Winter-Spring PMA Newsletter 2018 Revised for The
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Preserving the Unique History of Petaluma and Providing Educational and Cultural Services to the Community Quarterly Newsletter P ETALUMA EGG DAY Winter/Spring 2018 VOLUME 28, ISSUE 1 1 On the Cover by John Benanti Petaluma Museum Association Board “The World’s Egg Basket” Executive Officers HIS YEAR’S BUTTER and Egg Day celebration continues a long President: Kathy Fries tradition of remembering our city’s history. The current Vice President: TBD Tcelebration traces its beginning to the early 1980’s, but it has Treasurer: Erica Barlas, CPA a history that takes it back to the end of World War I. The history of Recording Secretary: Debbie celebrating agriculture in Petaluma goes back even further. Countouriotis On September 26, 1867 the first exhibition of the Sonoma County Directors: Agricultural Society took place at the fairgrounds. No, not those Clint Gilbert fairgrounds where the Sonoma-Marin is held each year, but the Rob Girolo fairgrounds in the area where Petaluma High School is today. The Kate Hawker street the high school is on is a reminder of where the first fair was Dianne Ledou in 1867. Part of the reason the fair was located there was the Freyda Ravitz availability of water. A natural spring which provided much of the Michael Slade town’s water was located in the area, near the corner of Douglas and Elizabeth Walter Spring Streets. Thus the name Spring Street. Marshall West Over the years that followed, up to the period of WWI, fairs and exhibitions celebrating the town’s agricultural history took place Parks & Recreation Dept. with varying degrees of enthusiasm and community involvement. Drew Halter In 1918 the Chamber of Commerce recruited Bert Kerrigan, Recreation Music and Parks a man who had helped businesses in the City of San Francisco Commission recover from the 1906 earthquake. After studying the local situation Sara Sass Representative Bert recommended the city focus on its greatest asset, the poultry Historic and Cultural Preservation business. The city bought into the idea. In 1918 Bert began to Committee publicize Petaluma as “The World’s Egg Basket” and started “Egg Kit Schlich, Representative Day” as a way to publicize an “Eat More Eggs” promotion. The photos on the newsletter cover, from the Museum’s Staff: collection, depict people and events from that period of time. The Angela Ryan, Executive Director events brought Petaluma national and even international fame as Liz Cohee, Museum Coordinator “The World’s Egg Basket.” The Egg Day celebrations went on for a Mary Rowe, Membership & number of years. In the late 1920’s Bert left the employ of the Newsletter Editor Chamber of Commerce and the realities of foreign competition and Solange Russek, Collections Manager adverse economic impacts in the world of agriculture ended the Egg Day celebrations. Then Petaluma, and the rest of the world, got The Petaluma Museum Association caught up in the Great Depression of the 1930’s and that was Newsletter is published quarterly and followed by the brutal realities of World War II. distributed to our members. Many Following the war Petaluma began a long evolution from a thanks to all our contributors and to our predominantly agriculturally focused small town to a mid-twentieth proofreaders and volunteers century suburban city where more people worked in white collar jobs who help with our mailings. than agriculture. Farmland and chicken ranches gave way to If you would like to contribute any news housing developments. Chickens and eggs and agriculture or item of interest to our newsletter you generally were not forgotten, but they came to portray an “old can email to fashioned” and “out of date” way of life that was not in keeping with [email protected] the new reality of what Petaluma was becoming. Deadline for submission is April 1, 2018 By 1981 it was time to take a new look at our rich agricultural history. Two local businesswomen, Alice Forsyth and Linda Buffo were the driving forces behind making our history come alive. What evolved was Butter and Egg Day. In 1983 an award was established, the Good Egg award, to honor a local person who has Petaluma Museum Association contributed to continuing to bring and keep our history alive. Today 20 Fourth St. this annual event, highlighted by a parade and supported by a wide Petaluma, CA 94952 ranging variety of supporting activities is Petaluma’s biggest celebration. 