fund educational initiatives and public events.

To continue to serve our mission, we need to increase membership. Please take a moment to renew your membership, and encourage others to join our society as well. Please visit our website, www.goldendrift.org. Your dues and donations to the society are tax deductible.

Thank you for your support. See you at the museum!

Rolling Through History: The 1953 PG&E Bowling Tournament

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

This photograph shows the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) Drum Division team at the Pacific Services Association (PSEA) Bowling Tournament held in Oakland in April 1953. June Brackett of the Drum Division, which was headquartered in Auburn, had the highest scratch score of all 81 women bowlers. The photo comes form the scrapbook of Helen Gold, who was the Drum Division’s PSEA Women’s Affairs Chairman in 1953. Other photographs in the album show the varied activities of the group including Christmas parties, luncheons, and tours.

Helen, born Helen Brusso, was born in 1921 in Roseville where her father was an engineer for the Southern Pacific Railroad. She graduated from Roseville High School and Placer Junior College before working at Mather Field and later with PG&E. She was married to Pershing Jay Gold from 1941 until his death in 1952, from complications around his rescue efforts for the passengers of the stranded City of San Francisco train near Colfax. She remarried to James A. Wheat in 1958 before his death the next year in 1959. In 1960, she married Ted L. Chamberlain. In addition to working for PG&E Helen was very active in the community, and was involved with Friends of the Placer County Library, Arts Council of Placer County, Placer County Parks Commission, and the Crocker Art Museum.

Thank you to docent and Archives volunteer Marti Fischer who has done such an amazing job cataloging and scanning the collection with Helen’s photographs (and so much more!).

SNOW Sports Museum

by Scott Keith, SNOW Sports Museum Advisor

In the spring of 2024, the SNOW Sports Museum made a significant discovery—the original architect's model of Blyth Arena, hidden in storage at the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA). Upon recognizing its historical value, museum advisor Scott Keith contacted OMCA to discuss restoring the model. With support from the Placer Country TOT-TBID Dollars at Work program, additional funding was secured for its restoration. On January 17, 2024, the model was transported to the SNOW Sports Museum Archive at the Auburn Ski Club Training Center. After a new table is constructed, it will be displayed at the interim SNOW Sports Museum at the Boatworks Mall in Tahoe City in March. Designed by architect Russel Francis Stechschulte, the model symbolizes the modern design movement and innovative spirit of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Its return offers visitors a rare, tangible connection to California’s Olympic legacy and its groundbreaking architectural contributions.

Western States Trail Museum

by Christina Richter, Secretary, Western States Trail Museum Board of Directors

In 2018 the Western States Trail Museum Articles of Incorporation for a non-profit entity were filed, and in August of 2023 a lease was signed with the City of Auburn for the future museum space. Anticipation is high as the extensive infrastructure improvement and build out continues at 1103 High Street, space #300, in Auburn, CA.
To see the progress for our vision firsthand be sure to find us on the Heritage Trail this summer!

Volunteer Spotlight

by Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

For this issue’s Volunteer Spotlight I spoke with Loretta Saenz, who volunteers at the Gold Rush Museum.

Loretta started volunteering with us because she was interested in the local history of the mountains where she hikes. Even though she doesn’t work with me in education programming, she enjoys seeing and interacting with the kids who come to the museum. “They’re super excited!”

Loretta also enjoys hearing all the stories that people bring with them to the museums. If you’re lucky enough to have worked with Loretta before, you probably know she was a librarian in her past life so I had to ask her for a book recommendation. “The End of Drum-Time, by Hanna Pylväinen”.

Thank you for being such a great volunteer, Loretta!

Maidu Museum and Historic Site

Maidu Museum & Historic Site (MMHS) is excited to announce the upcoming Yoomén - A Celebration of Spring event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This annual FREE event marks the arrival of spring, a time to celebrate new growth, fresh foods, and warmer weather.
SummaYoomén is a celebration of Native American culture featuring performances by Indigenous dancers, cultural demonstrations like basket weaving and jewelry making, and artwork displays by local Native artists. The event includes activities for children, such as Native-inspired art and game stations, as well as guided tours of the museum and ancient petroglyphs. Elders from nearby communities will be honored for their contributions to cultural preservation. Thanks to the support of Sierra Native Alliance, the event is free to the public, making it a valuable opportunity for cultural exchange and community celebration.
We look forward to celebrating with our community at Yoomén: A Celebration of Spring!

