THE PLACER A Voice of History

Nov.-Dec. 2010 Administrator’s Notes Volume 13, Issue 6 showcases a private carousel Melanie Barton collection that includes 24 pieces. You won’t want to miss In this Issue I’ve spent several hours reading seeing the tiger, giraffe, rabbit,

oral histories and firsthand dog, bears and horses of various

accounts of Christmas during shapes, sizes and colors. If you ever rode on a carousel, you 1. Administrator’s Notes the Depression. There are several recurring themes other will delight in the variety of 2. Christmas than the obvious accounts of animals on display and will very difficult economic times. enjoy reminiscing about your 3. Christmas First and foremost, is the experience. Carousels are not importance of being with as popular today as they were 4. Museums family. Everything I read before modern amusement Intelligence described in some detail the parks, so this is a great holiday food preparation and opportunity to bring your PCHS News 5. the meals shared. Another children and grandchildren to see something that was Historical common account was that 6. important to you as a child. Organizations/ stockings were filled with an orange or tangerine, an apple, Artifact Highlight th nuts, and hard candy. These December 4 through the 7. Calendar of Events items were looked forward to holidays, the Bernhard Museum each year and were prized and will be decked out in Victorian Melanie Barton, Museums Admin. enjoyed slice by slice or bite by splendor. Christmas quilts form Placer County Museums Division bite. It appears that a gift other the Foothill Quilters Guild will 101 Maple St. than fruit was usually be on display on the second Auburn, CA 95603 floor of the winery. The Gold (530) 889-6500 something needed such as a pair [email protected] of socks or hat and gloves. Country Museum will be Rarely did a child receive a . decorated for a Gold Rush Michael Otten, President I think there is something to be Christmas. You will enjoy Placer County Historical Society said for a holiday that focuses reading journal entries recorded PO Box 5643 on Christmas day 1849 by real Auburn, CA 95604 on being with loved ones and www.placercountyhistoricalsociety.org less on giving and receiving 49ers. gifts. With that in mind, I invite you to attend the holiday You won’t want to miss Old Editor and Staff Writer: activities at the Placer County Town Country Christmas on th th Ralph Gibson Museums and take a stroll back December 11 and 18 at the (530) 889-6502 in time. Placer County Museum this [email protected] year. Join us at the historic www.placer.ca.gov/museum On December 2nd our newest Courthouse en route to Old exhibit at the Placer County Town Auburn and enjoy the Museum, A Leap of carousel exhibit, Christmas tree, 1 Imagination, will open. It and holiday treats.

Canned food drives and toys Another method of managing All our events and museums are for tots – these wonderful one’s funds for Christmas free…you won’t find a better programs are built around gifts were the Christmas value! the holidays. Club accounts offered by many banks. Though Best wishes for a very Merry The same was true during Christmas Club accounts Christmas and a Happy New the depression. People started in the early 20th Year. persevered and they century, they became celebrated the holidays extremely popular during the however they could with help Great Depression. These from local charities that accounts were somewhat pitched in whenever they tricky because they offered were needed. Many of those very little to no interest and who lived through the Great the penalties were high for Christmas in the Great Depression as children withdrawing the money Depression acknowledge the difficulties before December 1st, when that surrounded the holidays, the funds in one’s account Ralph Gibson yet they still reflect fondly on became officially available. Christmas morning. Of course, this kept many Christmas during the Great Something as simple as an from withdrawing the funds Depression – the very orange in their stocking early and helped preserve thought is well, depressing. thrilled them with joy. Tears their savings for the Imagine the millions of would often flow when a gift purchase of Christmas gifts. families that couldn’t afford a their father or mother made nice Christmas dinner or for them was unwrapped. With some people saving presents for their children. Though there wasn’t any of money in Christmas Club Of course, many families will the glitz and sparkle of a accounts, local businesses face the same problem this modern day Christmas, it tried to sway holiday Christmas. Tragedies and was still just as special, if not shoppers into entering their unfortunate events like a more so. stores. G.E. Lukens & Sons depression or recession renamed their establishment seem to have a greater Some were able to scrape “The Christmas Store” when impact on us when they up enough money to buy the holiday neared and happen around the holidays. Christmas gifts and purchase offered everything from toys This is why it’s easy for us to cakes and pies from local to rugs. To make things believe the myth that the bakeries during the even more confusing, a suicide rate is higher this depression. Locally, this is women’s clothing shop also time of year. reflected in the number of added “The Christmas Store” advertisements in the Placer to their title as well. Local Yes, the holidays can be Herald. Believe it or not, the bakeries offered baked tough, but at the same time, first Christmas goodies and PG & E peddled there is an extra sparkle in advertisements between electric ranges and people’s eyes; smiles seem 1929 and 1933 in the Placer refrigerators. warmer and more genuine; Herald ran Thanksgiving and many walk with a spring weekend. This might be Bad things that happen in their step. Christmas because local businesses around the holidays tend to cheer is infectious. That wanted people to think about hit us harder than if they cheer is reflected in a higher Christmas earlier so they happened any other time of number of monetary and could better manage their year, but those who survived food donations to charities money to afford a few gifts. the Great Depression, that support the poor. especially the children, still 2 hold onto warm Christmas memories. Perhaps heartwarming events and good fortune have a greater impact on us than negative ones. This would be good to remember as we head into another Christmas during poor economic times. So have a little gleam in your eye, smile a little broader, and get that spring back into your step. Christmas cheer is infectious and a lot of local charities need your cheerful support.

