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Museum Newsletter Winter 2012

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Museum Newsletter Winter 2012 I S S U E N U m b E r 1 • W in t E r 2 0 1 2 Making history & lasting legacies one day at a tiMe by Robbie Dileo s 2011 ends and 2012 starts, one Alameda’s history. The Alameda Museum Quarterly, A is reminded of memories past Winter 2011 issue featured Dr. Challen as the “cover and what the future may hold. girl”. She was approaching 100 and her many The museum’s purpose is to “preserve the accomplishments were highlighted in a past for the future”. While we collect story I wrote. (To read that issue, visit and conserve the tangible items www.alamedamuseum.org where all past that represent our shared City of issues are found under the Museum/ Alameda history, it is up to each Publications tab.) and every one of us to shape Jean Sweeney, age 72, a history by the actions we take long time community activist, daily. Little steps can add succumbed to pancreatic cancer toward a large impact, even on November 25th, just two becoming a legacy. Not every months after diagnosis. The person is a born leader, drawn opening of the park to be to a public life, or destined named in her honor would to greatness, but sometimes have been the best time to it just happens. do a feature story. Hopefully Two very remarkable her family, friends, and history women, Dr. Alice Challen enthusiasts will appreciate and Jean Spencer Sweeney, that Alameda Museum valued were recently honored by her impact on history, so we the City of Alameda for their have Jean as our cover girl. dedication to service in Alameda The picture at left, taken by just before each passed away. Joseph Woodard Multimedia, Both loved family, their adopted captures Jean’s youthful zeal. He city, were museum members, and also prepared the most beautiful made a significant impact on slide show at her memorial service http://woodward.freemanbusiness.com. Jean Spencer Sweeney, community activist, Her devotion to positive activism will have a future park named in her honor. and extraordinary research skills will Photo taken in 2010 by Joseph Woodward. forever change Alameda. Continued on page 2 . A l A m E d A m U S E U m Q ua r t E r l y • I ssue N U m b E r 1 • W I N t E r 2 0 1 2 Making History . Continued from page 1 museum because they had some “old family stuff” and Foremost—a loving wife and mother, Jean was a asked City Council if that could be possible. Now the teacher, a member of Rotary, the Humane Society, and well museum is just over 60 years old… the days became years, respected for her integrity, tenacity, and achieving results it just happened because the members cared, contributing through her own action, research skills and ability to time and money and most important, had the City’s motivate others. Jean’s greatest accomplishment and her support. There wasn’t a plan to become 60, but now lasting legacy will be in having helped the city acquire maybe we should plan to become 72, like Jean Sweeney the Alameda Belt Line railroad property for just under a or 100, like Dr. Challen. million dollars. Had the City not benefited from Jean’s For the past 21 years we have had storefront footage review of the original contract, that property, at today’s with 9,000 square feet allocated to fixed historical displays, market rate would have cost close to $30 million, a figure a rotating Art Gallery showcasing other groups, and we could never afford. The future park will be called the significant space for storage and research. We house City “Jean Sweeney Open Space Preserve”. Citizens for genera- documents, over 6,000 photographs, original newspapers tions will benefit from her love of open space. back to the 1870’s, old business signs, maps, framed art and furnishings, all from Alameda families. Joining the museum and participating in our events and programs is fantastic support. Our docents are volunteers, giving freely of their time and we welcome new people to the team. We have a Legacy Society, where you can name us as a beneficiary in your will for $1,000 or more, but notify us today so that your name can go onto our plaque, indicating your support, while you are still alive. We accept donations of household items for sale in our thrift-style Gift Shop. It takes real money to have space to In 1924, the city sold a small rail line to two big railroad companies store the collection, whether we are open or not. We want to create the Alameda Belt Line with the proviso that the city could to continue serving Alamedans by having lectures, providing