Benton Welty Historical Classroom—Celebrate Our Story

Come to Auburn City Hall the second Saturday of the month from 1:00-4:00 pm and celebrate City Hall’s/Auburn Grammar School’s 110th Birthday!

The beautiful Auburn Grammar School was built in 1915 with all the modern amenities: indoor plumbing, electricity, central heat, a dining room, auditorium and eight spacious classrooms.
Every second Saturday afternoon of the month starting March 8th, there will be grand tours, children’s activities, opportunities for reminiscing, displays, a Benton Welty Historical Classroom visit, and an Auburn History Lecture Series.
The topic for the first lecture will be Early Auburn – Why did Auburn thrive while other Gold Rush towns did not?
This year long celebration will culminate on Saturday, January 10th, 2026. January 10th, 1916 was the day 110 years ago the doors opened for the students.

Placer County Historical Society

Dinner Meeting

When: Thursday, April 3, 2025

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

Jim Wood on the history of the lime industry in Placer County

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.

100 East Street, Auburn, CA Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society
Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599
colfaxhistory.org

Donner Summit Historical Society
Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859
donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society
Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org
Fruitvale School Hall
Community Association
Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society
Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board
Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and
Chinese History Center
Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum
Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800
laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association
Trey Pitsenberger
vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society
Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871
www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site
Kaitlin Kincade, (916) 774-5934
roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics
David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502
tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West
Parlor #59
Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall
Association
Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society
Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762
northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society
Diane Fishburn
http://www.placergenealogy.org

Placer County Historical Society
April McDonald-Loomis
(530) 823-2128
placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild
Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society
Chuck Spinks
Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society
Gloria Beverage (916) 624-3464
rocklinhistorical@gmail.com

Roseville Historical Society
Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003
rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar:

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting:          Monday, March 17th at 6:00 p.m.
Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting:                   Monday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m.
Historical Advisory Board Meeting:                           Wednesday, April 16th at 5:30 p.m.
Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, March 19th at 6:00 p.m.
Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, March 6th at 2:00 p.m.
Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, March 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, March 11th at 6:30 p.m.
Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, March 11th at 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

January - February 2025

Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

Although the weather threatened wash out our Holiday programs, the cold rain held off long enough to still attract over 200 people to S’mores and Stories and nearly 600 total for both nights of Country Christmas at the Courthouse. All in all, 2024 was a pretty successful year and we look forward to 2025. The year begins with our Gold Rush Program in January and as it wraps up in February, we kickoff Spring Living History at the Bernhard and Fruitvale Schoolhouse Museums.

Our Exhibit Team will be working on a few different exhibits in 2025. More details on those will come in the next issue of The Placer.

This year will likely be my last with the Placer County Museums as I am planning to retire. There are some details to work out that may push my exit to early 2026, but for now it’s looking like my last day in the office will be in early October of 2025. I’ll reflect more about my time here in coming articles, but just wanted to address the rumors that have been swirling.

I hope all of you have a terrific 2025!

S’mores and Stories event at the Bernhard Museum

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This colorful sew-on ski patch dates to the 1960s and the development of the Homewood Mountain Resort, a 1260-acre ski area on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe. The area initially attracted miners, but logging became more profitable, and Homewood began to develop in the late 1800s with the establishment of a post office, hotel, and marina.

Embroidered patches have been used for centuries, initially serving practical purposes such as covering worn-out clothing and identifying military personnel, to becoming a versatile fashion statement.

Sarah Halsey, Maggie McClure, Alice Abeel, and unknown woman; Isaac Tibbetts Coffin Diary, 1870-1885. Golden Drift Historical Society Collection, Placer County Museums.

Almost one year ago exactly the I.T. Coffin Diaries, part of the Golden Drift Historical Society Collection, were accepted into the California Revealed Digitization & Preservation Assistance Program. I am excited to share that the digital images are now available on the California Revealed website! These two diaries will now be preserved and available for research to people all over the world.

