Argonaut Gazette Keeping The Past Alive Since 1995 Sacramento, California July, 2016 Mining Historical Nuggets From Sacramento s Past Changes are a comin! All things change and our group is no exception. The true challenge is how we handle the changes. As we move together through these changes we can grow stronger as a group. I would like to start by saying congratulations to Kristin on her new position with the Attorney General s office. I know it was not easy for her to make the decision to leave. I wish her nothing but the best of luck. She has been so great to us, and we will miss her greatly. The next few months will be exciting. I encourage all of us to come together The PreZ SEZ Lisa Praxel, President, OSLH and support Kristin and the museum as they work through all the changes. Until another person can be found to fill Kristin s position you can email me, or contact Kristina Swenson at the museum. Our first opportunity to show our solidarity is the 4 th of July picnic on July 2 nd. Pat has worked really hard to put together a wonderful event. I am excited to see who wins the crochet match this year. I encourage everyone to attend the general meeting on Saturday July 9 th. Kristin will be coming to the meeting for a brief good bye. You will also be able to meet Kristina Swenson, from the museum. The loss of Kristin is sad. We will miss her greatly. But our group will still have an exciting summer out on the streets on Old Sacramento. Lisa Praxel KRISTEN S KOMMENTS By Kristin Nicholson It is with a heavy heart that I share with you that I have come to the decision to resign my position with the Museum to accept a position with the Attorney General s Office. This move is bittersweet for me as I have cherished my time with the Museum staff and particularly with the members Continued On Page 2 1
Continued From Page 1 of Old Sacramento Living History. You have taught me so much. I remain awed by the dedication and professionalism of our volunteers. The Living History Program is a priceless jewel for our community. It is an activity without peer and is enjoyed by literally thousands of visitors annually to Old Sacramento from around the world. And you do it all with your selfless volunteerism. I am privileged to have been a part of it. As I move to the next phase of my life please know that you will always be in my thoughts. Kristen FOOD TIMELINE By Robin Wenrick Gordon Hutchings commented one afternoon that it would be nice to know who brought what foods to California, and when. With our wonderful 4 th of July picnic coming up, I decided to try to figure out just what foods an Italian immigrant would have cooked for such an event. My google search was Gold Rush Foods and my first hit was a literal goldmine. http://www.foodtimeline.org/ The website is loaded with information, downloadable books, and tips on how to research a subject. When you look at the timeline itself you will note sections on foods and time appropriate recipes. The link to Gold Rush Foods http://www.foodtimeline.org/foodpioneer.html#goldrush includes stories from journals and letters that are both hilarious and full of information! One of the suggested links on the site is to a book published in London in 1854, by a woman, Alexix Soyer, who wrote a book titled: Shilling Cookery for the People: An Entirely New System of Plain Cookery, and Domestic Economy. In the book she describes each type of available pot and pan and how and what foods to cook in it. Her goal appears to be education of the lower classes as to how to cook and keep house in order to prevent diseases such as cholera. I was able to download a free copy of this book for my own reference. I have printed up the pages from the California Gold Rush section, and the pages from the timeline itself. They are in a folder that has been given to our Library. I encourage you to browse the website! It s That (HOT) Time In The Old Town, Again! This is a polite, if nagging, reminder from your Editor that in this seasonal hot weather it is of tremendous importance that the following be used when out in our activities: 1. HYDRATE. DRINK LOTS OF WATER 2. Use Sunscreen 3. Wear a Hat 4. Use Shade Whenever Possible 2
