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NEW BANNERS, LIGHTS GIVE HEALDSBURG MUSEUM GREATER VISIBILITY
Healdsburg, California Healdsburg, California
May 23, 2024 Date, Date, 20202020
FORMER CARNEGIE LIBRARY BECOMES A BEACON FOR LOCALS AND VISITORS Staff Report
Photo by Chiristian Kallen
The Healdsburg Museum and Historical Society, housed in the distinctive Carnegie Library building at the corner of Matheson and Fitch streets, has completed a dynamic public art project that dramatically increases the visibility of the Museum—especially at night, when a rainbow of colored spots highlights its architectural features. “ The improvements bring vibrant color to the historic building and streetscape, and we are so excited to present them to the community,” said Executive Director Holly Hoods. In May 2023, after a community review that called for the need to increase visibility of the Museum, Hoods developed an application to the City of Healdsburg for its inaugural Public Arts Grants program. Eight recipients were chosen in 2023, the Museum proposal among them winning a $5,000 grant, which was supplemented by the Museum’s supporters, including Pamela Sher’s generous donation. T he Museum commissioned Noah Jeppson of JeppsonEGD, a local experiential design firm, to develop and implement a public art project that emphasized programmable lighting that could change with the current exhibit, in addition to a series of vertical banners that calls attention to the distinctive columns of the structure. “We have reimagined this historic building in a fun and unexpected way, infusing new life and energy into its exterior,”
COLORS The American flag led the 74th annual Twilight Parade last year as it passed by the Plaza en route to the Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair.
Here Comes the Parade! DIAMOND JUBILEE FUTURE FARMERS FAIR THIS WEEKEND By Christian Kallen
Marching bands, fire engines, pickup trucks and flatbeds—along with colorful dancing troupes and campaigning politicians— will march through town on Thursday to kick off the 75th Healdsburg Future Farmers Country Fair, or HFFCF. The town’s agrarian roots are celebrated in this annual event, a “big smalltown parade” that seems to get everyone out to either march or watch the socalled Twilight Parade. It runs from 6–8pm. The parade route starts near St. John’s Church on East and Matheson streets, turning right onto Center Street past the Plaza and downtown businesses to the Healdsburg Regional Library. From there it turns right to continue east
on Piper a couple of blocks to Fitch Street, returning to Matheson. The final leg of the parade’s journey is on Matheson to University where it ends—just a couple of blocks from Rec Park, where the weekend’s Country Fair will already be underway. The procession includes lots of farmers and farm animals, local musical bands, civic clubs, young students, antique vehicles, horses, local commercial business floats, elected officials and beauty pageant royalty. Police Chief Matt Jenkins will lead the parade, followed by Cub Scouts, the parade marshal and board, various service clubs, the City Council and city staff, Boy Scouts, banks, businesses and on … and on … and on. The Healdsburg Prune Packers baseball team is expected to be last in the
hour-long parade of about 70 entries, the three-time California League champions touting their upcoming first season in the new Pacific Empire League.
Country Fair
Started in 1950, back when Healdsburg boastfully branded itself as the Buckle of the Prune Belt, the Future Farmers Country Fair continues to showcase the achievements of the town’s youth in animal husbandry. Primary contributor to the exhibits is once again the Warm Springs 4-H club, which will have 66 exhibitors at this weekend’s country fair, held at Rec Park Thursday through Saturday. “Roughly 75% of our exhibitors are showing livestock for auction, but we have many that are not yet age-eligible [members must be 9 for livestock and the dog show],” said
Dana Grande, Community Club Leader of the Warm Springs 4-H. “So we have a number of kids that show in breeding show [rabbits, chickens, pygmy goats] and some who only show their work in arts and crafts, sewing or photography.” The exhibits and booths at Rec Park will stay open until 10:30pm nightly, Thursday through Saturday. “The booths that are at Rec Park all support local nonprofit organizations,” Grande said. “Warm Springs has an ice cream booth, and we are bringing back the hand-dipped vanilla bars this year! That will make many long-time fair attendees happy.” This remains a classic country fair, with downhome activities evocative of Healdsburg’s agrarian roots. The HFFCF junior livestock auction is on Saturday at 4 pm, with the animals that participating youth have
raised to show and auction. Last year the fair raised more than $800,000, much of it going to scholarships and other educational commitments.
donated the truck back to the city after restoring it to its former glory. Vice Mayor Evelyn Mitchell, with a delighted grin, turned the hand crank to sound the siren. May o r D av i d Ha g e l e climbed into the driver’s seat and looked like a big kid in a big toy. Purchased in 1919 for $2,550, it was the city’s first motorized vehicle for fire response. It harkens back to an era when fire trucks used a chemical reaction to generate energy—with electric pumps unavailable, the most elementary of chemical reactions was enlisted instead. Two small tanks on top of the truck held sodium bicarbonate in water. When sulfuric acid was mixed in (think Mentos and Coke) it created carbon dioxide gas that pressurized the tank, creating
enough energy to generate a strong flow of water through hoses to extinguish fires. Invented in France in the 1860s, the system was used in fire service until about 1930. Healdsburg used the truck for two decades as a key part of its fireresponse fleet, dispatched to nip small fires before they became big ones. It was only replaced when a second-story fire at the Masonic Hall at Plaza and Center streets proved unreachable by the small truck’s hoses. The city put up the cash for a new-andimproved model in 1935, though Engine No. 1 continued to serve as a training vehicle into the 1980s. Chief Bob Taylor saved the truck from the junkyard when it was retired, and worked on it himself for decades, until in 2009 when Wes and Jean Melo of Roseburg acquired it. ➝ Fire Engine, 4
Fair Fun
But it’s not all four-legged fun. “The cake auction and the garden barrel auction start at 7pm on Friday night,” Grande said. “This community is super supportive of this event, and are incredibly generous with their spending on cakes!” Once again, for the 35th year, the Swan Brothers Circus will return for some old-fashioned fun under the big top, with regular shows scheduled throughout the weekend. There is no admission to the HFFCF. Gates open at 6pm on Thursday, 8:30am on Friday and Saturday, and close at 10:30pm. Full fair information at healdsburgfair.org.
➝ Museum Lights, 6
HEALDSBURG’S HISTORIC FIRE ENGINE BACK IN THE HOUSE 1919 CHEMICAL PUMPER RESPONSE VEHICLE RESTORED BY OREGON EXPERT By Christian Kallen
Photo by Christian Kallen
CLEAN MACHINE This 1919 Model TT served as the city’s Fire Engine No. 1 in 1920. It was donated back to the city this week after an extensive restoration.
All eyes were riveted on the bright red fire truck parked outside City Hall on Monday afternoon, just before the City Council met for its regular 6pm meeting. One by one the council members showed up to examine the rig, taking cell phone photos and chatting with former-Fire Chief Bob Turner and Wes Melo, who