To celebrate the availability of these diaries, I took a closer look at a photograph found in the 1870-1885 volume, an image of four young women posed together. Three of the women are identified as Maggie McClure, Sarah Halsey, and Alice Abeel. The fourth woman, unfortunately, remains nameless. I discovered that the three women identified had something in common- all were born in New York state to families that would later make the arduous journey to California, and that shortly after this photograph was taken, their lives would become intertwined forever.

Miss M. McClure (Maggie); Isaac Tibbetts Coffin Diary, 1870-1885. Golden Drift Historical Society Collection, Placer County Museums.

Margaret “Maggie” McClure was born in New York in 1838, the daughter of Hannah (Tuthill) McClure and Col. William McClure. Her father settled in Yankee Jims in 1851 and is credited with introducing hydraulic mining to the area as well as the region’s first orchards. Maggie, her mother, and her brothers joined him sometime between 1856 and 1857. Because of her father’s political activity and connections, the family regularly hosted politicians in their Yankee Jims home. Maggie became known as the “Belle of the Divide,” and was admired for her beauty and charm. She served as hostess at Governor John B. Weller’s 1858 inauguration and attended balls for Governor Milton S. Latham and Leland Stanford. At age 90 she was interviewed about her memories of the balls, describing them as a joyful escape for a "lonely mountain girl." After the death of Col. William McClure in 1871, the family moved to Dutch Flat, where Maggie’s brother Elias Lowe McClure operated the Telegraph and Express Office. Maggie and her mother would later move to Auburn in 1872. Maggie never married and later lived in San Francisco and Oakland. She passed away in 1933 at the age of 95.

Sarah Halsey (top) and E.L. McClure (bottom); Isaac Tibbetts Coffin Diary, 1870-1885. Golden Drift Historical Society Collection, Placer County Museums.

Born in 1852, Sarah Louise Halsey arrived in California with her family in the 1860s, where her father Stephen Y. Halsey worked as a blacksmith and miner. By 1870, the Halsey family had settled in Dutch Flat, where Sarah’s older brother co-owned a photography studio with I.T. Coffin. Coffin’s diary notes that in January of 1871, Sarah was sent to the Santa Clara School for Young Ladies. However, she returned to marry Maggie McClure’s younger brother, Elias Lowe McClure, on June 19, 1872. The couple stayed in Dutch Flat at least until 1880, and they later lived in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Alameda. It appears that the couple did not have any children, and Sarah passed away in 1924 at the age of 71.

Alice Abeel (top ) and B. McClure (bottom); Isaac Tibbetts Coffin Diary, 1870-1885. Golden Drift Historical Society Collection, Placer County Museums.

Alice Abeel was born in 1851 to parents Mary A. Abeel and Jacob H. Abeel. The family traveled to California via Cape Horn in 1863 and settled in Dutch Flat, where her father worked as a miner and Alice attend school in Nevada City. On December 2, 1872, she married Bernard “Barney” H. McClure, another younger brother of Maggie McClure. Barney and Alice McClure remained in Dutch Flat until about 1878 when they moved to Virginia City, Nevada. The couple would have three children and lived in Nevada for over 50 years, where Barney worked for the railroad. Alice McClure died in 1926 in Auburn, at the age of 75.

The fact that Coffin labeled this photograph with the women’s unmarried names, it is likely that it was taken between 1870- early 1872. Did the women know at the time of the photograph that they would be sisters-in-law? Or is this just an image of a group of friends, not yet knowing how their lives would be connected? Those questions can likely never be answered, but this photograph shows just an example of the exciting research possibilities that this digitized diary represents.
See the diaries and other digitized materials at: https://californiarevealed.org/partner/placer-county-museums-division.

Volunteer Spotlight

by Kasia Woroniecka, Curator of Collections

Bev Call has been a museum volunteer since 2017, generously sharing her time at the Placer County Museum, the Bernhard Museum, and occasionally lending a hand at the Gold Rush Museum. With a master’s degree in education with emphasis on special education, Bev has taught students of all ages—from the tiniest preschoolers to university students. Her life journey has taken her around the globe, with time in Egypt and China, where she taught English at the Ocean University and the Quingdao University in Quingdao.