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776. The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.-- With this document the world turned in an instant. It was the opening act of worldwide rebellion that ultimately ended the British Empire and created in its place the British Commonwealth of Nations In the 20th Century. An upstart people of mostly farmers, merchants, fishermen and scholars joined together to create a nation in defiance of the British Lion. We don t often think about the words in our Declaration of Independence; words that inspired peoples throughout the world. Not often in history does a document so greatly influence mankind. As we enjoy our fireworks and cookouts, take a moment to remember what it s all about. Gold Rush Days! Labor Day Weekend In Old Town Sacramento Join Us For The Gold Rush Experience 3
A Few Research Notes on the American Flag By Pat Hutchings Like most Americans today, I think I know a lot about the American flag. I "know" Betsy Ross made the first one, a tattered one inspired the national anthem, it must be folded in a triangle, and it must not touch the ground or ever be "thrown away", only burned when it is too faded or torn to be displayed. The stripes are for the original 13 states and the stars represent the current number of states. I'd recognize this flag, my flag, anywhere. In fact, these days, it seems to be EVERYWHERE. This symbol of our country has become so ubiquitous that we are often not cognizant of how many times a day we see it. When I began to research how a person would have viewed the American flag in the 1850's, I discovered how very little I know about the historical making and display of the flag. Evidently citizens would not have been so familiar with the flag as we are today. It was used primarily by the military and a relatively rare sight. Before 1940 U.S. flags were not even flown in the 48 states except in federal settings and installations. The states' flags were more commonly flown. The American flag was not flown at commercial establishments, appear often in books or magazines, on products, or clothing, and was not mass produced. I was surprised to find that there is no evidence that a woman named Betsy Ross actually made the first American Flag. There is only some evidence that she made flags for the Pennsylvania Navy. The story about the American Flag was supposedly Ross family oral tradition first put forth by Betsy's grandson, William Canby in 1870 in a paper presented to the Historical Society of ennsylvania. Thus, in 1850, the public had never heard of Betsy Ross. There were a variety of flags made and used during the Revolutionary War, one of which included the Union Jack in the upper left corner. This one caused a bit of battlefield confusion during the war, as one can imagine. The first legislation regarding a national flag was passed by Congress on June 14, 1777. It was brief and rather vague: Resolved. That the flag of the United States be thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, white in a blue field, representing a new constellation. That's it. Nothing about the arrangement of the stars, the size or proportions of the flag, or the ordering or positioning of the stripes. Prior to the adoption of the 48 star American flag on July 4, 1912, there was no official arrangement of stars on an American flag. There were usual" arrangements, but makers could arrange them in whatever pattern they liked. Many American flags were made with the all the stars in a circle or a large star, some even in an arch over a rectangle. In 1934 official colors of "glory red" and "glory blue" were standardized. Until then, many different red and blue variations were acceptable. It is interesting to note that the official American flag of 1795 had 15 stripes and 15 stars. That is the one that flew over Fort McHenry inspiring Francis Scott Key to write a poem, "Defence [sic] of Fort McHenry" in 1814. Key gave directions that his poem was to be sung to the air, "To Anacreon in Heaven", the official song of an 18th century gentlemen's club in London. That poem and the tune together became what is now known as the Star Spangled Banner, the American national anthem which was adopted in 1931. After reading many pages and versions of American flag history and lore on dozens of websites by the informed and rather uninformed, I came to the conclusion that an American flag would have been an exotic and remarkable sight in Sacramento in the 1850's. It would have most likely been locally handcrafted, and a source of great exclamation and conversation. It might have been waved about on the 4th of July after 1850 statehood, serenaded with patriotic songs, and the subject of romantic poems; then tucked away in favor of the California Bear Flag for local ceremonies. The Civil War would change this as the national and factional symbolism became so much a part of patriotic occasions and sentiment, but henceforth, as I wander in Old Sacramento portraying Mrs. James Bithell, I shall try to generate a bit of awe and curiosity when I glimpse the novel sight of an American flag. 4
