Clayton Chronicles€¦ · tions as we all step back into the life and history of one of our most fascinating humanitarians. Time spent in such lively conversation and company is

Clayton Chronicles Foothills District Newsletter Fall 2018

Holding Banner L-R: Adela Oldford, Isabelle Nepacena, Rhea Kahlon, Sahar Ahad, unknown, and Lucie Nepacena

==============================================================

Clayton Chronicles

A Publication of the Clayton Historical Society

PO Box 94 * Clayton, California * 94517 (925) 672-0240

www.claytonhistory.org

Fall 2018 Issue #167 ==============================================================

President’s Message

Dear Historians and Friends,

This is our final Chronicles for 2018. You will find how busy all the volunteers have been and will be in this issue.

On October 19th there will be a new exhibit at the museum. Our museum curator, Renee Wing, has been working very hard on : “Remembering the Great War: A Community Event. Please come on Opening Night, October 19th , from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Wine and refreshments will be served. More regarding this event can be found on page 3.

The Clayton Historical Society’s Annual Meeting will be held on November 12th at 6:30 p.m. Wine and refreshments will be served. Our program will begin at 7:00 p.m. with the very popular Laurie Strawn. If you have not seen her presentation: “Brave Little Nell – The Eleanor Roosevelt Story,” you will not want to miss it. And if you have seen her, as I have,

you will be looking forward to another of her performances. Again, more on the annual meeting can be found in this issue.

The Clayton Historical Society’s eighth Christmas Home Tour will be held on December 9th. This very popular tour will have five beautifully decorated homes. See the flyer on page 8 and be sure to read all the important information, as this year includes a bonus 6th Home and Party from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m.

I know you have seen the museum garden with all the beautiful bricks. If you did not get the opportunity to buy a brick you will get another chance. Please watch for the announcement regarding the continuation of the garden improvement, now that autumn is here.

1

JoAnn Caspar CHS Interim President

2018

In this Issue: Page Welcome New Member 2 Calendar of Events 2 Open House: Remembering the Great War 3 Curator Corner 4 School Fieldtrips 4 Annual CHS Meeting & Election Slate 5 Annual Meeting Presentation 6 & 7 Christmas Home Tour 8

In this Issue Page Meet Volunteers 9 Thank You to 2018 Volunteers 10 Museum Building Maintenance 11 Museum Garden Update 12 & 13 Museum Gift Shop 15 Membership 16 CHS Editor & Board 17

The Clayton Historical Society was founded in 1974 to "research, collect, record, preserve, display,

borrow, share, and interpret local history information and memorabilia, and to promote understanding of Clayton origins and development."

http://www.claytonhistory.org

Clayton Chronicles Foothills District Newsletter 2 Fall 2018

President’s message continued…

The museum is run with 100% volunteers. If you would like to be part of this exciting adventure please contact me at 672-0240 or 567-6079.

JoAnn Caspar, President, [email protected]

The Clayton Historical Society is an all volunteer organization. We have no paid employees.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Oktoberfest – Museum Open Oct 6-7 1:00-4:00 p.m.

CHS Board Oct 9 4:00 p.m.

New Exhibit Open House Oct 19 5:00-7:00 p.m.

Old Timers Nov 5 11:00 a.m.

CHS Annual Meeting & Election Nov 12 6:30 Wine/Dessert

7:00 p.m. presentation To be held at HOYER HALL

Please note date and location change

Old Timers Dec 3 11:00 a.m.

Christmas Home Tour Dec 9 11:00-5:00 p.m.

Old Timers Jan 7 11:00 a.m.

CHS Board Jan 8 4:00 p.m.

Old Timers Feb 4 11:00 a.m.

CHS Marker Dedication at Skipolinis pending

WELCOME NEW MEMBER— CAROLYN VANCE



Curator’s Corner

Renee Wing, Curator

September’s warm fall weather is winding down toward October’s crisp days with tantalizing hints of fall and winter holidays to come. Here at the Clayton Museum we are revving up toward the grand opening of our new exhibit, “Remembering the Great War: A Community Event”.

