Quarry Quarterly Our History Our Heritage Our Community

Spring, 2015

President’s Message Jazz musician, business owner dies at 89 Kathie Nippert Many positive changes are occurring in Fred Morgan entertained generations of music lovers our town of Rocklin. Have you noticed Gloria Beverage the new Quarry District signs? The city is working around Quinn Quarry and have asked the Society for help in that Longtime Rocklin resident Fred about a professor at Chico State, who planning. Fruit trees have been planted Morgan, an accomplished musician was arguing the Holocaust hadn’t hap- who entertained music lovers for pened, recalled Rocklin resident and more than 70 years, died Feb. 6. jazz musician Jim Martinez, who was a The 89-year-old founder of Fred member of Morgan’s band for several Morgan’s Big Band and owner of years. Fred’s Musical Repairs in Rocklin With tears in his eyes, Morgan told the started playing saxophone, flute and dinner guests that his job after the war clarinet as a youth -- often practic- in Germany had been to clean up the ing behind his grandmother’s concentration camps. chicken house in Cool. “He wished he could take that profes- As a teen, sor back in time and Morgan at- show him what he Quinn Quarry tended Big had seen,” Martinez Band concerts said. “He told us that on Front Street and the Roundhouse throughout the not a day goes by Park is almost completed. Plans for the Sacramento that he doesn’t think Fire House replica are on our website area -- devel- about what he saw and we have received three bids that oping a pas- and heard. It was are higher than we planned and are sion for jazz, something he’d nev- working on reducing costs with the particularly er forget.” contractors. The City has been very the 1940s era After his tour of helpful in that process. They have grad- music. duty was finished, ed the site, ran electrical and irrigation Before he Morgan returned to underground, poured concrete side- could focus on Placer County and walks and helped speed the permit pro- his music ca- began sitting in on cess for us. reer, however, For more than 40 years, longtime Roseville High I am pleased to report we have two new Morgan Rocklin resident Fred Morgan enjoyed School’s band con- docents in training. Dave Britton and shipped out, at leading the 16-member Fred Morgan's certs, probably be- Linda Dickerson are studying Rocklin age 17, with Big Band. The accomplished musician cause one of the History and shadowing docent to get a the U.S. and owner of Fred's Musical Repairs band members had better understanding of the Museum. Army’s 44th in downtown Rocklin died Feb. 6 at caught his attention. Please stop by the Museum and wel- Infantry Divi- the age of 89. His future wife, then come them. Also, if you didn’t get a sion, fighting Courtesy Dick Schmidt 16, was equally in- chance to see the art work of local artist in several ma- terested, but had Diane Ruhkala Bell at the Museum on th st jor battles, including the Battle of concerns about the age difference. Feb. 28 and March 1 , you missed a the Bulge, and receiving a Purple “He was four years older and that’s a great show. Diane was on hand to dis- Heart, said his wife of 63 years, lot at that age,” Gay Morgan said. cuss her methods and thoughts behind Gay Morgan. Looking toward his future, Morgan all of her pieces. I estimate 50 people He was also among the first Ameri- decided to attend the Conn Vocational came by and were amazed and fascinat- can troops to enter the concentra- School of Instrument Repair in Elkhart, ed by her work. You’ll get another tion camps abandoned by the Nazis Indiana, where he acquired the skills chance to see her work at her home at the end of the war. that would carry him throughout the studio during the Artist Studio Trek At a dinner party years later, Mor- remainder of his life. 2015. gan talked for the first time about The curriculum required that students (Continued on page 2) what he saw in Germany. learn to play some notes on each instru- A guest at the party began talking (Continued on page 11)

Quarry Quarterly, April 8, 2015 Page #2

(Continued from page 1) Please donate your unwanted things for the annual Go to www.artstudiotrek.com for more information. Rocklin Historical Society’s Yard Sale. I want to give a big Thank You! to Kathie Nippert

