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Alpine Review – May 2020 page 1 ALPINE REVIEW Volume XXVI, Issue 2 May 2020 Sketch by Dede Lyon Our museum is located in the great Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. Our culture of the Washoe people, agricultural era, and silver mining of the surrounding areas display our pioneering history of Alpine County. ALPINE COUNTY MUSEUM PO Box 517 Markleeville, CA 96120 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] alpinecountymuseum.org MUSEUM HOURS Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Memorial Day Weekend thru the end of October Prominent Women of Alpine County The First Hundred Years Anna L. Spencer: Ms. Spencer served as superintendent of schools from 1877- 1878 and ran for the office in 1878 – the first woman to run for office in Alpine County. She overstayed a leave, and the office was declared vacant in 1879. Prominent Women continued on page 4 ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 2 The Alpine Review is published quarterly by the Historical Society of Alpine County. Historical Society of Alpine County PO Box 517 Markleeville, CA 96120 [PHONE REDACTED] [EMAIL REDACTED] BOARD OF DIRECTORS Tom Sweeney, President Rick Dustman, Vice- President Marilyn Kolpacoff, Treasurer Barbara Howard, Secretary John Baker, Director ADVISORY BOARD Judy Wickwire Cassandra Fred Irvin Jim STAFF Kristiina Rengo Wiedenhoft, Museum Curator STAFF SUPPORT Teola L. Tremayne, Newsletter President’s Message BY: TOM SWEENEY Like you, we are sheltering in place and wondering when this coronavirus or COVID-19 will pass. It has taken a toll on all of us in one way or another. For the museum it has stopped us in our tracks. All the planning for the rearrangement of the museum interior is moving along but that is it, just planning. The same thing goes for the outside work also. Early on we had meetings to discuss the changes around the museum. The moving had just gotten started and that was it. Let me tell you they are all great plans. There was one accomplishment that got some traction, the screen door at the front door. It was removed and is now being refinished by Sheila Reuter. Sheila did a great job on the wooden bench on the front porch. The door was removed the same day that we had a work party to prune the apple tree at the front of the schoolhouse. The tree had not been trimmed for a couple of years. Gary Aschwanden, Rick Dustman and I spent a few leisurely hours cutting away the dead limbs, suckers, and trimming back the branches that gave it the wild look. And then…. We have been waiting for information on when we can get back to work but so far things are still up in the air. Your Board of Directors has decided about upcoming events. There will be no Quarterly meeting or potluck this month. The opening of the museum is on hold and the Markleeville Living History Walk has been delayed also. If the restriction on the museum continues longer, we will send out additional information. We are in the process of updating the website and you can check there when it is completed for current information. When we can work at the museum the changes will begin. Hopefully, we will be able to get back on schedule and you can make time to come to the museum and see the new look. Volunteers get to see the changes happen and if you would like to be part of that effort let us know. Take care and be well. Tom ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 3 CURATOR’S CORNER by: Kristiina Wiedenhoft I hope you are all reading this in a completely different state of the world than I am currently writing in. Hopefully we’re now in a more positive place where we are once again social, mobile, back to work, and healthy and well. But as of now, there are so many uncertainties and questions left to be answered, and like most parts of the world, the museum has not been immune to all these changes. I’ve been working from home for the past few weeks and will not be able to go back for at least a few more. But in the meantime, I’m doing what work I can from the comfort of my couch or my little makeshift office on my laundry room floor. I can’t say its been without distractions, particularly from my dog, Cooper, who can’t seem to understand why I’m suddenly home all day. But