A mother of four and grandmother to eight, Bev is a woman of many talents. Her passions range from remodeling and carpentry to gardening, and she’s even embarking on a new journey to master the piano.

What Bev enjoys most about volunteering is the learning atmosphere and the infectious curiosity of the museum visitors who inspire her. She values the flexibility that volunteering provides, as well as the opportunity to connect with others who share her passion for exploration and discovery.

Photo Collection Highlight

Bert Cassidy awarding Jack Sanders at the National Ski Tournament at Lake Tahoe. 1932.

PCM, 20th District Fair Time Capsule Collection.

Bert Cassidy was the publisher and editor of the Auburn Journal, California Senator and one of the first men to promote the High Sierra country as a winter sports area.

The Rocklin Historical Society

Placer County Historical Society

Dinner Meeting

When: Thursday, February 6, 2025

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

Hal Hall and Bob Crowley—History Expeditions

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.

100 East Street, Auburn, CA Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479 foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall

Community Association

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

Kaitlin Kincade, (916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Gloria Beverage (916) 624-3464

rocklinhistorical@gmail.com

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar:

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, January 20th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, February 3rd at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, February 19th at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, January 15th at 6:00 p.m.

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, January 2nd at 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, January 28th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, January 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, January 14th at 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 31, 2024

November-December 2024

Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

When the final trick-or-treater wanders from our door back into the darkness of Halloween, my attention turns to the Holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.

As before, our plan is to have our museums decorated for the season by the Saturday after Thanksgiving, which means a lot of our museums will start looking like Christmas in mid-November. It takes weeks to get all the decorations up in the five museums we decorate, so that means a few “But it’s not even Thanksgiving yet!” Grinches, will just have to endure.

It’s a wonderful time of year and I can’t wait! The Bernhard will be decorated for Victorian Christmas; we’ll have Christmas at the Courthouse in the Treasury of the Placer County Museum; a Welsh Christmas at the Griffith Quarry Museum; a touch of Gold Rush Christmas at the Gold Rush Museum; and Christmas on the Home Front at the DeWitt History Museum.

As year’s past, we will also host S’mores & Stories at the Bernhard Museum on December 13th from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. We’ll have storytelling on the porch, Ukulele Music with Auburn String Jam, walk-thru tours of the Bernhard House and, of course, s’mores around one of three campfire pits.

The Placer County Museum in the historic Courthouse will also take part in each night of Old Town’s Country Christmas event on December 14th and 21st also from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Mrs. Claus will read stories to children in the Treasury, we’ll have a craft station for kids and free cookies and hot apple cider! Admission to all of our museums and these great programs is always FREE! So please, come by and see us during the Holidays!

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This fan dates to about 1910-1930. For centuries fans served as a practical and convenient means of keeping cool. Like many functional items, their designs evolved creatively, especially during the Victorian era. At that time, fashion dictated that every woman own a fan, leading to a wide range of options—from inexpensive printed souvenirs sold by street vendors to exquisite hand-painted pieces crafted from mother of pearl and embellished with gold and precious jewels. It is through donations like these that we can continue to bring history to life for our visitors.

If you have items with Placer County history that you are interested in donating, please contact the Curator of Collections, Kasia Woroniecka (kworonie@placer.ca.gov) or the Curator of Archives, Kelsey Monahan (kmonahan@placer.ca.gov) to find out how.

Savoring History: Holiday Recipe Ideas from the Dutch Flat’s Ladies Aid Society

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

As we approach another holiday season I’m sure many of us are getting out our recipe books and planning out our holiday meals. One of my favorite cookbooks in our collection comes from the Dutch Flat Ladies Aid Society, founded in 1933 as a “helping hand” organization for the Methodist Episcopal Church and community of Dutch Flat. In addition to raising funds to support church repairs, they also donated to charities and made Christmas gifts and food baskets for families in need. The Dutch Flat Ladies Aid Society building is now the home of the Golden Drift Museum.

The 1964 cookbook “Delicious Diggins” published by the Society includes over 300 recipes inspired by the group’s bake sales, potlucks, dinners, and annual barbecue. When it was first published the cookbook cost $2 and the first edition sold out in 20 days.

