Administrator’s Notes
This issue serves as the kickoff for Heritage Trail 2025! Our summerlong event, which spans from Roseville to Tahoe, begins June 7th and runs through September 6th. This year, 28 museums will host history in fun, interesting ways through exhibits, hands-on activities, historic re-enactments and guided tours. For the full summer calendar, please go to our website at: www.theheritagetrail.blogspot.com
As I mentioned in my previous article, this will be my last year at the helm of the Placer County Museums and in each article, I’ll look back at what we were doing early in my tenure here.
From the minutes of the May 20, 2008 Historical Organizations Committee meeting: “Barton gave an update on this new event. The committee selected the name The Heritage Trail and the date is August 9th and 10th.” That’s when the Heritage Trail was born. It was Museum Administrator, Melanie Barton’s idea to have an event like Sacramento’s Museum Day. The first one happened that weekend of August 9th and yes, although it was really hot, it was a successful event.
I hope to see all of you on the Trail this summer!
New Donation Highlight
by Kasia Woroniecka, Curator of Collections
The Vapo-Cresolene vaporizer, also known as the Vapo-Cresolene lamp, was a popular but ultimately ineffective remedy for many ailments listed on the original packaging including “whooping cough, spasmodic croup, nasal catarrh, colds, bronchitis, coughs, sore throat, pneumonia, the paroxysms of asthma and hay fever, the bronchial complications of scarlet fever and measles and as an aid in the treatment of diphtheria and certain inflammatory throat diseases.” Introduced in the 1880s, it worked by heating a coal-tar byproduct called Cresolene over a small kerosene lamp, releasing fumes claimed to have antiseptic properties. By the 1930s it was widely regarded as both ineffective and potentially harmful.
Uncovering Civil War Stories at the Placer County Archives
While pursuing a Master of Arts in Public History and working as the part-time Curator of Education for Placer County Museums, I have undertaken a thesis project focused on rehousing and creating a finding aid for a collection of Civil War–era documents.
The collection consists of military duty rosters, financial records, correspondence, bonds of organization, and miscellaneous documents.
Beginning in 1861, twelve companies of volunteer soldiers were organized in Placer County, seven of which are represented in the collection. All of them were considered part of the 1st Infantry Battalion, 4th Brigade. In September 1863, all companies in the greater Sacramento area were invited to Camp Kibbe for training.
Among the documents are three letters that unveil a late-war controversy and reference events covered by local newspapers. All are from a Union Corps (Michigan Bluff) volunteer named James Blackburn.
James Blackburn’s July 9th, 1865 letter. PCM Collection
Dated July 9, 1865, Senior 2nd Lieutenant Blackburn’s first letter accuses his fellow soldier 1st Sergeant Joseph Dilts of embezzlement, describing the alleged action as “grand rascality” and claiming he has enough evidence to “send him to hell”. He believes that Dilts withdrew money from the Union Corps account and “never accounted for a single cent”.
Lt. Blackburn’s next letter is dated three days later. He recounts how his suspicions began after training at Camp Kibbe. The Union Corps received $50.00 from the county in February 1864. In March of that year, the two of them used that money to buy guns and store them in a local cellar. Blackburn claims “all the money [Dilts] got was after the guns was boxed up”.
Blackburn and Dilts felt uncomfortable about where the guns were kept, so they moved them against the permission of their captain to Shawl’s cellar. Blackburn notes that Shawl did not charge them for the use of his property. A fire spread through Michigan Bluff only a few days later on May 30th.
The Placer Herald reported on the fire:
“The fire broke out in a barber shop, (from some cause yet unexplained,) and spreading rapidly, soon laid the whole business part of the town in ashes, with the exception of the fire proof buildings of Leets and Shawl.”
Their captain moved the guns from Shawl’s in August and put them under a bed in the back of the saloon, where they stayed for about five months before being moved and stored after the company disbanded. Blackburn states, “I don’t think we was entitled to any money after the $50 sent us in Feb – about the first 1864 and all the rest of the Boys that I had any conversation with on the subject thought the same”.
According to Blackburn, Dilts withdrew $390 from the Union Corps account between May and November 1864 – almost $8000 in today’s money. The lieutenant did not know of any bills that needed to be paid and accused Dilts of the fraud.
The last letter, dated July 14, 1865, Blackburn reveals that he has finally talked to Dilts about the situation. Dilts was sorry. Blackburn asks, “please return [the previous letters] to me providing he settles with the County for what is right, which he agrees to do”. It turns out Dilts had covered some bills for the Union Corps and promised to pay back the money he took from the County.
Although the responses to these letters have been lost to history, their contents provide a rare and personal glimpse into the lives of Civil War soldiers. Together with the rest of the collection, they add a compelling human dimension to our understanding of this time period in Placer County history.
Hawver Cave exhibit changes
Placer County Historical Society
When: Thursday, June 5, 2025
Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45
Dave Antonucci on the history Placer County and the 1960 Olympics.
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
Rocklin Historical Society
Rocklin's
sports and recreation scene, from its early days featuring race track events
and a gymnastics group delighting audiences at picnics, parades and Finn Hall,
to the high school athletes who have risen to professional levels - today and
beyond, our new exhibit offers something of interest for everyone.
Reminisce the days of dancing to Fred Morgan at Sunset
Whitney Country Club, and skating at the Stardust. Enjoy remembering
the "magical" 17 years watching the San Francisco 49ers at
Summer training camp at Sierra College. This and so much more is in store at
the Rocklin History Museum!
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:
Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, May19th at 6:00 p.m.
Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, June 2nd at 7:00 p.m.
Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, June 18th at 5:30 p.m.
Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, May 21st at 6:00 p.m.
Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, June 5th at 2:00 p.m.
Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, May 27th at 7:00 p.m.
Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, May 13th at 6:30 p.m.
Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, May 13th at 4:00 p.m.
