fortuna historical commission
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Fortuna Historical Commission Agenda 01/11/2017
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Fortuna Historical Commission Regular Meeting Agenda
Wednesday, January 11, 2017 at 6:00 P.M.
3 Park Street – Fortuna Depot Museum
We May Disagree, But We Will Be Respectful of One Another
All Comments Will Be Directed to the Issue at Hand, and Addressed to the Commission
Personal Attacks are Unacceptable
The Commission May Take Action on any Item on this Agenda.
I. CALL TO ORDER / FLAG SALUTE / ROLL CALL 6:00 PM
Commissioners Staff
Chair Susan O’Hara Interim City Manager Randy Mendosa
Vice Chair Toni Scolari Deputy Director of Public Works/Parks Kevin Carter
Commissioner Mike Murray Depot Museum Curator Alex Service
Commissioner Pam Zana Council Representative
Councilmember Doug Strehl
II. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
Members of the Public may be heard on any item of interest not on the Public Meeting Agenda. Speakers
addressing the Commission will be limited to 3 minutes per speaker. Be advised that, by law, the Commissioners
can only deliberate or take action on items that are included on the agenda.
III. PRESENTATIONS
A. Planning for 2017 Exhibits
B. Book Projects
C. Update on Memorial to Fortuna City Council Member Linda Gardner
D. Update on Purchase of Fire-proof/Water-proof Safe for Selected Museum Collection Items
E. Update on Humboldt Beacon Electronic Archive Project
F. Planning for Depot Museum 2017-18 City of Fortuna Budget Request
G. Depot Museum as Venue for Chamber of Commerce Mixer
IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
These matters are routine in nature and are usually approved by a single vote. Any member of the Commission
may pull a particular item for further discussion.
1. Fortuna Historical Commission Meeting Minutes for November 9, 2016
2. Staff Report: November-December 2016
V. BUSINESS
A. Annual Review of Fortuna Depot Museum Goals Document (Action Item)
B. Accessions/De-Accessions (Action Item)
VI. STAFF REPORTS
1. Fortuna Depot Museum Curator Report
2. City of Fortuna Staff Report
VII. COMMISSIONER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
At this time, members of the Commission may consider or request items to be placed on a future agenda through a
consensus of the majority.
IX. ADJOURN
Pursuant to Government Code Section 54957.5, any non-confidential documents or writings that the City
distributes, less than 72 hours before a regular meeting, to all or a majority of the legislative body's members must
be made available to members of the public at the same time as the distribution. Documents and information
related to the agenda topics are available for review at City Hall, 621 11th Street, between the hours of 8:00 AM to
5:00 PM. Members of the public are invited to come to the meeting and comment. In compliance with the
Americans with Disabilities Act, if you need special assistance to participate in this meeting, please contact the
City Clerk at 725-7600. Notification prior to the meeting will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to
ensure accessibility to this meeting.
Fortuna Historical Commission Meeting Minutes November 9, 2016
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I. CALL TO ORDER:
Vice-Chair Scolari called the Public Session to order at 6:00 PM
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Staff
Chair Susan O’Hara (absent) Deputy Director of Public Works/Parks Kevin Carter (absent)
Vice Chair Toni Scolari Depot Museum Curator Alex Service
Commissioner Mike Murray Council Representative
Commissioner Pam Zana Councilmember Doug Strehl (absent)
II. ORAL COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC
None.
III. PRESENTATIONS
A. Report on 2016 “Grave Matters and Untimely Departures”
Curator Service reported on the annual cemetery tour, a fund-raiser for the Fortuna Cemetery District. Despite
heavy rain throughout the event, around 100 audience members attended. Commissioner Murray shared his
photo journal chronicling the event over the years.
B. Book Projects
Curator Service and Commissioner O’Hara will meet over the Christmas break to plan their book proposal to
Arcadia Publishing for Mills of Humboldt County Volume Two.
C. Possibilities for a Memorial to Fortuna City Council Member Linda Gardner
Curator Service and Commission members discussed ideas for a way that the museum can memorialize City
Council Member Linda Gardner, who passed away in October of this year. Gardner was the Council’s liaison
to the Fortuna Historical Commission and a longtime friend and supporter of the Depot Museum. One
possibility discussed was to name a room of the museum after her; this was recently done by the Humboldt
County Historical Society as a means of honoring specific people who had made major contributions to the
society’s work. Commissioner O’Hara suggested via an email message that the museum could do an exhibit on
the Fortuna City Council and the Historical Commission, which would be one way of honoring the service of
past councilmembers and commission members. Curator Service pointed out the drawing of the Fortuna
Depot, displayed in the first room of the museum, which was done by Councilmember Gardner’s mother in
1965. The drawing was meaningful to Gardner, who had discussed it with Service on several occasions. The
suggestion was made to either reframe the drawing with a plaque honoring both Councilmember Gardner and
her mother the artist, or possibly simply adding a plaque to be displayed below the framed drawing (retaining
the current frame).
