Historical
recollections from Sandy and Jane Grover
regarding
their involvement and memories of the
Tuolumne City
Memorial Museum.
January 2005
© Copyright 2005 TCMM
Here are some salient
highlights along the way:
Sandy and Jane Grover “discovered” Tuolumne back
in 1970 on a weekend trip from Jane
Grover’s native hometown of
Among
our first acquaintances in
Before
we knew it we were in the thick of the Progressive Club’s fund raising projects
and community events, most notably the annual “Valentine Socials” which
involved the Miss Tuolumne Valentine contests, antique clothing fashion shows
and dinners, complete with raffles and door prizes, with proceeds going chiefly
towards benefiting the Tuolumne City Museum fund. This led to joining the Museum Association in
1978 as well.
The
Museum was in a state of flux at this time.
It had lost its log cabin building in the park due to deterioration,
then was moved out of the Max Raff
building after a couple of years due to the sale to the Westside and Cherry
Valley Theme Park development. Museum
operations ceased and its properties were stored in private garages, homes and John Wise’s Tuolumne Telephone Company
warehouse for nearly the next four years.
Reorganization of the Museum ensued and incorporation was accomplished
in November 1978. The search was on for
a new home for the museum. The Grover’s
garage served for part of the storage of museum properties among several other
venues.
So
fortunate was the case that the Women’s
Improvement Club’s small remaining membership decided to gift deed their
building and furnishings to the TCMM. By
this time
With
over $27,000 in the bank, at a meeting on April 12, 1982, Jane Grover made the
motion to use these funds for repairing and remodeling the well-worn and
somewhat deteriorated building and add on a couple of new wings and eventually
a storeroom and office space. Through
continued fundraisers, the Museum kept solvent and built on a pay-as-you-go
basis. Instrumental in the building
phase, the Museum selected Don Grover
as architect and John Feriani as
contractor. In December 1984, the Museum
celebrated its Grand Opening for its Christmas Open House.
Out of the blue one day, Mr. Stump came to us with a check for $1,000 for the Museum! It was from the Progressive Club’s remaining proceeds resulting from the club’s closing its operations in 1983. Needless to say, this sum certainly helped the Museum’s building fund.
What was it about the museum
that made us want to be involved?
Living
in the Mother Lode is a unique experience.
The region exudes history.
Jobs, committees,
accomplishments, board positions, events:
It
would seem that we wanted to be “doers”.
To recognize what needs to be done, to envision and desire what would be
best for the organization with no thought of mental and physical requirement to
accomplish the goals forces one to forge ahead, to encourage others to help and
enjoy the fruits of their labors, thus realizing for the pleasure of all and
for posterity, the objective.
To
begin with, the reconstruction of the basic building and its expansion of
additional wings, storage and office space, resulting in its restoration of
this handsome Craftsman structure cannot be attributed to just us two. There were over 60 volunteers, grown-ups,
kids, laborers, artisans, and professionals, who really got the job done. The
handful of museum members at the time all pitched in. Even neighbors helped and contributed money
as well. It was a messy job for awhile,
demolishing concrete steps, ripping off rotten siding, jacking up the building
so new piers could be installed, scraping off old shingles, pulling nails,
dismantling old composition wallboards and battens, tearing out old plumbing
and wastelines. It was an endless task for
a good while. It took the better part of
two years of volunteer labor to achieve the restoration and remodeling.
Beyond lay the groundwork for constructing
displays. The Board played an important
role in this effort pouring over proposed plans. Jane Grover, along with Eve Pecchenino teamed up on the designs and John Feriani had charge of the
construction of sets and booths. Later
Jane Grover served as Display Chairman for several years, along with serving as
museum President a number of terms. Jane
also chaired the annual TCMM Home Tours for several years, which involved a
goodly number of assisting members, notably Dorothy Higuera and Bev
Broekema, plus Sandy Grover on
the house hunting canvass. Jane also
chaired the annual Christmas Open House for several years.
Both
Sandy and Jane Grover held the office of president several times all total and
were perennial board members with very few exceptions over the two decades of
service. In 1999, Sandy Grover served as president of the museum and in 2000
Another
highlight along the way was the establishment of the museum’s road sign located
near Ralph’s Station on
One
of the greatest satisfactions of Jane’s and my tenure was the development of
the West Side Lumber Company’s model
logging display. Its conception,
construction, acquisition of artifacts, principally its 1/20th scale
narrow gauge locomotive, tender and modified flat cars and caboose, also
trackage and other hand-crafted landscape features that enhanced the
exhibit. Don Grover, who also did the
design, built the understructure of the layout.
Former designer of the
Docent
duty was a regular assignment for Sandy and Jane Grover, monthly on the last
Sunday. This gave them a source of
feedback from the public and a reflection of the public’s reaction to the
museum in general. It was a valuable
experience. More recently, they were
docents during the Sesquicentennial celebration in September 2004 for
Oral
history came into play, teaming up with Rod Garside, doing some interviews of
local prominent figures as well as the museum’s sesquicentennial video, for
which
The
art show and sale last November, 2004 saw participation with Sandy and Jane’s
entry of three paintings they exhibited done by Mildred Wassner, formerly a museum member.
The
annual Fourth of July Ice Cream Socials
were a favorite event for the Grovers who as a rule provided their gallon of
homemade ice cream. It also provided the
opportunity to involve them with the local VFW and American Legion posts for
color guards and flag salute for the event.
These were always pleasant afternoon affairs to hear exchanges of stories
by those who had been in the service and good hometown visiting.
Special Memories:
It
is the people! By far, the association
with dedicated members of the museum who stuck by us through thick and thin
when we needed them most! It seemed like a long haul at times but the rewards
were great when you have realized the accomplishments. Sharing our home to benefit the Home Tours
for the Tuolumne City Memorial Museum, the American Association of University
Women (AAUW), and the Tuolumne Clinic was fun we so
enjoyed.
We
salute the membership as a whole and to those brave ones who are carrying on in
the tradition of dedication, tireless efforts and giving their all to make the
museum successful. To especially you, Susan
Calfee, and your wonderful family, all of you are a Godsend so sorely
needed!
Finally,
in memory of our foresighted founders Patsy
McMahon and Marie Rozier may the heritage of the
Life
Member 1997 Life
Member 1995
January
6, 2005