May-June 2026

  

Administrator’s Notes

by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator

On Saturday, April 25th we celebrated Placer County’s official 175th anniversary with a fun day of walking tours around Old Town Auburn and free craft activities at the Placer County Museum inside the Historic Courthouse. Over 200 visitors came to enjoy the day, but the celebration continues!  This fall we will be burying a time capsule at the courthouse that will be interred for 75 years and opened upon Placer County’s 250th anniversary.  We welcome suggestions from local residents on what should go into the time capsule to commemorate Placer County today. If you have any suggestions, feel free to let us know at museums@placer.ca.gov as we consider what artifacts to place inside.

Meanwhile, we are getting ready to kickoff the 17th annual Heritage Trail! From June 6th to September 12th, 30 museums and historic sites throughout Placer County will host a fun and free Saturday on the Trail.  Collect stamps on your Trail passport and be entered into a drawing to win gift baskets and prizes at the end of the summer.

As we charge into summer, I hope to see you on the Trail! 

New Donation Highlight

By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

Mendets were popular repair kits used to fix leaks in pots, pans, and rubber items. Manufactured by the Collette Manufacturing Company in Amsterdam, New York, they were produced from the early 1900s until the mid-1980s. Patented in 1907 by Clarence C. Collette, Mendets were the company’s first product.

These small metal patches required no heat or solder, allowing users to easily repair holes in enameled cookware, metal pots, and rubber goods such as hot water bottles. Each Mendet included a metal washer, a sealing washer, and a screw nut that worked together to create a tight, leak-proof seal.

Mendets became especially popular during the 1930s and 1940s when materials were scarce and repairing household items was essential. Promoted as a way to “mend all leaks instantly,” they reflected the era’s “waste nothing” mindset and remained a staple of home repair for decades, until the company closed in the mid-1980s.

   

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon

Thank you to all who joined us for the annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Loomis Veterans Memorial Hall where we came together to celebrate your dedication, generosity, and the passion you bring  to supporting Placer County Museums.

We also welcomed  Frank Udvarhely and Renee Perez from Supervisor Suzanne Jones’ office; Bridget Powers from Supervisor Cindy Gustafson’s office; and Landon Wolf from Supervisor Bonnie Gore’s office. We are grateful for their support and recognition of our volunteers’ invaluable contributions.

  

                                                   Ralph Burge and Brad Weisberg  

                                                             Anne Holmes 

                                                           Joyce Panciera 

                                                    Ralph Petri and Bryanna Ryan

                                                       Bev Call and Sarah Fugate 

                                                               Shelley Willsmore  

Volunteer Spotlight 

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

For this issue’s Docent Spotlight, I want to introduce you to Jessica Munster. When I was thinking of volunteers to help for the 175th anniversary of Placer County, Jessica immediately came to mind. She is friendly, outgoing, and always willing to help for special events. When Jessica was completing her degree in Sociology, she needed 450 hours of volunteer time for a fellowship program. She was volunteering at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center, Benon Welty, and then saw our Burma Shave signs on Taylor Rd. by the Quarry. Her grandparents house is just down the road from the museum, and she was interested so she reached out. Jessica’s favorite part  about working at the museums is being able to serve the community in a positive way. Her Sociology degree focused on equity, and she loves the fact that our museums are all free, reducing barriers for our guests to visit. Jessica, I’m so glad we have someone like you on our volunteer team!

  

New Exhibit at the Golden Drift Museum

By Jason Adair, Exhibit Technician

Every day of our lives we’re bombarded by visual metaphors in advertising, film and television. They are in constant use because they are an effective cultural shorthand that we all pick up on instinctively. For example, we all recognize that a lightbulb above someone’s head symbolizes the moment they have an idea. They are often used to get at the deeper meaning of an idea without getting bogged down in words. This is why when we were tasked with designing the new exhibit at the Golden Drift Museum, on the history of native tribes in the area, we turned to the power of a visual metaphor to help tell the story.

The history of local indigenous cultures is a difficult one to navigate in terms of museum exhibit design. One of the biggest problems is telling an accurate story that not only gives a measure of agency to the people involved but that also doesn’t challenge the viewer to the point where they stop reading since the point of an exhibit is to help visitors understand the story we’re telling. We decided on building the exhibit around a visual metaphor that speaks to the past as well as gives voice to the current descendants of that era. 

To do this we employed the simple sculptural element of a sapling growing from the roots of an old cut down tree. The hope was to symbolize the perseverance of native culture by nurturing its roots and preserving its traditions.

We had a few big problems with the design of this exhibit. The first was that the artifacts from the old exhibit were no longer in the collection, and the second was the fact that the Golden Drift Museum has a very specific style of exhibit cases. While we were able to violate that norm in the next room when we did the Chinese and railroad exhibits, this case was part of a set of cases that all had a very distinct look. Since we weren’t replacing all of them, we needed to ensure they still blended with the room’s overall look and feel. 

To fix the first problem, we were able to purchase reproductions from a certified local maker. As a bonus, since they were reproductions, we didn’t have to put them behind glass and could instead put them out where people could handle them.