D. Purchase of Fire-Proof/Water-Proof Safe for Selected Museum Collection Items
Service and the Commission members have been discussing the need to purchase a fireproof/waterproof safe
for storage of some of the more important and unique items in the Depot Museum collection. Service showed
Commission members a metal cabinet in the upstairs storage area, but after examination and discussion, it was
decided that this cabinet is not fire-proof. While examining the cabinet upstairs, Service and Commission
members discussed the potential of fire-proofing the climate-controlled central room of the storage area, with
fire-proof insulation on walls and roof. Service will talk with lead maintenance worker Pierre Cousineau about
this possibility. The discussion also covered recent arson attacks in Rohner Park and updates on the law
enforcement situation regarding them. A citizen who feels particularly strongly about the value of Rohner Park
to the community has donated $3000 for use in upgrading security camera coverage in the park.
E. Holiday Season Exhibits Planning and Events
Set-up for the holiday exhibits will be November 26th and 27
th.
Minutes of the Fortuna Historical Commission
Regular Meeting Wednesday, November 9, 2016 - 6:00 p.m., Fortuna Depot Museum, 3 Park St. at Rohner Park
Fortuna Historical Commission Meeting Minutes November 9, 2016
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IV. CONSENT CALENDAR
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Review and approve minutes of Fortuna Historical Commission meeting September
14, 2016 and staff report for September-October 2016
PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comment was heard.
COMMISSION ACTION:
Commissioner Murray moved, seconded by Commissioner Scolari, to approve the minutes of September 14,
2016 and the staff report for September-October 2016. Voice vote.
AYES: Commissioners Murray, Scolari and Zana
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner O’Hara
ABSTAIN: None
Motion Carried 3-0
V. BUSINESS
A. Purchase of Humboldt Beacon Archive in Electronic Format (Action Item)
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Review the proposal from BMI Imaging Systems, Inc. “Digital Reel Microfilm Conversion Project.” Staff
recommends that, although the money for this project is currently available in the Fortuna Depot Museum exhibits
fund (Fund #165), it will be best for transparency and accountability purposes to include the project in the
museum’s 2017-18 budget request, rather than making a special budget request during the current fiscal year.
STAFF REPORT:
The Fortuna Depot Museum has received a proposal from BMI Imaging Services, Inc., of Sunnyvale, CA, to transfer
the 103 rolls of microfilm of the Humboldt Beacon newspaper (1907—2011) into their “Digital ReeL” searchable
digital format. The schedule of fees is microfilm digitization, indexing and OCR [making searchable] for 103 rolls of
microfilm: $8,755; Digital ReeL hosted services, 1 year: $950; project management/set-up fee, $1,500, for a project
total of $11,205. The budget request of $12,000 is proposed in order to cover any applicable tax as well as the
potential of fee changes between the time of the initial proposal and the official commencement of the project.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comment was heard.
COMMISSION ACTION:
Commissioner Murray moved, seconded by Commissioner Zana, that $12,000 for purchase of the Humboldt
Beacon electronic archive be included in the Depot Museum’s budget request for 2017-18.Voice vote.
AYES: Commissioners Murray, Scolari and Zana
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner O’Hara
ABSTAIN: None
Motion Carried 3-0
B. Accessions/De-Accessions (Action Item)
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the proposed accessions into the museum collection.
STAFF REPORT:
No de-accesssions were proposed. The following potential accessions have been donated to the Fortuna Depot
Museum. From Jacqui Callihan: Megaphone FUHS yearbooks 1929, 1930, 1931 and 1932, belonged to
Rosabel Haap, and 1938 and 1939, belonged to Myrtle Mae Barnes Baxter. Contain multiple autographs of
Fortuna Historical Commission Meeting Minutes November 9, 2016
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students and teachers. From Peggy Colina: 30-year reunion photo of Class of 1931 with people identified,
framed photograph of FUHS Class of 1931 at 50 yr. reunion, people in photograph identified, 50th
reunion
Class of 1931 booklet; 1938 FUHS Megaphone yearbook, 1938 class photo with people identified, 30 year
reunion photo of Class of 1938 with people identified; ET Brake Equipment No. 6 booklet October 1907.