Advertisement December 13, 1930 Placer Herald

Bank of America Christmas Club Advertisement

December 5, 1931 Placer Herald

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Advertisement Decemb er 5, 1931 Placer Herald

Advertisement December 5, 1931

Placer Herald

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Advertisement December 13, 1930 Placer Herald

Advertisement Advertisement December 13, 1930 December 13, 1930 Placer Herald Placer Herald 5

Museums Because of printing costs, ½ tsp corn syrup our cookbook will only be Intelligence available online. Batter: Preheat oven to 375°. In a bowl, put all dry ingredients, and then add Karen’s Washboard Cookies remaining ingredients. Mix with

These are really great if you an electric mixer until Placer County work at a history museum and combined. Pour into greased everyone knows what a muffin tins ½ full. Museums News washboard looks like. Filling: Beat cream cheese, Ralph Gibson egg, sugar and salt in a small 2 cups flour I can’t believe it’s time to 1 cup flaked sweetened mixing bowl until combined and start thinking about turkeys coconut smooth. Add chocolate chips. ½ tsp baking powder Spoon two heaping and Christmas presents tablespoons into the middle of again. Of course, for those ¼ tsp soda ¼ tsp salt the batter. Bake 30-35 of you who shop at Costco or minutes. Let cool 10 minutes, Sam’s Club you’ve been ¼ tsp nutmeg 1 egg remove from pan and cool exposed to aisles of the 2 Tbs milk completely. latest Christmas decorations 8 Tbs butter since September – so maybe 1 cup light brown sugar Glaze: Combine chocolate, it isn’t so unbelievable after butter and corn syrup and melt all. Mix butter and sugar, add dry in microwave on medium heat ingredients. Shape into or over a double boiler. Dip top This is always a busy time of rectangular log 2 x 3 by 15 portion of cupcakes into long. Wrap in plastic and chill 2 chocolate glaze. year for the museums. We’re just wrapping up hours. Slice about 3/8 inch thick and make "washboard Volunteer Training, we’re Community Education planning a new carousel lines" with floured fork. Bake at 350º for 15-18 minutes. Rotate Program: Old Town exhibit to replace the Native pan if needed. Yum! Country Christmas at the Sons exhibit in the Historic Courthouse Courthouse, and we’re in the Tom’s Black Bottom planning stages for Cupcakes This year Country Christmas decorating our museums for comes to the historic Batter: 1½ cup flour the holidays. Courthouse in Auburn! A ¾ cup sugar ¼ cup cocoa powder carousel exhibit, A Leap of Last year, staff submitted Imagination will be on dessert recipes for a 1 tsp baking soda ½ tsp salt display in the Treasury and a cookbook we created as our large Christmas tree will Christmas present to each 1 cup water ⅓ cup oil stand in the hallway. The other. Below are two recipes 1 Tbs vinegar museum will be open and from that book, which is now 1 tsp vanilla we’ll serve some old available on the museums fashioned treats. website Filling: 8 oz. cream cheese (http://www.placer.ca.gov/mu 1 egg The Courthouse will be open seum) and our blog ¼ cup sugar from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm ⅛ tsp salt (http://www.placercountymus Saturday December 11th and eums.blogspot.com). 1 cup chocolate chips th 18 during Old Town

