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Authors Wanted
AHS and Shasta Lake Heritage & Historical Society are working on a book titled Why Can't I: Empowered Women of Shasta County. Although the closure date for committing to write articles was March 31, 2022, we will consider others on a case by case basis. Rough drafts are due November 15, 2022. Please include personal stories to enliven the history. Most of the women suggested were from the period 1850 - 1900, but we would be happy to consider additions or substitutions. Those articles already selected are annotated in red by the organization/name. Suggestions: 1. Alexander, Annie M. - AHS 2. Ballou, Addie - AHS 3. Bass, Bessie, Postmistress - SLHHS 4. Behrens, Edna Mable, Teacher, Postal Worker - BEM 5. Behrens, Ella Genevieve, first woman Assistant Bank Cashier - BEM 6. Bell, Roseline N., Teacher 7. Bidwell, Lottie Elma, Teacher 8. Blair, Eunice Francis, Postmistress 9. Blair, Martha "Mattie" Everetta, Teacher 10. Boggs, Mae Helen Bacon, Historian - SLHHS 11. Boothroyd, Hazel - SLHHS 12. Bosworth, Josephine - FCM 13. Boyer, Amanda Malvina, Homesteader/Rancher 14. Carr, Marie - SLHHS 15. Clough, Deborah, Businesswoman 16. Colburn, Phoebe, Businesswoman - AHS 17. Coleman, Donna Maria, Superintendent of Schools - AHS 18. Couey, Martha, Justice of the Peace - AHS 19. Cravens, Norma, Teacher 20. Dailey, Amy V., Telephone Operator 21. Dozier, Irene, Nurse/Veteran - AHS 22. Eames, Elizabeth J., Photographer - AHS 23. Eaton, Edna Mabel, County Treasurer 24. Fish, Ruth Ella, Teacher - SLHHS 25. Flanagan, Margaret, Teacher - SLHHS 26. Foxx, Opal, Cook at Shasta Dam - SLHHS 27. Frisbie, Mabel Moores, Artist - SLHHS 28. Giles, Myra (Almira) Eliza, Teacher 29. Giles, Rosena, Author - AHS 30. Gillespie, Zelinda, Businesswoman 31. Granger, Estelle, School Advocate - SLHHS 32. Gregory, Martha Ellen, Businesswoman, Midwife, Telephone Operator - SLHHS 33. Groves, Emma, Businesswoman 34. Hill, Edith Ida (Ashcraft) 35. Holt, Inezetta, Doctor - Taylar Ansures 36. Hunt, Ann, Teacher - SLHHS 37. Ingles, Annie (aka Anita Grace Studnick) - Connie Fairfield Ganz 38. Jones, Florence Curl, Native American Doctor, Activist - SLHHS 39. Joseph, Katie J., Teacher 40. Kank, Verna 'Nana', Businesswoman - SLHHS 41. Kardell, Margaret, Native American Author - SLHHS 42. Kingsbury, Charlotte Agnes, Teacher 43. Klukkert, Amanda, Businesswoman - AHS 44. Litsch, Julia, Businesswoman 45. Loomis, Estelle, Artist - AHS 46. Lorenz, Susan, Businesswoman 47. Lowe, Isaac, started NAACP chapter in Redding - SLHHS 48. Love, Mary Fredrica, Postmistress 49. Ludwig, Wilhelmina, Businesswoman 50. Major, Harriet E., Businesswoman 51. Marsh, Ella Louise, Teacher 52. Merrill, Bertha, Superintendent of Schools 53. Mullen, Josephine "Josie", Teacher 54. Mullen, Margaret, Businesswoman 55. Peterson, Cleora, Pioneer, Mtn. Gate Firewoman - SLHHS 56. Polf, Margaret, Board Chairwoman PUD, Parks Advocate - SLHHS 57. Poore, Margaret I., Superintendent of Schools 58. Prehn, Bessie Irene, Teacher 59. Reading, Alice Matilda, Artist - AHS 60. Satorius, Veronica, Teacher, Author - SLHHS 61. Scharsch, Rose, Teacher 62. Sears, Alma, Native American - SLHHS 63. Sheridan, Mary, Postmistress 64. Shiplet, Thelma Leola, Author 65. Simmons, Winona V., County Recorder/Businesswoman 66. Southern, May Hazel, Author - SLHHS 67. Steger, Gertrude Ann, Author - SLHHS 68. Swain, Lillie S.B., Teacher 69. Waugh, Martha Annette, Postmistress 70. White, Lulu Edna, Superintendent of Schools 71. Wilson, Molly, Supervisor - SLHHS 72. Woolman, Stella, Postmistress, Businesswoman - SLHHS 73. Wright, Mary Ellen Modelers Needed
The Society has multiple scale models of the buildings that stood on Fort Reading. The models are difficult to view due to the cramped facilities, but with the new Buggy Barn exhibit hall we will attempt to rectify the problem. The Society would like to build a portable display table of the area on Cow Creek and the fort. Anyone with experience building contour displays is invited to join with other volunteers in bringing Fort Reading back to life. If interested please contact Ron Jolliff at rajolliff@gmail.com |
Board Elections
Beginning in May the cycle of board elections begins. Five board members are elected for two-year terms in even-numbered years, and five are elected in odd-numbered years. The process begins with nominations, and any member in good standing is eligible. Members may place their own names in nomination or one to five other candidates in nomination. If nominating other candidates, the nominees will be contacted to see if they are willing to serve. In June the secretary will post a ballot on the website (note: write-in candidates are accepted up until the close of the election). All ballots must be returned to the Society by June 30th, 2022. Ballots received by mail or by email to the secretary at rajolliff@gmail.com will be counted on June 30th, 2022. Election results will be posted on the website and new members will take their seat on July 13th, 2022. The current nominated slate of candidates for the AHS Board is as follows: Wayne Cunningham Millie Moravec Randy Pricert Don Bloom Members can nominate any member in good standing for the board and can vote for up to five candidates using any combination of nominated candidates or write-in candidates. Note: Members may also vote for one candidate for the vacant one-year position. Please mark the email or letter to indicate the one-year position. Buggy Barn
Photo: The new Buggy Barn exhibit hall from Ferry Street.
