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AARRGGOONNAAUUTT GGAAZZEETTTTEE

“KEEPING THE PAST ALIVE” SACRAMENTO, August 2007

Our Last Summer Month Janessa West, Program Coordinator This summer has simply flown by! August is here and will be over before we know it. Coming up this month is an initial planning meeting for Ghost Tours on August 2nd at 7 p.m. and an improvisation class on Saturday the 11th to gear everyone up for Gold Rush Days. Setup for Gold Rush Days begins on the 28th so that we are all ready by the start of education day on Friday the 31st. If you would like to make any purchases for Gold Rush Days or any upcoming event please come to the Executive Board meeting on August 7th or send me an e-mail with your request so we can bring it to the executive meeting. This is going to be a busy month! See you all soon!

New member contest! We have a winner! Our new OSLHP President, Greg Tracy, recruited two new members during June and July; Carol Bassoni and Christine Schauberger. Welcome to our new members! Greg’s prize for the new member contest will be announced at the next meeting. Storage Room update: Tents and poles Biscuits and Lesley Clarkson repaired tents and labeled tents and poles to make setup for living history days and Gold Rush Days easier. Each tent and set of poles has been labeled with a color to identify it has a set. Currently four tents and sets of poles are labeled. Thank you, Biscuits and Lesley!

From the President’s Quill Greg Tracy, President This year’s Gold Rush is almost upon us and we have an opportunity to shape this event to accommodate the OSLHP. Bob Russo who was in charge of setting up the 49’er scene last year has moved on to Sutter’s Fort, and essentially the 49’er scene has been left to Janessa and the OSLHP to organize and make happen. So here is an opportunity to create new venues, improve old venues, and have Gold Rush our way. Plus if this were not enough, Ghost Tours is just around the corner. This is probably one of our most fun and profitable events of the year. Ghost Tours as usual is short of players, so if you have any interest in portraying a specter from the past, please talk to Jan Bullard. I would like to thank everyone for their positive comments in regards to my new presidency. Positive comments are always welcome. Have any comments or concerns? Please let me know. If I cannot address them I will find some one who can.

Dues were due in July!

Individual $25 Family $35

Senior (60+) $12 Senior Couple $16

The first year for new members is free.

Give your check to

Janessa West or Lesley Clarkson.

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Victorian Corset Workshop Learn to fit, construct, and complete a Victorian Corset

During this two-day class you will learn to fit and construct a Victorian corset using Laughing Moon Mercantile’s # 100, Women’s Victorian Underwear – historically accurate unmentionables for the Victorian period, approximately 1837 to 1890s. Instructor: Barbara Muran, Owner, Of Corset Date: September 15th and 16th Time: On Saturday, the class will start at 1 p.m., after the General Members’ Meeting.

On Sunday, the center will open at 9 a.m. The class starts at 10 a.m. Location: Old Sacramento Living History Center, 1101 Second St., Old Sacramento,

phone (916) 445-3101 Who: Intermediate sewing skills required Cost: $150 for members, $160 for non members– Workshop fee and complete Corset

Kit. White coutil is provided; satin trim/embroidery colors available include white, peach, pink, blue, and lavender. Newly available is a “drab” (plain unbleached coutil, no colored trim or embroidery) kit and workshop for $125 / $135. Please indicate your color choice when registering. If you must drop out after signing up and sending in your fee, your fee will not be refundable unless another student takes your place from the waiting list and uses your kit. However, it will transfer to another of Barbara’s classes.

How to sign up: Send your check or Money Order to JoAnn Peterson, 2131 51st St., Sacramento CA 95817. Email JoAnn and you will receive a signup sheet to indicate your color choices.

For Further JoAnn Peterson Barbara Muran Information: (916) 455-4527 OR (916) 419-1889

Laughing Moon Mercantile Of Corset Joann@lafnmoon.com barb@ofcorset.com Student Supplies Required:

1. Sewing machine with bobbin, regular foot and zipper foot, in good working order. Don’t forget your power cord.

2. Size 14 or 16 machine needles, bring extras 3. Tracing paper and tape 4. Ruler and pencils 5. Some method of marking fabric – pen, pencil, chalk, or wheel and marking paper 6. Thread, scissors (fabric and paper), pins 7. Basic sewing supplies including hand needles. 8. White or off-white thread to match your fabric.

