Museum open 10 - 2 Fri, Sat, and Sun.
Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society
Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum
The Southern Tuolumne County Historical Society (STCHS) is a volunteer community organization dedicated to the preservation and celebration of the colorful history of the area “south of the Tuolumne River.” Groveland and Big Oak Flat were 1850s Gold Rush towns which later thrived as a gateway to Yosemite National Park. The centerpiece of STCHS is the Groveland Yosemite Gateway Museum in Groveland welcoming visitors from all over the world, and all year long. STCHS also advances its goals by building preservation projects, community education, and the History Resource Center.
The verdict is in. This year's STCHS Family BBQ was one of the best ever! Under sunny warm skies over 200 adults and kids came to the PML Stables on Sunday, Sept 1, for a fun afternoon of good food (tri tip and hot dogs), good music, and good family activities. As usual, the highlight was the watermelon eating contest for kids (who also enjoyed a tug of war).
Not to forget the good wine, home baked goodies, silent auction, and line dancing for the musically inclined. Special guests included reps from the Red Cross and Stanislaus National Forest. Our appreciation to them!
Special thanks also to the many volunteers who generously give their time and to the local partners and sponsors whose financial contributions are crucial. And, of course, we're grateful for the support of the Groveland community members who join us for this unique occasion of fun and family . See you next year!
After a too-long break due to Covid, STCHS revived its popular local history speaker's program on Friday, July 26, at the Resilience Center. With a near-capacity crowd of nearly 60 history buffs, we discussed the tradition of strong women in southern Tuolumne County. Business people and community leaders. From the Gold Rush to today.
Quiz: 3 of these ladies have left their names on local landmarks. Who are they? (Answer below.)
Quiz answer: Margaret PRIEST Station, Hotel CHARLOTTE DeFerrari,
Mary LAVERONI Park
A State "community beautification" grant was awarded to Groveland to spruce up the town with better trash receptacles. The Museum was asked to provide vintage images to adorn two "BigBelly" compacting stations. Pictured are Harriet Codeglia (STCHS President) and Patricia Epp (Hwy 120 Chamber of Commerce) unveiling the receptacles on Main Street. The photos show downtown Groveland 100 years ago as well as the Divide Cemetery between Big Oak Flat and Groveland.
The 18th annual STCHS Wine Tasting Cruise took place Saturday, May 18, from 2:30 to 6:30 at Pine Mountain Lake. It was a fabulous day of bright sun, warm temperatures, good fun and even better wine. Nearly 200 wine fans from near and far came to enjoy a great day cruising between 6 houses on the Lake to taste wine and gourmet snacks. Everyone in attendance said it was one of the best yet - especially after the down years of Covid and bad weather. Our special thanks to everyone who donated their homes, boats, cookie-baking skills, volunteer time, and overall hospitality to make this such a big success. See you next year!
Dave, Leon, Don, and Harriet supervised the clean up and laid plans for further improvement at Cobden House and the Wells Fargo Gamble Building. Call us to arrange a tour and get ready for an "open house" later this year.
Dave Roberts and Don Brown got down and dirty with the weeds and tall grass. Looks better and is fire-safe too!
Preserving the Edward Cobden House and the Wells Fargo Gamble (WFG) Building in Big Oak Flat is one of STCHS's key activities. This year we are giving more attention to the House with a new paint job. a refurbished ground floor bedroom with furniture, as well as repaired railings and porch. Recently we cleaned out WFG's third bay and laid plans for more lighting and an improved outdoor gathering space. And every year we have our annual spring yard clean up to whack some weeds and prune the vintage rose bushes. Stay tuned for an "open house" event later this year to welcome the improvements to Big Oak Flat.
The Museum is always looking to add volunteers to greet and welcome visitors to the Museum. It's a wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the country and the world. Docents serve at their own schedule with no obligation other than to enjoy themselves. Sign up on the "Docent" page of the website.
STCHS's local history book, Groveland Big Oak Flat, is on sale in the Museum or online. For only $5 shipping, you can send the best of Tuolumne history to yourself or someone you know. With 200+ vintage photos, it's the perfect glimpse into our area's colorful history. Buy online, or send your order form by e-mail.
18990 Highway 120, Main St.
Groveland, CA 95321 (209) 962-0300
Copyright © 2024, STCHS