Administrator’s Notes
by Ralph Gibson, Museums Administrator
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.