The Rocklin Histori- cal Society’s Annual Yard Sale is sched- uled for June 13 from 6:00 am until 3:00 pm at the Johnson resi- dence, the historic white farmhouse at 5200 Fifth Street in Rocklin History Museum downtown Rocklin. The society needs all of our volunteers. The museum donations of your and school tour docents, the chapel unwanted things. committee and all committee mem- How's your New bers, our beloved fix-it crew, pho- Years resolution to tographers, cookie & desert makers, lose weight go- newsletter writers & contributors, ing? Donate those too special event booth greeters, yard -big clothes to the sale volunteers, Board of Director yard sale. members, meeting attenders, weed Are you an empty pullers and the list goes on and on nester and your kids and I am very grateful you have left their stuff in your chosen the Rocklin Historical Socie- garage? We would ty to volunteer. You are the heart love to take it off your hands! Whether you are cleaning out closets, redecorating or are tired of looking at Aunt Mabel's oil paintings, we can turn your gently used items into cash to help us operate the Rocklin History Museum at 3895 Rocklin Road. Your donations are often tax deductible Please contact Gene Johnson at (916)624-2378 to pick up your items. The society needs yard sale volunteers on June 11, 12 and 13 to set up displays, price items and bag up purchases. Consider volunteering for a great cause. Call me at 916 630-9073 if you can volunteer on any or all of those days.

Firehouse Project update Kathie and Diane Bell greeted visitors Kathie Nippert to Diane’s show at the Museum The replica of Rocklin’s original firehouse is getting closer to be- and soul of the Society and without coming a reality. Your Hose Co you we will not be able to accom- No. One Committee that meets on plish anything in the future. So Tuesday mornings at Oracle has thank you for your donation of time, been working tirelessly to get the talents and treasures. contractor's bids low enough We will bring back the General for the Rocklin Historical Socie- Membership Meetings in May, July ty to afford. and September and have many more We will get the bare shell of the exciting events coming up so check building, but that will give us the calendar section of this newslet- Home of Rocklin Hose Company more opportunity for RHS volun- ter and let me know if you want to Number One teers to complete the inside details. help and thanks for volunteering. We will continue to try to raise more funds to complete the Fire Hose Co No. 1 and make it a show place for Rocklin Fire Department's hose cart and artifacts. You are always welcome at our committee meetings and breakfast at Oracle is fantastic

2

Quarry Quarterly,Quarterly ,April October 8, 2015 8, 2014 Page Page #3 #3 The Big Day of Giving happens on May 5, 2015

This is your chance to donate to the Rocklin Historical Society

From midnight to midnight on May 5 go to: bigdayofgiving.org and donate to the Rocklin Historical Society. The society participates with the City of Rocklin in the development of Heritage Park and operates the Rocklin History Museum and the Old Saint Mary’s Chapel in Historic Down- town Rocklin. The society is Rocklin’s voice in memorializing Rocklin’s unique history and preserving the artifacts of that history.

Available now from Sierra College Press and Heyday: Sierra Stories: Ta- les of Dreamers, Schemers, Bigots and Rogues 232 pages with 65 historic photos and images $17 in paperback at book stores and online retailers or $8.99 eBook at amazon.com Author, Professor Gary Noy

3

Quarry QuarterlyQuarterly, , AprilOctober 8, 2015 8, 2014 Page Page #4 #4

Sierra College Press Journal of the Sierra College History Museum Spring 2012 • vol. 4 no. 2 From The Gregson Memoirs, Mrs. Eliza Gregson's ‘Memory’ and the statement of James Gregson Printed at San Francisco by L.R. Kennedy, 1940 Reprinted from California Historical Society Quarterly, vol. XIX, no. 2, June 1940