Glaze: 3 oz. semi-sweet Country Christmas. For chocolate more information, please call 2 oz. unsalted butter 530-889-6500. 6 Placer County Historical expand three others. One of Society News Mike Holmes said one these monuments is Pompeys possibility is to combine the Pillar, near Billings, Montana, Folsom and Auburn State one of 16 managed by the President’s Message Recreation areas into a single Bureau of Land Management. Michael Otten, funding unit. The two areas The BLM has proposed another President attract more than 3 million 14 areas to President Obama's visitors a year. Department of Interior for Isn't it about time to recognize monument designation, the American River for what it My suggestion was to convene including three in Northern really is, a national treasure? another forum and include California--Bodie Hills, the It's value lies not only in the representatives from El Dorado Modoc Plateau and Berryessa recreational opportunities and and Sacramento Counties and Snow Mountain. its wilderness aspects but also work toward having the in its history, most notably the President declare the area a Pompeys Pillar is of some local 1848 gold discoveries by National Monument under the interest as it was named by James Marshall at Coloma and American Antiquities Act of William Clark after the youngest Claude Chana in Auburn. 1906. member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Jean Baptiste Safeguarding the future of this Presidents have designated Charbonneau, the son of vital resource, including some 100 areas as national Sacagawea who spent the providing fire safety for canyon monuments, and many of those biggest chunk of his life in the communities such as Auburn receive far fewer visitors. The Auburn Area and along the and property owners along the area's gold production not only American River where he had canyon rim, was the focus of a impacted the creation of the served as a ferryman and special forum that attracted an Golden State but secured the surveyor. Clark nicknamed overflow audience to the Board Union and bound it together Charbonneau "Pompy" and had of Supervisors' chambers Oct. with the Transcontinental called the Montana outcropping 26. Railroad. "Pompy’s Tower," which was changed to its current name in Supervisors Jennifer At least conceptually such a 1814. The 51-acre monument, Montgomery and Jim Holmes monument could link the that includes Clark's etched and Auburn Councilman Mike Folsom and Auburn State signature on July 25, 1806, Holmes hosted the event to find Recreation Areas with the attracts about 50,000 visitors a ways to maintain funding to Coloma State Park and the year. It has a nice visitors' keep the Auburn State 271-acre Gold Hill Ranch that center and interpretative Recreation Area and Lake was home to the former programs. Clementine open and provide Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm fire safety. Colony, the first Japanese By creating a national settlement in the nation that is monument locally we can bring Mike Finnegan, area manager being proposed by Rep. extra focus to resolving a lot of for the U.S. Bureau of McClintock as a national the funding, recreational, Reclamation, which provides historic site. historical and health and safety funding for the ASRA to issues, especially if we work manage the 40 mile stretch of President cooperatively. river, and a representative for used the Antiquities Act to Congressman Tom McClintock, proclaim more than 800,000 It is as Steve Evans, state were confident that the needed acres of the Grand Canyon as a conservation director for $2 million annually to fund the National Monument. Other Friends of the River, says: "we area operations would be in presidents used the act to have the basis for a national place through at least Sept. 30, protect many other areas, many park in our back yard." Evans 2012. They said it would buy of which later became national contends the canyons lands time to come up with a long- parks such as Death Valley. won't be really protected until it term solution and it would take President Clinton used the act became "an entity unto itself." the efforts of everyone there to to declare 19 monuments and achieve it. 7 Thanks to all who participated The idea for such a marker Placer County Historical Society in the PCHS's first official came from Ralph Gibson, Dinner Meeting dedication of a grave marker on Program Manager for the Addah Owens, Vice President Sept. 26th, at the Old Auburn Placer County Museums, who Cemetery. The Bernhard noted that headstones for this When: December 2, 2010 headstone dedication provided prominent family were missing. Time: 6:30 Dinner, 7:30 Program another interesting chapter Special thanks goes to Roy and Where: Veteran’s Memorial Hall, honoring the lives of a Gold Paul Ruhkala and the Ruhkala 100 East St., Auburn, CA Rush era family who Monument Co., Ken Hash and Cost: $14 per person established roots here and Sue Burkett of the Auburn Menu: Roast Baron of Beef, Roast whose stories continue to be Cemetery District, John Knox Turkey, Seasonal Vegetables, retold almost daily at the and Carol Cramer for their Mashed Potatoes, Salad, and Bernhard House Museum research on the Bernhard Dessert. complex. About 40 people family and our Landmarks Mail Check to: PCHS, c/o Betty attended the ceremony, Committee: Karri Samson, Samson, 8780 Baxter Grade Road, including Auburn Mayor Bridget chair; Doris Viera, Richard Auburn, CA 95603. Powers, Councilman Mike Hubbard, Gayle Russell, Rose Program: Walt Wilson will Holmes and County Supervisor Ford and Lila Swesey. present a slideshow program of Jim Holmes. The headstone photographs on the train filled with denotes the birth and death Other notes: Thank you George bombs that exploded in Antelope dates of Bernhard "Benjamin" Lay for chairing October's in the 1960s. Bernhard and his wife, Rosa dinner meeting while I was in Hau, who died in 1902 within a Europe. Auburn is soliciting a We will also have Christmas music few months of each other, and volunteer City Historian. and our annual raffle. three of their children, who Contact the City Clerk's office predeceased them. for qualifications, expected duties and a one-page application.