buy back the railroad properties at any time for the original $30,000 sale price. school and senior group tours, and having a place to showcase art groups. Consider making a monetary donation to the museum in the name of Jean Sweeney Jean was also a key player in getting the Alameda or Alice Challen. That would be a fitting tribute to their Veterans Building on the National Register of Historic legacy and our mission to preserve the past for the future. Places, a building designed by Henry H. Meyers. She If you have questions about donations or want to receive the was very involved in numerous committees including full Legacy Society brochure, give us a call, 510-521-1233. reuse at our former Navy base and development along the It’s our history, so help it last for the generations to come. Northern Waterfront, plus a run for City Council in 2010. On December 11th, family and friends held a memorial service at the Elks Lodge that was the most moving and Doctor Alice loving tribute to a person I have ever witnessed. There Small in stature was laughter, joy, songs, reminisces, a glorious slide show, and yes, some tears in the packed auditorium. A life well Large in heart lived but cut way too short. We all felt lucky to honor her A giver and doer always and I wished that I had known her better. Readers might want to know more about Jean and the preserve at Doctor Alice, www.alamedaopenspace.com. Our condolences on the You made your 100 years count loss of such an outstanding citizen. Let’s keep her legacy alive. Indeed, Alameda was fortunate to have Jean. Aloha – by Lou Baca While Sweeney and Challen lead exemplary lives, each of us can have an impact on keeping our town a Thank you Doug & Gail deHaan for your great place to live. Consider this, it was a handful of $100 donation to the museum in the name descendants from pioneer families that decided to form of Dr. Alice Challen. a historical society club in 1948 that in 1951 became a 2 A l A m E d A m U S E U m Q ua r t E r l y • I ssue N U m b E r 1 • W I N t E r 2 0 1 2 BE A From the Curator’s Desk MUSEUM DOCENT by George C. Gunn Make some new friends. Please contact Ellen Chesnut 510-865-1204 for details. thought I would start out this year of 2012 by acknowledging Robbie Dileo, Chuck Millar, Diane Coler-Dark, Ellen Chesnut, Joe Young, and Virginia Rivera. Alameda Museum Quarterly is Robbie, for acting on the service and rebate program from Alameda Municipal Power to published in the spring, summer, improve the lighting throughout the museum. Now, not only is the lighting more energy fall, and winter of each year and is efficient, but it gives off a better quality of light. She also painted, single-handed, the rotating available in electronic form on the museum website. art gallery, which enhances its appeal for incoming exhibits. Alameda museum Chuck, for his efforts to improve some of the museum exhibits by illustrating them with 2324 Alameda Avenue reproduced photographs from the photo archives. Alameda, CA 94501 www.alamedamuseum.org Diane, for her enthusiasm and ideas in obtaining homes for our 2012 home tour and the 510-521-1233 myriad of things she accomplishes in the background to support the museum. CommunicAtiOnS StAff Ellen, for her efforts to secure docents to represent the museum. She also is thanked, Contributors: George Gunn, robbie along with Robbie, for the recent docent party and training session they coordinated. dileo, ron Ucovich, Judith lynch, Erich Stiger Last, but not least, I want to thank Joe and Virginia for their continued devotion and Editor: ron Ucovich support on Saturdays. Joe has been a major factor in the professionalism, increased sales, Proofreader: robbie dileo and displays in the gift shop. I would be remiss in not expounding on the patience and designer & Web: Valerie turpen abilities of Virginia, my longtime and faithful secretary. Museum Directors 2012 Diane and I are now working on raffle prizes and silent auction items needed for our robbie dileo, President Judith lynch, Vice-President annual docent and membership luncheon in March. We find we are in need of additional bob risley, treasurer items and would appreciate donations for this cause. Please call Diane 510-523-5907 to Freesia blizard, recording Secretary discuss items you feel would be appropriate for the event. George Gunn, Curator dennis Evanosky Curator, Alameda Museum debra Hilding Charlie Howell Julie Kennedy Adam Koltun Ginger Schuler dewey St. Germaine tHANKS tO OUr COrPOrAtE SPONSOrS Legacy Society the compLete fLyer iS avaiLabLe at the muSeum.
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