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Upcoming Events

Improv/Interpretation Workshop Ken Knott, Training Coordinator The August 11th class is intended to get you into the groove for doing historical interpretation just in time for Gold Rush Days, which will be here before you know it! It will be time for us to loosen up and start thinking on our feet. Accordingly, our Improv/Interpretation class will start with some exercises to get our creativity working, and then we will do some interactive role playing based upon the types of situations we encounter at Gold Rush Days. It will be fun! Another Corset Class! JoAnn Peterson, Sewing Workshop Coordinator Due to popular demand (Thanks, Penny!) we have another corset-making class scheduled. At the last general meeting, Penny passed around a sheet asking for names of those who were interested. If all those who signed it send in their money, the class will already be almost full! Those who signed the list have your place waiting, but if I don’t receive the class fee from you by August 15th I will open up your spot to the waiting list. Barbara Muran, the instructor, makes a lot of preparations and gives the participants choices, so we need to know well in advance who will be in the class. If you did not sign the sheet but are interested, send an email to me and I will start a waiting list. Barbara does a fantastic job teaching and goes the extra mile to make sure your corset is pretty and custom fit. Jill Quinn and Catherine Hanson-Tracy attended the last class and will tell you how much they enjoyed it. Please note there is a new “economy” version of the corset kit that has plain unbleached coutil for those who would rather save money than have an embroidered corset front and fancy trim. I am the workshop coordinator, so mail the fee to me as soon as possible. See the workshop flyer in this newsletter for more details.

Ghost Tours Jan Bullard, Chairperson Cauldron boil and cauldron bubble, Volunteering for Ghost Tours should be no trouble. We’ll have prisoners and hangmen and victims

abound, But we can’t make it happen without EVERYONE

around. In other words, our biggest money-making and (I think) fun event, Ghost Tours are scheduled for October 19–20 and 26–27. Each evening will last from about 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. We need 12 ghosts to make this rock and other people for ticket sales, guides, shepherds, etc. We will have a walk-through on October 6th and on the 12th a “dress rehearsal.” We will present all the available roles and a script after the Halloween Committee meeting on August 2nd, but please clear your calendars for those dates and make a commitment to participate and make this one of the best Halloweens ever. There’s a funeral cortège and a séance or two. Don’t make that the only way we contact you. Coloma Gold Rush Live From the State Parks web site For two days Coloma will be packed with images, sounds, and hands-on experiences dating back to the 1850s. Step back in time and experience the California Gold Rush. Live history tent encampments recreate Gold Rush history in this authentic setting. Attend talks about the gold discovery and Sutter's Mill. Visitors will enjoy live music, historic trade demonstrations and a merchants market. There will be gold panning contests for kids and adults as well as sawmill demonstrations and historic re-enactments so you can feel as if you are rubbing shoulders with the adventurers and historical figures that helped create the world-wide rush to California. Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park Saturday, October 13 - Sunday, October 14 10 a.m. -5 p.m.

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Upcoming Events

Gold Rush Days 2007 Janessa West Less than 30 days away! We are continuing to expand, and we are up to ten different venues for this year’s big event:

• Phrenologist • Blacksmith • Sutter Rifles/Justice of the Peace • Doc Logan • Adam’s Express and Co. Bank • Bathhouse and Laundry • Boarding House • Children’s games • Saloon • Californios

To sign up for a specific venue, please come to the August 8th planning meeting at 6 p.m. Parking for this year’s Gold Rush Days will be in Lot W. I will have parking passes and directions to the lot.

Setup Setup for the event will be very similar to last year. The following is the setup schedule:

• Tuesday, August 28th 6-7 p.m.: Load tents and tent poles into state truck and park in the passenger depot

• Wednesday, August 29th 7 a.m.-noon: Set up tents!

• Thursday, August 30th 7 a.m.-noon: Furnish tents

• Friday–Monday, August 31st-September 3rd Gold Rush Days 2007!