From the North Coast Repertory Theatre, Eureka: items de-accessioned from the Clarke Historical
Museum, Eureka, and donated to the NCRT fund-raising rummage sale. Items include: folding wood and
canvas camp stool, circa early 20th
century. Packaging from assorted Humboldt County stores, early-to-mid
20th
century. Approximately 400 late 19th
-century/early 20th
-century stereoscopic cards. Assorted pieces of
early 20th
-century sheet music. Assorted magazines and catalogues, mid 20th
century. Assorted phonograph
records, early 20th
century. “Little Red Schoolhouse” board game, 1952. Four silver napkin rings, early
20th
-century vegetable slicer, circa 1930s cooking thermometer. From Raymond William Wright: Shingle
axe (blade rusty) found in Carlotta, Ca; used when Mr. Wright worked for the Carlotta Lumber Company.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
No public comment was heard.
COMMISSION ACTION:
Commissioner Zana moved, seconded by Commissioner Scolari, to accept the proposed accessions into the
museum collection. Voice vote.
AYES: Commissioners Murray, Scolari and Zana
NOES: None
ABSENT: Commissioner O’Hara
ABSTAIN: None
Motion Carried 3-0
VI. STAFF REPORTS
1. Fortuna Depot Museum Curator Report
Curator Service requested that Commission members continue to think of community members who might be a
good match for the Fortuna Historical Commission and might be willing to serve on it, and make sure such persons
are aware of the opening on the Historical Commission.
2. City of Fortuna Staff Report
None.
VII. COMMISSIONER REPORTS AND COMMENTS
Commissioner Murray: None. Commissioner Scolari: Reported on progress of construction on the Star Hotel
building site. She also raised the question of insurance coverage on items loaned to the museum for temporary
displays. This had come up in a discussion of the Relic Accumulators’ Club exhibit. Commissioner Scolari will
ask her insurance agent if the item owner’s insurance covers the item when it is not on the owner’s property.
Commissioner Zana: None.
VIII. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
Reports/updates on Humboldt Beacon electronic archive purchase, fire-proof & water-proof safe, and Linda
Gardner memorial
IX. ADJOURN
The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Alex Service, Fortuna Depot Museum Curator
Thru: Linda McGill, City Clerk
_____ ______STAFF REPORT: NOV.—DEC. 2016
Museum Monthly Report
Jan. 11, 2017
FINANCIAL REPORT:
Month: November 2016 Month: December 2016
Balance in register $100.00 Balance in register $124.25
Donations $107.49 Donations $29.42
Sales / Taxes $96.10 Sales / Taxes $185.98
Other $0.00 Other $00.00
Less Deposits $179.34 Less Deposits $155.07
Ending Balance in register $124.25 Ending Balance in register $184.58
ACTIVITIES IN MUSEUM: November November’s visitor total at the Fortuna Depot Museum was 143. This is in the middle range for our November visitation totals in recent years. Previous years’ visitor totals for November were: 2015: 130, 2014: 186, 2013: 177, 2012: 180, 2011: 141, 2010: 110, 2009 (open only half the month): 51, 2008: 89.
California: Burbank, Dow’s Prairie, Edgewood, Elk Grove, Ellersburg, Eureka, Fortuna, Oceanside and Rio Dell Out-of-State: Arkansas, Colorado and Oregon.
December December’s visitor total at the Fortuna Depot Museum was 184. This is in the middle range of our recent December visitor totals. Previous December visitation totals in recent years were: 2015: 98, 2014: 230, 2013: 165, 2012: 306, 2011: 186, 2010: 320, 2009 (closed from Dec. 23 through the end of the month): 36 and 2008: 62.
