Administrator’s Notes
by Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator
Another summerlong Heritage Trail is ending with the Forest Hill Divide Museum finishing off this seasonal event on Saturday, Sept. 12th. They have a full day planned of activities, tours and demonstrations and I hope you have a chance to stop by! Afterwards, the museum will be closing for its routine off-season until Memorial Day weekend so now is a great time to visit.
As we head into fall, we have many more events and activities on the horizon. This issue of The Placer will go into more detail on our Saturday, Sept. 19th Grave Affair and Community Ofrenda exhibit opening.
The other big events to mark on your calendars are:
Friday, September 25 – We are hosting StoryCorps at the DeWitt History Museum. If you have someone you would like to interview, or be interviewed by, sign up for a spot and we will provide the equipment and the space. The interviews will be preserved at the Library of Congress and go into the time capsule that will be sealed at the Placer County Museum on October 10th at 1pm. Here is an online link to learn more and sign up for StoryCorps: https://engage.placer.ca.gov/placer-175-oral-history
Sunday, October 4th – Old Auburn Cemetery Tours are back! One day only, from 11am-2pm.
Saturday, October 17th – You will find us at the Sacramento Archives Crawl. Tour among four notable locations in Sacramento and meet with archivists from throughout the region. More information can be found at: https://www.sacramentoarchivescrawl.com/crawl-2026. I hope to see you, there!
New Donation Highlight
By Kasia Woroniecka , Curator of Collections
This toy telephone, known as the “Speedphone,” was manufactured by the Gong Bell Manufacturing Co. around the 1920s.
Established in 1866 in East Hampton, Connecticut, Gong Bell became known for its wooden and metal toys. In 1921, the company introduced a toy telephone featuring a bell and movable receiver hook. The company continued to produce wooden toys and, during World War II, manufactured hardware for military parachutes.
Gong Bell remained in business until the 1960s, when the increasing use of plastics in toy manufacturing made it difficult for the company to compete with its traditional wood and metal construction.
Fall Into History
By Katy Bartosh, Curator of Education
The end of September always brings change. The kiddos are back in school, the leaves are turning, and hopefully we get a cool day or two; but the museum is also looking different. By mid-September the Museum’s division is getting busy with Living History, season exhibits, and the Cemetery tour. This year we have some exciting changes of our own. Firstly, Brad Weisberg has joined Carol Cramer to take on direction of the Cemetery Tours. This event is a collaborative effort between the Docent Guild, the Museums, and the Auburn Cemetery District. On Sunday, October 4th, our County’s most fascinating past residents come to life from 11am to 2pm at the Old Auburn Cemetery to tell their story. You might not recognize Brad’s name, but you’d recognize him in costume, re-enacting the infamous Rattlesnake Dick. This year may be his curtain call, as he steps in fully to take the lead for this amazing free community event.
Our annual Grave Affair exhibit will also be installed at the Placer County Museum. This exhibit, which explores death and mourning rituals, opened in 2022 and has been constantly evolving. This year, we’re excited to announce the addition of a community ofrenda created in partnership with the Placer County Latino Leadership Council. The ofrenda, or altar, is used to honor and remember lost loved ones during Dia de los Muertos celebration. The Grave Affair will be installed in early September and a special free community ofrenda event will be hosted at the Placer County Museum on Saturday, September 19th from 10am to 4pm. Please join us and the Youth Ambassadors from the Latino Leadership Council to learn more and participate.
Mark your calendars with these great events and lean into the changes that the season brings.
Time Capsule Event
By Bryanna Ryan, Museums Administrator
Saturday, October 10th – Time Capsule Event at the Placer County Museum
Join us at 12:00 p.m. for a grounds tour of the Historic Auburn Courthouse, followed by a presentation at 1:00 p.m.
As part of Placer County’s 175th anniversary, we will seal a time capsule inside the courthouse in a 3,200-pound fireproof safe manufactured in Detroit in 1878. The safe has a long Auburn history, including its use by the Lowell, Lowell, and Lowell law firm, before being donated to Placer County Museums in 2017.
The time capsule will be opened in 2101, Placer County’s 250th anniversary, giving future generations a glimpse into life in Placer County in 2026.
Volunteer Spotlight
By Kaitlin Kincade, Curator I
Mary Dillingham started volunteering with Placer County Museums by answering the call for new volunteers published in the newspaper in 1997. She was trying to volunteer for the archives, but it didn’t fit her schedule with her full-time job. She instead started working on weekends helping at museums. One of her favorite, (and most challenging) programs she led was hosting a bus tour during Heritage Trail. After she retired, Mary kept volunteering and started helping with the Living History program. She soon started working at the Lincoln Area Archive Museum and helped champion the effort to preserve the Fruitvale Schoolhouse as a museum.