Consider this fall making the “Old Hotel Plum Pudding” once served at the Dutch Flat Hotel.

Feeling adventurous? Try the “Holiday Molded Seafood Salad,” and let me know how it is!

Volunteer Spotlight

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

This month the Archive and Research Center celebrates a huge milestone: volunteer Joyce Panciera has completed scanning over 5,000 negatives from the Auburn Journal Collection! Thanks to her hard work and dedication this collection of images from the 1950s and early 1960s is now accessible and discoverable! Joyce has been part of the archive team since 2015, so we sat down to talk about her time here. I also asked her to share what some of her favorite images were.

What do you like about volunteering at the Archives? “I like being involved with history and being assigned different projects in the Archives. I’ve also organized the maps, conducted Oral History interviews, and compiled research about the DeWitt Military Hospital.”

What have you liked about working with the Auburn Journal negatives? “It’s been wonderful to see all of the different types of activities that would happen and how well they were documented by the paper. I also like seeing pictures of people I remember, like Bill Cassidy that ran the Auburn Journal. Even though the photos only go back to the 1950s you can also really see how the buildings have changed.”
What is a fun fact about you? “I have a passion for woodworking and tile working. I like to decorate my home with tiles that were gifted to me by my patients during my career as a home health nurse for 30 years.”

Thank you Joyce for all of your hard work!

June Tollefson operating a perforating machine, published on March 30, 1961. Joyce contacted members of the community to track down the type of machine being used!

Old Auburn Cemetery Tour

by Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s Murder, Mayhem and Mystery Tour at the Old Auburn Cemetery a success! We were thrilled to welcome nearly 700 visitors who were captivated by the chilling tales of Rattlesnake Dick, Alma Bell, Elmer Gum, Frank “Big Dip” Dependener, and many more intriguing characters. Your contributions brought these haunting stories to life!

Karen Chesney, Carol Cramer and Bev Cal

Rebecca Hemphill and Karen Allen

Gary Koolhof and Heather Watkins-Koolhof.

Volunteer Appreciation Movie Event

by Bryanna Ryan, Supervising Curator

Over 80,000 visitors came to our Placer County Museums in 2023, and the numbers keep growing! From busy school programs to seasonal events, tours, and open museum hours – it is exceptional volunteers who make all the difference. Last year, our volunteers donated over 12,000 hours of their time to promote local history and enrich our communities. We are so grateful to be a part of your lives and share in the joy that comes in exploring what makes this region so special. As a small token of our gratitude, we hold an annual “Volunteer Appreciation Movie Day.” On Monday, October 21st we celebrated the day at the Roseville Veteran’s Memorial Hall with a showing of the 1996 film, Phenomenon which was mainly filmed in Auburn. It was our pleasure to see so many friendly faces this year and we look forward to the next one!

Upcoming Events

Placer County Historical Society

Dinner Meeting

When: Thursday, December 5, 2024

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45

Speaker: Frank Nissen

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall Dinner cost: $30.00.

100 East Street, Auburn, CA Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

Placer County Historical Organizations

Calendar:

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, November 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, December 2th at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, December 18th at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, November 20th at 6:00 p.m.

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, November 7tha t 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, November 26th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, November 12th at 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, August 29, 2024

September-October 2024

Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

As I write, the leaves have yet to turn, but I can feel fall around the corner. Kids are back in school; Halloween candy and decorations are in almost every store; and the scent of pumpkin spice is in the air. Summer heat be damned, my favorite season is on the way!

For us, fall means programs and we begin with the Old Auburn Cemetery Tour on Sunday, October 6th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. This tour is absolutely free and you need not call ahead, just show up before 1:00 pm to have a chance to see as many character’s from Placer County’s past as possible.

We will also host the 3rd annual Fall Festival at the Fruitvale Schoolhouse Museum on Saturday, October 12th from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. There will be crafts for kids; a students only Scarecrow contest where kids will bring homemade scarecrows to be judged; fun activities; and refreshments! This event is free! Also, our seasonal exhibit, A Grave Affair, opens in the Treasury of the Historic Courthouse around the middle of September with new additions you can lay your eyes on.