The second problem was a little more involved. We started with a process we use called “rapid prototyping.” This forces us to work fast and only use materials that would never be good enough to keep around and actually put in the exhibit. We had a general idea of what we wanted to build, so we just started grabbing things from around the shop and putting together a totally unimpressive assemblage of the exhibit. During the process we did have a lot of ideas about integrating natural elements into the exhibit. We decided to cut some curves into the front of the case to give it a different feel than the right angles it had, and to push the sapling outside the case to give it more life.

We knew how to build a stump, since we had built one as a test for the tree we made for the Foresthill museum. Pro tip: its base is an upside-down bucket with cardboard and expanding foam. As for the sapling, that was a totally different problem. For starters, neither of us even knew what a Black Oak sapling looked like, or any other sapling for that matter. Fortunately, the American River Canyon had many to choose from so we found one and took lots of photos. We also had the good fortune of finding some soaproot plants nearby to take pictures of and recreate.

After several tests with different materials for making the smooth bark of a sapling, we settled on building a frame out of cardboard tubes and covered them in Bondo. With just a little additional sculpting to mimic the weird wrinkles trees have around where branches come out (ones I didn’t even know existed until we had to look closely) we painted it up, put it in place, and added leaves and acorns. 

The last bit to take care of was the ground cover. Since natural fibers are mostly a no-no, we had to find an alternative to dirt. Turns out bugs hate dried coffee grounds so we went to a local coffee shop and grabbed a bag of used ones.

After all was said and done, I think we ended up with an exhibit that looks striking and tells and interesting story. The Golden Drift Museum will reopen on Memorial Day weekend, so be sure to drop by this summer and check it out.

                    

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting
 

                When: Thursday,  June 4

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

Joseph Shanahan,  Interpreter I for the Auburn State Recreation Area. 

                He will be speaking on the Hawver Cave and the geology of our area.

                 Dinner cost: $30.00.

Speaker presentation: Free

                Location: Veterans Memorial Hall

                100 East Street, Auburn, CA    

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

(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, May 18th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, June 1st at 7:00 p.m.

Historical Advisory Board Meeting:        Wednesday, June 17th at 5:30 p.m.

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

Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, May 7th at 2:00 p.m.

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

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

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

March-April 2026

 

Administrator’s Notes

by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator

With spring on the horizon, we are approaching a monumental milestone for Placer County. This year marks the 175th anniversary from the date Placer County was established on April 25, 1851, and carved out of portions of Sutter and Yuba Counties. Auburn, already an important site for local politics, became the seat of Placer County and the growing nexus for law and public service for the region. In celebration of this important anniversary, here is the earliest known illustration of Auburn from 1851. In the foreground, the canvas tent operated as the courthouse until it was replaced with a more permanent structure on top of the hill overlooking Auburn in 1853. The log jail beside the canvas courthouse burned, along with most of Auburn, in 1855 and was rebuilt beside the new courthouse.

In other Museums news, Living History has begun, and we expect almost 3,000 3rd-graders to visit in the coming months. We are accepting applications for the Supervising Curator position, beginning plans for this year’s Heritage Trail and Cemetery Tour events, and looking forward to a busy year ahead!

 

New Donation Highlight

By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections

This silver napkin ring with a classical medallion of a warrior’s head belonged to Henry Andrew Frost. Born on May 15, 1830, in Massachusetts, Frost later made his way to California, settling in Dutch Flat in Placer County. He worked as a miner during the Gold Rush before eventually turning to farming, where he specialized in cultivating fruit orchards. He remained in Dutch Flat until his death on October 26, 1912.

Napkin rings first appeared in France around 1800 designed to identify and hold individual cloth napkins between weekly washings. Early examples were made from silver, wood, or bone and were often engraved with initials for personalization. Over the course of the 19th century they became popular gifts for christenings, weddings, and as keepsakes or souvenirs.

  

From Whitmarsh to Strobridge - An Auburn Family History

Chuck Spinks, Placer-Sierra Railroad Heritage Society President

Samuel H. Whitmarsh was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, in 1820. Like many New Englanders drawn west by opportunity, he traveled to California with his brother Thomas during the early years of the Gold Rush. By 1855, Whitmarsh had settled in Auburn, where he became the agent for the California Stage Company. In May 1857, Whitmarsh expanded his business interests by opening the Pioneer Livery Stable in Auburn while continuing his work for the Stage Company. That same year, on December 1, he married Susan J. Wolley. With financial stability and growing local prominence, Whitmarsh entered public service and, in 1858, he was elected a Placer County Supervisor representing Auburn.

                            Strobridge family at home in Haywards (now Hayward, CA)

 Samuel and Susan Whitmarsh had a daughter, Julia Conner Whitmarsh, born on March 7, 1861. Two weeks later, on March 21 of that year, Susan Whitmarsh died. Although the cause of death was not recorded, its proximity to Julia’s birth suggests possible complications related to childbirth. On May 10, 1862, Whitmarsh remarried, taking Hannah Conover as his wife. Their son, Samuel Hooker Whitmarsh, was born on June 9, 1863. Whitmarsh’s livery business was failing, and in June 1863 he was sued by creditors. Personal loss followed financial hardship when Hannah Whitmarsh died on January 11, 1865. 

