Museum News

TO THINK ABOUT

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you're a fool, than to open it and remove all doubt. - Mark Twain

Your Museum at Work

The Museum reopened after its winter break on February 10, kicking off a busy spring for all of us here.

This year's biennal Quilt Show, called "A Celebration of Quilts" was held on February 24 and 25. The show was a bit different this year, including not only quilts, but also quilted clothing and other quilted items, and there were drawings for a variety of prizes, rather that simply for a single outstanding quilt.

The Museum enthusiastically participated in Tehama County's 150th anniversary, setting a booth up at the fairgrounds for the celebration, and arranging bus rides down to the Museum with TRAX. In preparation for the flood of new visitors, the exhibit committee set up historical photographs of local towns, and other landmarks, as well as adding a number of new pictures to the wall book display - including some of Tehama County's early Sheriffs. My favorite was a lovely shot of what the upstairs of the Museum looked like, back when it was the Masonic Hall.

Upcoming Events

The Museum is again hosting the California Retired Teacher's Association luncheon on June 12, from 11:00-1:00, this year. As always, Ruth Britt will need members to donate salads for the event.

The Museum is especially pleased to celebrate Archaeology Month by having Greg White come and speak at the Museum Annex on May 20th at 1 p.m. about the excavation of a Native American rockshelter at Payne's Creek. Dr. White is Director of the Archaeology Research Program at CSU, Chico.

The City of Tehama and the Museum are currently working on plans for a centennial celebration for Tehama in July. As of this writing, plans include a picnic and horseshoe tournament - but stay tuned for announcements and details!

And, of course, it's never too early to start thinking about the 24th annual Jubilee, which has been set for September 9 this year. We especially want to give the head's-up to any cooks and crafters who plan to sell items at Judy's Country Store this year.

A Final Salute

by Paul Quinn, Secretary

I have a nectarine tree in full bloom called, "Double Delight". Good name; its magnificent blossoms are cheery this time of year. Thus is the experience of having known Museum member Gerda Van Rooyen - for if any attribute one could possibly recall about Gerda, it would be her smile and the pleasant disposition that went with it. We lost her to a better place last month and she leaves many friends missing her at the Museum. She was a long time part of the family here: Serving as a docent back to Maggie Bauer's time, always willing to help at the Jubilee, and her dedicated service on the Board of Directors. Of course, she was much more than just a smile . . . but what a lasting value her pleasantness left with us. It's hard to say good-bye to that genuine soul.

Tall Tales of Tehama by Sourdough Paul

What in tarnation is ol' Tehama City to do? Water up so high but I can't help wash my ankles if I even get close to the river. At least she ain't come callin' into people's homes yet.

Well, it's spring now and time for me to burn my wardrobe and start selectin' some new duds. I shop Tehama here, but it's gettin' harder to find things as those modern, spoiled folks do away with their clotheslines.

Around these parts the birthday party of the county was held . . . 150 years of pickin' the pockets of the taxpayer. They got civilized and formed up a county back then, so they could legally hang people. I'm surprised they never got into the spirit of things back then, an' charged a toll on the passing riverboats. Kinda reminds me of the holdup men who swooped down on a passing stagecoach to extract a payment for "safe" passage. City of Tehama has a big blowout July 2nd - 100 year celebration since founding. Just think, their history ended in 1908 really, when all the saloons burned down. They said it was windy and the fire spread fast. I think it was the work of those devil Temperance women.

The Ph.d's are still arguin' over the meaning of the name "Tehama". The Indians meant, "abundant water". Look at the river, and nod yer head. Some think they meant "big trees" - but most of 'em have been burnt in stoves. I like the fact they got their revenge on the white settlers by bein' vague just to vex 'em. They was smart rascals.

President's Message by Bobby McFarlin

As the new president of the museum, let me start by introducing myself. My name is Bobby McFarlin and my wife and I moved to Tehama County in 2000. We have been members of the museum for about 4 years now and have enjoyed the different projects we have been involved with.

My goal for this year is to move forward on the Annex. We will begin with completing the electrical and then installing the insulation and the drywall.