Food! We will be cooking two meals in the camp, one on Friday and one on Saturday. So don’t forget your cups, plates, and utensils! And there will be snacks as usual. Breakfast and lunch also will be provided by the Native Sons of the Golden West, for all four days of the event. Passes for meals will be passed out daily. Guns If you are planning on wearing a gun, loaded or not, at Gold Rush Days and would like to go over to the City side of the event, please e-mail Bob Firato to set up a time for him to meet you. Bob meets with everyone who is carrying a gun on the City side of town to check out the gun, see your insurance card, and be aware of who has guns. Please e-mail him at snguns@goldrush.com. Group Insurance for Shootouts: Investigating the Possibilities At the last meeting, the general membership requested that we consider getting group insurance in order to be able to do regular shootouts. As you know, it is getting extremely difficult to get individual insurance to shoot. Currently the Historic Old Sacramento Foundation is in the process of transitioning from a provisional 501(c)3 non-profit to a full fledged 501(c)3. It takes three years for insurance companies to recognize a 501(c)3. After the three years of provisional status, the insurance coverage changes and includes more extensive coverage. The HOSF will be recognized as a non-profit in the next month. Vicky Baxter and I are talking to the insurance company to see if we can get group insurance for the shootouts. I will keep you updated on our progress. Women’s Costume Closet Gearing Up! Yolanda Starr and Jane Clapp have been busy at work reorganizing the women’s costume closet. A HUGE donation from Becky Rogers has greatly increased the number of items available to borrow, and just in time for Gold Rush Days! Thank you, Yolanda and Jane for your hard work! Thank you, Becky for the wonderful donations!

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REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon Yolanda Starr Fantastic! Lunch at Bridges on the River—what a treat for the OSLHP members! On a beautiful sunny and warm June day the Old Sacramento Living History Program treated its volunteers to a romantic luncheon at Bridges on the River, a Victorian setting on the Sacramento River and Garden Highway. Thanks to coordinator Jan Bullard, the OSLHP members enjoyed wonderful food and great company. Outgoing president Ken Knott presented certificates and gifts to outstanding members (see list at right), as well as certificates to those members who had completed the OSLHP training program in the past year. Janessa West recognized and gave certificates to the 2006-2007 officers. The new 2007-2008 officers were warmly welcomed. Everyone had a wonderful, splendiferous time in the fresh air, partaking of a scrumptious meal. Thank you, OSLHP!

(Above and below) Members enjoy conversation and the

beautiful setting before lunch.

Jeff Bush receives a well-deserved award from Ken Knott.

2007 Volunteer Awards Janessa West and Ken Knott Catherine Hanson-Tracy, Volunteer of the Year Doug Peterson, Special Recognition Richard Vincent, Most Active New Member Jeff Bush, Perfect Attendance 2006-2007 Executive Board awards: Ken Knott, Best swami in the west Penny Adams, Best Santa Parade Organizer and

Champion of the proper ladies Jill Quinn, Best logo designer and women’s history

day organizer Roger Quinn, Best bottle collector in the west Jan Bullard, Best script writer and one line

comebacks Greg Tracy, Best living history days organizer and

defender of justice Training program graduates: Dale Blair Lesley Clarkson Catherine Hanson-Tracy JoAnn Peterson Yolanda Starr Richard Vincent

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REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

Celebrants around the laden picnic table

Independence Day Celebration Yolanda (Ysabel) Starr This year's 4th of July celebration at Waterfront Park was kicked off with a very tasty flapjack breakfast put on by the Embarcadero Lions and the Old Sacramento Historic Foundation. In spite of the 100 degree weather, OSLHP had quite a turnout, not only from our members but also from the public at large. Our own Ruth Chambers and Richard Vincent gave impressive performances to the delight of all observers and participants. A bountiful potluck feast was partaken and immensely enjoyed by all. Some of the offerings included Jason Hollingsworth's sumptuous roast beef, Penny Adams' wonderful 1850s potato salad, pea salad, Irish soda bread, and other delicious, mouth-watering enticements. Though the heat prohibited some of the planned games, Biscuits and yours truly had a lively and interesting match throwing horseshoes. The Tehama Saloon enjoyed its usual gathering of punters et al. Yes, the OSLHP did ourselves proud. Happy 4th of July!

Terry Melau did a Herculean job auctioning off box lunches.

Bodice Fitting Workshop JoAnn Peterson On July 8th Barbara Muran and I held a bodice fitting workshop with seven of our members. Before the class I made up each size of the bodice of the new pattern, #114 Ladies’ Round Dresses, in muslin. I fit each lady individually, and Barb wrote down the specific alterations needed. Then we helped each individual alter the bodice and sleeve patterns to fit. The participants then made a muslin from the altered pattern, and we did a final fitting. Thus, everyone got a custom fit and learned the process of making a fitting muslin. With this information they can alter all the bodices and sleeves in the pattern and know they will fit.

