. Volume 25, Issue 7 Serving Our Community to Preserve and Share Local History JULY, 2013 Historic MacMurray Ranch to Benefit Museum by Holly Hoods Though we are bidding a fond farewell to the “Movie Stars Next Door Exhibit” on July 21st, we will continue to feature the MacMurray’s Twin Valley Ranch among local agricultural traditions in our next exhibit, “From Farm to Table.” With this exhibit, opening August 7th, the Museum will be presenting numerous events and activities to promote connection to and awareness of our agricultural heritage. We invite you to join us at a rustically elegant benefit for the Healdsburg Museum at beautiful MacMurray Ranch on Westside Road in Healdsburg, the evening of Friday, August 9th. Hosted by Kate MacMurray, guests will tour the MacMurray home and ranch outbuildings. Visitors will also enjoy delicious appetizers, artfully prepared by Gia Passalacqua, and well matched with MacMurray Ranch wines. (Nonalcoholic beverages will also be available.) A Fred MacMurray film - introduced by Kate - will be screened in the old horse barn, which has been outfitted with theater seats. Popcorn will, of course, be served! Thanks to generous sponsorship by the Fred and June MacMurray Foundation, the entire $100 ticket price will be used to benefit the Healdsburg Museum. Tickets will be sold at the Museum and available online. Calendar July, 2013 3 14 16 Healdsburg Museum August, 2013 HMVA Meeting, 9:30 am, Museum Research Center 2 Volunteer Picnic, 6:00 pm, Brandt Family Picnic Area Georgetown BBQ and Tour, 12:00 to 3:00 pm, Smith Family Ranch 7 HMVA Meeting, 9:30 am, Museum Research Center Board Meeting, 8:30 am, Museum Research Center 22 - 6 Museum Closed for New Exhibit Installation 7 “Farm to Table” Exhibit Opening Reception, 5:30 pm 9 MacMurray Ranch Tour, Twin Valley Ranch 18 Instant Wine Cellar “Sip, Savor & Celebrate!” Party, 2:00 to 5:00 pm, Sbragia Family Vineyards 20 Board Meeting, 8:30 am, Museum Research Center 25 Antique Fair, 9:00 am to 4:00pm, Healdsburg Plaza 221 Matheson Street Healdsburg, CA 95448 Telephone 707 431 3325 Fax 707 473 4471 www.healdsburgmuseum.org [email protected] Museum Hours: 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Wednesday – Sunday CLOSED MONDAY and TUESDAY Research Center open by appointment Thursday – Saturday History Matters articles and voting records, but also two gorgeous photographs of the Miller house and family that had evidently been donated by his mother many years ago. The Miller house was originally located on the south side of West Matheson Street where Safeway is now. We weren’t sure whether the house was demolished to make way for the Safeway or if it was already gone by then. Do any of you longtime residents remember? by Holly Hoods, Curator For as long as I have worked at the Healdsburg Museum, members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church have frequently traveled here to research and visit key historic sites of their faith. Several SDA researchers have already made summer trips to Healdsburg this year. I really enjoy meeting these knowledgeable and enthusiastic church members. Healdsburg was one of important cities in the West where this religion gained early prominence. Our local significance derives from being the home of Ellen G. White, the leading spiritual leader and founding prophetess of the church. Ellen and her husband James, an SDA church elder, lived on West Dry Creek Road and later on Powell Avenue. This was where she wrote many of her books and treatises on religion and health that became the major precepts of the faith. Healdsburg was also home to Healdsburg College, a private Adventist school that opened in 1882, located where Plaza Court is today. Ellen White died in 1915 and the trustees of the Ellen G. White Estate are planning a series of major events and activities in 2015 to commemorate her influence and legacy. I hope to work with Rio Lindo Academy students to develop a local Adventist history walking tour as part of the festivities. Other recent research at the Museum has included houses on Johnson, Fitch and Grant Streets. These residential researchers have sought dates of construction, previous owner information and locations of former wells and outhouses. A new Museum member came in to research a property for which she was seeking a demolition permit from the City. It was clear that the modest 1897 cottage had been altered using inappropriate materials so that it could not be considered individually historic or a contributor to the Johnson Street Historic District. New Museum member Rich Tuttle spent a happy day in our Research Center, engaged in researching the early (George) Miller and (Silas) Peter families of the 1860s1910s. Rich was thrilled to find not only historical newspaper President’s Corner by Stan Becker, Board President The museum’s strength lies in three elements: the gifted curatorial staff, the dedicated volunteer core and the board of directors. We currently have 19 outstanding members whose job it is to set museum policy. However, the job is more than that. Each board member is a museum ambassador and advocate who