For more information on either of these programs and to see the rules for the scarecrow contest, please visit our website (www.placer.ca.gov/museums). I hope all of you have a wonderful fall season and we hope to see you in one of our museums or at one of our programs!

Cemetery Tour and Placer County Museums volunteer Bill Gray will reprise his role as Deputy Sheriff “Big Dip” Dependener.

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This glass perfume bottle with silver overlay dates to about 1885-1920. This decorating technique was first limited to cane and parasol handles, but it became popular on bottles used for perfumes, toilet waters and colognes.

19th century marked a turning point in perfume production. Innovations in chemistry led to the development of synthetic molecules, which not only made perfumes more accessible but also allowed for the creation of new and unique scents that had never been possible before.

It is through donations like these that we can continue to bring history to life for our visitors. If you have items with Placer County history that you are interested in donating, please contact the Curator of Collections, Kasia Woroniecka (kworonie@placer.ca.gov) or the Curator of Archives, Kelsey Monahan (kmonahan@placer.ca.gov) to find out how.

Game on: It’s Time for the Sacramento Archives Crawl!

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

October is National Archives Month, which means it’s time to get geared up for the 2024 Sacramento Archives Crawl happening on Saturday, October 5, from 10am-4pm!

Our theme this year is Pastimes Preserved: Sports and Leisure in the Archives, and the Placer County Archive and Research Center will be highlighting to the 1960 Winter Olympics held near Lake Tahoe.

Olympic Village hockey player statue. 1960 Winter Olympics. PCM Collection.

This annual event gives you the chance to explore four Sacramento archives: the Central Library, State Library, State Archives, and the Center for Sacramento History. Dozens of other local repositories will also be in attendance to show off the hidden treasures of their archives and special collections. With a free shuttle bus to take you between locations, it can’t be beat! For more details visit: https://sacarchivescrawl.blogspot.com/.

Skating rink at the 1960 Winter Olympics, February 1960. PCM Collection.

IBM Olympic Data Processing Center. For the first time in Olympic history, IBM pioneered the use of electronic computers to tally results, replacing the manual method. Televising of events was also introduced a the 1960 Winter Olympics. PCM Collection

Restoring Dutch Flat’s Historic Chinese Cemetery

by Sarah Fugate

In 2019, the Golden Drift Historical Society set out to resurrect the Chinese history of Dutch Flat. That year and every year since, Chinese Americans have joined with us in this endeavor. Part of this involves restoration of the Dutch Flat Chinese Cemetery. In 2022, we began soliciting donations for the Chinese Ancestry Restoration Project, CARP. In early 2023, working with Placer County Parks and Grounds Department, the Dutch Flat Chinese Cemetery was cleared of large, downed trees and debris, enabling access to start our restoration project.

Chinese procession in Dutch Flat. PCM Collection

Our project began with identification of gravesites within the Cemetery. We contracted with Sierra Nevada GSI from Grass Valley to do this work. First, metal detectors were used, finding isolated square nails (used to affix identifying information to a wooden marker at burial.) These nails provided the first indication of grave locations. Then, ground penetrating radar (GPR) was used to confirm grave locations. Finally, global positioning (GPS), provided by Daria Snyder of Alta, was used to create a digitized map of the grave locations. Approximately 300 gravesites were identified.

Once the location of gravesites was known a garden designer, Kate Bowers of Grass Valley, was chosen to develop a design for the public area of the Cemetery. Kate’s design includes a stone staircase to enter, gravel walkways, benches, and a brick funerary burner with flagstone surround. Placer County Parks and Grounds Department continued to work with us, grading and surfacing the entrance road, the public area to facilitate gathering, and installing temporary stairs. A native plant plan was produced by landscape designer, Lora Piscatelli of Dreamscapes in Alta.

Funerary burner in Dutch Flat Chinese Cemetery, July 2024

Funerary burners in Chinese Cemeteries serve as a fire-safe place for the ritualized burning of spiritual tributes. Paper and cardboard facsimiles of money, clothing, and other possessions are burned to supply the deceased in the afterlife.

