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Present: Harry Lapham, Network Chair, (539-1786) hlapham@monitor.net,
Tony Hoskins, Elizabeth Kane, June Smith, Jeremy Nichols, Harold Mentzer, Janine Loyd, Tom Origer, Dan Markwyn, Guy Smith, Pat Mazzini, Prue and Lloyd Draper, Evelyn and John McClure, Carol Page, Gaye and John LeBaron, Phyllis Schmitt, Daniel F. Murley, Patrick Garcia, Rebecca Baker, Lee Torliatt, Marianne Hurley, Diane Smith, Joann Mitchell, Charles Siebenthal, John Schubert and Jane Barry.
Harry called the meeting to order at 9:45. He introduced our host Elizabeth Kane of Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Park Association. Liz welcomed us to the Barracks and introduced the Associations’ Board Members who were present: Mary Ann Maslowski, Anne Cox, Barbara Lynch, Marshall West, and Claire Melanephy. Thanks to Scandia Bakery for furnishing the delicious pastries.
Network members introduced themselves and proceeded with reports.
Tony Hoskins reported for the following:
Sonoma County Library continues to provide access to Heritage Quest databases and hopes to provide access to Ancestry.com within the next 6 months. eBooks can be downloaded. Tony will present programs at various branch libraries about online research. Wine Library photos are being added to the Central Library’s photo collection. On February 7th there will be a presentation at Santa Rosa Memorial Park about genealogical research in the cemetery.
Sonoma County Historical Society annual banquet will be on Sat. March 24th at Fountaingrove Golf & Athletic Club. Lee Torliatt asked for nominees for the various awards to be presented at this meeting. Lee also asked for information about your events, happening after March 1st, so they can be included in the next edition of “Sonoma Historian.” Phyllis Schmitt announced Bob Evans will lead a field trip to Pine Flat on May 5th.
Sonoma County Genealogy Society presents its 15th annual all-day seminar on April 28th featuring John Phillip Colleta, Ph.D., nationally known genealogical lecturer and writer.
Sonoma County Historical Records Commission continues with county officials’ oral histories. David Sabsay, former Director of Sonoma County Library will be interviewed.
Luther Burbank Home & Gardens Rebecca Baker, archivist, historian and docent, reported the home opens for the season on April 1st. New exhibit will feature photos of the historic Burbank-Edison-Ford meeting, and the plants and gardens. Looking for sponsors for benches which will be replaced.
Sonoma Valley Historical Society Carol Page reported the Depot Park Museum is featuring the NWPRR exhibit, including photos of county depots, model cars and artifacts.
The LeBarons Gaye reported her video histories are available at the Sonoma County Museum and at Sonoma State Library’s Gaye LeBaron Archives. She is no longer teaching at SRJC.
John continues to teach and is writing his memoir.
Petaluma Museum Association Marshall West reported Petaluma Fire Dept.will celebrate its 150th anniversary this year. Next year the city will celebrate its sesquicentennial. “A Snapshot of Petaluma History” class will be held on Feb. 3rd, at Kenilworth Junior High @ 12.45 p.m. Call 778-4633 to pre-register. Annual Garden Tour will be in May.
Sonoma County Historical Records Commission Dan Markwyn distributed printed information about The Peterson Prize. He hopes to soon have a questionnaire to help locate the various historical collections available in Sonoma County. If you know of any such collections at this time, please let Dan know. daniel.markwyn@sonoma.edu
Prue Draper is hoping to save an old home and stone building in Cotati. She is researching history of the various owners. The house was apparently built in 1902.
Sonoma County Landmarks Commission Pat Mazzini reported the commission is updating H.D. Zoning in the county. She will contact Network organizations for information.
Origer & Associates Tom Origer asked members to send him information about old houses (45+ years old) in the areas where Indian casino projects are planned. origer@origer.com
Guy Smith reported on the following:
Laguna de Santa Rosa Joe Honton’s 2-volume book has been published. State of Laguna Conference set for March 29th througn April 1st. Details on www.lagunafoundation.org or phone 527-9277 x107.
Georgetown Guy is “thinning” his father’s collections, including his cars.