represents the museum and our mission to the community. Most importantly, the board members are fundraisers. They help keep the museum solvent by asking community members for their financial support and soliciting donors for the museum operating and endowment funds. In June, the nominating committee begins the search for the next year’s board of directors. If you have a love of history and have a call to volunteerism, let us know if you are interested in joining us. HMVA News by Ann Howard, HMVA Chair A big thank you to Lea Gilg, Lois Grace, Phyllis Chiosso-Liu and Catherine Curtis for helping Bob Rawlins and Rawleigh Fjeld during the long day at the Antique Fair’s new location on the West Plaza Sunday, May 26th. Bob reported that we brought in $895 which is quite good considering that the most expensive item sold was $65. Rawleigh donated many of our items. Bob has upgraded the credit card machine at the Museum, so we now have a wireless version to take to events. Rawleigh’s friend, Cathy Waterbury, helped Rawleigh, who is recovering from surgery, load her van earlier, unload it at the event and then magically reappeared at the end of the day to reload the unsold items for storage. She even brought a large container of fresh fruit for the crew. 2 An out-of-town visitor who stopped by our booth had seen our press release in the Healdsburg Tribune and had already visited the MacMurray exhibit twice! When you go to the exhibit, be sure and listen to the audio tour narrated by Kate MacMurray. It is full of personal stories about her parents’ lives. Also, check out the personal stories of Fred MacMurray and June Haver that have been added to the exhibit. You are invited to write your own. I added a story about the late 1880s Conestoga wagon above the Montgomery Village sign in Santa Rosa that Fred MacMurray gave to Hugh Bishop Codding in 1950. The wagon came from MacMurray’s Twin Valley Ranch; therefore, it could have belonged to one of the earliest settlers! David Codding and his cousin Earle Cummings shared the details with me. David and his father preserved the wagon that has stood as a favorite landmark for many decades. David ended his story, “History is not to be forgotten.” Edson and I leave on July 1st with our son Mike to drive to the Howard H Lazy R Ranch in North Park, Colorado. We will be staying there for two months. Unfortunately, we will miss the summer events for the Museum. I will look forward to hearing about the event at Georgetown on July 14th and the tour of the MacMurray Ranch on August 9th. The Museum will be closed July 22nd to August 6th for the installation of the “Farm to Table” exhibit. The opening reception is planned for the August 7th. August 2nd will be the Volunteer Picnic at Brandt’s picnic grounds. August 18th will be the “Sip, Savor & Celebrate!” party at beautiful Sbragia Winery. August 25th will be the second Antique Fair. Healdsburg Water Carnival The Healdsburg Museum will have a big presence. While we don’t plan to launch a float, we will host a large booth displaying historic photos and our scale replica of the original 1909 Water Carnival. We’re looking for a few friendly folks to greet the public and help set up and take down the booth. We hope to have enough volunteers that we can each take two hour shifts and enjoy the carnival the rest of the day. Please contact me or Meredith Dreisback (4313325) if you can help. School Field Trips at the Museum by Holly Hoods Thanks to Nydia Goode, Phyllis Chiosso Liu, Lea Gilg, Darla Budworth and Jessica Hutchison for helping us host three elementary school class field trips at the Museum in June. Students, teachers and parents from St. John's kindergarten and first grade and Alexander Valley School third graders enjoyed private tours of the exhibits and an up-close introduction to the intriguing miniature world of Nydia's Victorian dollhouse. Museum tours, specially geared to the ages of the students, are offered at no charge to school groups year round. by Holly Hoods Join us from 11 am to 3 pm on Saturday, July th 27 at Veterans’ Memorial Park to enjoy the Healdsburg Water Carnival. It will be a day of free, old-fashioned summer fun on the Russian River. Based on Russian River festivals from the early 1900s, the Healdsburg Water Carnival tradition was revived in 2011. This year it will be presented by Regional Parks and Healdsburg's Sunrise Rotary. The carnival feature will feature a river parade of whimsical floats, floating wine-barrel races, a rubber duck derby with prizes, children's games and activities, live music and delicious food prepared by local vendors. SAVE THE DATE!!! New Exhibit - “Farm to Table” Opening Reception Wednesday, August 7th - 5:30pm 3 Sip, Savor & Celebrate! CNN highlighted Smith and his fascinating private collection in 1997, calling it “Hollywood’s Attic.” Earlier this year, Georgetown was also featured on the popular television program American Pickers. A History Channel promotion described the Georgetown episode: “Like a Hollywood back lot, the jaw-dropping collection includes an entire village built from scratch…every building is packed with classic cars and vintage