JoAnn fits Jill Quinn, while Barb records the needed alterations. Cate Jinneman (in red!) waits her turn.

After all the muslins were fit and made up, Barb did a demonstration of stitching piping using a buttonhole attachment, which speeds up the process considerably. Then, for those who were new to it, we demonstrated cartridge pleating. Barb demonstrated the use of a tape that makes the stitching much easier. The participants made a sample of the pleating to take home to remind them how it’s done. Each lady also received a copy of the new pattern (when it was finally published!) at the general meeting on the 14th. Now all that is left to do is make the dress! Barb and I enjoyed this class very much, and we hope the participants did as well. We will try to hold another bodice class soon, if we can squeeze it in with all the other events and classes our group has scheduled! Look for information in future newsletters.

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REPORTS FROM THE FIELD

Living History Weekend! Greg Tracy The weather was hot, but then so was the success of July’s Living History Weekend. Although there were some technical difficulties initially, everyone side-stepped the problems, and moving and setup went well. The camp was set up in a new arrangement, on which I received lots of welcome comments. Saturday was a busy day in Old Sacramento, and our venue was eventful throughout the day. Sunday was not as busy but attendance was still good and we were well received by Old Sac’s visitors. We were photographed casually all weekend, plus there were many requests to pose and be photographed with the visitors. The potluck was very successful as there was very little to take home. The baked beans were delightful, and the BBQ tidbits were well consumed on Saturday. Sunday’s fare was well received with the Fort Sutter Stew picking up loads of raves. The spare ribs and green salad were also very popular. Overall, July’s Living History Weekend was a smashing success and perhaps the best one yet.

Miners Coat of Arms (pictorial lettersheet c. 1850)

Randy to the Rescue Anonymous Some of you may have noticed that the elevator at the Living History Center was stuck catawhompishly about three feet higher than the floor. How it got that way and what subsequently occurred after an agonizingly interminable half-hour the is the subject of this story. It all occurred on the Saturday morning of the July Living History weekend, when the first three members arrived and proceeded to load tent poles into the elevator to take up to the boardwalk. One member (who shall remain nameless) became stuck in the elevator when, after the doors closed and the elevator started to rise towards the 1st floor, the “door open” button somehow got pressed. The elevator abruptly stopped in its upward progress, but it did not return to the basement level, nor did the doors open. The car refused to budge either up or down, despite buttons being pressed most anxiously and repeatedly by the person within. All immediate rescue attempts proved futile; the elevator doors could not be pried open with the blade of a shovel, nor bare fingers. Two maintenance workers from the City of Sacramento arrived, but they were unsure how to help the person trapped inside, who was becoming more frantic with each passing minute. Randy Brink called the Fire Department, who rushed to the scene. The first fireman to arrive asked the person inside if he could find a lever at the top of the right-hand door. The response from inside the elevator being in the affirmative, the fireman next called for the person inside to turn the lever upward. When this was done the doors instantly flew open, to the delight of the bystanders and the great relief of the person inside! The rescue having been completed, a City maintenance man taped Caution tape all over the opening to discourage anyone from further use of the elevator. If there is a lesson to be learned from this episode, it is to let the elevator come to a complete stop at a floor before pressing the “door open” button, but it’s good to know about the emergency lever!

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Miscellanea Thoughts on Photos Doug Peterson Attractive and engaging photos of our members and events help represent us to the public as well as to the "powers that be." Our photos are used to promote Old Sacramento events too. Many of us take photos of events and generously share them. Here are a few thoughts on making our photos better. Outdoor photos in sunlight very often have deep black shadows across the face, cast by our hats. They may also have a “raccoon eye” look from the shadows of the eye socket. These unnatural looks can be avoided, or improved, by turning on the flash of the camera (it's called “fill flash”). Sunlight coming from behind can fool the camera into not exposing the subjects well. Your camera usually has a “backlight” setting that will fix this if you turn it on before shooting. Fill flash helps too. Pictures of people lined up looking at the camera are usually boring. Interaction between people, and people engaged in activities, are more interesting. Close-ups are often more interesting than shots that show the boots to the top of the hat. Please send your disks of photos to me for posting on the website! From your Editor Catherine Hanson-Tracy Note that there are no photos of Biscuits in this issue! All OSLHP members are invited to submit items for inclusion in the Argonaut Gazette. Articles, letters to the editor, calendar items, and personal news announcements are welcome. The submission deadline is the 25th of the month before publication. Submissions may be modified for length and readability at the discretion of the editor. E-mail articles to me at: chanson-tracy@library.ca.gov or cht2@sbcglobal.net. For those without e-mail access, submissions can be mailed to: 1179 Theo Way, Sacramento CA 95822. Or submit your item to me at a general meeting.

