Thanks to Ken Nugent for this vignette of Saturday's HeritageNet meeting.
New Chairman, Dan Murley
Chairman Emeritus, Harry Lapham
New Secretary, Evelyn McClure
Secretary Emeritus, June Smith
Dan Markwyn called for comments on the Peterson Prize draft poster he
circulated. This annual contest for historical manuscripts (deadline March
1) will award $500 to the winning author.
Rob Zitzewitz and Allan Katz talked about their upcoming website and its
purpose to link informational plaques on grave stones to their website for
additional information on that personıs life. The website is: mymemorylink.com
Marshall West for the Petaluma Museum mentioned the Museumıs current exhibit
on WWII and said Petaluma will host numerous events for its 150th
anniversary this year. Another Petaluma River boat tour will be offered in
March, day tba. April 20th, Katherine Rinehart and Marianne Hurley will
present an architectural slide show and tour of Petaluma.
Lee Torliatt for the Sonoma County Historical Society Journal "The Sonoma
Historian" announced the deadline for the next edition is Feb. 10. Lee is
working on a timeline of Sonoma County, doesnıt need information but may
call for proofreaders later.
June Smith of the Healdsburg Museum reported they will hold their annual
potluck Feb. 17. The Seghesio family will be honored as pioneers in April.
Carol Page of the Sonoma Valley Historical Society reported the Depot Park
Museum has a Hap Arnold exhibit. They applied for a grant from the City of
Sonoma and received $1,000 for a children's museum guide which has been
completed. Diane Smith added that the Museum has received a donation of 100s
of 8 mm film reels with local footage from the 30s to 50s. She asked for
ideas on film preservation.
Jeremy Nichols for the SCHS reported on the speaker's program at the Sonoma
County museum. Dan Markwyn and Gaye LeBaron will speaker Feb. 7th 2008, 7 pm on
Fountaingrove and utopian communities. April 23, Mark Wilson will talk on
architect Julia Morgan. Plans for future talks include a panel on the
origins of Santa Rosa with a tour of the Carrillo Adobe.
On the Chanate county cemetery, 1500 graves are marked with soupcans and
numbers. They hope to have a dedication in the Fall of a marker with all
names which could cost $10,000 rather than the $37,000 cost of marking
individual graves. Jeremy will gratefully accept checks for this cause now.
Prue Draper announced that the Cotati Historical Society is officially a
501c3 non profit corporation. She has collected memorabilia for 50 years.
The Cotati City Hall has offered a room to set up a historical display so
Prue can move the artifacts out of her home.
Harold Mentzer and David Lightfoot for the NWPRRHS reported that the
anniversary exhibits have wound up with displays in ten museum and speakers
at two locations in Northern California. The Society can now concentrate on
restoring the P&SR caboose parked in Petaluma. They plan to work every other
Saturday through the summer. Railroad film programs will be presented at
the Marin Museum on Jan. 19 with before and after photos of Marin RR
operations at San Rafael City Hall. Roger Graeber will present his films at
Monroe Hall in Santa Rosa on Jan. 28 at 8 pm.
Dave Bess of the Sea Ranch Archives is carrying on the earlier work of Susan
Clark. A bldg. designed by Charles Moore is on the National Register of
Historic Places as well as a Barn located at Sea Ranch. Dave is collecting
songs relating to Sonoma County Cities if anyone finds them please contact
Dave dbesshome@wildblue.net.
Rae Swanson reported for the Western Sonoma County Historical Society. The
West County Museumıs Civil War exhibit continues thru Feb. than presents a
Centennial exhibit of Analy High School featuring the class of 1935 to open
in April. Gold Ridge Farm will hold its annual open house during Apple
Blossom weekend in April. The Society will hold a tea on May 10th at the
Burbank cottage. The 6th annual cemetery walk is scheduled for Oct 3-4.
Restoration efforts continue at Spring Hill cemetery.