The World War I exhibit is the brainchild of fellow volunteer, Linda Pinder. She and I, plus Charmetta Mann, Debbie Eistetter, Carin Kaplan and many, many contributors have been busy for months. Four requests placed in the Pioneer and two in the museum Chronicles brought an avalanche of material! We are all excited to see the visitor response to these very personal memories and memorabilia. As the title says, it is a community event. We are not trying to educate the public about the history of World War I. We are merely presenting the offerings of our participants, small snapshots in time, personal, yet universal.

We hope you will come and enjoy this collection of family stories, artifacts, letters, poems and photos

that illuminate the lives of our loved ones and friends long past. A thousand thanks to all of you who

helped make this happen! We’ll see you at the opening reception, Friday, October 19, 5-7 p.m.!

I want to thank all of you in the community who have responded so generously to my requests in the Pioneer for World War I memorabilia.

Thank you, everyone, for your contributions to, and support of, the Clayton Museum.

Clayton Museum School Fieldtrips

Each year Clayton Museum volunteers provide fieldtrips for local schools. This year 6 third grade classes

have visited the museum. The children are divided in 3 groups and rotate through different areas to

learn about old downtown Clayton and the history of buildings such as the Keller House, DeMartini

Winery (our current City Hall) or where there once were buildings such as the Rhine Hotel, the Cash

Store, the Blacksmith, and other businesses of the early days of Clayton. As the children rotate through

another section, stations are set up in the museum where they learn about using a meat grinder, using

playdough to make a pie crust, grinding coffee the old fashion way, using a dial telephone, a typewriter,

washing clothes on a washboard and hanging them out to dry with clothespins and other old-time

functions. Next, they tour the museum house and learn how families lived in a tiny house with an out-

house. The children are given a button and a string and asked to think of what they could do with these

items. The docent known as Mrs. Button teaches them a button game using the string.

The Museum docents can set up special tours upon request. Call the museum at 672-0240.


Executive Board (these are Board Members who also act as Officers for one calendar year):

Directors (these are Board Members who serve two calendar years):

Person Officer Position for 2019 Director’s Term

Ted Meriam President Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

JoAnn Caspar 1st Vice President Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Nancy Dunn 2nd Vice President of Membership Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2019

Jim Seven Treasurer Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Julie Pierce Secretary Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2019

Person Focus Area for 2019 Director’s Term

Linda Cruz Newsletter Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Debbie Eistetter Clayton Pioneer & Digital Archives Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Carin Caplan Events Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Steve Lane Garden Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Rory Richmond Events & Maintenance Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

John Rubiales Maintenance Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2019

Marty Milanese Donations & Fundraising Jan 1, 2018 – Dec 31, 2019

Shannon Seven Christmas & Gardens Tours Jan 1, 2019 – Dec 31, 2020

Clayton Historical Society Members, Please join us at 6:30 p.m. Monday, November 12th at Hoyer Hall for the CHS

Annual Meeting and election of your 2019 Officers. Public is welcome.

Be sure to stay for the 7:00 p.m. presentation, including wine & dessert. See page 6.

SEE ELECTION SLATE BELOW


The Clayton Historical Society Annual Meeting & Presentation


BRAVE LITTLE NELL – the Eleanor Roosevelt Story

Join one of history’s most famous women for a passionate discussion about leadership, learning and

the important opportunity to become the kind of champion so desperately needed yesterday, today

and tomorrow. Through fascinating stories about her life and challenges, Eleanor shares how a plain,

scared little girl transformed into the First Lady of the World. Bring your questions and your imagina-

tions as we all step back into the life and history of one of our most fascinating humanitarians. Time

spent in such lively conversation and company is time well spent, indeed!

FOR ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE: Call the museum at 672-0240 and leave your name, phone number, and questions or email

[email protected] and someone will contact you.


