July- August 2024

 Administrator’s Notes

by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator

Summer is finally here, and Heritage Trail 2024 is underway! Like most years, some museums have had less attendance and some more. But one thing that started last year that seems to have grown this year are the number of patrons who visit museums on their regular day of operation and not necessarily their Heritage Trail Day to get their cards stamped. The first week of Heritage Trail, we got our first cards turned in and the flow of fully stamped cards has not stopped. At the Griffith Quarry Museum last weekend, I received 12 fully stamped cards!

This weekend on the Heritage Trail (June 29th) we will be in Auburn at the Chinese Joss House; the Western States Trail Museum; the new Auburn Journal Newspaper Museum and the Placer County Museum in the historic Courthouse. If you have time, please come by and check out these great museums! One thing to note is that the Sierra College Natural History Museum, which had been scheduled to have their Heritage Trail Day on July 6th, had to postpone to September 7th.

For a full and updated schedule for this summer’s Heritage Trail, please visit: www.placer.ca.gov/heritagetrail. I hope to see you all somewhere on the Heritage Trail this summer!

A new exhibit at the historic courthouse in Auburn showcases women's capes from the Placer County Museums collection. 

New Donation Highlight

by Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This colorful Double Wedding Ring quilt was made by Cora Naramore for her granddaughter Rowena Naramore. Though the pattern was first published in the United States in the early 1920s, the quilt pattern can be found as early as the late 19th Century.  

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. 

This quilt and other never-before-displayed artifacts are currently on display at the Bernhard Museum in Auburn. Hours: Tuesday - Friday, 1:00 - 4:00, Saturday-Sunday 11:00 - 4:00. Closed holidays. Address: 291 Auburn Folsom Road, Auburn.

Plan your visit today!

Hope in Weimar: Vietnamese Refugees in Placer County

by Kelsey Monahan, Curator of Archives

 In the wake of the tumultuous events of the 1970s, a small corner of Placer County became a sanctuary for refugees fleeing Southeast Asia. Following the collapse of their governments in April 1975, over 140,000 people from Cambodia and South Vietnam sought refuge under the Indochina Refugee Program. Camp Pendleton in San Diego, along with other temporary camps across the country, provided initial shelter to tens of thousands of displaced individuals.

In May 1975 Food for the Hungry, a non-profit organization, sponsored 500 refugees from Camp Pendleton, aiming to assist their resettlement in the United States. They searched for a suitable facility to house them and set their sights on the Weimar Medical Center in Placer County, an unused former tuberculosis hospital built in 1919. Following lobbying efforts with the Weimar Medical Center’s Central Hospital Committee and the Placer County Board of Supervisors, a short-term lease was approved on May 16, 1975, despite plans for the hospital property's sale later that year.

In early June, the first refugee families arrived from Camp Pendleton to the newly named "Weimar Hope Village." The official opening on June 18, 1975, was attended by guests such as Ruth Graham (wife of the Reverend Billy Graham), actress and activist Tippi Hedren, exiled South Vietnamese actress Kieu Chinh, and former South Vietnam Premier Nguyen Cao Ky. At Weimar Hope Village, Food for the Hungry organized English classes, vocational training, and provided educational opportunities for children who attended local schools and music classes. 

Tippi Hedren and Weimar Hope Village Residents, circa 1975. Weimar Collection, Placer County Museums.

While conditions at Weimar Hope Village were an improvement over the temporary shelters of Camp Pendleton, it was a significant adjustment for refugees who had left behind their homes and lives. Nguyen Thi Thai, a resident, reflected in the Sacramento Bee, "It is sad; it is a great disruption, but there was nothing else we could have done. Our lives in Saigon were over whether we stayed or not. Coming here at least gives us a chance for a new life, but it is a huge change… And we all have to find a place for ourselves in this new homeland of ours."

Many families eventually resettled beyond Placer County, but some chose to remain. Former Vietnamese General Nyugen Van Chuc, for instance, purchased the Penn-Sierra Tire and Service Station in Loomis. Joseph Nguyen Huong, who had served in the Vietnamese Air Force, became "Father Joe" after connecting with the Sacramento Catholic diocese. After his ordination he served at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Churches of Auburn and Lincoln.

Food for the Hungry secured two lease extensions for Weimar Hope Village in September and October of 1975. However, by the end of October, the Hospital Central Committee was eager to finalize the sale of the facilities. On October 31, 1975, Weimar Hope Village closed its doors after aiding over 800 refugees in resettling across California and the United States. 

In December 1975, the Weimar Medical Center Central Hospital Committee sold the former hospital grounds to a developer, with proceeds divided among the 15 counties. The property was sold in 1977 to the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, which remains its owner to this day. 

 Attention Researchers and History Enthusiasts!