(Note:Misspellings are from the the local Native Americans. never seen a white child, and it was original text.) It was about Dec 1847 when the soon noised abroad that there was a Eliza Marshall Gregson, a mill- mill stones were finished the grist white child on the place and the worker, and her husband James mill was being built on the Ameri- Indians came from a distance of 40 Gregson, a blacksmith, were na- can river about 3 miles across in an miles to see her. They would come tives of England who married in easterly direction from the fort. At to the door and look and then they Rhode Island in 1843 and almost this time Sutter engaged my hus- would cover their faces with their immediately began planning to band and I to go to Coloma. My hands, and were very much aston- move West. In 1845, they set out for husband to be the blacksmith for a ished at the sight. they even went so Oregon, eventually joining a Cali- saw mill which was being built by far as to pinch her shoulders & pull fornia wagon party. The imperious Capt Sutter and James Marshall. her hair to see if she was a real hu- master of New Helvetia (later Sac- Myself to cook for the hands which man they were very fond of her one ramento) John Sutter aided squaw wanted me to swap them, and the Gregsons lived babes with her. at his fort until 1847. James after a week or two we Gregson enlisted in the U.S. heard that the mineral that Army under John C. Fremont was taken out of the tailrace in 1846. of the sawmill [was gold] & After his war service, James the hands would occasanale Gregson was employed by bring in a little gold dust Sutter and James Marshall to after a while I got tired of help build a sawmill in Co- seeing nothing but squaws loma along the banks of the & I wanted to see a white American River in the Sierra woman again so they took Nevada foothills. It was at me and my child about 15 this mill that Marshall, the co miles to a place I think it -owner and manager of the was the dimond springs to sawmill, discovered gold on see Mrs Wimmer & her January 24, 1848, and ush- family ered in the California Gold stayed two days & nights & Rush. then returned home. Well I James Gregson prospected found her camping out and for gold in 1848 and 1849 Sleeping in the wagon. she while his wife bore and was very glad to see me and raised their children. To sup- we did not sleep very much, port the family Eliza took in but put in the time talking washing and sewing jobs. In while I stayed, which was 1850, the family settled on a two days and nights, and ranch in Sonoma County. then I returned home. She The Gregson Memoirs showed we while there a (published in 1940) prints nugget of pure gold nearly James Gregson's brief as large as my thumb. Wil- “Statement” of the facts of his life were about 15 men. One man by the liam Scott who had been stopping and his wife's longer “Memory” of name of Bennet, the others I have with the wimmer family had found her experiences during the Califor- forgotten. Well a day or two before it the last of January 1848, and nia Gold Rush era. we started which was about the last there was no gold excitement at that In this passage from her Memory, day of Dec….The weather was ra- time. Eliza Gregson describes her arrival ther bad and it took us two days and The exact date on which gold was in Coloma in early 1848 and her a half to make the trip. We reached really discovered, I am unable to description of events involving our destination just about 11 A.M. state as it was some time before we sawmill workers, prospectors and The Indians that were about had (Continued on page 5) 4

Quarry QuarterlyQuarterly, , AprilJanuary 8, 20155, 2014 Page Page #5 #5 (Continued from page 4) mines & camped close by us. I must 13 years old. could believe that it was real gold. In a say here that for about 3 months we our Somewhere about this time old James few days however after we got settled liveing was very poor We had salt beef Marshall & J Gregson went prospecting at Coloma The work hands were dig- so poor & salty that it looked like blue for gold a little further up the river than ging the tail race at the mill, and one flint—& salt Salmon too salty & oily they had been and they found plenty of evening they had turned on the water so that it was not fit to eat & boild barley scale gold my husband asked Marshall as to sluice out the dirt. The next morn- sometimes boiled wheat & peas dried to divide with him. He very quickly ing Jas Marshall and Pete Wimmer answered no you are working for me. were standing on the bank examining Very well says Gregson I will work no the work, when Marshall said to Wim- more & I shall gather gold for myself mer, “What is that glittering down in which he did now the people were the tail-race?” Wimmer jumped down coming in from all parts of the of Call and picked up some substance, which & chili & by & by the oragononians proved to be fine scale gold, and there commencing to arrive early in the gold was no other kind of gold found in that excitement Mr. Gregson made the first place, as we afterwards learned. The pick & afterwards made a good many work hands would occasionally bring picks & drills for the miners. & the in a little gold dust. men stopt working on the mill every About this time there was a man named thing was gold crazy run away sailors Humphreys he was a minealoligist and solders came into the mines my [mineralogist] & so [when] the weathre mother & two brothers & my sister opned out people began to come into came to hunt for gold. my sisters hus- the mines one man by the name of band had deserted & she did not know turner [came] & brought his daughter where he was at that time. Mary ______I persuaded him to leave her with me untill he went to bring the rest of his family & he did so which pleased me very much She was about 16 years old. one day as our work was done we went neither bread or Coffee or tea or sugar. down to the mill which was about half 1 keg of Butter strong enough to run a mile down the hill. & we thought we away of itself so that is the way we would wash out some dirt & try to find lived for about 3 months. gold well we saw something shining in about this time gold hunters began to the bottom of the tailrace so we got arive with pans & in A short time the down & gathered some. but turning to new[s] began to spread far & wide my companion I said this is too light & about the first of May some men came if we take this up to the house the men up from Sonoma & told me that my will laugh at us so we went home no little sister Mary Ann was married to a better than we was. Doc. Ames an assistant Doc in the N.Y. By & by her parents moved into the Volunteers she being only a little past Scenes from the January, 2015 Rocklin Historical Society’s Installation of Officers Ronna Davis

