OSLHP Newsletter - October 2003

President’s Message

It is finally fall. Before we wind down for the year take a minute and volunteer for the Ghost Tours, After School Program, Santa Parade, or Christmas Caroling. There is still plenty to do. I am busy planning next year already trying to schedule different events and get sponsorships and grants. The Old Sacramento Strategic Plan is still on track. I still don’t anticipate moving to the new foundation until next fiscal year or end of summer 2004. For now we keep going as always keeping the group busy and growing.

Funds Raised

Stage Nine raised $240 for the OSLHP. The funds were raised from an afternoon where Stage Nine hired a Disney Artist to do portraits. All donations are gratefully accepted and greatly appreciated.

Volunteer Recognition

If I have not said it enough I want to thank everyone for the hard work during Gold Rush Days. Now big thanks for the planning and production of Ghost Tours. Thanks to Jan for her great writing, Liz, Jason, Terry N, Ken, and Ray Closs for their contributions to the script. Also I will not forget all of the volunteers for the tour: Terry and Ray Eargle, Elyse Bagley, Barbara and JP Dunne, Roy Cassista and Roy Jr., Mel and Dorothy Picanco, Susan Goodrich, Terry Meleau, Erin Early, Jay Lawson, Penny Adams and LaMona Hoover.

Standing Committee GRD

It has been recommended that we have a Standing Committee for Gold Rush Days. This will be discussed at the next General Meeting on Oct 13.

Past Events

Did we have a break in September after Gold Rush??? It sure didn’t feel like it what with all the planning for October.

Coming Events

Ghost tours

There is still time to sign up for Shepherd and to help with tickets. Please call Amy to sign up 264-8142.

Love and Passion in the Gold Fields

The Sacramento Arts Commission has given the OSLHP an $800 grant for a spring production entitled "Love and Passion in the Gold Fields". The grant allows the program to pay for help writing the play and Liz Fairchild has agreed to take this on. We are hoping to be able to use the Eagle Theater for the production. 

Santa Parade Float

It’s not too early to start planning the float. If you would like to help decorate or plan the float contact Penny Adams immediately at.

Christmas Caroling

Rehearsals will begin soon. Please contact Susan Goodrich or Terry Nelson to sign up.

Santa Parade

Will be November 29th this year. Please sign up to participate. If you need to ride in a carriage please indicate on sign up sheet. Amy 264-8142.

New museum exhibition “Sacramento’s Buried Past”

Discovery Museum, October 8th, 5 pm to 7 pm. Stop by in costume, meet and greet; also your chance to see the new exhibit free of charge. Parking validated by OSLHP.

Coloma 49’er Days

Living History Days in Coloma, Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12. We have been invited to come up to play and stay with our period appropriate tents. For more information contact Amy at 264-8142.

After School Program Earl Warren Elementary

The program will begin Tuesday, October 7. I would like to have as many people possible to come to the class Oct 28th and talk about how they came to California and why. November 2, 10:30 to Noon, the after school program will be coming to Old Sacramento to have a guided tour and meet our group, please sign up. November 18th I would like people to come and talk specifically about the Gold Rush and help with demonstrations. Amy 264-8142.

Women’s History Day

Women’s History Day needs a new planner. Amy does not have the time to coordinate this event this year but will help as much as possible. Anyone interested should contact Amy at 264-8142.

Points to Ponder

Whatever hits the fan will not be evenly distributed.
A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Phrenology, The Potentialities of the Human Brain

By Luzena Wilson (aka Virginia Perkins)

I had only recently begun venturing out on a daily constitutional through the streets of Sacramento City upon the recommendation of my physician after an intolerably long illness. This particular day I noticed the new establishment of Professor Flatbroke B. Dodge (aka Ken Knott), an educated man and phrenologist. Being somewhat curious by nature and unaware of the nature of phrenology, I visited his office. He was conducting the reading of a brain of one of the residents of our fair city and beckoned me to come in and watch, which I did. He gave discourse about the measurements he was taking, the peculiarity of particular bumps and smooth places on the outer head and their relationship to the brain underneath. When completed the man left with a complete list of the vast complexities of the human brain and the particular potentialities of his own brain in regard to them. Since I was particularly interested in discovering the potentialities of my own brain, I returned with the necessary five dollars payment required for Professor Dodge’s services the very next day. Having recently just returned in health from a near death state, I was interested in reckoning with my potentialities. Professor Dodge treated me with great kindness as only the most gentile of men are capable. He carefully explained what he was about as he took the necessary measurements. He used an instrument he named calipers and said that they would not hurt a bit. He spoke the truth. I felt no pain. He measured about my head from behind the ear, then from in front of the ears and on up the crown. He then abandoned the service of the calipers and completed his examination using the hands to feel the smoothness and the bumps of the skull. From time to time he would make utterances and stop to make notes, using quill, inkwell and parchment. When he was completed, he gave to me the object of his writings along with a complete book about the potentialities of the brain. I needed only compare his writings with the writings in the book to discover my true potentialities, which I did directly upon returning home and retiring to my bedchamber. My heart was quite gladdened to discover that I was not far off from my potentialities at all.