--Michael Otten, [email protected]

Christmas Display at the State Theatre in 1939

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Placer County Historical Joss House Museum and Old Town Auburn Preservation Organizations Chinese History Center Society Richard Yue, (530) 346-7121 Ross Carpenter, (530) 885-1252

Colfax Area Historical Society Lincoln Area Archives Museum Placer County Genealogical Ed & Nilda Duffek, Shirley Russell, (916) 645-3470 Society (530) 305-3209 Alice Bothello, (530) 885-2216 www.colfaxhistory.org Lincoln Highway Association www.pcgenes.com Norman Root, (916) 483-8669 Donner Summit Historical www.lincolnhwy.org Placer County Historical Society Society Margie Powell, (530) 432-4015 Loomis Basin Historical Michael Otten, (530) 888-7837 www.donnersummithistoricalsocie Society www.placercountyhistoricalsociety .org .org Dot Shiro, (916) 663-3892 Foresthill Divide Historical www.ppgn.com Society Placer County Museums Docent Merilee Reed,(530) 367-2430 Maidu Museum & Historic Site Guild www.foresthillhistory.org Glenie Strome, (916) 782-3299 Sandi Tribe, (530) 887-9143 www.roseville.ca.us/indianmus Fruitvale School Hall eum Rocklin Historical Society Community Association Barbara Chapman, Lyndell Grey, (916) 645-3517 Native Sons of the Golden (916) 415-0153 West, Parlor #59 www.rocklinhistory.org Golden Drift Historical Society Tom Potts, (916) 412-3910 Jim Ricker, (530) 389-8344 Roseville Historical Society Newcastle Portuguese Hall Phoebe Astill, (916) 773-3003 Historical Advisory Board Association www.rosevillehistorical.org George Lay, (530) 878-1927 Aileen Gage, (530) 885-9113

Artifact Highlight

Kasia Woroniecka

Shirley Temple , c. 1934

Shirley Temple brought hope and optimism to Americans who went to the

movies to forget their problems during the Great Depression. As her popularity grew during the early 1930’s , a great number of Shirley Temple related merchandise was being produced including , photos, books, dresses and jewelry. Her break-through 1934 movie “Stand Up and Cheer” inspired a doll wearing a polka dot dress. The pictured doll from our collection was made by the Ideal Toy and Novelty Company, the only company licensed to sell Shirley Temple Dolls. The company was founded as Ideal Novelty and Toy Company in New York in 1907 by Morris and Rose Mitchom. It

changed its name to Ideal Toy Company in 1938. It is a made of sawdust -based wood pulp with a mohair wig showing off Shirley Temple’s trademark curls. The Shirley Temple doll was a very popular Christmas present in 1934.

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Calendar of Events November

Nov. 9th, 4:00 pm Roseville Historical Society Meeting at the Carnegie Museum. Contact: 916-773-3003.

Nov. 15th, 6:00 pm Foresthill Divide Historical Society Business meeting at the Foresthill Divide Museum. Contact: 530-367-3535.

Nov. 15th, 7:00 pm Rocklin Historical Society meeting at the Old St. Mary’s Chapel at 5152 Front Street. Contact: 916-624-3464.

Nov. 17th, 6:30 pm Loomis Basin Historical Society meeting at the Loomis Library. Contact: 916-652-7844.

Nov. 22nd, 7:00 pm Placer County Genealogical Society general meeting in the Beecher Room at the Auburn Library. Contact 530-885-2216.

December

Dec. 2nd, 4:00 pm A Leap of Imagination exhibit opens in the Treasury in the historic Courthouse. Contact: 530-889-6500.

Dec. 2nd, 6:30 pm Placer County Historical Society Dinner Meeting at the Veteran’s Memorial Hall. Contact: 530-885-5074.

Dec. 11th & 18th Old Town Country Christmas at the historic Courthouse from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Contact: 530-889-6500.

Dec. 14th, 4:00 pm Roseville Historical Society Meeting at the Carnegie Museum. Contact: 916-773-3003.

Dec. 15th, 6:30 pm Loomis Basin Historical Society meeting at the Loomis Library. Contact: 916-652-7844.

Dec. 15th, 5:30 pm Historical Advisory Board meeting at the Bernhard Winery. Contact: 530-889-6500.

Dec. 20th, 6:30 pm Foresthill Divide Historical Society Dinner meeting at the Foresthill Memorial Hall. Contact: 530-367-3535.

Dec. 20th, 7:00 pm Rocklin Historical Society meeting at the Old St. Mary’s Chapel at 5152 Front Street. Contact: 916-624-3464.

Dec. 23rd, 7:00 pm Placer County Genealogical Society general meeting in the Beecher Room at the Auburn Library. Contact 530-885-2216.

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