Dr. Jim Carlson (right ) presented a recognition award to outgoing President Henry (Hank) Lohse III was installed at vice Dan DeFoe. Dan’s wife Karin assisted. president and Kathie Nippert was installed as president. 5

Quarry Quarterly , April 8 2015 Page #6 Do you want to join the Changes at Old Saint Mary’s Nancy Lohse Fixers? Old Saint Mary’s Chairperson Bob Mart Fixer Chief

Historic Old St. Mary’s Chapel certainly has seen change through the years! It You've missed lots of projects in the was built in 1883 on land donated by James Bolton, the Irish land developer works, as well as completed, if you've who laid out early Rocklin. It served as a Catholic church for 100 years till not been by the Museum and Chapel 1983. It continued it’s religious tradition serving as a Church of Religious in the last month . The big ones, the Science and a Baptist Church. Though no longer a religious building, the his- Fixer Team cannot take credit for, but toric church continues to change lives as hundreds attend weddings at Old St. get out of your car and walk around. Mary’s. Now you'll begin to see Fixer accom- plishments! Our last big job was be- Change continues at the hind the Museum. We moved two chapel. If you haven’t been beautifully finished slabs of granite, by lately, it’s worth the each weigh- drive. A sidewalk has been ing 800+ added and the foundation pounds, by for the history kiosk is in hand to be- place. Further down the come property, the city has plant- benches ed a beautiful fruit orchard under the including numerous varie- olive tree. ties. Across Rocklin Road, Just like the the city continues to devel- Egyptians moved pyramid materials, op the roundhouse area into we used rollers, muscle, and some a beautiful park. good old common sense!! Believe me, we had fun and saved a bundle in I can only hope that people unnecessary crane fees. with vision will continue to We always have fun twice a month, on create the historic area the second & fourth Tuesday morn- Rocklin needs and deserves. ings beginning around 9:30AM. Light electrical, plumbing, painting, land- scaping, and repair of two really old Rocklin land marks that are looking pretty sharp due to the passion and Call to set up a commitment of the RHS Fixers! Come join us; someone is always add- private tour for ing to our "To Do" List! Contact me, Bob Mart, at: 916-435- your special day! 9360 or [email protected] . Even easier, just show up at the Chap- 916-415-1150 el around 9:30 AM. www.OldStMarysChapel.com Hope to see you, and thanks to those volunteers who've already pitched in email: [email protected] to help.

═════════

If you are not a member of the Rocklin Historical Society, please join. Your Rocklin Historical Society is an all-volunteer organization which conducts projects to educate citizens concerning Rocklin’s unique history and to preserve artifacts of that history. The society needs your financial support. Please send your name, address, email address, and a check for the dues, only $20 yearly for an individual or family, to: Rocklin Historical Society, P.O. Box 1, Rocklin, 95677.

6

Quarry Quarterly , April 8, 2015 Page #7

Bill Marble is keeping up with Joel Parker Whitney (1835—1913) a study of Whitney’s personal diaries and writings Whitney was one of Northern California's largest landowners. Western Rocklin is astride 12,000 acres of his 20,000 acre Spring Valley Ranch.