Our Digital Collections site, Preservica, will be down starting July 1, 2024, while we switch to a new provider. The change is aimed at improving access and we will be working hard behind the scenes to be back up and running soon. Please contact me, Curator of Archives Kelsey Monahan, at kmonahan@placer.ca.gov if you need any documents during this time. Thank you for your patience and ongoing support!

 

The Tevis Cup

by Christina Richter, Museums Administrative Clerk

Riders will begin the 68th annual Tevis Cup on July 20, at 5:15am, at Robie Equestrian Park in Truckee. Under the light of a full moon, around 150 horseback riders will endeavor to complete the challenge of the 100-miles of the Western States Trail through the rugged Sierra Nevada in under 24 hours. Those who finish the journey on time, and “whose mount is judged fit to continue” will be awarded the coveted Tevis Cup completion award buckle. 

 However, it is a “ride” and not a “race” as this distinction was made clear by the event’s creator, Wendell Robie. Robie began the tradition in 1955 with himself, and four other riders, tackling the 100 miles of the Western States Trail with the aim to finish within 24 hours. The endeavor was thought foolhardy by most, but Robie was not a man to be deterred. Four of the five were successful and thus began the Western States Trail ride tradition, which would be named the “Tevis Cup.”

Hal Hall, 32-time Tevis completion buckle winner, states “While the surrounding mountains through the Sierra Nevada and along the Western States Trail is beautiful, wild and scenic; the Tevis Cup Ride 100-mile event route is relentless in its challenge and unforgiving to the ill-prepared.” 

Best of luck to all those riders on the trail this summer!

Tevis Cup riders, 1981. Kurt Markus, Wendell Robie, Marion Robie Arnold and two unidentified riders.  Placer County Museums.

Docent Spotlight

Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

Lynne Lyndon has been a docent at Placer County Museums for 13 years! This is what she had to say when I reached out about her docent experience: “While enjoying the luxury of retirement, I wanted to do something community oriented.  Already interested in history, becoming a docent seemed a natural fit for me.  I enjoy meeting out of town visitors and sharing our local history and the importance of the Gold Rush in the opening of California.  It is especially fun to share our history with locals who drive by every day and finally stop to see what is inside our museums.  My love of old things extends to life away from museums.  My husband, Wayne, and I enjoy old cars too, and take country drives with two vintage car clubs.  We live on acreage so much of our free time is spent doing chores and enjoying foothill living.” 

 

                                                                 Lynne Lyndon

Rocklin Historical Society

By Linda Wampler, Quarry Quarterly Editor

The Rocklin Historical Society's newest exhibit, "Her Story: Women Who Impacted Rocklin’s Early History," is now open at the History Museum.

Explore the inspiring stories of women who served in the Armed Forces, owned businesses, and held public office, including Rocklin's first woman mayor and a Justice of the Peace. Learn about the first librarian, a telegraph operator, and women who served as aircraft spotters during WWII. Discover the incredible tales of the women who managed the ranches.

Admission is free. The museum, located at the corner of San Francisco Street and Rocklin Road, is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Group tours may be arranged by contacting the society at rocklinhistorical@gmail.com.

SNOW Museum

By Eddy Ancinas

Good news form the future SNOW Museum: after 15 years of community outreach and planning, the Placer County Board of Supervisors has unanimously endorsed the Final Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the SNOW (Sierra Nevada Olympic Wintersports) Museum in Olympic Valley Park.

Watch Our Award-Winning Video: Learn why a museum of Sierra Snow Sports is essential, why our history is unique, and what's next. Watch here: https://youtu.be/Me31u9Y-1F0 

Visit Our Interim Location: Until the new museum opens, explore artifacts and memorabilia from the 1960 Olympics and learn about Sierra ski pioneers at our current location in the Boatworks Mall, Tahoe City.

Host Your Event: With a large conference table and nearby restaurants, our interim location is perfect for meetings and social gatherings. For more information or to schedule an event, contact info@thesnowmuseum.org.

Placer County Historical Society

Please join us for a book signing event:

Egbert, Sisson, Wallace and Crocker.  Merchants, Lumbermen and Chinese Railroad Labor Contractors by John Knox

Auburn Images Volume Two by April McDonald-Loomis

Saturday, June 29th,  1:00 to 3:00 

Placer County Visitors Bureau & California Welcome Center, 1103 High Street, Auburn 

The next Placer County Historical Society Dinner meeting will take place on October 3rd.

Please stay tuned for more updates as the event nears.

Please visit our website: www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org.

 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, July 15th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, August 5th at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, August 21st at 5:30 p.m.

Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, July 17th at 6:00 p.m. 

Placer County Historical Society Meeting:         No meeting until October

Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, July 23rd at 7:00 p.m.

Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, July 9th at  6:30 p.m.

Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, July 9th at 4:00 p.m.