movie memorabilia.” The Smith family ranch is located on 35 acres next to the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sonoma County’s richest wildlife sanctuary, where visitors may even glimpse sea otters and bald eagles. (Comfortable shoes and casual clothing are encouraged.) Guy Smith, George’s son, and Kate MacMurray will serve as hosts for the day’s festivities. The $65 ticket price for this uniquely entertaining and unforgettable experience with a delicious meal is a bargain. Sponsored by the Fred and June MacMurray Foundation, 100% of the event’s proceeds will go to help fund the Museum’s operating expenses. Attendance to this special event is limited. Contact the Healdsburg Museum (431-3325) now to reserve your place. by Bob Rawlins Things are firming up nicely for the Instant Wine Cellar gala, “Sip, Savor & Celebrate!,” at Sbragia Winery on August 18th from 2 pm to 5 pm. We are rounding up a galaxy of interesting prizes to raffle and auction off. It should be lots of fun. Special event ticket package options include 15 raffle tickets with a single event ticket for $95 or 15 raffle tickets with two event tickets for $130. (We’ll even fill out the raffle tickets for you!) You can send your check to the museum at: HM&HS IWC, PO Box 952, Healdsburg, CA 95448. You can also purchase your tickets at the Museum or at our table at the Saturday morning Farmers Market. There we can happily accept your payment with a credit card, a debit card, a check or cold hard cash! News Flash! by Bob Rawlins The HM&HS board has agreed to sponsor the Healdsburg Antique Fair! The August 25th event will also be back on the Plaza! We anticipate city approval by mid-July and have already begun planning for the event. Rawleigh Fjeld is chairing the event. The museum will not have an antiques sales table, but we will have one for information, memberships, and event tickets as available. In addition to volunteers for the information table, Rawleigh will need general assistance during the event. If you can help, please contact her at 4311146 or [email protected]. A Trip to “Hollywood’s Attic” Take a step back in time with an extraordinary day trip to visit old Hollywood in Sonoma County. The Healdsburg Museum will host an afternoon at “Georgetown,” the George Smith family ranch in Graton. On Sunday, July 14th from noon to 3 pm, guests will enjoy a private tour of this unique property along with a delicious barbecue lunch by Chef Bruce Riezenman of Park Avenue Catering. Collector George H. Smith constructed his own Wild West Main Street on the family property to house his vast collection of vintage movie and Sonoma County memorabilia. Smith, who worked in Hollywood in the 1930s and ‘40s, was an avid collector until his death in 2000. Some of the treasures he acquired include a buggy driven by Clark Gable in “Gone with the Wind,” studio mogul Louis B. Mayer’s personal limousine and Luther Burbank’s roadster. Welcome Our Newest Members John Broughton Katherine Clendenen Ross Clendenen Ardis Thornberry Laura Tietz Richard and Madeline Wallace 4 Contributions in Memory of: LeRoy Posilippo - from John & Rita Lawson Lois Grace Betsy Hoffman McCray - from John & Christine Pedroncelli Susan Arbios Ralph Wareham - from Lois Grace Contributions for Endowment Fund: Pat McCracken Collections Corner May, 1930, at which time it was converted into a $40,000 Western Electric Sound System “talking picture establishment,” replacing the original Liberty Theater. The Liberty Theater, located on West Street with a seating capacity of 900+, had opened its doors in March, 1920. The March 13th Healdsburg Enterprise read: “the new playhouse is remarkable…the seating arrangements were especially fine...the luxurious opera chairs are a pleasure to occupy. There is nothing gaudy or obtrusive about the decorations or furnishings. The entire interior is a restful setting.” For the next ten years, the Liberty Theater presented “films, plays, skits and vaudeville.” In 1950, the Plaza Theater became the Aven Theater and remained at the West Street (Healdsburg Avenue) location until it moved to North Street. In 1961, the Plaza Theater building was demolished. In 1987, the Aven became the Raven Theater. Has the current exhibit piqued your curiosity to watch an old Fred MacMurray or June Haver film? Why not order up a movie, pop some popcorn and enjoy an evening of nostalgic movie days? by Meredith Dreisback Hollywood has come to Healdsburg as part of the Museum’s current exhibit, “The Movie Stars Next Door: Fred MacMurray, June Haver and the MacMurray Ranch.” In addition to family history and artifacts from the Twin Valley Ranch, the exhibit includes memorabilia from Fred and June’s film careers. In looking at these Movies-for-the-Month posters from the Plaza Theater, you’ll see Fred and June’s movies were here in 1950; Fred starring in the crime/drama/romance, Borderline and June in the comedy/musical, Daughter of Rosie O’Grady. These black and white films followed the early days of “talkie” movies that arrived in Healdsburg in 1930. The Plaza Theater opened in 5
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