Crossing the Big Pond sound of a skeleton's bones; the The Umbria proceeded to travel Bill Marble waves may rush over the forecastle across the mighty Atlantic making with volcanic force, and break between 400 and 500 miles each day against his cabin door with a roar until reaching Queenstown, England Among the many amazing aspects like thunder, and still you'll sit and in a mere 6 days 5 ½ hours. of J. Parker’s life is the fact that he laugh as complacently as if you rest- “This was its third fastest crossing”. was a constant traveler. In Reminis- ed snugly before your own fireside, Whitney entered in his diary: cences of a Sportsman he recounts while Captain McMickan spins his SS Umbria at Sea, Jan. 10, 1889 his experiences in the following yarns.” Until last night it had been as if on a manner: In his diary, J. Parker describes his lake, so smooth and tranquil that of “I established my residence in Bos- journey thusly: the Umbria from New York to mid- ton for a series of years, though I “Steamship Umbria, Saturday, Jan ocean, and not very rough even yet, made five round trips to California 5, 1889 - After boarding last even- but on the trough of the waves we ing, we passed a wonderful night rolled a good deal last night making and arose at 7:30 AM to see the it uncomfortable for all. steamer off. The Umbria left Pleasant skies until last evening promptly at 8. It seemed a very when it commenced to sprinkle and smooth matter with her to back out is doing the same this forenoon. from the slip, turn and wend her There are about 216 passengers way through the labyrinth of ferry which is considered a good number boats and small craft as well as for January. We have two of the The Umbria large steamers going and coming, most pleasant rooms on the ship, before 1860, and have since made but she did it quickly and cleanly 242 & 243. Large rooms on the those journeys over a score of times, and it scarcely seemed a half an Promenade Deck. besides eighteen round trips across hour before we were at Tecumtine Queenstown, Ireland, Jan 11 at 8 the Atlantic to Europe. I crossed the and shortly PM where we find the Irish mark in Great Plains from the Missouri Riv- after off half an hour, not anchoring and er to the Rocky Mountains four Sandy Hook. proceeding to Liverpool where we times from 1865 to 1867, before the At breakfast arrived at anchor at 10:30 AM on completion of a railroad there.” at 8:30, I time..” Only a couple of his ocean crossings had two One of the reasons for the Whitney are covered in the four volumes of letters from family visiting England so frequent- his diaries that are available in the Col. Nutt ly was that Lucy was born there and Rocklin Historical Museum. One of and wrote desired to visit her family and these crossings took place in Janu- him an an- friends. J. Parker also had many ary of 1889 when J. Parker and his swer. We business interests in both England young family, Lucy, Parker, Vin- found that and mainland Europe. His business cent, & Beryl, sailed out of New Capt. successes allowed them to afford York City on the Cunard Line’s SS McMickan this extravagant lifestyle and cross Umbria under the command of Cap- had asked the ocean on a regular basis. tain W. McMickan, who is charac- the steward terized in the diary as follows: to have us at Captain his table “The social sailor is Captain W. McMickan McMickan, of the Umbria. A directly at pleasanter companion one rarely his right meets. You may sit in his saloon and hand. watch his merry eye sparkle while The morning was overcast with a he rattles off tales of the sea by the misty fog and light rain with a mod- hour. The wind may shriek and erate head gale but the mighty Um- grate through the yard-arms until bria treks onward scarcely feeling you think you hear the pinging the wind or rains. 7

Quarry QuarterlyQuarterly, , JanuaryAprilOctober 8, 8,2015 8, 2015 2014 Page Page Page #8 # #88

Downton Abbey in Rocklin The rest of the history Gay Morgan Gay Morgan

I am a fan of Downton Abbey as in Maine where he spent many There was an article in the last I'm sure many of you are too. I summers. Paris was always waiting newsletter about all the wonderful love the baronial mansion, the on the dock when he arrived. projects that Nancy Lohse and the beautiful park-like setting, the for- He kept prized Greyhounds at third graders in Rocklin Unified mal dinners and parties, the fash- Spring Valley, where he wintered. School District have done for the ions of the day and of One of the Rocklin History Society and St. course the characters, Greyhounds Mary's Chapel. It explained how both upstairs and became a house she recruited retired teachers and down. pet at the ranch. others to provide tours for the clas- I even like the dog Her name was ses. whose name is Isis Penelope. It is all true and works wonderfully this season. It was Formal dinners well. Nancy is certainly a valuable Pharoah in earlier were part of life and hard working docent. episodes. at The Oaks. However, as Paul Harvey used to As a docent at the Penelope would say, “And now the rest of the sto- Rocklin History muse- watch from her ry.” um I often tell visitors accustomed Shortly after the Museum opened in about Joel Parker place in front of 2002, third grade teachers asked for study tours. (The third grade stud- Whitney and his The Oaks the fireplace as Spring Valley Ranch. the butler care- ies their home community). I tell them how he traveled often to fully laid the table. He placed a We had three experts on Rocklin England and Europe and how he dinner roll neatly wrapped in a nap- History at that time, Roy and Ruben admired the English lifestyle. I kin at each place. As dinner pro- Ruhkala and their sister Ruth Wil- suddenly started to compare Down- gressed one roll was always miss- liams. I grew up here and taught ton Abbey with Spring Valley ing. The butler insisted he had school for 35 years and I learned a Ranch. counted out the lot from the Ruhkalas. So we start- Here too is a baro- correct amount. ed giving the tours. nial mansion This persisted Along the way we were joined by called The Oaks for quite a time. others, Alma Anderson and Susan set in a beautiful Then the butler Brooking. place. Mr. Whit- decided to hide Sadly, we lost Alma, Ruben and ney loved to enter- himself after Ruth. Susan took copious notes on tain many promi- preparing the Roy and the basement room and nent and wealthy table. As he became the expert. Susan and I guests. For their watched, Penelo- continued these two person tours pleasure as well pe silently went for 8 or 9 years. his family's he to the table, took Now we have lots of help: Nancy installed a nine one roll and pro- Lohse, Nancy Ustaszewski, Kathy hole golf course, ceeded to anoth- Reed, Pat Woessner, Diane Wade, tennis courts, cro- er room where Patrice Cardott, Patsy Pattison, quet courts and she ate it very Leslie McNeill, Angie Goebel, even a bowling neatly leaving no Jerry Farren, Bob Mart and David alley. crumbs. Baker. Russ McNeill has been There was an eight These incidents known to substitute for his wife. mile drive over were found in Just thought you might like to know the rest of the story. twelve stone Joel Parker Whitney the book bridges. Guests “Fortune Built Guided tours of the Museum are were driven By Gun” written available for groups of 10 or more around this in a rubber tired phae- by Robert Miller. We have several people by calling Gay Morgan at: ton imported from England. Blood- copies at the Rocklin History Muse- 624-2355. There is no charge but ed horses were provided for those um if you'd like to read more. donations are always welcome. who preferred to ride. Sometimes there were fox hunts but the foxes were jack rabbits. . Mr. Whitney loved dogs. A long time favorite was “Paris” a Red Irish Setter who lived at his Camp