California: Arcata, El Cerrito, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Hydesville, Imperial Beach, Loleta, Los Angeles, Petaluma, Redway, Rio Dell, Sacramento and Scotia
Out-of-State: Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington The Relic Accumulators’ Club exhibit for November featured a club member’s collection of Native American artifacts. The December Relic Accumulators’ Club displays featured club members’ collection of Christmas items from Scandinavia. In late November/early December we installed our 2016 holiday season exhibits, highlighting a depiction of Thanksgiving dinner at the Holmes-Eureka Lumber Company woods camp cookhouse in 1914, and Christmas traditions from Italy and Portugal. These holiday exhibits are scheduled to remain on display through Sunday, January 8. The annual Fortuna Depot Museum volunteer appreciation reception was held at the Depot Museum on Saturday, December 10 at 2:00. Nineteen people attended, including all but one of the current Depot Museum volunteers. COMMUNICATIONS: Redwood Researcher, newsletter of the Redwood Genealogical Society, November 2016, Humboldt Historian, Humboldt County Historical Society newsletter, Winter 2016
Business Agenda Item A
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STAFF REPORT
Fortuna Historical Commission Business Agenda Item A DATE: January 11, 2017
TO: Honorable Chair and Commission Members
FROM: Alex Service, Fortuna Depot Museum Curator
THRU: Kevin Carter, Deputy Director of Public Works/Parks
SUBJECT: Annual Review of Fortuna Depot Museum Goals and Long Range Plan Document
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Review, discuss and amend as appropriate the Fortuna Depot Museum Goals and Long Range Plan
approved at the Fortuna Historical Commission meeting held September 9, 2015 and revised January 13,
2016.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
Goal Time Frame
Overarching Goal: Keep the museum open Ongoing
Transform curator position into full-time
position
Ongoing; as City budget allows
Expand and improve storage
1. re-organization of current storage space
2. purchase additional acid free material for
artifact storage
3. Upgrade unfinished attic space at front of
building for storage of large/durable artifacts
4. Expand climate-controlled storage space
May need to seek grant funding to assist with
steps 3 and 4
1. Ongoing, 2015—16
2. FY 2016—17 budget
3. FY 2016—17 and 2017—18
4. FY 2017—18 and 2018—19
Complete inventory of museum collection
This is a project which could involve volunteer
help from organizations seeking volunteering
opportunities
One to two years
Obtain Humboldt Beacon archive in
electronic searchable format
1. Get updated price quote; include both the
archive itself and purchase of a dedicated
computer in Reference Room for the Beacon
archive
2. Include in budget planning for 2016—17
3. Grant-writing for project
4. Implementation
Two years
1. By June 2016
2. March 2017
3. Summer 2017
4. 2018
Conserve, restore, stabilize and display “The
Three Graces” plaster frieze from FUHS,
1922
Ongoing; completion by Fall 2018
Business Agenda Item A
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1. Research; identify conservation options,
sources, potential partnering organizations; get
cost estimate
2. Possible grant-writing for project
3. Include in FY 2017—18 budget
4. Implementation
1. 2016
2. 2017
3. March 2018
4. Fall 2018
Upgrade and expand timber industry
exhibits
1. Upgrade/add interpretive text and
photographs to current displays
2. Develop diorama display on shingle-
making
a. Obtain Hansen shingle machine
b. Set up display showing how shingles are
made
c. Set up display showing how railroad ties
are made
d. Include funding for large backdrop
photo and set-up of shingle manufacturing
exhibit in 2016—17 budget planning
Ongoing
1. Completion February 2017
2. Ongoing; include in 2016—17 budget
d. March 2016
Re-organize and expand railroad exhibits
1. Display NWPRR ticket (possibly
reproduction of original in collection) and
timetable at ticket window. Possibly also add
reproduction NWP RR ticket to gift shop
merchandise.
2. Re-organize railroad display cases in third
room; make one case devoted to the history of
the Eureka and Eel River Railroad
3. Change photograph display in caboose.
Install new hanging mechanism: cork board w/
plexiglass
4. Obtain very large format reproductions of
selected railroad photographs for display in
caboose and main building
1. Fall 2015
2. May 2016
3. New hanging mechanism: 2016. Budgeting
for cork board & plexiglass in 2016-7 budget
planning, March 2016. Change photograph
display Spring 2017
4. 2018; include in 2017—18 budget planning
March 2017
Continue enhancement of reference room
collection
1. Add line item for purchase of local history
reference works, research materials into annual
budget. (Approx. $300)
Ongoing
1. FY 2016—17 budget planning March 2016,
and annually thereafter
Continue schedule of 3—6 rotating exhibits
annually in 4th
room of museum
Ongoing
Continue schedule of installing holiday
season displays tied in with specific
moments/themes in Humboldt County
history, November—January annually
Installation annually late November, exhibit
take-down mid-to-late January
Continue community outreach (press
releases, news appearances, events, etc.)
