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Summer 2009 | Volume 31, No. 3

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Elizabeth Barrett Shaw Painting

On July 21, Susan Weston of Alameda, who is an Oliver Barrett Shaw descendant, donated a painting of her great-grandmother Elizabeth Barrett Shaw to the Ferndale Museum. Elizabeth is the mother of Seth and Stephen Shaw, founders of Ferndale. The painting was done by Stephen Shaw, California portrait painter from 1850-1900. The Museum already has a portrait of Sylvanus Shaw, another of one Elizabeth’s sons, which was previously donated by Susan’s family. This makes seven Stephen Shaw paintings which can be found in Ferndale—Elizabeth and Sylvanus Shaw at the Museum; a portrait of Seth Shaw at the Masonic Hall; and four paintings which are in the possession of Betty Genzoli, a Seth Shaw descendant.

Elizabeth lived in Ferndale for a brief period of time. She appears here in the 1860 census living with Seth, his wife Isabella, and their infant daughter. Elizabeth may have been visiting at the time because she mainly lived in Sonoma and San Francisco, where she had five other children.

Susan also donated some family photographs and papers to our collection. There was a presentation ceremony for the Board of Directors held at the Shaw House on the 21st, at which Wendy Butler of KHSU Radio interviewed Susan Weston, Board President Don Anderson, Volunteer Ann Roberts and Betty Genzoli.

The Board also provided a reception for Mrs. Weston at the Museum following the presentation.

Illustrated Talk on Stephen Shaw

Museum Volunteer Ann Roberts will give an illustrated talk about the life of artist and Ferndale founder Stephen W. Shaw at the County Library’s monthly history lecture series. The program will be at the Library on Saturday afternoon, September 12, at 1:30 p.m. September 12 also happens to be Bargain Lovers’ Weekend in Ferndale, but not to worry. There will be a repeat performance of the lecture on Sunday, October 4, at City hall. Watch the papers for later information on the October 4 lecture.

Red Letter Day

July 21 was truly a red-letter day for the Museum because, in addition to the Elizabeth Shaw portrait, we also received a $10,000 donation from George Brice of Oregon. George is a descendant of George Mount Brice and Clara Francis, and his donation was in memory of George and Clara, his parents Herbert and Pearl Brice, his brothers Herb and Ray, and his next generation members, Craig and Grace. When we hear from George he always mentions his fond memories of Ferndale history and of the County Fair.

Membership Drive

Speaking of new members…the Museum is constantly looking to expand membership. So you know anybody that is not a member that would like to sign up? As an added incentive we are giving, for a limited time, a color changing tote bag to any new member that signs up. These tote bags are really amazing and are only available here at the Museum. Go green (and yellow, red and blue) by bringing your own bags to the store to carry home groceries and sundries. They are sturdily built and have a long strap for ease in carrying. For that matter, but one or two from our gift shop is you don’t have any. They are a fun way at a good price to show your pride in Ferndale and the Museum.

We have many wonderful gift ideas in the Museum gift shop. Think about shopping here first when you are looking for that something special for a gift. We have many vintage items such as hand-painted china, mugs, punch bowls, compote dishes and more. We have new items such as pendants, hats, mugs, pins, teaspoons, thimbles, magnets, wooden puzzles, coloring books, color changing tote bags and many different book titles, etc. We will be adding a series of books on birds and plants native to our area. They are ordered and should be in by the middle of September. Come in and shop with us! Glassware in Museum gift shop

Natural History Display

The Museum is starting to organize a Natural History display! We are in the process of obtaining the necessary permits now. We will be displaying birds, fish and animals found in our beautiful Ferndale and Mattole/Petrolia areas. Shirley Hopkins, who has started A Memory Saved Taxidermy, will be doing the taxidermy work on new specimens brought in. We are keeping the animals to the small size or babies of larger animals. Be on the lookout for animals and birds who have come upon a misfortune, but that are undamaged enough to be mounted. They must be fresh. Put them in a bag and throw them into your freezer until you can bring them in.

We also have word of donations of some birds and animal mounts that are no longer allowed in private collections. Do you have any tucked away that you do not know what to do with? Don’t want to throw them away? Are they good mounts? If so, bring them down to the Museum and donate them.