8

QuarryQuarry Quarterly,Quarterly ,JanuaryApril October 8, 8,2015 8, 2015 2014 Page Page Page #9 # 9# 9 About Old Town Rocklin Gene Johnson

The City of Rocklin is beautifying beautify Rocklin’s blighted railroad firehouse, the home of Rocklin Hose Rocklin’s historic downtown granite right of way. Company Number One. (See the status quarrying area, naming it the Quarry They have constructed a grassy park at of the project on Page 3.) District, clearing vegetation and facili- the site of Rocklin’s Roundhouse and Organ aficionado Ed Stout gave us a tating close up views of some of Rock- opened it to the public. tour of his theater organ business in the lin’s historic quarry sites. The city’s The park is shaped to recognize fea- former tile store building” on Rocklin plan is to draw commercial interest and tures of the roundhouse. The service Road near the tracks. Mike Bouchard tourists to the area. The district in- bays are now a semi-circle of flower of MJB Construction is expanding the gardens pointing to the turntable spot building to house and demonstrate one at the center, and there is a covered of America’s premier theater organs. picnic area. Ed says he is designating the building The city has planted an orchard of as a private museum. several types of fruit trees in Heritage Rocklin now has at least three muse- Park at C Street, south of the Old Saint ums, The Rocklin History Museum, Mary’s Chapel. The Sierra College Natural History Our Kudos go to the Rocklin’s Pub- Museum, and now, Ed Stout’s Organ lic Works organization for recognizing museum. the importance of Rocklin’s unique How about the railcars on Pacific Street history as they lead the work on pro- near Yankee Hill Road? They were jects for Heritage Park and the Quarry once a museum of sorts. District. My attention is now focused on the Rocklin Historical Society member bucket list of improvements to our home, our 1886 white farmhouse on Fifth Street. New Quarry District signs are Project one is removal of lowered ceil- ings installed in the 1940s. We found appearing on Pacific Street and that piping for the original gas lighting on Rocklin Road. is still in place. We are also finding lots of dust. Meanwhile the yard is suf- fering from the drought and lack of cludes more than seven acres, south of attention. Maybe we are eligible for the Big Gun and Quinn Quarries, which blight removal funding. Project two the city recently purchased from the will be a cruise. Kesti family. Please note that, contrary to our last Discarded granite processing tools report, the Rocklin entrance point signs and other artifacts of Rocklin’s granite reading Rocklin Established 1893 have industry have been scattered near quar- not been corrected. We hope that some ry pits and in nearby weedy fields for day the signs will be corrected to read several decades. Rocklin Historical Rocklin Established 1864. Society Artifacts Collections Manager, The city has constructed a David Baker consulted with society grassy park at the site of members and listed several of these Rocklin’s roundhouse and artifacts for the city to put on display opened it to the public near district attractions and along dis- trict access ways. New Quarry District signs are appearing on Pacific Street Cris Gerhard has done a great job for and on Rocklin Road. several months as project manager of The City of Rocklin is continuing to the project to rebuild Rocklin’s original

