Upcoming Events. Tracy Genealogy Research Tracy Museum/TAGS Prez John McVey Sunday Mar. 20, Women s Rights in Iran

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1 The Pioneer Press West Side Pioneer Association Tracy Historical Museum P.O. Box 117 Tracy, CA NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TRACY, CA PERMIT NO. 30 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED Upcoming Events Date Time Event Location/Presenter Wednesday Feb. 24, :00 pm - 8:15 pm Tracy Genealogy Research Tracy Museum/TAGS Prez John McVey Sunday Mar. 20, :00 pm St. Patricks Scholarship Dinner Tracy Community Center Wednesday Apr. 20, :00 pm - 8:30 Women s Rights in Iran Mitra Behnam Please Note: Programs are subject to change. Call the Museum, to confirm schedule

2 THE PIONEER PRESS West Side Pioneer Association/Tracy Historical Museum 1141 Adam Street, Tracy, California Phone: (209) Web: Vol January - February 2016 WSPA President s Message Larry W. Gamino - President Local history is the history of average people. It is the history of us, the people of Tracy. On behalf of the West Side Pioneer Association and Tracy Historical Museum, I am honored as President to receive from the Tracy Chamber of Commerce the prestigious award as THE ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR. The team effort of our current Board and past officers building on our multi-generational past membership since 1921 accumulated in our current Tracy public museum established in 2003 on 1141 Adam Street. In partnership with the City of Tracy who purchased the former 1937 U.S. Post Office on 1141 Adam Street and the non-profit TRAQC Educational Foundation which supports the 3 rd grade history program fees to the Museum tour and Lammersville Pioneer School experience at Clyde Bland Park by providing grants for classes, the West Side Pioneer Association is able to continue its mission to preserve, protect and enrich Tracy s history and heritage now and for future generations has been a banner year for us. First of all, in the beginning of the year, we acquired the 1911 West Side Bank of Tracy cannonball bank vault. Secondly, in mid-year, we established the Ellis Marker at Joan Sparks Park which marks the beginning of Tracy history in Finally, the donation from former Tracy Press owner and publisher Sam Matthews of photographs from 1948 to 2000 highlights our community acquisitions. These three events plus numerous public outreach programs have made the West Side Pioneer Association and Tracy Historical Museum the history hub of Tracy. It is our belief that everyday life keeps the local history minded citizen fascinated. We believe that local history is the history of ordinary people, the haves and have nots. People who didn t even know they were making history just by living their lives and paying their bills. That s history that touches your heart, because it s the history of us, the people of Tracy, the people s history!! Thank you very much. 2

3 WSPA Introduces (TAGS) Tracy Area Genealogical Society By TAGS President John McVey Greetings from Tracy Area Genealogical Society, your upstairs neighbor! TAGS would like to send a very Happy New Year to you. I ve been asked to contribute to your newsletter. Most of you know of our work to help folks discover their links to ancestors. We have 6 computers with subscriptions to Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com, and The Ancestry Hunt. TAGS is an ongoing process of finding information about early settlers and First Families in and around the Tracy area. We help folks discover their past through censuses and other stored documents. We collect and save obituaries for Tracy residents to help document our former and current residents. We are open on Tuesday and Friday mornings each week 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as each 2 nd Sunday of the month from 1-5 p.m. We have a library of materials from countries, states, DAR, and collected family genealogies. TAGS is always glad to help researchers find their past. Remember Your Ancestors count on You to remember them!! Join us anytime. We d love to help you find someone and perhaps break through that Brick Wall that s been keeping those discoveries hidden! Tax donation verification statement by Treasurer Mitra Behnam Federal Income Tax Law requires us to inform you that no goods or service were provided to you in return for your gift. Therefore, within the limits prescribed by law, the full amount of your gift is deductible for Federal Income Tax Purposes. If you need a letter for your donation, please contact Mitra Behnam, treasury at West Side Pioneers Association Tax ID Number is

4 WSPA Boldly Goes Where No Museum Has Gone Before Organization of the Year WSPA boldly goes... President Larry Gamino receives 2016 plaque from 2015 Scoop Ministries 4

5 The Tracy Museum received several Certificates from the local, state and Federal levels recognizing the Museum as the Organization of the Year. 5

6 Museum Holiday Open House Celebration On Wednesday the 16th of December, 2015, the West Side Pioneer Association hosted a community celebration with our membership and neighbors at large. With festive music in the air and snacks and refreshments aplenty, a casual atmosphere of cheer and history minded citizenry gathered at the Tracy Historical Museum. From 7 PM to 8:30 PM, Tracyites shared stories of the past and today s news. Highlighting the Holiday Open House were two awards for outstanding 2015 WSPA individual members. One award went to Bill Carter for his leadership in developing the Tracy Press negative photo conversion museum project made possible by the donation of former owner and publisher Sam Matthews. Under his supervision, high school students learned the art of converting negative strips to digital form for computer access. This successful on-going program credited students with community hours while preserving and increasing our photo archives. Our second recipient was WSPA member Dennis Maddox. His dedication to the Museum Negative Photo Project exceeds peer loyalty. Throughout the week days and weekends, Dennis regularly visited the collection of camera negatives and then transferred data to the lap top computer. Without their efforts, the museum negative project would be hindered. Instead, they represent WSPA leadership and teamwork. I would like to thank everyone for coming to our Holiday Open House and hope to see you again next year!! Cheers! Bill Carter congratulates Dennis Maddox as 2015 Outstanding Member of the Year. Current President Larry Gamino thanks Past Presidents Onalee Koster and David Lee for preserving foundation of Tracy Historical Museum. New Board member Johanna Nunley (center) mingles with history audience. 6