Construction of the funerary burner began in early June, 2024 and its brickwork was completed before July 4th. Design and engineering of the roof structure for the burner has been done by Tom Fugate of Dutch Flat and manufacturing will be completed by Quality Metal Fabrication of Auburn in four to six weeks. Following installation of the roof structure, glazed roof tiles, donated by Gladding-McBean of Lincoln, will be installed by Richard Bushong Roofing of Auburn.

Docent Spotlight

Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

I spoke with Laurie Meyerpeter, who volunteers at the Fruitvale Schoolhouse Museum and helps me with Living History. Why are you a docent?

My favorite part are the people and their stories. I've met a world class ultra-marathoner who just ran the Western States Run (she had two young children and very sore feet). I've learned how to pan for gold. I've eaten biscuits made by third graders. I've met people living in their cars and people who helped the people who were living in their cars. I've learned about geocaching from a couple of kids. I've met a champion button spinner (she's a third grader at an undisclosed Lincoln school).

A fun fact about you? I’m passionate about plants, with a background in horticulture and fieldwork. As a master gardener and CNPS member, I've been growing plants since I was seven years old.

Thank you for being such an amazing docent, Laurie!

Living History Volunteers Needed

Are you looking for a fun and enriching experience?

Do you want to share local history with the community?

Do you enjoy teaching children?

Help give local third-grade students hands-on experience learning about 19th century life.

Sign up with Placer County Museums and become a Living History Volunteer today!

Volunteer!

Please call: 530-889-6500

or email: Museums@placer.ca.gov for more information.

Placer County Historical Society

Dinner Meeting

When: Thursday, October 3, 2024

Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker Alfred Corral at 6:45

Topic: An overview of the history of Rocklin

Location: Veterans Memorial Hall

100 East Street, Auburn, CA

Dinner cost: $30.00.

Speaker presentation: Free

Please RSVP to rsvp.pchs@gmail.com

Please go to www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org for more information

Placer County Historical Organizations

Colfax Area Historical Society

Jay McIntyre, President, (530) 346-8599

colfaxhistory.org

Donner Summit Historical Society

Bill Oudegeest, (209) 606-6859

donnersummithistoricalsociety.org

Foresthill Divide Historical Society

Annie DeMaria-Norris (916) 206-4479

foresthillhistory.org

Fruitvale School Hall

Community Association

Mark Fowler

Golden Drift Historical Society

Sarah Fugate, (530) 389-2121

Historical Advisory Board

Glenn Vineyard, (916) 747-1961

Joss House Museum and

Chinese History Center

Larry Finney, (530) 305-9380

Lincoln Area Archives Museum

Elizabeth Jansen, (916) 645-3800

laamca.org

Lincoln Highway Association

Trey Pitsenberger

vice.president@lincolnhighwayassoc.org

Loomis Basin Historical Society

Karen Clifford, (916) 663-3871

www.loomisbasinhistory.org

Maidu Museum & Historic Site

Kaitlin Kincade, (916) 774-5934

roseville.ca.us/indianmuseum

The Museum of Sierra Ski History and 1960 Winter Olympics

David C. Antonucci, (775) 722-3502

tahoemuseum.org

Native Sons of the Golden West

Parlor #59

Dave Allen, (530) 878-2878 dsallen59@sbcglobal.net

Newcastle Portuguese Hall

Association

Mario Farinha, (530) 269-2412

North Lake Tahoe Historical Society

Phil Sexton, (530) 583-1762

northtahoemuseums.org

Placer County Genealogical Society

Diane Fishburn

http://www.placergenealogy.org

Placer County Historical Society

April McDonald-Loomis

(530) 823-2128

placercountyhistoricalsociety.org

Placer County Museums Docent Guild

Craig Norris

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society

Chuck Spinks

Psrhs.org

Rocklin Historical Society

Gloria Beverage (916) 799-7783

rocklinhistory.org

Roseville Historical Society

Denise Fiddyment, (916) 773-3003

rosevillehistorical.org

Calendar

Please confirm all meeting times and locations with each organization

Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, September 16th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, October 7th at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 15th at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, September 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, September 5tha t 2:00 p.m.

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, September 24th at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, September 10th at 6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, September 10th at 4:00 p.m.