while many projects and work have had to be put on hold, I’ve been able to focus my attention on completing others. We’ve been hard at work and making great strides towards our new updated website. It will be a drastic improvement and will be much easier to navigate and will hopefully reach more people. We will be able to share information, updates, photos, and events much more efficiently with the public. I’ve also been able to focus on finishing the labels for inside the museum and have had extra time to rewrite and add new ones to provide more information and descriptions. I still have many plans and a lot of work to complete when I’m able to go back, but as of now, my hands are tied to only complete the projects that can be done remotely. We had finalized our plans and we were days away from working on the biggest projects inside and outside of the museum, when we were obligated to postpone them for the health and safety of everyone involved. I’m hopeful that we will be able to complete these before we open for the summer season, but with all the uncertainties in the air, I just can’t guarantee it. We also have uncertainties of what events we will be able to host this summer, or what we may have to cancel or postpone. I know many of you have questions like this, and I wish I had more answers, but please know we are working on it and will update you as soon as possible. I’m remaining hopeful and determined to get back to work as soon as possible and keep things running as normally and on schedule as we can. I greatly look forward to opening the museum for the summer. As always, thank you all for your continued support. I hope you are all safe and healthy and staying busy. I can’t wait until we are all back together again! See you soon. ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 4 Anna M. Arnot: Mrs. Arnot ran for superintendent of schools and won in 1882. She served until 1887. In 1890 she ran for the same position against Harriet Grover and won. Harriet M. Grover: Ms. Grover ran for superintendent of schools and won in 1886. She ran again for the position in 1894 and won and served until 1899. Wilda Grover Jordan: Mrs. Jordan, daughter of Harriet Grover, was elected superintendent of schools in 1902 and served until 1907. Elizabeth A. Grover: Mrs. Grover, daughter- in-law of Harriet Grover, was elected superintendent of schools in 1906 and served until 1915. Josephine Vallem: Mrs. Vallem was elected superintendent of schools in 1914 and served until 1917. Eugenia Mae Bruns: Mrs. Bruns was appointed to fill the vacancy in the position of superintendent of schools in 1917; she served the longest term of office in the position. She withdrew from active service in 1938. Gladys Loganbill: Mrs. Loganbill, daughter- in-law of Eugenia Bruns, was appointed superintendent of schools in 1938 and served in that position until 1958. Mary Neddenriep: Ms. Neddenriep was elected superintendent of schools in 1898 and later, as Mrs. Mary Gray, served as Alpine County Clerk until 1937. Lillian Bushing Thornburg: Mrs. Thornburg held the office of clerk-auditor-recorder from 1938 until her retirement in 1959. She assisted in the formation of the Markleeville Water Co. and the Historical Society of Alpine County and served as secretary and volunteer of both organizations. Bernice Pamelia Merrill Dangberg: Mrs. Dangberg served for 35 years as an Alpine County supervisor from 1930 to 1965. To date (2011) she has the honor of being the longest serving supervisor. She also operated Woodfords Hotel and store. Elizabeth Pearl Ellis Coyan: Mrs. Coyan ran for the county treasurer and won when she was 21 years old, in 1918. It was a part time job until 1968. She held the position for 50 years. The first time she was campaigning around the county she rented an Indian pony to take her around. The pony had only been used for irrigating and had never been on the highway so it was a little wild. She and her husband owned and operated Prominent Women continued from page 1 ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 5 the Alpine Hotel from 1921 until 1940 and owned and operated Coyan’s Cabins after that. She served on the Selective Services Board, the Alpine Red Cross Chapter, and the Tuberculosis Committee. Lucille Mae Koenig Brown Chain: Mrs. Chain finished out her husband’s term as sheriff from 1957 to 1959 thus becoming the first woman sheriff in California. She was instrumental in the formation of the Historical Society, the Alpine County Museum and the County Library, in the production of the county history known as the “Alpine Heritage”, and in the attempt to preserve Turtle Rock. She was active in the Red Cross and Polio programs and in the Chamber of Commerce. She served on the school board, the Planning Commission, the School Lands Acquisition Committee, the County Park Land Commission, the Administration Building Committee, and the 1976 Centennial Celebration Committee. She was a member of the California State Park Board. She worked for the telephone company, was a school bus driver, and worked in the Minden Mercantile and Carson Valley Mercantile. Mabel Love: Mrs. Love taught K-8 at Woodfords School from 1948 to 1958 and became principal. She became superintendent of schools in 1959, a position she held through 1963. She served on the Board of Supervisors for one term, and was instrumental in the creation of the Historical Society and the Alpine County Museum, in the formation of a County Library and in the production of the county history known as the “Alpine Heritage”. Ileen Price Long: Mrs. Long was instrumental in the creation of the Historical Society and the Alpine County Museum and the county history known as the “Alpine Heritage”. She was very active in the Red Cross of Alpine County, was a member and president of the Alpine Mothers Club, was a 4-H leader, and was a member and chairman of the school board. She, too, participated in the attempt to preserve Turtle Rock. She worked for various county offices including assessor, clerk-auditor-recorder, and welfare between 1961 and 1978. NOTE Although the 19th amendment to the United States Constitution, which gave all women in the United States the right to vote, was not adopted until 1920, in California women gained the right to vote on October 10, 1911 when Proposition 4 (State Constitutional Amendment No. 8) was passed. Until that time women could run for or be appointed to public office but could not vote. This article was compiled by Wanda Super and Nancy Thornburg Original article published Volume XVII Number 2 November 2011 Alpine Review. ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 6 Want to consider advertising in the Alpine Review? We are now accepting advertisements! Contact us for prices. This excerpt was taken from the Alpine Enterprise, January 1981. ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 7 EXCERPTS FROM ALPINE ENTERPRISE 1979-2003 Available on Laserfiche Repository, contact County Clerk’s office for more information [EMAIL REDACTED] or [PHONE REDACTED] ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 8 BOOKS available from local authors These two books, amongst others, are available at the Alpine County Museum including walking and driving tours in the area, oral histories and much more. Woodfords, Diamond Valley, & Fredericksburg: A Driving Tour By Karen Dustman Discover more than three dozen landmarks and early homesteads in the pioneering settlements of Woodfords, Diamond Valley, and Fredericksburg. This self-guided driving tour takes just about an hour. Visit such nearly-forgotten historic sites as Snowshoe Thompson’s home; the old Woodfords School; the Wade House (the oldest continually- inhabited dwelling on the eastern Sierra); a pond reportedly used for early Mormon baptisms; and even a segment of the Emigrant Trail. Ghost of the Sierra: Silver Mountain city To modern travelers zipping along California’s Highway 4, Silver Mountain City is just a “ghost of a ghost town” with not a stick of lumber left standing. But in the 1860s this was a roaring silver mining camp, filled with eager silver- seekers hoping to strike it rich with the next Comstock Lode. Silver Mountain City recounts the true story of Alpine County’s original county seat and the fascinating cast of characters who helped put California’s smallest county on the map. Meet lovely Antoinette Chalmers, a housekeeper who married Alpine’s richest bachelor only to end her life in tragedy. Read the tale of Ernst Reusch, a jilted husband whose tragic end gave Hangman’s Bridge its name. From accounts of the first strikes of “ruby ore” to the town’s fading glory, this is the saga of Alpine County’s early history. Richly illustrated with historic photos and vintage newspaper clippings. ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 9 Markleeville Store Woodfords Markleeville Fishing Markleeville . Contact Tom Sweeney @ [PHONE REDACTED] for details Historical Photos Sponsorship Sponsor a picture $60 . A selection of available pictures can be viewed at the Museum and all of the Historical Society Events. Pictures will be rotated among Alpine County Offices ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 10 THANK YOU MEMBERS L I F E M E M B E R S H I P A l p i n e C o u n t y C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e A l p i n e C o u n t y L i b r a r y C a r s o n V a l l e y M u s e u m F r i e n d s o f t h e L o g g i n g M u s e u m A s a G i l m o r e S t a c e y J a m e s A n i t a K o r n o f f L a k e T a h o e H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y D a n W e b s t e r a n d J u l i e M i c h l e r M o n o C o u n t y H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y T r u c k e e - D o n n e r H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y M a r g e H o l d r i d g e J i m a n d S u e B r u n e R i c h C h a m b e r s J o s h C o y a n G a r y C o y a n J r D i c k a n d R u t h A n n E d w a r d s P a u l F u l l e r C h e r y l K a b l o o n a M c A v o y L a y n e J i m L o n g F r i t z T h o r n b u r g A n n e T r u m a n A d a m W a s h a m J u l i e M i c h l e r & D a n W e b s t e r M a r i l y n A c k e r m a n A m a d o r C o u n t y A r c h i v e s B a r b a r a a n d M i c h a e l B a r t o n R y a n B a u n D a l e a n d K a r e n B o h l m a n C a l a v e r a s C o u n t y H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y B e v e r l y C o l a V i r g i n i a C o o k G a r y C o y a n R i c h a r d a n d K a r e n D u s t m a n E b b e t t s P a s s H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y T o d d a n d N a n i E l l i s M i c h a e l a n d J a n e t F i s h e r J e a n e t t e T u r n b e a u g h C h r i s a n d F a y e G a n s b e r g T h o m a s G r a y R o n a n d B e c k y H a m e s M a r l e n a H e l l w i n k e l J i m a n d L i n d a H o l d r i d g e H e i d i H o p k i n s G a r y a n d B a r b a r a H o w a r d D o n J a r d i n e K a r e n K e e b a u g h C e c i l K o e n i g T h o m a s a n d M a r i l y n K o l p a c o f f N i c h o l a s M o n e t S u p e r K u r o p a t k i n D e n n i s R . L i t t l e R o b e r t a n d S a r a L o n g M a r k L o v e W P a t r i c k a n d M a r y A M a g e e S t e v e a n d E l l e n M a r t i n R o b e r t M e r r i c k E i l e e n M e r r i l l D o n a n d S h a r o n M i l l e r C a r l C M u n c k M a r g a r e t O ’ D r a i n S h a r o n O s g o o d S t a n l e y W P a h e r J i m D u n n a n d P a u l a P e n n i n g t o n D r R o b e r t a n d M a r c i a P o p p e r T e r r y R a n k i n D o l o r e s R e e d R o n a l d E a n d N a n c y S m i t h S o r e n s e n ’ s R e s o r t R i c h a r d a n d N a n c y S p e c c h i o M i c h a e l a n d T h e r e s a S t e e v e s J o h n S u p e r W a n d a S u p e r T h o m a s a n d J a n e S w e e n e y J e n n i f e r T h o r n b u r g J u d y W i c k w i r e P h i l B e l l m a n a n d B e t s y Y o s t B E N E F A C T O R S t e p h e n M . H i b b s B U S I N E S S & P R O F E S S I O N A L J e a n n e L e a r N i c h o l s o n T r u c k i n g J e a n e t t e T u r n b e a u g h F A M I L Y G a r y a n d J a n i c e A s c h w a n d e n P a t r i c k a n d M a r y B e t h C r o s b y M i c h a e l a n d L i n d a C u r t i s R o y & I s a k o E g a w a J u d i t h a n d T i m o t h y H a c h m a n T e r r y a n d M a r g a r e t H a f f n e r K i m a n d D o y l e H a r r i s R i c h a r d a n d K a t h r y n H a r v e y D a n K a f f e r a n d D i a n n e J e n n i n g s B a r b a r a K J o n e s S h e r a l y n n K e r n P e t e r a n d E l o n a L a t h r o p G e r a l d a n d J u d y M a r q u e t t e L o u i s a n d J u d y M a z z a R o b e r t M o s e r C r a i g J o r g e n s e n a n d A n d r e a O l s o n P a u l a n d J u d y P a r s o n s T h o m a s & C h a r l e n e P r i c e J e a n n e a n d S h e l i a