1. Compile updated list of local media
contacts
2. Continue schedule of local history
Ongoing
1. Current—spring 2016 (revisit once a year to
ensure contacts remain up-to-date)
2. Ongoing
Business Agenda Item A
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events/presentations at Depot Museum
3. Investigate options/strategies/develop plans
for increasing Depot Museum visitation
3. Ongoing
Continue publication projects
1. Mills of Humboldt County, Volume II
2. Downtown “then and now” guidebook
3. Cemetery guide book tied in with “Grave
Matters and Untimely Departures”
4. Further projects as they develop
1. Image selection 2016, for Dec. 2016
submission deadline and May 2017 release
(unless Arcadia amenable to delaying for
holiday season 2017 release)
2. 2017
3. 2018
4. Ongoing
Digitize Depot Museum photograph
collection and make searchable
1. Investigate funding and potential partner
organizations (possible school project –
Academy of the Redwoods and/or senior
projects at FUHS; several years’ worth,
ongoing)
2. Include expenses of project 2017—18
budget
3. Implementation
1. 2016
2. March 2017
3. 2017—18
Develop programming and materials for
interaction with schools
Develop lesson plan and materials on topics
that could include settlement, timber industry,
local businesses, research on individuals and
families, perhaps tied in with “Grave Matters
and Untimely Departures,” create program and
opportunities for students to research local
history topics using the Fortuna Depot Museum
resources. Program/materials could be made
available through the Humboldt County Office
of Education. Added in Jan. 2016 revision:
develop “kids’ club” Saturday history activity
program. Envisioned with age range of 4th
to
8th
grades. Possibly high school students could
lead lessons/projects; as part of senior projects
or in connection with History Day projects.
Ongoing, envisioned as six year project, fully
implemented by 2021
Install bulletin board/informational kiosk
outside Depot Museum
FY 2015—16. AFS and Kevin Carter to work
on this with city carpenter.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Varies. Some items in this plan will become part of the City of Fortuna budgeting process.
RECOMMENDED COMMISSION ACTION:
1. Receive staff presentation and review Commission questions with staff
2. Open Public Comment
3. Close Public Comment
4. Review, discuss and amend document, then motion to approve amended document as a
planning tool for the Fortuna Depot Museum: Voice Vote.
Business Agenda Item B
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STAFF REPORT
Fortuna Historical Commission Business Agenda Item B ______________________________________________________________________________
DATE: January 11, 2016
TO: Honorable Chair and Commission Members
FROM: Alex Service, Fortuna Depot Museum Curator
THRU: Kevin Carter, Deputy Director of Public Works/Parks
SUBJECT: Accessions/De-Accessions
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Review and approve the accession of specific artifacts presented as potential additions to the Fortuna
Depot Museum collection, as recommended by Fortuna Depot Museum curator.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
No de-accessions are proposed at this time.
The following potential accessions have been donated to the Fortuna Depot Museum. From Dale
and Regina Gardner: Fortuna Fire Department Hook & Ladder Company shirt, belonged to Dwain
Gardner, FFD member from approximately 1965-1975. Palco shirt, date and ownership unknown. From
the Humboldt County Historical Society: Items de-accessioned from the HCHS collection. Items
include: Advertising photo of Carmen Miranda, advertising film Down Argentine Way showing at the
Fortuna Theatre. Reprint photographs/postcards of 19th-and-early20th-century Humboldt County photos.
Vintage greeting cards. Two sewing patterns and one needlecraft book, 1940s-50s. Moose Magazine
June 1938 (Loyal Order of Moose); includes account of founding of Fortuna lodge of the Loyal Order of
Moose on March 26, 1938 (p. 29). Newspaper The Pacific Rural Press, February 16, 1918 (agricultural
periodical; includes many advertisements for tractors and other items of farm equipment). From Alex
Service: Plastic tow ball cover marked “Fortuna Ford.” Green’s Fortuna Health Mart Pharmacy calendar
2013. Postcard, circa 1910, “Fortuna, Humboldt Co., Cal. Section 2” by Bowman’s Drug Store, Inc.,
showing Fortuna Depot two Fortuna school buildings, and the former Springville Mill.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
RECOMMENDED COMMISSION ACTION:
Receive staff presentation and review Commission questions with staff
Open Public Comment
Close Public Comment
Motion to approve the accession of donated artifacts presented as potential additions to the
Fortuna Depot Museum collection, as recommended by Depot Museum curator: Voice Vote.