OSLHP Newsletter - February 2004

President’s Message

January is passing quickly. Last’s years long term planning is coming to fruition with a partnership with the Sacramento Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and walking tours. Please see additional information about the walking tours for more information. Also this year we are having member training after a 1 year hiatus. I have been receiving many inquiries about the program from the web site and from the City of Sacramento Volunteer Web site. I hope this will increase our membership. The web site is going well. I have updated it to include the yearly calendar and instead of sending the newsletters by email you can now download a copy from the site at www.oldsacramentolivighistory.com Check the newsletter information link. I hope to further end any problems with people opening attachments and pictures.

General Meeting

The next general meeting is Wednesday, February 11 from 7 to 9 pm at the Living History Center.

Executive Council Meeting

The next executive council meeting is March 9 at 7 pm. LaMona Hoover, has taken over for Virginia Perkins who took over for Liz Fairchild.

Volunteer Recognition

I would like to recognize Ken Knott for his efforts with the training Program, Mary Carlson for taking on Women’s History Day and all of the cast of Love and Passions in the Gold Fields, it is their extraordinary time commitment that will make the play a success.

Newsletters by email

Instead of sending everyone a copy of the newsletter by email, you will now receive a notice when it is available to download at the Living History Program web site. This is a further effort to accommodate people who are having a hard time downloading the email and pictures. Please let me know if this works better. Phone numbers of chairpersons will be left out of the online newsletter for privacy concerns. Please refer to your roster for information.

Did You Know?

By the time you can make ends meet, they move the ends.

Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

Past Events

January was quiet. Don’t think anyone minds. Getting ready for the play and the new member training.

Coming Events

After School Program

Earl Warren Elementary The next in class visit is scheduled for February 3. This will include items from their lesson on etiquette and manners. A dinner party is scheduled. Time is 3:45 to 4:30pm. If you would like to volunteer please contact Amy at 264-8142.

Walking Tours

Thanks to the SCVB we will be conducting Walking Tours of Old Sacramento for an ongoing income for the OSLHP. Officially it starts March 6 and runs every weekend Saturday and Sunday at 10am. Tour prices will be $9 for adults, $5 for children 7 to 12, $7 for seniors, military and groups of 10or more it is free to children under 6. This will need to be run by volunteers until a system can be worked out to pay guides beginning May 27 when the tour will become available Tuesday and Thursdays for the summer also at 10am. The money to pay guides will come from OSLHP’s share of any profits. If we can do most of this by volunteer guides, the more money OSLHP can make. You only need to volunteer for one day to make a difference.

The SCVB will take care of reservations and promotions. The OSLHP will receive 70% of the profit, 20% to SCVB and 10% to the new foundation.

Test runs of the walking tour will be Feb 15 and 21 at 10am. 

Please contact Amy to sign up for either a test tour or to reserve a date for a regular tour. You will need to make a 2 hour commitment in case there is enough people for 2 tours. Parking will be paid for by the OSLHP.

Love and Passion in the Gold Fields

I am pleased to announce that rehearsals for our spring play Love and Passion in the Gold Fields are well underway.

The cast is rehearsing devotedly three times a week Tues and Thurs evenings and Sat mornings. On Sat January 10th after rehearsal, the cast met at the Towe Auto Museum for a photo shoot, which also provided and opportunity to view the stage and technical set up. Towe Auto Museum Director Kristin Hartley and Events Coordinator Ian Holt were also on hand to meet many of the cast. 

Jay Walker, Production Coordinator with Clear Channel has graciously agreed to be our production technician. Jay will be working closely with Ray Eargle on all technical aspects of the play. Many thanks to them both for volunteering their time and expertise. Barbara Dunne has generously agreed to be our Assistant Director. Barbara assisted tremendously with script editing during the writing process. In addition to this new responsibility, Barbara plays the role of Miss Sarah Cope in the play. Penny Adams, along with new members Robert Flaherty, Greg Tracy and Shelly Green have all signed on as understudies attending their first rehearsal and getting right to work January 13.

Free Museum Day, Saturday February 7th, we will be at the Towe Auto Museum from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in two different shifts handing out flyers and meeting and greeting museum guests. The museum expects over 5000 visitors that day.

Be sure to watch KCRA Channel 3 at noon February 26th. Mary Carlson, Terry Eargle and I will be guests that day to talk about the play with Walt Gray.

Last but not least, my thanks go out to all cast and crew for their time and energy devoted to this production. It’s going to be a “really big show!”

P.S. From Amy: Members of the OSLHP can see the play free by coming to the dress rehearsal or volunteering to take tickets or help in some way. Call Amy at 264-8142

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

The parade is scheduled for March 17th. We would need to be in place between 4 and 5pm If you are interested in walking in this parade let Amy know as soon as possible. Amy 264-8142.

Women’s History Day

March 27th 11 am to 3:30 pm. Mary Carlson is the co-chair of this event. If you would like to make a speech please contact her. Requests for specific assistance in doing parts will be forthcoming.

New Member Training

The next training planning meeting is February 11 at 6 pm before the general meeting.

The Old Sacramento Living History Classes are shaping up to be an interesting and informative series. New presentations this year will include amusements, material culture, lifestyles, language of the fan and writing with pen and ink, in addition to new approaches to the subjects of language, etiquette and medicine. Jan Bullard will be providing a PowerPoint presentation for a class in Historic Attire. If anyone can loan us a projector, let me know. As you can see the new class formats will offer something for everyone. New members as well as ‘established' members, who are welcome to attend, will gain new insight and appreciation for life in the 1840's and '50's. Orientation will kick off the series of classes on March 13th, after the General membership Meeting. The first class begins the following Saturday, March 20, and the classes will continue until June 26th, with some Saturdays off for special events. Attendance at each class is not mandatory, but you will not want to miss any of our exciting series of classes!

Ken Knott, Class Coordinator

Easter Bonnet Promenade

This years Promenade needs a chairperson. LaMona Hoover has offered to provide guidance to anyone who is willing to take this on. This year’s event will take place April 10th. We have been given $300 from the Old Sac Merchant’s Association to cover costs because they expect more people to attend. Contact Amy at 264-8142.

Bus Trip to Filloli

A bus trip is tentatively being scheduled in the spring or summer to go to the Filloli Mansion and Gardens. Sue Rembolt is gathering some preliminary information but a chairperson or 2 co-chair people are needed. Contact Amy at 264-8142 if you are interested in helping to organize this trip.

Point to Ponder

Most of us go to our grave with our music still inside us. 

As we slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never
point the wrong way.

I have reached the age where I realize my mind is like lightning. One brilliant flash and it’s gone.

Ever notice that people who are late are much jollier than the people who have to wait for them?

A Little Bit of History

In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon, but they had to find a way to prevent them from rolling about the deck. The best  storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem...how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others.

The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with 16 round indentations. But, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls quickly would rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys." Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". (And all this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you?)

Who Are We?

If you have not appeared in this section, please write your story (350 words) and contact Terry Nelson so we can check if we have a picture of your character. If we don’t, we will be sure to get one. We would love to have characterizations and pictures of all our members. They are a great recruiting tool. If I haven’t called upon you yet, be sure I will.

From the Editor

Submission deadlines are the 15th of the month and should be sent to Terry Nelson at tnracer@earthlink.net if you wish your article to be considered for the newsletter. PLEASE KEEP THE 350 WORD LIMIT IN MIND. Articles that are too long or have errors will be returned to the authors for editing and correction.
For those without e-mail access, submissions can be mailed to: Terry Nelson at Sacramento, CA 95827 or you can submit your piece at our general meeting to Terry N.