11 am and 4pm


MEET CLAYTON MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS

Debbie Eistetter was born in San Gabriel, lived in San Pedro and Palos

Verdes. She loved roaming the hills on her bike and horses. She loved learn-ing about Native Americans, the ones that rode horses, and biology. Debbie’s father was a trauma surgeon in Compton for 25 years before her family moved to Sacramento in 1975 and he took a job with Kaiser Hospital. She graduated from Miraleste High School and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington when they grew wheat in that area and no grapes. Debbie received a BA in Biology. Then she attended school at Cal State Hayward to receive a BS in Nursing and became a Registered and Public Health Nurse working in the Bay Area: home health, private duty nursing, triage at Dublin Federal Women's Prison, John Muir orthopedics and clinical research in endocrinology. In the late 70’s Debbie worked at a small biotech company in Davis where she met her biochemist husband. They moved with their two young children to Concord in 1987 when Tony accepted a job with Chiron in Emeryville. The family enjoyed visiting Clayton to hike, attend the Fourth of July parade and eat pizza at Skip’s. They were very happy to finally move here in 1994. “Being a board member of the Clayton Historical Society and writing monthly articles in the Pioneer is a

way for me to share my gratitude for living in such a beautiful location populated by great people.”

Linda Pinder grew up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, about an hour

west of Albany and about 20 minutes east of Cooperstown. She moved to San Diego in 1973 and eventually relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, then moved to Clayton in February 1994 and fell in love with this little town. For the next 14 years she commuted to her banking job in San Francisco and had very little time for extracurricular activities. When she retired in 2008, Linda started volunteering for several different groups, one of which was sign-ing up as a docent for the museum. Slowly, Linda became more involved in activities at the museum taking over some duties like monitoring supplies and making purchases for office supplies. When the previous curator, Mary Spryer knew that she would eventually be moving out of the area, she asked Linda to

take over the responsibilities as the docent coordinator. So now Linda is the one who tries to make sure that all shifts are covered and sends requests for volunteers for special events like Oktoberfest, Art & Wine and a few other events each year. Last year, Linda also started helping with the school field trips and has really enjoyed that. Linda reminds us, we can always use more docents to help out on our regular open hours and for special events. We have had several docents leave us over the past few years, and recruitment of new docents hasn’t kept up with the ones we have lost. Luckily we have had a few do-cents who were able to pick up an extra shift or two, but what we really need is more people to volunteer. The museum is only open for 2 hours on Wednesday and Sunday and it is a time to meet and visit with your neighbors who may be regular visitors, or to meet strangers who are just visiting our town. The work isn’t hard and can be very rewarding. So, please, consider volunteering as a docent. You can contact Linda Pinder at 925-381-6780 or [email protected] for more information.

mailto:[email protected]


Bess Amos, Student Docent Kate Amos, Student Docent Peggy Arundell, Docent, Camellia Tea, Christmas & Garden Tours Joan Bergum, Christmas & Garden Tours Ginger Borg, substitute Docent Dorothy Bradt, Christmas & Garden Tours JoAnn Caspar, President, Christmas & Gar-den Tours, Docent Clayton Valley Garden Club, Garden Maintenance Linda Cruz, Director, Newsletter, Garden Tours Jeffrey DeSalles, Docent Diablo Lawnscape, Ground Maintenance Nancy Dunn, Director, Memorials, Phone, Christmas & Garden Tours Sheila Driscoll, substitute Docent, Christmas & Garden Tours Luinda Dayak, School Tours Dick Ellis, Historian Debbie Eistetter, VP Membership & Pioneer Articles Steven Gray, Docent Lynn Hadley, School Tours Cindy Haydon, substitute Docent Avneet Kahlon, School Tours Carin Kaplan, VP & Event Coordinator, Christmas & Garden Tours Jerry Koehne, Docent Kris Larmour, School Tours Steve Lane, Director, Garden, Maintenance