7 2015 Memorials 2015 Honorariums In Memory of Ed Hettervik By: Dave Middleton Ray and Jean shipman By Jean Shipman In Honor of Betty Galli By: Ken and Michelle Galli In Honor of G.P. Riley In Memory of Goldie Ridolfi By: Donner Parlor No. 193 By: Jeanie Karas In Memory of Dante Ridolfi By: Jeanie Karas Dave Middleton Stanley and Mary Morri Robert and Ellen Opie Ray and Jean Shipman William and Annabel Swenson Noreen I. Thomson Shirley Quilici In Memory of Louie and Fannie Castro By: David Castro Native Daughters of the Golden West In Memory of Rural Retired Firemen and Women s Auxiliary By: David Castro Memorials/Honorariums/Scholarships Monetary Gift Program is a special way to remember someone or for a special event or tribute. All Gifts are tax deductible. Forms are available museum@sbcglobal.net or call museum And also may be found in the museum newsletter. 7

8 Get your IRISH on! **************** Join us for our annual Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner Fundraiser Sunday, March 20, 2016, 2:00 p.m. Tracy Community Center, 950 East St., Tracy Reservations Required RSVP by Monday, March 9, 2016 Tickets - $20/plate, includes door prize ticket; Take-out available Cut along this line and mail reservation form with your check to Museum. March 20, 2016 Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner RSVP by March 9, 2016 Name Address Phone # $20/plate # Take-out plates@$20/plate Sponsored by West Side Pioneer Association/Tracy Historical Museum 1141 Adam St., Tracy CA 95376, , tracymuseum@sbcglobal.net 8

9 Scholarship Application Now Available The Tracy Historical Museum/WSPA Scholarship Application packet for school year is now available. The Scholarship is a great way for graduating seniors to get involved in local history and have a chance to win a $500 scholarship. The application deadline is March 31, The Tracy Historical Museum and West Side Pioneer Association offer two $500 scholarships to graduating seniors from schools in the Tracy Unified School District (TUSD) area. One scholarship is targeted for a graduating senior planning to attend a 2 year junior college and one for a graduating senior planning to attend a 4 year college. Applicants must demonstrate some involvement in local history, for example through volunteer work at the Historical Museum or a local history project, research paper or essay. Applications are available through the Counseling Office at each high school or at the Museum s web site ANY TIME TO SPARE? The Tracy Historical Museum is in need of a GRAND DUSTING! We are looking for anyone with some Dusting power that can come in Tuesday and/or Friday at 9:30am. Two rooms in particular need DUSTING. Rags are provided. There s soap and water to wash up afterwards! Please! Come and help! Let s get our Tracy Historical Museum in tip-top shape! Contact Jean on Monday at the museum to set up a a date when you can help out, call For anyone wanting to take on another task: like moving a cabinet or a desk or writing down numbers???? PLEASE CALL! 9

10 Volunteers needed for Museum and Living History Program Our Historical Museum is run by volunteers. We need your help to volunteer to staff the Museum when it is open and the wonderful 3 rd grade living history programs that Museum operates. Regular Museum Hours: Monday 9:00 am 2:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am 2:00 pm Sunday 1:00 pm 4:00 pm OR by appointment for groups. 3 rd Grade Program at Museum: Mondays 9:00-11:00 on school days Historic Lammersville Pioneer School Program: School days in January-May (one or two days a week) If you can commit to a few hours one day a week or every month, or o special events, we can use your help to keep these wonderful programs going. Please call the program coordinator for more information and to lend a helping hand: Museum Coordinator - Open rd Grade Museum Program Coordinator Judy Lee Historic Lammersville Pioneer School Program Coordinator Wes Huffman Come out and volunteer and have fun at the same time. Museum Launches Web Site We are pleased to present our new web site at our existing URL, We have not only updated basic organizational information, but we can also now easily post announcements and program updates on the site. We will also start to build an online archive of many written documents and photographs that are in the Museum library archives. Special thanks to Kevin Harb for his technical expertise to develop the site. Check back regularly at for the most current news from the Tracy Historical Museum and West Side Pioneer Association. 10

11 SUPPORT THE MUSEUM Name: RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2016 Annual Membership Dues (Starting every January) Address: Adults $10.00 Couples/Families $15.00 Students $ 5.00 Organizations $10.00 Commercial $20.00 Lifetime Membership $ West Side Pioneer Association Membership Application City: State: Zip: Phone: Use the renewal form below to help the museum continue to serve your community Cut along this line Annual Membership Dues (Starting every January) Make checks payable to West Side Pioneer Association Adults $10.00 Return application and payment to: Couples/Families $15.00 West Side Pioneer Association Students $ Adam St. Organizations $10.00 Tracy, CA Commercial $20.00 Lifetime Membership $

12 Have you forgotten to provide your Address Although we are a historical museum, there are some technological advances we need to adopt! Because is now a common form of communication, we are going to start to update our membership records with addresses. We will continue to issue the Pioneer Press in print. Please consider providing your to us as it is the most cost effective way for us to communicate with members about program updates and reminders. You can add your to the Annual Dues Payment Form included in this issue when you send in your check, or you can the Museum at tracymuseum@sbcglobal.net with your name and address. Thank you for your help and support. West Side Pioneer Association Board of Directors for Elected Board Officers Name Telephone # President Larry Gamino st Vice President David Lee nd Vice President Open Recording Secretary Janice Johnson Treasurer Mitra Behnam Corresponding Secretary Jean Shipman Museum Chairperson Open Old Lammersville School Wes Huffman rd Grade Tour Director Judy Lee Landmark Committee Pete Mitracos Elected Board Members at Large David Middleton Ruth Sanford Virginia Mynatt Appointed Board Members Johanna Nunley David Castro Kathy Bergthold Celeste Garamendi Ex-officio Immediate Past President David Lee