From the Director

Living History is coming to the Rancho Bernardo History Museum. Above, Carolyn is assisting Margarita with the persona of Maria Antonia Alvarado Snook. In the one image with have of this historic figure, she appears very stern and solemn, dressed in fine silks and lace and wearing embroidered gloves on her hands. A brooch at her throat and earrings complete the outfit. Margarita is now tasked with studying for the role, learning the names of family members, the lifestyle that was hers and her husband, Captain Joseph Snook. I hope she will be able to stay in character for the event on December 5th, 2-4 pm at the museum. Finally, we are going to be open to the public, members, sponsors and volunteers on that date. Please join us. You can greet Maria Antonia with a "buenos tardes."

From the Director

Mark your calendars for December 5th, 2009, 2-4 pm. The reopening of the Rancho Bernardo History Museum is scheduled for this Saturday afternoon. The event is for volunteers, members and sponsors of the historical Society. The latest exhibit Footpaths to Freeways: Traveling in RB will be on display. In addition, the Soroptimists will have a small exhibit, and the Wall of Honor will be at the entrance.

If you are new to the Winery, the Vineyard Room/Museum is located to the east of Cafe Merlot. Look for our signs for further directions.

Visit us on this day or again in the evening of December 18th and 19th when the Bernardo Winery hosts its Holiday Nights. 5-8 pm.

Oh, there will be two very special quests at the reception. Come prepared to speak with living history figures from our past!

From the Director

It's time to announce the first Rancho Bernardo Historical Society Docent Training session. November 17th at 9 am-10 am we will be meeting at the Vineyard Room/Museum.

What is a docent? Some define a docent as a lecturer or tour guide in a museum or cathedral. The word comes from the Latin docere which means to teach.

We are asking for our docents to commit to working at least once a month at the museum with tours, assisting with membership or working with the collections. This training session should assist community members to learn about the education goals of the RBHS and develop skills for stewardship of the museum.

Please come in and fill out an application form, attend the training session, and become part of this organization.

From the Director

The organization of Building L, also known as the Vineyard Room, but now the RB History Museum, is going slowly but surely. Today Peggy, Marge, Carolyn and I worked on getting the first books onto the library shelves. One shelf is devoted to our new library focusing on preservation, one shelf is a complete collection of RB Directories, on shelf contains SDHS Journals and our small group of local cookbooks. Oh, one shelf is a complete set of Bernardo Brandings which will be a favorite for our visitors. Soon, the rest of the books will be organized.
The boxes are gradually being placed on the shelving. This time we are thinking of arranging the boxes by types: photographs, artifacts, Symphony on the Green, etc.
All of the bound news publications are get to be moved to the storage area.
We hope to be open to the public around mid-November. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us via the website.

From the Director

How many people have moved a museum in a day? We have. Thanks to Jane, Karen, Peggy, Yolanda, Tom, Janet, RJ, Keith, Anthony, Don, Andy and Nancy. We did it! We are all moved into Building L. Now to sort out the shelving and how everything is to be stored and displayed.
The room is still great. Everyone who has come in is amazed at the space.

The Bernardo Winery Craft Faire will be this weekend but we will not be open. So sorry, there was not enough time.

Check back soon as the blogs will be continuing more often.

See what is happening in the RB History Museum. We will be up and running soon!

It's been a great day!

From the Director

Today was the very successful Antique Appraisal Faire at the Bernardo Winery in the newly refurbished Vineyard Room. There were so many unique items brought in by those who made appointments and also walk in visitors who saw the signs on Paseo del Verano. The most popular appraiser was Paul, featured above, who specialized in fine painting and furniture. There was indeed a variety of artwork and also chairs that were carefully studied before a verbal appraisal was made.

Many asked if this event would be repeated soon. If all goes well, this event will happen again with the appraisers in the spring.

Jane Harmon was the organizer of the event. Thanks, Jane.

From the Director

Janet Atkin with brush in hand

Up, Up and Away! The lease is signed, the carpet cleaned, and today Carolyn's Paint Posse started in on Building L, also known as the Vineyard Room. Taped, primed, and painted, the floor and walls of this building are slowly being changed into the RB History Museum. These are exciting times.

Tomorrow tables and chairs will arrive in anticipation of the Antique Faire on Saturday.

The BIG MOVE is scheduled for Monday, the 12th. If you are reading this and would like to volunteer, please meet in the upper parking lot at 10 am on Monday.

From the Director

(Photo by Peggy Rossi)

Yesterday the historical society hosted two very special guests: Mr. and Mrs. Harry Summers. After a videotaped interview conducted by Eileen Haag, Myrna Reese and myself, community members greeted Mr. Summers and reminisced about the founding of Rancho Bernardo in the 60s.
I was honored to receive a donation from the couple afirming their interest in a permanent museum building and preserving local history.
In the future when someone asks "How did Rancho Bernardo begin?" I can now say that I met the founder and visionary of the planned community. There can be no greater legacy that the historical society can pass on to future generations than this all important history.
Thank you, Mr. Summers!

The Director's Corner

Let me introduce you to Buck! Can you imagine a longhorn steer such as this roaming the fields of Rancho San Bernardo. Are you interested in brands from that time period? When you visit the RBHS temporary museum, take a look at the brand for Joseph Snook who was granted large tracks of grazing lands in the 1800s.
Alyssa ( pictured above) is ready to leave for college next week. For the last year, she has been working hard on a Gold Scout project. Her focus was to create historical materials and interesting activities for young children.
I can hardly wait for a young museum visitor who would like to practice her/his lassoing skills!
Thanks, Alyssa!

The Director's Corner

This music score was recently donated to the RBHS historical society. The title is especially significant. On July 7th, the Poway City Council denied approval of the building permit for the permanent history museum. The legal title of the Bernardo Winery must first be established. So after many years of fundraising and planning, the dream is once again put on hold.

The summer heat has arrived in Rancho Bernardo. This morning we arrived at the temporary museum at 9 am but we had to leave before 10. I am concerned not only about the volunteers but also about the photographs, publications and other archives that are being affected in temperatures which probably reached 110 degrees in that container building today.

If you have any information about Jack Fulton or Paul Creston, both noted musicians connected to Rancho Bernardo, please contact us.