Winters Express, Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — B1
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Students on the 2026 design team use the existing mural on the side of the Mariani Nut Company warehouse as they begin developing expanded design elements for this year’s Kate Humphrey Historical Mural Project, a youth art initiative led by the Winters Participation Gallery.
History stays alive when students become its storytellers Youth explore archival records, transforming local history into art By Crystal Apilado Editor-in-Chief
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elicately paging through century-old newspapers, unfolding archived blueprints and holding artifacts from the past, a group of local middle and high school students discovered Winters’ history on their own terms. The stories they uncovered will soon take shape as symbols and imagery in the expansion of a downtown historical mural, allowing a new generation to help tell part of the community’s story. Our community is rich with history, and fortunately, with historians. Winters is rich with history, preserved in century-old newspapers, museum collections, archival records and the work of local historians who continue documenting the community’s story through books, exhibits and research. Communities preserve their history by passing their stories to the next generation. History stays alive because each generation chooses to tell those stories again. Much of that work has traditionally been carried out by adults who have spent years researching and preserving local history. But
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The storytelling process begins with a sketch and evolves into a painted mural, transforming local history into public art. These are from the 2020 design team. in Winters, another generation of historians is emerging. Through the Kate Humphrey Historical Mural Project, a student art initiative led by Winters Participation Gallery, local middle and high school students are not only learning mural design and painting techniques, but also how to research history, utilize archival resources and translate those
discoveries into public art. Now in its ninth year, the grassroots program has grown from its first mural on Newt’s Expressway into a community-wide collection of historical murals displayed on local businesses. Along the way, students have gained experience not only as artists, but also by meeting with mural clients, researching community history and developing
designs that tell meaningful local stories. This year’s design team is expanding the mural on the Mariani Nut Company warehouse. On June 16, students visited the Yolo County Archives in Woodland to research documents, newspapers, photographs and artifacts that could help shape this summer’s design. Heather Lanctot, Yolo County Library archives & records center coordinator, said that direct engagement with primary sources gives students a chance to slow down and think critically in an era where information is often consumed quickly and without context. She said archival materials allow students to examine trusted sources with minimal interpretation, ask questions about authorship and audience and compare historical documents with modern experiences. “When students have access to original records, they can better understand how history connects to their own lives and communities,” Lanctot said. “It helps them see that they aren’t removed from history.”
See HISTORY, Page 4
ELIAS IRELAND 1833-1919
Wheelwright, blacksmith, inventor of the Eureka Fruit Car. In business here from 1875 to 1910.
CHARLES DAYTON IRELAND 1868-1929 Wheelwright, grover, teamster.
LESTER MERRIATT IRELAND 1891-1955
Grocer, insurance. Served as mayor of Winters and was first recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award.
WAYNE SIDWELL IRELAND 1915-1993
Real estate and insurance. Recipient of the “Citizen of the Year” award.
TIMOTHY WAYNE IRELAND & YVONNE IRELAND Insurance. Third generation ownership of Ireland Agency.
MAEGAN D. IRELAND
Insurance agent since 2003. Sixth generation resident.
This picture, taken about 1893, shows four generations of the Ireland family. At left is Elias Ireland, one of the founders of Winters and a wheelwright; his grandson, Lester M. Ireland, who was later mayor of Winters; and Joseph F. Stille, Lester’s great grandfather. Standing in back is Charles Ireland, father of Lester.
IRELAND AGENCY, INC. 26 Main St, Winters • (530) 795-4531 • www.irelandagency.com