9

Quarry Quarterly , April 8, 2015 Page #10 The Rocklin Historical Society consults on city plans Spring Garden Report Sally Huseby for Rocklin’s Quarry District. Garden Coordinator Ronna Davis . I am so glad to see Spring arrive. Blue We were lucky enough to get some rain shirted in early March. Our gardens at the mu- Rick For- seum and chapel are looking colorful. stall, the We had a workday at the chapel a week City of ago and replaced some plants so the Rocklin’s Director of Public Services enthralls Rocklin Historical Society members with his plans to incorpo- rate the Quinn Quarry into Rocklin’s new Quarry District Project. The project intends to beautify and commercialize properties which were the center of flowerbeds are filled out now. Rocklin’s granite processing industry. The City installed a curved sidewalk at Quinn Quarry is the lake filled quarry behind Rocklin’s main fire station south side of the chapel and it is attrac- building on Rocklin Road west of Grove street. tive as you walk beneath the Maple William and Mary Quinn squatted on the property to quarry granite in 1873. trees as they are leafing out. The City William fell to his death from a hoist in 1874 and Mary and her children oper- has taken over handling the sprinkler ated the quarry into the 1890s. Legislation in 1891concerning squatters’ rights system at the chapel to coordinate with the park. They will also replace grass at allowed the Quinns to assume ownership in 1893. They leased the quarry to the front area. new operators and the quarry continued to produce granite until the mid Stop by and stroll through our gardens twentieth century. In the 1930s the quarry was the source of granite for the and park areas. It is a great time of Monterey Breakwater. year. Quinn Quarry was one of Rocklin’s favorite twentieth century swimming Docents needed holes. Kathie Nippert Quinn Quarry is just a few yards east of the Capitol Quarry, now called Big Gun, which is near the corner of Pacific Street and Rocklin Road. The Rocklin History Museum needs docents. If you can volunteer please call me at 916-630-9073

Scholarships announced Nancy Lohse

We are pleased to announce that the Rocklin Historical Society will now be granting scholarships to Rocklin graduating seniors starting with 2015's grad- uating class. The scholarships are available to Rocklin, Whitney and Victory High School graduates who are attending any college and are pursuing a de- gree with an emphasis in the area of history. Students must have a minimum of 3.0 GPA and show involvement in com- munity service in Rocklin. They will also need to write a one page essay explaining why they have cho- sen the study of history and what they plan on doing with their degrees. A letter of recommendation from a history teacher at their school is also re- quired. Funding for the scholarships comes from dues (have you paid yours yet?) and various fund raisers such as our annual yard sale and donations at our speak- ers series.

10

Quarry QuarterlyQuarterly, , JanuaryAprilJanuaryOctober 8, 8,2015 5,8, 2015 20142014 Page PagePagePage #11 ##11 1111 (Continued from page 1) proved everyone wrong. After the “How wonderful it is that he has this Morgan wires were removed from his jaw, Mor- great hobby that he loves and also gets ment so they could check their repair gan picked up the horn and slowly re- paid for it,” Gay Morgan told her work, his daughter, Lisa, wrote in the gained his ability to play. daughter in 2008. “Other people like “Enjoy the Ride” magazine’s Winter He moved the repair business out of the to go out and play golf all day, but 2008 edition. garage and into a small strip mall on Fred is happiest playing music all At that time, professional musicians Rocklin Road where it became a gath- night long.” would often visit the Conn factory to ering place for Northern California It seems fitting, then, that the mem- pick out new horns, she added. musicians. Customers ranged from bers of his band are asking to host a “We had some wicked jam sessions local high school band teachers to pro- music tribute in Morgan’s honor in- there,” Morgan told his daughter. “We fessional musicians who brought their stead of a traditional funeral. would end up playing all night in the treasured instruments to Morgan for Chinese restaurant down the street. The repair and restoration work. veteran players invited us younger guys Over the next 40 years, Morgan also to sit in with them. Man, that was an enjoyed leading his 16-piece Fred Mor- education.” gan Big Band while playing lead alto. Upon his return to California, Morgan In keeping with the traditions of the found the age difference no longer mat- “Other people like to go out and play golf all day, but Fred is happiest playing music all night long.”