We have several projects in the works at this time and we hope to see our members at the various programs we have planned. Coming up in May will be an archeology program with Greg White, and then in July the City of Tehama will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of incorporation followed in September with our annual Jubilee.

Our museum staff and docents have already been busy this year beginning in February with the quilt show, which was very successful. A special thank-you to Pat Felthouse for all the hours she spent preparing this year's show. I also want to thank those who prepared and served the great food for this event.

We have recently added a couple of new displays in the downstairs foyer. Our one and only Sourdough Paul has put together a great display of railroad artifacts complete with photos of various train depots that were within Tehama County. Also in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of the county a wall display complete with a map of the county and photos of many different communities will certainly bring back memories of days gone by. A third display featuring the City of Tehama in photographs is nearing completion.

On the second Saturday of each month, you can find me at the museum as a docent and I would like to invite each of you to stop in and get acquainted and tour the museum. If any of you would be interested in volunteering some time at the museum, please let me know.

In closing, I would like to thank all the volunteers, docents, cooks, and staff for their time. Without these great people many of our projects would not be possible.

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Be a part of history . . .

Be a Docent!

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Hello, New Members!

The Museum is delighted to welcome the following new members:
Dwayne and Jan Elmore, Los Molinos
Frank and Judy Fisher, Red Bluff
Dan and Joyce Hamer, Los Molinos
Chris and Becky Hill, Corning
Doug and Nancy Hartelt, Clayton
Richard Johnson, Colusa
Beverly Lang, Cottonwood
Ed Little, Red Bluff
Steve and Sue Lewallen, Cottonwood
Elsie McDonald, Red Bluff
Mary Perkin, Red Bluff'
Vern and Lila Robinson, Red Bluff
Sharon Wilson, Red Bluff


Besides these thirteen new members, the Museum has received 86 renewals for 2006 so far. Thank you, members, for renewing and supporting the Museum. Your generosity is appreciated

Many thanks to Neville Mullins for taking the membership roster and managing it. She has updated and issued membership cards. The card is good for a 10% discount in the Museum store on books and gifts.

Curator's Corner by Darrell E. Mullins, Curator

(Kyoo-ra'ter's) A person having the care and superintendence of anything; and overseer, manager, or steward----a keeper or custodian, especially one of a museum, library or the like.

(Kor-ner) An awkward position, from which escape is difficult…

I have been appointed to the position of Curator of the Museum, and thought it might be interesting to try to bring a little information about the collection and it's artifacts and exhibits to the membership with each newsletter.

The collection policy, adopted by the board of directors, sets the guidelines for what the museum collects, borrows, loans and exhibits based on our mission statement. Without these policies and guidelines the museum would just be a hodgepodge of unrelated objects that would be difficult to put in any meaningful context for the public to understand.

In our attempt to interpret the accurate history of the county we primarily use artifacts that might represent a certain event or lifestyle. In addition to information about the artifacts we research the written and oral documentation that relate to this event or time period.

The artifact is just an inanimate object but its relationship within a cultural context brings it to life and gives it meaning. If this context is misinterpreted it can lead to a misunderstanding of history. In the past collecting of artifacts tended to focus on those that were technology related and durable or colorful and well preserved. Example: a fanciful Victorian dress is certainly beautiful and represents a segment of Victorian society but does not represent the time period as a whole. What about the poor coal miner or the factory worker or the farmer?

The museum's goal is to acquire those artifacts that represent the broadest definition of our county's history from the Native American occupants to the most recent past. Every object plays a certain role in our society/culture. The problem is that we cannot store every object. We have an acquisition committee that is charged with the job of determining which of those objects better represent our history. As Curator, one of my jobs is to assist this committee in making these determinations.

Upcoming exhibits will be early history of the City of Tehama. Also in the plans is an exhibit of the historical use of the building by the Masonic Lodge, and from the Curators Corner next time, we will learn the story about "Pokey Pete's" shoes.

Tehama County Museum Foundation; P.O. Box 275; Tehama, CA 96090
(530) 384-2595