Mary’s favorite part is sharing the unique local history of the area and meeting new people from around the world. You can always see Mary volunteering at the Fruitvale Schoolhouse every second Sunday or at the Bernhard Museum when she’s not a Living History docent. She also offers a special walking tour of downtown Lincoln by request.
Thanks for all you do, Mary!
Maidu Museum and Historic Site
By Alesha Martinez, Senior Museum Specialist
Fall Programs at the Maidu Museum & Historic Site
The Maidu Museum & Historic Site has a full lineup of hands-on programs and special events this fall. From Indigenous art and traditional practices to storytelling and rock art, there are plenty of ways to learn, explore, and connect with local history and culture.
September
· Sept. 5 | 5–7 PM — Creation: The Process of an Indigenous Artist Opening Reception Free. Celebrate the opening of Joshua Frederick’s (Menominee) exhibition exploring Indigenous art, culture, and the creative process.
· Sept. 12 | 9:30 AM–12 PM — Spear Throwing $50 | $45 members. Learn about the atlatl, build your own, and practice this ancient hunting skill.
· Sept. 19 | 10:30 AM–12 PM — Senior Saturday at the Museum $15 | $12 members. Enjoy a seated museum tour focused on local history. Registration recommended.
· Sept. 26 | 8–10 AM — Backyard Birds: A Birding Excursion $15 | $12 members. Join the Sacramento Audubon Society for a guided bird walk around the Historic Site. Ages 13+. Registration required.
October
· Oct. 17 | 10 AM–12 PM — Archery for All Skill Levels $55 | $50 members. Learn archery fundamentals or build your skills with certified instructors. Ages 7+. Held at MAYA Archers in Roseville.
· Oct. 17 | 2–3 PM — Exhibition Tour with Artist Joshua Frederick $10. Join the artist for an all-ages tour of Creation: The Process of an Indigenous Artist and hear about the stories and cultural influences behind the work.
· Oct. 17 | 6:30–7:30 PM — Campfire $11 | $9 members. Enjoy Indigenous stories and marshmallows around the outdoor campfire. Museum admission included.
· Oct. 17 | 7:30–8:15 PM — Rock Art Mysteries Tour $11 | $9 members. Explore ancient petroglyphs on a special flashlight tour that reveals details not easily seen during the day.
· Oct. 24 | 9 AM–12 PM — From Earth to Art: Mineral and Plant Paint Workshop $50 | $45 members. Learn to create natural pigments from minerals and plants and make your own artwork with Native American artist Stan Padilla (California Yaqui).
Registration is required or recommended for most programs. Visit the Maidu Museum Programs & Events page for details and registration.
Rocklin Historical Society
By Linda Wampler
“Residents” of the Rocklin Cemetery will share their stories with visitors during the Voices of the Passed tour slated from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 25. Visitors will be encouraged to visit the gravesites of several of Rocklin’s leaders to hear their stories as portrayed by Rocklin Historical Society members.
History lovers will have an opportunity to meet a number of historic figures -- famous and infamous. Among the figures being portrayed will be Rocklin’s first librarian Jennie Minkkinen, candy shop owner Annie Beasmore, sheriff Sam Renaldi, railroad doctor Henry Fletcher, Irish quarry owner Mary Quinn and the Ruhkalas, founders of the Union Granite Company, as well as many of others. A newspaper court reporter will reveal the details of the Landis tragedy—a double murder involving a jealous husband and a Rocklin constable. Admission will be free; however, donations will be accepted.
Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting
When: Thursday, October 1, 2026
Meeting at 6:00, Dinner at 6:15, Speaker at 6:45
Historian Phil Sexton is the speaker. His area of expertise is
the Chinese experience at Donner Summit.
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:
Foresthill Divide Historical Society Meeting: Monday, September 21 @ 6:00 p.m.
Golden Drift Historical Society Meeting: Monday, October 5 @ 7:00 p.m.
Historical Advisory Board Meeting: Wednesday, October 21 @ 5:30 p.m.
Loomis Basin Historical Society Meeting: Wednesday, September 16 @ 6:00 p.m.
Placer County Historical Society Meeting: Thursday, September 3 @ 2:00 p.m.
Placer Sierra Railroad Heritage Society: Tuesday, September 22 @ 7:00 p.m.
Rocklin Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, September 8 @ 6:30 p.m.
Roseville Historical Society Meeting: Tuesday, September 8 @ 4:00 p.m.
