SONOMA COUNTY HERITAGE NETWORK

Report of July 12th, 2008 meeting
at the Santa Rosa Library

Present:  Dan Murley, Network Chair (431-3325) df47@mcn.org, Simone Wilson, Ed Summerville, Jim & Joan Wagele, Charles Christian, Linda Lorda, Elizabeth Kane, Janine Loyd, Tom Origer, Harold Mentzer, Lee Torliatt, Tony Hoskins, Harry Lapham, Marianne Hurley, Steve & Jan Lehmann, Margery Wolf, Ginny Magan & Granddaughter Juliet, Ray Owen, Jeremy Nichols, Denise Hill, Mary Blankenship, Diane Smith, Rebecca Baker, John Schubert and June Smith.
 
Chair Dan Murley thanked Tony for setting up the So Co Central Library’s Forum Room for our meeting. Coffee and muffins were provided by the Healdsburg Museum & Historical Society. Introductions were followed by –

Reports
»Steve Lehmann reported that the So Co Recorders Office has digitized their map collection and it is available on 3 CDs. There are school district maps and detailed 1920s railroad maps. The Windsor Historical Society hopes to be ready to host the Network meeting next April.

»Charles Christian reported on the SRRural Cemetery where he and Ray Owen are the Civil War specialists. Charles is currently trying to get local recognition for David Pressley Anderson, DDS who practiced here for 50 years. There have been 3 reports of paranormal activity at the cemetery this year and a professional was hired to test the locations.

»Harry Lapham is reorganizing his basement—separating the So Co Historical Society stuff from his own stuff.

»Tony Hoskins reported the So Co Historical Society marathon hike was again successful.
Larry Carrillo has plans for the Carrillo property.
Recently 230 boxes of Coroners’ Inquests were received for the Archives.
Dan Markwyn is revamping the guidelines for the Historical Records Commission’s Peterson Prize.
The So Co History & Genealogy Library has naturalization papers, but it is illegal to copy them. They may be viewed but not copied.
Tony is adding some history and genealogy books from the various branch libraries to the So Co History & Genealogical Library so they will all be accessible in one location.

»Joann Mitchell reported the Sonoma County Museum’s annual Artistry in Wood exhibit is now open. Sonoma County landscape paintings from the Museum’s collection are shown upstairs. Most haven’t been displayed before. Diane Evans is the Museum’s new Executive Director.

»Curator Dan Murley reported Healdsburg Museum’s Paola Sensi-Isolani’s Italian immigrant lecture was well received. Next free lecture will be on July 22 at 6:30 also at the Healdsburg Library. Dr James Allan will discuss archaeology beneath the streets of San Francisco. Current Healdsburg Museum exhibit is “Brush with the Past,” featuring artwork from Healdsburg’s past.

»Jim and Joan Wagele reported the Cloverdale Museum is celebrating its 40th anniversary and starting site preparation for the new building. The walking tour has been updated and the Arcadia book will be available in September. A petition is circulating in Cloverdale to “Bring Back Black Bart Days.”

»Curator Ginny Magan reported the Tomales Regional History Center is planning upgrades to their building, updating policies and procedures and will be reorganizing their storage system. They are cataloging their 3,000 photos.Upcoming events are a Wine & Food Tasting at Tomales Town Hall on October 18 and an Open House at the TRHC to celebrate their 30th anniversary on November 2.

»Margery Wolf reported Katherine Rinehart is the new president of the Petaluma Historical Society and the strategic plan is completed. They received a New York Times grant. They will celebrate Petaluma’s 150th birthday on Sept. 21 with a self-guiding house tour (+ a couple of commercial buildings). More info at 762-3456. Margery suggested a ListServe for the Heritage Network.
 
»Denise Hill reported Santa Rosa Past finished defining the East Junior College District last year and is now working on the West Junior College District. They are working on plans and applying for a state grant to improve Santa Rosa’s DeTurk Round Barn. The collection of neighborhood banners is on display at City Hall.

»Jeremy Nichols reported the Chanate Historic Cemetery restoration is almost finished . He is looking for an architect to design a setting for the 4 plaques of names. Rosie trolley tours to the cemetery start on July 16.  The cemetery will be dedicated on Saturday, October 4. Jeremy is looking for information about John Orr. The So Co Genealogical Society has given copies of their published books to the Family History Library and the California State Library.

»Ray Owen reported that 181 attended the So Co Genealogical Society’s spring seminar. The Rural Cemetery’s Lamplight Tour is almost sold out. A fund raising ball will be held at the McDonald mansion on July 19th. Antique roses grown from cuttings of plants in the Rural Cemetery are for sale at Rural Cemetery functions for $12.

»Elizabeth Kane (Sonoma State Historic Parks Assn.) reported there will be a Model A show at the Casa Grande site on July 26. FiftyVallejo descendants attended a gathering on June 14. The Association hopes to involve other groups in plans to restore Sonoma’s historic Blue Wing Inn.

»Marianne Hurley gave an informative talk with photos about the California State Parks in her district. July 26 is Fort Ross Family History Day. She reported on the Carrington Ranch and Pond Farm. The Vallejo Home gardens will be brought back to look as they did when General Vallejo lived there.

»Janine Loyd reported Orriger & Associates wants names and information about the Saddle Mountain homesteaders (at end of Pythian Road). Also, they are working on the history of Clemente Inn in El Verano and would like information about the Clemente family. Phone 584-8200.

»Harold Mentzer reported the NWPRRHS held its annual dinner in Petaluma and has completed its 2007 celebration. Restoration of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa caboose #1 continues. The society has a collection of RR station maps based on Sanborn maps.

»John Schubert reported the Russian River Historical Society is collecting oral histories and old movies.  He reminded us old movies should be copied before the film deteriorates. He suggested that all societies should be charging the same amount for use of their photos and the group agreed.

»Lee Torliatt displayed copies of his new book Historic Photos of Sonoma County. He asked all societies etc. to email him information on upcoming events so they can be published in the Sonoma Historian. Next deadline is early August. (The Historian is published in December, March, June and September and deadlines are a month earlier.) New Arcadia books cover Point Reyes and Forestville.

»Rebecca Baker reported the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens’ Antique Evaluation Fair will be at the Finley Center on July 19. Bring your antiques for appraisals. On July 27 there will be a tea party at the Gardens. August 12 David Lightfoot will talk about railroads. The showing of “A Man Named Pearl” at the Rialto Theater on August 17th will benefit LBH&G.

»Diane Smith reported the Sonoma Depot Museum has received a grant to convert their 8mm movies to DVDs. A great volunteer helped organize “things” this summer.
 

Next meeting, October 11, will be hosted by Elizabeth Kane (Sonoma State Historical Parks Assn.) in Sonoma.   Details will be sent before that date.


                                                                                                            Submitted by June Smith
                                                                                                                         yojune@aol.com