R e u t e r W i l l i a m a n d G a i l S o u l i g n y J e r r y & J a n i n e S p r o u t M a t t a n d T e o l a T r e m a y n e J i m a n d C y n t h i a W h i t e K a t h e r i n e W i l l i a m s R o b e r t L Y o u n g I N D I V I D U A L T a m a r a L i e b e r m a n M a r i e B u l l o c k J a m e s C l a r k G i n g e r C r a i k L i s a G a v o n E r i c J u n g K a t h y L e w i n M a r t i n M e e d e n C a r o l e M o r g a n P a t r i c i a M u r p h y D e b b i e M u t h D e b b i e N y e B r u c e O d e l b e r g S a r a h O r r L a u r i e P r e s c o t t R o d n e y P r y o r M a r k S t i e f e l J a n e t S w a n J o A n n T r a y n o r D e b b i W a l d e a r N o n a Y a t e s J o a n Y o u n g Y O U T H ---PAGE BREAK--- Alpine Review – May 2020 page 11 MEMBERSHIPS A N D VOLUNTEER The museum is dependent upon donations, retail sales and historical society memberships for its continued operation. Our goal as an organization is to preserve the rich history of Alpine County and the surrounding area. It is through our volunteers continued support that we can continue to achieve this goal. Miscellaneous Musing Are you a modern world Historical Society member who would like to receive this newsletter by email, rather than paper? If so (or if you want both) just forward your name and email address to us at [EMAIL REDACTED]. If you would like to receive this newsletter by email, please let us know! Check out our website www.alpinecountymuseum.org and be sure to add us to your favorites. Announcements and additional information about our events will also be posted, so be sure to bookmark us. MEMBERSHIP CATEGORIES YOUTH $10.00 10% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card BUSINESS & PROFESSIONAL $50.00 10% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card INDIVIDUAL $15.00 10% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card BENEFACTOR $100.00 20% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card FAMILY $20.00 10% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card LIFE MEMBERSHIP $250.00 Life Member Certificate Copy of the Alpine Heritage 20% discount at Museum Store Subscription to the Alpine Review Invitation to all Society events Membership Card CHOOSE A MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY ⬜ Youth $10.00 ⬜ Business & professional $50.00 ⬜ Individual $15.00 ⬜ Benefactor $100+ ⬜ Family $20.00 ⬜ Life Membership $250.00 Address Telephone Telephone (Business) Email Address Note if you want to receive this newsletter by email rather than print Please make check payable to The Historical Society of Alpine County Detach and mail to P.O. Box 517 Markleeville, CA 96120 Email: [EMAIL REDACTED] Website: alpinecountymuseum.org Membership dues are tax deductible. Thank you for your support. ---PAGE BREAK--- Saturday, May 16, 2020 Weeding and Flower Bed Preparation POSTPONED Alpine County Museum Tuesday, May 19, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting POSTPONED Alpine County Museum Thursday, May 21, 2020 Historical Society Quarterly meeting and Potluck Turtle Rock Park POSTPONED TO BE DETERMINED Alpine County Museum OPENS TO BE DETERMINED Basque Oven Bread Bake and Open House Alpine County Museum To Be Announced 2020 Antique Clock Maintenance by Steve Hibbs Alpine County Museum POSTPONED Markleeville Living History Walk Markleeville, CA August or September 2020 E Clampus Vitus Snowshoe Thompson Chapter #1827 Event at Alpine County Museum August or September 2020 Emigrant Trail Walk Tour by Rick Dustman Tuesday, August 18, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Alpine County Museum Saturday, August 22, 2020 Historical Society Quarterly meeting and Basque Oven Pizza Bake Potluck Alpine County Museum 12:00pm September 19, 2020 Silver Mountain City Tour Tour by Rick and Karen Dustman Saturday, October 3, 2020 Basque Oven Bread Bake and Museum Grounds Tour Sunday, October 25, 2020 Alpine County Museum CLOSES Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Board of Directors Meeting Alpine County Museum Thursday, November 19, 2020 Historical Society Quarterly Meeting and Potluck Turtle Rock Park 6:00 pm The Historical Society of Alpine County PO BOX 517, Markleeville, CA 96120 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED US POSTAGE