Charmetta Mann, Docent Ted Meriam, Director, Webmaster Marty Milanese, Director, CBCA Liaison, Do-cent Sandra Nepacena, School Tour Coordinator Adela Oldford, Docent, School Fieldtrips, Special Events Becky Overstreet, Docent, Garden & Christ-mas Tours Julie Pierce, Secretary, Christmas & Garden Tours Steve Pierce, School Tours Linda Pinder, Docent & Docent Coordinator Alice Ponti, Docent Dan Richardson, School Tours Rory Richmond, Director & Events John Rubiales, Director & Maintenance Nancy Senor, Docent Jim Seven, Treasurer Shannon Seven, Director, Garden & Christ-mas Tours Lucy Smith, Garden Tours Raffle Ray Strong, Docent Marcia Thome, Christmas & Garden tours Dee Totman, Christmas & Garden Tours Sally Turner, Director Anna Wendorf, Docent Carmen Williams, Christmas & Garden Tours Renee Wing, Curator & Docent

THANKING 2018 CLAYTON MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS

We would like to honor and thank all the 2018 volunteers listed below for their hard work and

dedication making it possible for the continuing operation of the Clayton museum. Many volunteers

go above and beyond their duties to make events special. If you would like to help, please call the

museum at 672-0240.


Museum Building Maintenance and Improvements 2017 - 2018 By Steve Lane and John Rubiales, Museum Building Maintenance Chairmen Ask anyone who owns one - It takes a lot of time and effort to keep-up an old house … Which is exactly what our downtown Clayton Historical Society (CHS) Museum is … In fact – it’s two old houses joined together! The front half of the Museum is what is believed to be the former 2nd house of Joel Clayton (built in the early 1900’s), later occupied by John and Celestia Keller, which was moved in 1976 to 6101 Main Street from its former location – a level area near Mt. Diablo Creek and facing Mt. Diablo and the former De Martini Winery – today’s Clayton City Hall. The rear half of the Museum is the former Gomez/Pape house (built in the early 1900’s) that was moved from Oak Street. Given that brief history – the (joined) Museum “building” is now over 100 years old! Luckily, our Museum building has been well cared-for over the years by CHS volunteers, since its move in 1976. (To learn more about the Museum building – visit the Museum, and see the photographs of the 1976 building move)

From late 2017 and this 2018 – the Museum building has had several repairs and improvements overseen by John Rubiales and Steve Lane, our CHS Museum Building Maintenance Chairmen; with several of the projects supported and funded by the Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA), as follows:

▪ November – December 2017: Side Porch Steps and Landing rebuilt (due to dry rot) by Ken Mitolo, Contractor, Clayton.

▪ November – December 2017:

Museum Building and CBCA Storage Shed exteriors re-painted and, now finally match each other. Work performed by C.M. Rowe Painting Contractor, Clayton. Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) donated $4800.00 for the painting.

▪ December 2017:

Museum Building Lighting Improvements – Improved interior lighting to modern, energy-efficient LED in Entry/Foyer, Exhibit Gallery, and Research/Map/Meeting Room. Exterior LED string lights also added. All work done by All Bright Electric, Clayton Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) donated $7285.00 for the lighting work.

▪ April and Fall 2018:

Museum Garden – Agricultural and Mining Display Improvements – Funding for new decorative metal fence to enclose agricultural and mining display equipment. To be installed by A&J Fencing this Fall. Clayton Business and Community Association (CBCA) donated $11,000.00 for this new fence.

▪ June 2018:

Museum Plumbing – Leaky bathroom faucet repaired free of charge by Contra Costa Plumbing, Clayton.

▪ August 2018: Museum Plumbing – Main Water Pressure Regulator replaced. Work performed by Vasco Plumbing, Clayton.

▪ Upcoming - November 2018:

Museum Building – Rear Side Entry Porch Steps to be rebuilt; Museum Grounds - Keller Oak Tree Trunk Exhibit to be repaired and refurbished; Clayton Jail window to be replaced. All work to be performed by Ken Mitolo, Contractor, Clayton.

A BIG THANK YOU to the CBCA for their continued financial support of our CHS Museum repairs and improvements, and to the local businesses mentioned above for their excellent services provided.




Memorial Funds

A gift of any amount to our Memorial Fund is a lasting way to honor someone special. Their names will be placed in the "Book of Memory” that is permanently displayed at the museum.