Photo: The new Buggy Barn exhibit hall on the left before the rollup door was installed, and phase I on the right.
Thank You McConnell Foundation
After the McConnell Foundation generously awarded the Society a $50,000 grant, we were able to break ground on phase II of the new Buggy Barn exhibit hall on January 24, 2022. Initially the Society committed $51,000 to phase II which the McConnell foundation almost doubled. During the grant discussion stage, the Society committed to utilizing an additional $10,000 set aside for interior displays if it was required. Almost immediately $7,000 of the contingency funds was needed for architect and permit fees. The Society provided pre-construction labor to reduce the final bill and obtained almost $4,000 in reduced fees from System Plus Lumber Company, Payless Building Supply, and Shasta Redi-Mix. Even with these savings the final bill from the contractor was $103,111.91 which accounts for the entire Anderson Historical Society-McConnell Foundation account and the additional money set aside for contingencies. The new exhibit hall still needs the roll-up door installed before the contractor turns over the building, then the Society will have to pay to have the access road surfaced. Both projects should be accomplished by the end of April 2022.
The exterior of the exhibit hall will be complete, and the funds are exhausted, but there is a bright side. The building cannot be used by the public until the interior work is completed, but it has already begun to be used by Society volunteers. With the new floor space, the Society has already begun to clear the accession room and office for reorganization, the revitalization of the library has begun, as has building a portable exhibit of Fort Reading that will allow for restructuring of the Native American exhibit. It may not be what we all envisioned years ago, but there was no accounting for recent meteoric rise in lumber costs and labor costs. The Society has applied for three grants from the Sierra Pacific Foundation, Redding Rancheria Community Fund, and McConnell Foundation to complete the interior and make the building ready for public visitation. One local business, Anderson Rx Pharmacy, has recognized the efforts by contributing an antique display case for the new exhibit hall. The Society is committed to seeing the project through even if it means saving pennies as was done a decade ago. As the exterior project nears completion, we would be remiss if we did not take time to thank the McConnell Foundation for two reasons. First, without the $50,000 grant the Society would still be facing an incomplete phase I building next to an empty lot. Thanks to the McConnell Foundation the entire structure is in place and although not accessible to the public, it has already begun to be utilized for the renovations of the rest of the museum complex. Secondly, the McConnell Foundation generally considers grants to recipients every-other year. This year the McConnell Foundation allowed the Society to apply for the 2022 grant. The competition will be tougher, but they let us compete. For both the generous grant in 2021 and allowing us to compete for a 2022 grant, the entire Society would like to thank the courtesy and generosity of the McConnell Foundation. Agenda and Minutes
Any members interested in receiving the monthly agenda and minutes please contact the secretary at rjolliff@gmail.com. Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at the museum at 10 AM. Please note COVID regulations apply to all functions at the museum. Board meetings are open meetings, and all members and visitors are welcome. Docents
Due to COVID-19 restrictions the docent program has not operated for about eighteen months. President Don Bloom will contact senior services for volunteers but if any member would like to work a few hours please contact Ron Jolliff at rajolliff@gmail.com. The proposed schedule would be the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 1 PM. We would like to have three docents/staff on hand during all open periods. Redding Rancheria Community Fund 2021
The Society would like to thank the Redding Rancheria for their generous grant for $1,400. The funds have been utilized to improve the Native American section of our research library, purchase individual black boards to enhance the old-time school experience, and purchase new display cabinets to improve the Native American exhibits. Research Request
A researcher asked for specific address information that we have been unable to find. The request is for Harry and Cora Etta Robinson who purchased property in Happy Valley in 1923 and moved to Anderson in 1939. The County Recorder's Office and Shasta Historical Society library provided no address. If anyone has an old telephone or business directory that lists addresses, would you please forward the information to Ron Jolliff at rajolliff@gmail.com. Thank you for any assistance. We Own a Jail
It comes to pass that we have custody of the Anderson Jail. The cement building was built by the Work Projects Administration in 1934 on the site of the older jail. The jail was operated by the Anderson Constable and served as a holding cell and transfer facility probably up to 1949 when its last use was to house confiscated slot machines awaiting disposal. The jail is located on Freeman Street and the question becomes what to do with it? One suggestion was to see if the Anderson Police wanted to participate in displays (we have police and court related items in our collection). Any ideas? Anyone want to assist with such a project?
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