Remember to click on the ads on our web site.

OSLHP receives remuneration for each click!

Old Sacramento Living History Center Located at 1101 Second St., lower level Corner of K & 2nd Streets, Old Sacramento Janessa West, Program Coordinator (916) 445-3101 Janessa@oldsacramentolivinghistory.com Write to: Old Sacramento Living History Program 1002 Second St., 2nd floor Sacramento CA 95814 Web site: www.oldsacramentolivinghistory.com OSLHP Officers: Greg Tracy, President Penny Adams, Vice President Ken Knott, Past President Yolanda Starr, Secretary Lesley Clarkson, Treasurer Jan Bullard, Member-at-Large Jason Hollingsworth, Member-at-Large OSLHP is sponsored by The Historic Old Sacramento Foundation Vicky Baxter, Executive Director 1002 Second St., 2nd floor Sacramento, CA 95814

EVENTS CALENDAR

Date Time Event Location Contact August 2 - Thursday 7:00 p.m. Ghost Tours Planning

Meeting Living History Center Jan Bullard

7 – Tuesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Executive Board Meeting

Living History Center Janessa West

8 – Wednesday 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Gold Rush Days Planning Meeting

Living History Center Janessa West

8 – Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

General Membership Meeting

Living History Center Greg Tracy

11 – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12 noon

Class: Improvisation, Skits, and Language

Living History Center Ken Knott

28 – Tuesday 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

GRD Moving Old Sacramento Janessa West

29 – 30 Wed. – Thurs.

7:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

GRD Setup Old Sacramento Janessa West

31 – Friday

Gold Rush Days Old Sacramento Janessa West

September 1 – 3 Saturday – Monday

Gold Rush Days Old Sacramento Janessa West

TBA Ghost Tours Planning Meeting

Jan Bullard

11 – Tuesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Executive Board Meeting

Living History Center Janessa West

15 – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon

General Membership Meeting

Living History Center Greg Tracy

15 & 16 –Saturday, Sunday

1:00 – 5:00 Sat., 10:00 – 5:00 Sun.

Corset-making workshop

Living History Center JoAnn Peterson

16 – Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Founders Day Georgetown Ken Knott

30 – Sunday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Living History Day? Waterfront Park Greg Tracy

October 6 - Saturday 6:30 p.m. Ghost Tours

Walk-through Old Sacramento Jan Bullard

9 – Tuesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Executive Board Meeting

Living History Center Janessa West

10 – Wednesday 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.

General Membership Meeting

Living History Center Greg Tracy

12 – Friday 6:30 p.m. Ghost Tours Dress rehearsal

Old Sacramento Jan Bullard

13 & 14 – Saturday, Sunday

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Coloma Gold Rush Live

Marshall Gold Discovery SHP

19 & 20 – Friday, Saturday

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Ghost Tours Old Sacramento Jan Bullard

26 & 27 – Friday, Saturday

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.

Ghost Tours Old Sacramento Jan Bullard

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"The California Stage Company" (a Gold Rush song)

submitted by Coon Hollow Ken They started as a thieving line In eighteen hundred forty-nine; All opposition they defy, The people must root hog or die! There's no respect for Youth or age On board the California stage, But pull and haul about the seats As bedbugs do about the sheets. You're crowded in with Chinamen As fattening hogs are in a pen; And what will more a man provoke Than musty plug tobacco smoke? The dust is deep in summer time, The mountains very hard to climb; And drivers often stop and yell, "Get out, all hands, and push uphill!"

They promise when your fare you pay, "You'll have to walk but half the way." Then add aside with cunning laugh, "You'll have to push the other half!" They started as a thieving line In eighteen hundred forty-nine; All opposition they defy The people must root hog or die!

OSLHP 1002 Second St Sacramento CA 95814