Send your memorial donation to CHS—Attention Memorials, PO Box 94, Clayton, CA 94517 I would like to make this contribution of $_______ □ In Honor of □ In Memory of (check one)

Name of person(s) to be honored or memorialized:

______________________________________________________________

Please Send Acknowledgement to:_______________________________________________________ Address: _____________________________ City, State, Zip: ____________________________ Donor(s) _____________________________ Address: _________________________________ City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________________

We love our volunteers!!

The Clayton Historical Society is reaching out to members and friends and offering a variety of opportunities to participate in the operation of the Museum.

Would you like to know more about Clayton’s history and share it with others?

We provide training for the following: Greeters and docents

Assisting with our school children’s museum field trips Assisting with museum events

Helping to create and mount exhibits You decide what interests you the most and how much time you are able to spend.

We can be reached on our website, www.claytonhistory.org or call the museum at (925) 672-0240.

Or drop by for a visit during open hours 2-4pm on Wednesdays and Sundays.

http://www.claytonhistory.org


FRONT SIDE OF TRAIN WHISTLE

BACK SIDE OF TRAIN WHISTLE

MUSEUM GIFT SHOP—Check out our Christmas Gifts!

At the Clayton museum gift shop there are several items for sale that might be of interest. Do come and check them out. There are coffee mugs, train whistles, tee shirts, aprons, books, Christmas

ornaments and beautiful woven Clayton throws. Shop online at giftshop.ClaytonHistory.org

Of course, we would rather see you in person!

MUSEUM HOURS: 2-4 P.M.

SUNDAY & WEDNESDAY


Clayton Historical Society— 2018 Membership Form

Dear Friends of the Museum:

Like many non-profits, the Clayton Historical Society and Museum relies upon the individual gifts of time and money to

preserve and promote our local history. If you’d like to financially support the Museum, please decide your membership

or patron category below and send your application via postal mail or online:

http://www.claytonhistory.org/donate.aspx.

Your donations may be tax deductible under our 501(c)3 non-profit status and allow us to continue operating the Muse-

um’s exhibits and programs throughout the year. All yearly memberships are up for renewal in January.

We would like to thank you for your support of our fine Clayton Historical Society and Museum!

JoAnn Caspar, Interim President Debbie Eistetter, VP of Membership

(925) 672-0240 | [email protected] (925) 672-0240 | [email protected]

Annual Membership Categories:

□ Individual - $30 □ Student - $15 □ Senior - $20

□ Family - $40 □ Senior Couple - $25 □ Sustaining - $60

□ Business - $100 □ Other - $_________

Name(s):_______________________________________________________________________________

Address:_______________________________________________________________________________

City: ______________________________________ State:___________________ Zip:________________

Home Phone: ________________________ Email Address: _____________________________________

Make checks payable to the Clayton Historical Society Questions? Contact... P.O. Box 94 Debbie Eistetter, VP of Membership Clayton, CA 94517 [email protected] 925-672-0240 Revised Form 2018

http://www.claytonhistory.org/donate.aspx




Clayton Chronicles Editor: Linda Cruz [email protected] (925) 672-0503

Clayton Historical Society Board Members

Interim President:

JoAnn Caspar 1st Vice President:

Carin Kaplan 2nd Vice President:

Debbie Eistetter Secretary: Julie Pierce

Treasurer: Jim Seven

Directors: Peggy Arundell ~ Linda Cruz ~ Nancy Dunn

~ Steve Lane ~ Ted Meriam John Rubiales ~ Rory Richmond ~Sally Turner

Marty Milanese ~ Shannon Seven

Clayton Historical Society PO BOX 94, Clayton, CA 94517

A note from CHS Clayton Chronicles editor:

If you have suggestions or input for future “Clayton Chronicles” please contact Linda Cruz at

(925) 672-0503 or [email protected]

Your ideas are welcome.

Also, we would appreciate your stories and/or photos from Clayton’s past or other personal history.

Please do share with us!

WINTER Newsletter articles DUE January 27th, 2019 for early-February distribution.


Documents

Clayton Chronicles€¦ · tions as we all step back into the life and history of one of our most fascinating humanitarians. Time spent in such lively conversation and company is