On January 15, 2019 HSSR Members gathered at the Sixth Street Playhouse and enjoyed a panel discussion. The distinguished panel discussed Santa Rosa’s preparations in the Atomic 1950’s.

It was an evening of radiation recall where we revisited those golden years of smiling students under desks awaiting the big blast. Memories of your neighbor pacing off his back yard after reading the latest copy of Popular Mechanics describing how to build your very own bomb shelter. Panelists walked members through a stroll down Santa Rosa’s memory lane to the 1950s and 60’s of “our town” when atomic energy was both friend and foe.

On Friday, November 9 Gaye LeBaron gave a very special presentation with Eric Stanley on her new book, The Wonder Seekers of Fountaingrove. LeBaron’s and co-author Bart Casey’s new book focuses on Thomas Lake Harris and his Brotherhood of the New Life, Lawrence Oliphant, and Kanaye Nagasawa. While it focuses on these three individuals, LeBaron says that the book is as much about Fountaingrove, the growth of Santa Rosa and California in the 20th and 21st centuries, and the October fires.

History Curator Stanley pulled items from the Museum’s Fountaingrove collection to discuss with Gaye LeBaron and how they related to the book. Visitors also had a chance to view the exhibit, “From the Fire: A Community Reflects and Rebuilds,” about the October fires that scorched all of Fountaingrove and burned the Round Barn, the last building left from historical Fountaingrove.

Books were sold at 10% discount to all program attendees andMs. LeBaron was available for signing. The Historical Society of Santa Rosa gift-wraped signed copies of The Wonder Seekers of Fountaingrove.

On June 26, 2018 Historical Society of Santa Rosa members enjoyed a free private evening viewing the History Museum of Sonoma County’s latest exhibit: Lost Santa Rosa

Eric Stanley, Museum Curator, gave a short introduction. Afterward, members explored the exhibit with hosted beer, wine, and cookies.

About the exhibit: The Museums of Sonoma County exhibit, Lost Santa Rosa, explores the changing face of Santa Rosa during the year of the city’s 150-year anniversary. Looking at moments of truly transformative change, Lost Santa Rosa will explore those elements of the city that have been lost over the years. With disasters such as the 2017 firestorms and the 1906 earthquake, losses can be sudden and breathtaking. The collapsed county courthouse in 1906 or the Fountaingrove Round Barn in flames become iconic images of natural disasters, ushering in unexpected changes. Other changes come about over time as the result of demographic shifts, conscious decisions or even neglect. From Santa Rosa’s Chinatown, to the neighborhoods displaced by Highway 101, this exhibition explores the city of Santa Rosa of the past, invites the memories of the community and seeks lessons for the future.

On May 26, 2018 members enjoyed a walking tour showcasing the unique historic neighborhood, Santa Rosa’s West End.

Houses represent the modest residential architecture from the 1880s through the 1940s primarily consisting of bungalows and Queene Anne cottages intermixed with historical industrial and commercial buildings. Discover the rich cultural heritage created by immigrants who settled in this part of Santa Rosa. Primarily from Tuscany, the largest wave of Italian immigrants to arrive in Santa Rosa came in very large numbers after the 1920s. Many of these new arrivals found work in the cannery on West Third Street and made their home in the West End Neighborhood or “Little Italy”. Many of Santa Rosa’s historic Italian families have their roots here, yet so do others such as Japanese, Filipino, and Pomo families.

Attendees learned about neighborhood architecture, the history and contributions of Italians and other immigrants, and personal stories of those who lived in the neighborhood. Our guides were, West End Neighborhood Association President, Allen Thomas, North Bay Italian Cultural Foundation historian Kathy Bertolini Dowdall and special guests Mary Bertolini Dowdall and Bob Bertolini who grew up in the neighborhood on their family’s truck garden.

The morning tour departed from the the Railroad Depot, (now the California Welcome Center) located at 9 Fourth Street. The very popular event sold out.

On May 8, 2018 Attendees enjoyed a presentation by Gray Brechin, Ph.D., founder of the Living New Deal and former Vice-President of the National New Deal Preservation Association.

Gaye LeBaron, Santa Rosa’s favorite historian, introduced Dr. Brechin and provided opening comments.

Dr. Brechin is a historical geographer and author, who received a BA in History and Geography, an MA in Art History, and a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of California, Berkeley.  He is the author of Imperial San Francisco: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin (1999), considered a classic of urban studies.  Dr. Brechin regularly lectures around the country about the New Deal legacy. He is President of the Living New Deal non-profit board of directors.

Sonoma County’s New Deal legacy is threatened by the proposed demolition of the former County Hospital on Chanate Road. Dr. Brechin spoke about this important historical resource as well as other Sonoma County landmarks extant and not. He will also discussed the current need for a New Deal approach to managing forests and rangelands and fund public health as we recover from the 2017 fires.

On March 24 The Sonoma County History Museum was open to the public, FREE of charge. The contents of the City’s 50-year Time Capsule were on exhibit . HSSR’s documentary film, Santa Rosa: The Chosen Spot of all the Earth was also publicly shown at the public museum event.

This City sponsored public event, was part of the Sesquicentennial Celebration.

The Ninth Night at the Museum was our largest museum event attendance yet!  At this special evening at the History Museum of Sonoma County on February 27th members enjoyed a showing of our documentary movie Santa Rosa: The Chosen Spot of all the Earth as well as the objects in the ‘Santa Rosa’ room that highlight different events in our documentary of Santa Rosa.

The evening was free to HSSR members, who were able to speak to the director, Don Cambou, and the museum curator, Eric Stanley. The HSSR documentary will be shown at the museum from January 21st until April 1st as part of the larger exhibit “Bear in Mind” which is a look at the bear as a symbol in and a part of Sonoma County’s history.

Santa Rosa’s fires left large portions of the city devastated, with enormous challenges ahead. But if you ask local historians, we’ve been here before. A partnership between KQED, the Historical Society of Santa Rosa, and KSRO held a discussion about fires, earthquakes and floods in Sonoma County and Santa Rosa’s history, and the many ways the community came together then – and how we can recuperate now.

The event was held on November 14, 2017 at the Roxy Stadium 14. Panelists included: Gaye LeBaron, Press Democrat; John Schubert, Historian; and Pat Kerrigan, of KSRO. Moderation by: Gabe Meline of KQED.

All ticket proceeds — 100% of gross ticket sales — and additional donations collected at the event – were donated directly to the Redwood Credit Union Fire Recovery Fund and Redwood Empire Food Bank.

On September 26, 2017 members enjoyed our Eighth Night at the History Museum of Sonoma county. Viewing of the exhibit, Equine Epochs, History of Sonoma County Horses, complemented our August 15 panel discussion on the topic. The exhibit was enjoyed by all who attended.

On September 9, 2017 the HSSR held the Fourth Annual Great Santa Rosa History Hunt – the most attended yet. Held on McDonald Avenue, participants – members and guests – were provided a set of clues regarding the residences on the Avenue.

Sleuthing ensued resulting in a 3-way tie for first and second places, with 13 and 12 correct answers. Pedestrian safety was greatly aided by community volunteers with the Santa Rosa Police Department. A fun and safe history hunt brought out residents of the Avenue to talk and discuss the neighborhood, event, and exhibited Santa Rosa’s strong community celebrating its history.

The HSSR would like to the thank the event  sponsor, Grohe Florists