2 Petaluma Museum Association Newsletter-Winter/Spring 2018 President’s Message Regular Happy New Year, Petaluma History Supporters! Features HE END OF 2017 continued to be a Eve Gala Concert, including busy time at the Museum: We performances by members of the San Tended October with our first New Francisco Symphony, along with our own Petaluma Member Orientation Meeting, with many Elizabeth Walter, and Kayleen Asbo. It of our committee representatives sharing was a magical evening of music and an History & what they do and how their efforts support amazing feat of seating 190 attendees! Commentary: the PMA. It was impressive hearing all of Now it's 2018 and there's even more to the PMA accomplishments and learning do. Our recently launched Membership Petaluma was the details of each committee. (Next one Match is going well and we are close to glued to Edward & is scheduled for March 15th.) We also the halfway point. Please encourage your Wally Scandal had our Annual River Cruise and Annual non-PMA member friends and family to Cemetery Tour fundraisers, both were support the Museum. And this year the very enjoyable, informative and well Petaluma Historical Library & Museum attended. El Dia de Los Muertos and the Petaluma Museum Association Museum Procession was again amazing and turn 40 years old and we think that's worth Highlights festive. And we ended October by celebrating! From partys to exhibits, we're handing out Halloween candy to over 300 working on plans to showcase and share costumed kids partaking in the Downtown this wonderful building and its collections. Trick or Treat Trail. Also in 2018 we've launched Third In November, we were proud to host the Wednesday Dialogues, offering monthly Petaluma Arts Association 60th historical topics to educate and entertain. Volunteer Anniversary Art Exhibit. The Museum and (See page 13 for calendar) At our first Spotlight beautiful art seem to compliment each event in January we had John Shubert, other so well. And it was nice to talk with author of “Hidden History of Sonoma some of the artists at the Opening County.” Our events continued the Exhibit & Event Reception. Behind the scenes in following Saturday, Paula Freund gave a Schedule November, Solange Russeck, our presentation on the Museum’s collections manager, along with John masterpiece by Professor Eugene FitzGerald, spent a day at the PHL&M Urbain, titled “California Yesterday and with a crew from The Travel Channel's Today.” It was a treat having Prof. Mysteries at the Museum. We'll keep you Urbains grandson and family at the posted on the upcoming Wrist-wrestling presentation. The next day we held an Museum Championship episode. Exhibit Reception for Spring Hill Collection Update Montessori Schools Pop-Up Exhibit, December began with the PMA Members “Pioneer Memoirs.” It's wonderful to see Holiday Party, Annual Meeting & Election. children so engaged with their local Thanks to Aldo for providing the lovely history and we are so proud to have their holiday music to set the festive mood and work on display. to all who helped to make it a fun evening. I'd like to share more about our Historical News We also welcomed our newest PMA upcoming activities but I'm running out of board member, Michael Slade. Mid- room, so I encourage you to review our of Petaluma month the Museum hosted Petaluma upcoming events listed later in this issue Readers Theater for two of their holiday to stay on top of all we have to offer. performances. The PMA also co- We've also added a PMA "Wish List" to sponsored Downtown Community our newsletter for your consideration. We Caroling with Aqus. Offering carolers thank you for your support and that hope mulled wine and spiced cidar, the you'll visit our exhibits and join us for our Museum was the perfect spot to warm up many events in 2018. those vocal chords before hitting the chilly streets. We ended the month (and 2017!) on a high note with our Annual New Years Kathy Barron-Fries 3 Petaluma Museum Association Newsletter-Winter/Spring 2018 Petaluma History & Commentary by Skip Sommer Petaluma Was Glued to Edward and ‘Wally’ Scandal HILE RECENTLY READING about the minions beyond the seas, and Emperor of India.” romance and engagement of Prince Edward had taken the oath of office, pledging to WHarry of England and his lovely “respect the Church of England,” which, consider- American fiancee, Meghan Markle, it brought to ing his already two-year hot romance with a mar- mind that other Royal love story about Edward VIII ried American commoner, he well knew he would and his scandalous affair with American Wallis not be doing. Britain’s Prime Minister, Stanley Simpson. It was the world-wide story of the year Baldwin, was very worried that this weak man in 1936. Those of you who read my columns know was to be in charge. I love the word: “Wacko.” It’s a perfectly good word, but On February 4, The Petalu- to apply it to the future King ma Argus quoted the new of England, (you may King Edward, as saying, “I opine), is taking things too pray I may justify your trust far? But, maybe not. throughout my reign.” He, whose mother was German, King George V of England as well as his great-grandfa- had died in January of ‘36, ther, Prince Albert.