fortuna historical commission

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


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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:


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.


NOES: None


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


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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:


COMMISSION ACTION:

Commissioner Zana moved, seconded by Commissioner Scolari, to accept the proposed accessions into the

museum collection. Voice vote.


NOES: None


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


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


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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


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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


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.