Joanne Mitchell reported for the Sonoma County Museum. The annual luncheon
was held Jan. 13 celebrating the Press Democratıs 150th anniversary with
Pete Golis as speaker. The Museum has a PD exhibit in their entrance space.
The Collections of Sonoma County exhibit is on now. January 26 a new exhibit
will open on the Japanese experiences in Sonoma County and feature the art
of Ruth Asawa who began her art career in a WWII internment camp. The Japanese American Citizens League "Giri" oral history project will also be
part of the exhibit.
Tony Hoskins on the Library History and Genealogy projects - Ancestry.com is
available at the annex. If you have WIFI you can access it at any branch
also. Tony offers tutorials of half an hour, call him to make an
appointment. The Dennis Harris collection was donated to the library. The
Library has been working on disaster planning - how to preserve historical
materials should the need arise. The Sonoma County Records Commission continues the oral history project with interviews of county dept. heads.
Tony has made a contact with the family of Essie Parish of the Kashiya
Rancheria and will conduct an interview with her daughter.
Elizabeth Kane for the Sonoma State Historic Park Assn reported they will
hold another Vallejo descendant reunion and gather oral histories. A concert
series is again begin planned starting on Feb. 8 and continuing each month
with Latin American music. A lecture series is also planned to be held at
the Community Center.
June Wohlgethan of the Santa Rosa Cemetery attended and her wish is to
promote the organization of an umbrella group of cemetery owners to share
resources and perhaps do tours of the sites.
Ray Owen for the Santa Rosa Rural Cemetery reported that the group has
raised $200,000 for an endowment fund to hire a caretaker. They meet this
month to review goals etc. New graves are being found all the time. Ray's
current search is for information on the 9 foot statue that was erected on
the courthouse grounds after Sheriff Petray's murder the the lynching of the
perpetrators. The statue was replaced with a plaque in 1922. The Cemetery
groups plans a historic ball at the McDonaldıs mansion in July. Costumes
required. Admission $100 per person.
Marianne Hurley for the State Parks talked about the reported budget cuts,
closing 48 of 278 parks in the State. The proposal came from State Parks
Dept itself. A Bicentennial event is planned for Fort Ross. Vallejo's home
has the final cultural landscape report. There is a book on Petaluma's St.
Vincentıs church. The new edition of the SF and Bay Area architectural guide
is out that Marianne contributed to. Marianne can get copies at discount if
you contact her.
Simone Wilson reported that Penny Hutton is at work on a history of
Forestville for Arcadian Books. It should be released in June.
Sean Bressie, SCHS webmaster requests that groups send him event notices which he will post on the website.
Doug Laurice and Jim Wagele reported for the Cloverdale Historical Society.
The are expanding their space and are fund raising. The 33rd Fiddle contest will be held Jan. 26-27. They are to submit a book proposal to Arcadia and
hope for a Christmas release date.
John Schubert reported for the Russian River Historical Society. They have
been in limbo 2 years while the Koret Club was being remodeled. John is producing a
newsletter and asked for comment on titles, He has used the Russian River
Herald. 20 names have been submitted. They received a $5,000 grant from the
Sonoma County Community Foundation for a new computer system. They may
have a combined meeting with Forestville this month because they both have low membership at present.
Dan Murley mentioned the Healdsburg Museum will hold a spring scholar series
of talks. Dan suggested that at Network Meetings, Historical groups could
take turns presenting an opening 15 minute talk. He will do the first at the
next meeting.
A brief discussion around the room was held on archive storage at Los
Gullicos as the SC Records Commission has material there as well as the
Sonoma County Museum. The NWPRRHS is still looking for archive storage too.
Dan Murley announced that Heritage dues of $10 are requested per group or
individual member. Send checks made out to the SCHS, mail to Tony Hoskins,
Sonoma County Library, 3rd & E St, Santa Rosa, CA 95404
Minutes by Evelyn McClure Belleview@monitor.net