When the Central Pacific Railroad reached Auburn on May 13, 1865, the California Stage Company closed its Auburn office and Samuel became unemployed. On June 7, 1865, overwhelmed by repeated bereavement and financial distress, Samuel H. Whitmarsh died by suicide. His death left Julia, age four, and Samuel, age two, without parents.

The fate of the Whitmarsh children became linked to one of Auburn’s most prominent visitors, James Harvey Strobridge, construction superintendent for the Central Pacific Railroad. From 1859 to the summer of 1863, Strobridge was in Dutch Flat managing the construction of the Placer County Canal. On December 6, 1860, Strobridge took a break from his work on the canal to marry Maria McGowan Keating in Auburn. Strobridge was hired by Charles Crocker to lead the railroad construction crews in the winter of 1864. During the construction of the Central Pacific through the Sierra foothills in 1865, Strobridge established his headquarters in Auburn where he was joined by his wife, Maria. The couple had no biological children. Sometime after Samuel Whitmarsh’s death, James and Maria Strobridge adopted Julia and Samuel Whitmarsh, the first of five adopted children they would raise. The new Strobridge family accompanied James through most of the construction of the railroad and are in photographs taken on May 10, 1869 at the Gold Spike ceremony at Promontory, Utah.

 

Volunteer Spotlight 

By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education

While organizing files this weekend I came across this photo of one of our docents, Richard Jones. I couldn’t help but write a bit about the work he has done in the Archives for Placer County Museums. For over 25 years, Richard has been a dedicated volunteer in Foresthill and our Archives and Collections Facility. He’s given over 4,500 hours of service and made an extraordinary impact behind the scenes. Richard volunteers multiple times a week and has inventoried more than 25,000 records. In addition to updating records, Richard has also donated objects and photographs to our collection.

While all our docents do incredible things, some of our volunteer spots are more visible than others. But the work that happens behind the scenes is just as essential to fulfilling our mission. Richard reminds us that preserving our County’s rich history will allow future generations to learn about the past. Thank you Richard!

 

Rocklin Historical Society

By Gloria Beverage, Rocklin Historical Society President

The Rocklin Historical Society will host an event on Saturday, May 2, showcasing the diverse history and cultures of the region.  The Heritage Street Faire will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Rocklin’s historic Front Street.

Volunteers are planning a free, family-friendly event that will feature performances by a variety of ethnic music and dance groups, including Hawaiian and Irish dancers, an African dance troupe, Aztec and Native American performers as well as the popular Chinese lion dancers.

Centered around Rocklin’s history of “Rocks, Rails and Ranches, booths set up along the street will present stories of its early residents: Native Americans, Finnish, Spanish, Japanese and Chinese. In tribute to Rocklin’s once-thriving granite industry, a granite splitting demonstration is planned.

Also being invited to participate are the Tuskegee Airmen and representatives of other cultures, including the Pakistani community. The City of Rocklin’s Fire and Police Departments’ historic vehicles will be on display.

 

Maidu Museum and Historic Site

By Alizabeth Stevans, Interpretive Services Program Leader

Maidu Museum & Historic Site is thrilled to announce the return of Yoomén: A Celebration of Spring event, scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. This FREE family-friendly event serves as an opportunity for Indigenous communities to gather, celebrate and share deep history and traditions with all in attendance.  From Raymond LeBeau’s ( Pit River, Lakota, and Cahuilla) debut art exhibition to hands-on activity stations, there will be something for everyone to enjoy at Yoomén. Visitors can enjoy lunch with a view of the Historic Site, while indulging in the food available for purchase. Throughout the day, take a guided tour of the Historic Site and enjoy demonstrations of culturally significant skills, stories, and performances by Indigenous musicians and dancers. Support Native artists directly by shopping the Yoomén market featuring beautiful art, jewelry, and more!

 Raymond LeBeau: Field(s) of View is a solo exhibition by local Pit River, Lakota, and Cahuilla artist, Raymond LeBeau. reflects his perspective as a Native Pit River artist shaped by his northeastern California homelands and coastal environments. Through paintings, drawings, maps, and found-object assemblages, he explores history, lived experiences, and the cultural influences that shape his world. Together, these works form a layered landscape of memory, place, and an ongoing story. The exhibition will be on view from March 7 – July 26, 2026. Join us for the FREE opening reception on March 7, 5:00-7:00pm.

  

Placer County Historical Society

                                      

Step back in time and see history in action! Our dedicated volunteer  Gus Thompson is helping bring the past to life at the  Auburn Old Town Post Office History and Welcome Center.

Stop in on Saturday or Sunday between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to explore, learn, and experience a glimpse of days gone by.

 

                                 Auburn post office interior c. 1900. PCM Collection.

 

Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting

 

 When:                Thursday,  April  2

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

  Alfred Corral, local historian, will be presenting a panel of speakers on the Japanese   Experience 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

(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 16th at 6:00 p.m.

Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting:                      Monday, April 6th at 7:00 p.m.

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

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

Placer County Historical Society Meeting:                    Thursday, March 5th at 2:00 p.m.

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

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

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