Big Band era, band members wore tux- edos at weekly performances through- out the Sacramento region. Help preserve Rocklin’s history and support his- tered; he and Gay married and settled in Rocklin. tory-related arts projects. During the 1960s, Morgan worked the swing shift at McClellan Air Force Base to support his family. Gay had obtained a provisional teaching creden- The Rocklin Heritage Fund at the tial and was working at Rocklin Ele- mentary while attending college at night to earn a teaching credential. Placer Community Foundation sup- After their children, Lisa and Stuart, were born, Gay remained at home until ports the Rocklin Historical Society they were school age. For the next 35 years, she taught at Rocklin and Parker Whitney Elementary Schools as well as Now it is possible to make tax-deductible gifts and Spring View Middle School. perpetual endowments that will Morgan continued to be drawn to a music career. He set up a music instru- support Rocklin Historical So- ment repair shop in the garage of the family residence and played gigs at ciety programs including both night and on weekends. His career plans were temporarily de- visual and performing arts re- railed in 1967 when Morgan was seri- ously injured after the VW bus he was lated to Rocklin’s heritage. driving was struck by another car and sent spinning into a walnut tree. Ac- Please contact Veronica Blake cording to his daughter, Morgan’s jaw at 530-885-4920 to learn how was broken in several places and his wrist was smashed. you can contribute, or go to Although doctors doubted he would be able play an instrument again, Morgan www.placercf.org.

11

Quarry QuarterlyQuarterly, , JanuaryAprilJanuaryOctober 8, 8, 2015 5,8, 2015 20142014 Page PagePagePage #12 ##12 1212 Mark your calendar.

April 12, 2015. Old Saint Mary’s Chapel, 2 pm 5251 Front Street in historic Downtown Rocklin Julio Sevilla with Vaudeville Magic Rocklin Historical Society Board of Directors April 27, 2015 Springfield History Club monthly meeting 1 pm Kathie Nippert, President at the Springfield Gables Henry Lohse III, Vice President Michael MacFarland with From Anger to Empathy

Patrice Cardott, Secretary May 5, 2015 Russ McNeill, Treasurer Placer Community Foundation Big Day of Giving Ronna Davis, Board member A day to donate to the Rocklin Historical Society See Page 3 Sally Huseby, Board member Nancy Lohse, Board member May 16, 2015 Jeff Foltz, Board member Kiwanis Founders’ Day Parade and Festival Dr. Jim Carlson, Past President Dan DeFoe, Past President May 18, 2015 Skip Gebel, Past President Old Saint Mary’s Chapel, 7 pm Roy Ruhkala, President Emeritus 5251 Front Street in historic Downtown Rocklin General Membership Meeting AND Ice Cream Social at the chapel & patio

May 24, 2015 Finn Hall Rocklin Homecoming Reunion special collections want- Look for an announcement in the mail.

ed May 25, 2015 Gay Morgan Springfield History Club monthly meeting 1 pm at the Springfield Gables If you have a special collection you Bill Marble with "Satellites Orbiting the Earth" are willing to share, we would be happy to put it on display in the June 13, 2015 Rocklin History Museum for a lim- Rocklin Historical Society Annual Yard Sale ited time. 6:00 am until 3:00 pm We have the display cases and At the Johnson residence, the historic white farmhouse at 5200 Fifth Street in downtown Rocklin. See Kathie Nippert’s article on Page 2. lighting to highlight and enhance the look of your items. June 22, 2015 It doesn't necessarily have to be of a Springfield History Club monthly meeting 1 pm historic nature. In the past members at the Springfield Gables Kathy Smith with The Sage of Smartsville.

July 20, 2015 Old Saint Mary’s Chapel, 7 pm 5251 Front Street in historic Downtown Rocklin General Membership Meeting and history presentation by historian Alfred Corral.

Note: For access to the Springfield Gables dial 631 at the Springfield gate then hit the "Call" key and the gate will open.

Also: have displayed Elephants, Fountain Rocklin Historical Society board meetings are held on the second Monday of every pens and writing materials, China month at 6 pm in the Old Saint Mary’s Chapel annex. If you have comments or ques- tions for the board of your historical society this is your chance. tea cups and linens, old mining era And Rocklin Historical Society planning meetings are held every Tuesday at 7:15 am artifacts, clocks, personal grooming in the cafeteria at Oracle, corner of West Stanford Ranch Road and Sunset. items and more. Some visitors come to the museum just to see the special collections. All of our visi- tors seemed to enjoy them. Call me at 624-2355 and I will help you set up your display.

12