Pacific Coast Air Museum Artifacts discovered at the site of the Philippine Clipper crash will eventually be displayed at the museum.
Depot Park Museum Diane Smith invited Network members to visit the museum after our meeting this morning. She shared a list of Sanborn Insurance Maps.
Sonoma County Museum Joann Mitchell reported the annual meeting will be on Sunday, January 28th. New exhibit opening Jan. 20th—Marguerite Wildenhain’s pottery, also other pottery makers, including Edith Heath. Several programs are planned.
West Sonoma County Historical Society Evelyn McClure reported the West County Museum will be hosting the NWPRR traveling exhibit, starting in April. The current exhibit, Sebastopol Rephotographed, will continue through March. Dates to remember: Annual Tea on June 2nd ; Cemetery Walks on October 5th and 6th.
NWPRRHS Harold Mentzer reported sales of their book, “Northwestern Pacific Railroad,” are going well. The NWPRR exhibit is scheduled to be shown in several museums. The society’s next meeting will be on February 12th at Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa. A railroad movie from David Lightfoot’s collection will be shown.The society’s archives are accessible by apointment.
Jeremy Nichols reported on the following:
County Hospital Painting Jeremy proudly showed the restored and newly framed painting. Thanks to Jeremy’s efforts and financial assistance from many, the painting will be formally returned to the county on March 7th at 2 p.m. at the County Health Services building. It will hang there in the Conference Room.
County Archives Jeremy is searching for a new, more easily accessible, home for the archives. Tony reminded him that these documents are cataloged and currently accessible through the Sonoma County Library.
Chanate Historic Cemetery 1200 of the 1561 cement grave markers have been found. North Bay Monument Co. has agreed to provide standard grave markers for $75 each.
Russian River Historical Society Jane Barry reported they are developing a newsletter and hope to add many more members. They have moved out of their space in Monte Rio’s Koret Club Building where remodeling will start in April. The society is currently in limbo.
Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society Curator Daniel Murley reported the newsletter now has a name, “The Review,” taken from the first newspaper published in Healdsburg in 1860. The museum will celebrate the 150th birthday of Harmon Heald’s recorded plat map on March 3rd and the city will hold its sesquicentennial celebration on Aug. 18th. Dan will speak at several venues on early Healdsburg, and has arranged for other historians to present programs at the Healdsburg Library during the year.
June Smith reported new officers will be installed at the annual potluck dinner on January 18th. Clarence Ruonavaara will be the honoree at the 9th Annual Pioneer Award Dinner on March 15th. “Flying H” insignia caps and shirts are available at the museum
California State Parks Marianne Hurley reported the National Park Service is doing cultivation and historic assessment of the old orchard at Jack London’s ranch. Vallejo home in Sonoma—still waiting for a landscape report. Carrington Ranch house will be stabilized. Petaluma Silk Mill will be converted to condos. St. Vincent’s Church Parish is planning a 150th anniversay celebration in September. They need photos (to scan) and artifacts. Contact Marianne if you can provide any. mhurley@parks.ca.gov
Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Park Association Elizabeth Kane reported several upcoming events: February 17th Olive Festival on Barracks grounds; March 7th ornithology lecture at the Mission; July 7th San Jose Choir at the Barracks. This year marks the 200th anniversary of General Vallejo’s birth. Liz distributed a Sonoma Valley winery map/brochure and suggested that the network put together a similar map of historic sites.
Harry thanked Liz and the Sonoma/Petaluma State Historic Park Assn. for hosting our meeting.
Did you know that—
Harry was given a City of Santa Rosa Merit Award in November. And Rebecca Baker also received a Merit Award. See photos and videos of this event at www.sonomacountyhistory.org
Jeremy Nichols was recognized by the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors on December 5th.
Tomales Town Hall was one of the winners of the Partners in Preservation grants. Thanks for your votes.
Submitted by June Smith
NEXT MEETING April 14th, 2007, 9:30 a.m., probably in Graton. Harry will arrange a post-meeting tour of Sturgeon’s Mill.
Annual $10 dues are now payable. Please send checks to Heritage Network c/o Harry Lapham, 4468 Montgomery Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
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