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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
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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