Docents Needed

Do you have a spare day you can come down and greet visitors? We have people come in from around the world. It is interesting to hear where they are from and to be an emissary of our beautiful town and county. Please consider signing up to be a docent for one day a month. You will be paired with another docent, or, if you have a friend that would also like to sit, then you may choose to sit with them. Men and women alike are welcome as docents. Most days you will just be needed for a couple of hours, but more hours are available if you would like. Remember, the Museum cannot survive without the help of all our volunteers. Consider donating a couple hours a month towards our continued success.

Sweet Mystery of Life

Well, some people do not know how jams and jellies are made. For them we sell fantastic jams and jellies in our gift shop. For those of you who do know how to make jams and jellies, please consider bringing some down to the Museum for us to sell. We will provide the jars. Marilyn Forsell and Shirley Hopkins have been very generous in bringing some of their fabulous jams. These are good sellers for the Museum, and we rely on our members to keep us stocked up.

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Fern’s Facts and Musings

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Q. There is a decorative stone well othte side of City Hall that says "In Memoriam, Charles A. Doe." There are two shields on the well with animal heads. Who was Charles A. Doe, and why is the well there? Signed, Well Wisher

Charles Albion Doe

A. Dear

Well Wisher,

That’s Charles Albion Doe. He came to California from Maine. He was late for the Gold Rush, but he was just in time for the Petrolia oil boom. In 1863 he spent the year in Titusville, Pa., where he had an uncle who was an early oil well technician. In 1865 he was offered a job drilling for oil in Petrolia, but this did not prove to be a successful endeavor. So Charles became a rancher in Petrolia for the next 20 years. In 1884 he moved to Ferndale and owned or constructed several business buildings on Main Street, including the American Hotel, the Post Office building, and 564, 553, 543, 580, 554.

His son, Charles Paden Doe, became a successful steamship line owner out of San Francisco. His three daughters’ married names were Anna Monroe, Blanche Wetherbee and Nettie Canfield. Anna Monroe was active in the Native Daughters of the Golden West and the Village Club. It was her daughter, Claire Monroe Towle Martyn Jay, who donated the well in honor of Charles. In 1931, when the Village Club building was under construction, Claire also donated the fireplace in the parlor in honor of her mother.

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Please submit questions to the Ferndale Museum for “Fern’s Musings”

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drawing of Ferndale Museum

Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Ferndale Museum, as an historical and educational museum, is to foster an appreciation and understanding of the culture and heritage of Ferndale, the lower Eel River Valley and the area as far south as the Mattole River Valley. The objectives are to be achieved through the collection, preservation and display of artifacts that pertain to or were used by the residents of the area. The museum will conduct research and publish material of historic nature for the education and interest of residents and visitors to our area.


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Memorials

The Ferndale Museum thanks the donors and wishes to extend condolences to family and friends. This year Memorial Contributions were given to the Museum in memory of:

Jeff Alameda
Gloria Ambrosini
Angelica Beal
Bill Beal
Dorothy Belloni
Meridith Bryant

Phyllis Bugenig
Kenneth Cady
Albert Cardoza
Max Cardoza
Erla Chance
Ernest Christensen
Marie Cox
Brett Davie
Erica Dedini
Mary Del Oro
Phyllis Miner Don’t
Mary Hartley Fleek
David Frey
Wayne Garrett
David Graham
Blanche Grinsell
John Giacomini
Emily Lema
Edward Machado
Mary Machado
Helen Mann
Mary Marshall
Ada Martin
Bonita Mauney McMartin
Jack Medina
Billie Nielsen
Steve Renner
Jose Rosa
AuDean Spencer
Eldrid Spinas
Carl Trotter
Jubal Tuey
Miriam "Bitsy" Welch

The Ferndale Museum Board of Directors, June 2009

Officers: Donald Andersen, President; Joan Katri, Vice President; Irene Bryant, Secretary; David Carr, Treasurer.

Members: Norma Bessingpas, Lorie J. Ford, Kirk Gothier, Richard B. Hooley, George Nichols

Executive Staff: Jerry Lesandro, Director; Shirley Hopkins, Director's Assistant; Virginia McDonald, Membership.

Ferndale Museum
Post Office Box 431
Ferndale, California 95536-0431 USA
707-786-4466
museum@ferndalemuseum.org

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