REMEMBER THE RULES AND BE SAFE One of the traditions for celebrating Independence Day is the enjoyment of local and commercial fireworks. In this time of severe drought the danger of wildfires is greatly increased. In some areas Safe and Sane fireworks are available for purchase by anyone over the age of 16. Please be aware of danger to small children and the fire risk for areas with dry grass or weeds and wood shake roofs. Have fun but be safe. 5
Calendar of Events July 2 nd Fourth of July Picnic and Croquet Game 11:00AM-2:00 PM 3 rd Red White and Brews in Old Sacramento TBD 4 th Fourth Of July Holiday 7 th Living History Executive Council Meeting 6:00-8:00 PM 9 th Living History Parlor Singers 9:00-10:00 AM 9 th Living History General Membership Meeting 10:00-11:00 AM 9 th Take it to the Streets: Living History Day 11:00 AM-4:00 PM 16 th Living History Project Work Day 10:00AM -3:00 PM TBD Encampment at Waterfront Park August 11 th Living History Executive Council Meeting 6:00-8:00 PM 13 th Living History Parlor Singers 9:00-10:00 AM 13 th Living History General Membership Meeting 10:00-11:00 AM 13 th Take it to the Streets: Living History Day 11:00 AM-4:00 PM 19 th Gold Rush Days Orientation 6:00-8:00 PM 20 th Gold Rush Days Orientation 9:30-11:30 AM 20 th Living History Project Workshop Day 12:00 AM 3:00 PM 30 th Gold Rush Days Chalk Outlines 31 st Gold Rush Days Tent Set-Up 7:00 AM-3:00 PM TBD Volunteer Appreciation TBD Encampment at Waterfront Park September 1 st Gold Rush Days Furnishing Set-Up 7:00 AM-3:00 PM 2 nd to 5 th Gold Rush Days 2 nd Education Day 10:00 AM-3:00 PM 5 th Labor Day Holiday 5 th Old Sacramento Underground Tours- Special Holiday Schedule 6 th Gold Rush Days Tear-down 7:00 AM-3:00 PM 15 th Living History Executive Council Meeting 6:00-8:00 PM 17 th Living History Parlor Singers 9:00-10:00 AM 17 th Living History General Membership Meeting 10:00-11:00 AM 17 th Take it to the Streets: Living History Day 11:00 AM-4:00 PM 17 th Living History Project Work Day 11:00AM -3:00 PM 24 th Ghost Tour Rehearsal 10:00 AM-2:00 PM All Activities Are Subject To Change - Notice Will Be Made By E-Mail 6
The Argonaut Gazette is published monthly by Old Sacramento Living History which is solely responsible for its content. Editor: Jack Climer Phone: (916) 872-0273 E-Mail: jclimer@outlook.com Mailing Address: Sacramento History Museum Attn: Living History 101 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Contact: Julie Ivanovich Phone: (916) 808-4980 E-Mail: JIvanovich@cityofsacramento.org Related Websites: www.oslhp.net Old Sacramento Living History www.historicoldsac.org Sac. History Museum www.flickr.com/photos/oslhp/ OSLH Photos Old Sacramento Living History is a member of the Sacramento History Alliance 2016 2017 OFFICERS Lisa Praxel, President Terry Melau, Vice President Michael Tufts, Secretary Janice Flowers, Treasurer Patricia Hutchings, Member-At-Large Jessica Kunz, Member-At-Large Old Sacramento Living History Center Located in the Scurfield Basement Commonwealth Alley Old Sacramento, California ARTICLE, PHOTO & INFORMATION SUBMISSION POLICY Members and non-members are encouraged to submit relevant articles, photos and information for inclusion in the Argonaut-Gazette. Submissions must be made directly to the editor via E-Mail or U.S. Mail and must be received not later than 5 PM on the 25th of the month prior to the month of publication. Submissions must be in an editable format and may be edited for size and/or content at the sole discretion of the editor. All items submitted must be the original work(s) of the person submitting, in the public domain, Fair Use works, submission with the approval of the author or submissions not in conflict with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and/or the Copyright Laws of the United States of America. Submissions not so vetted will be rejected in the best interests of Old Sacramento Living History and the Sacramento History Alliance. Contact The Editor: Email: jclimer@outlook.com U.S. Mail: Jack Climer 31490 Kennedy Road Coarsegold, CA 93614 2016 Old Sacramento Living History 7