.
Clayton Chronicles
A Publication of the Clayton Historical Society

PO BOX 94  CLAYTON, CALIFORNIA  94517

(925) 672-0240
WWW.CLAYTONHISTORY.ORG
6101 Main Street
Autumn 2010
Issue #137
President's Message
by Ted Meriam
Dear Members & Friends:
The arrival of autumn marks the end of another year at the Clayton Historical Society. Our annual membership
meeting and fall potluck will be held on Veterans Day at Endeavor Hall, featuring local Clayton resident Willem
Ridder, author of Countdown To Freedom, who lived in Nazi-occupied Holland between 1940-1945. We will
also vote our new Board of Directors into office (more on page 2), so please join us for this special evening.
I would like to thank the leadership team at the Society and Museum for their extraordinary effort this year! We
have successfully executed on our 2010 goals of: Growing Membership, Building Fundraising Opportunities, and
Driving Operational Maturity. Our organization is stronger than ever and I look forward to the exciting events
and programs to come! This edition of the Chronicles is packed fuller than ever, so please continue reading…
My best,
Ted Meriam, President
(925) 690-8600 | www.tedmeriam.com
Annual Meeting
Christmas Tour 2010
The Society‘s annual Fall Potluck Dinner will be
on Thursday, November 11th at Endeavor Hall.
The Clayton Historical Society is doing
something SPECIAL this year.
Join fellow members for a special evening as we
honor Veterans Day.
We are presenting a Christmas Home Tour
on December 10th. Save the date!
Don‘t forget a main dish, salad, or dessert
and a plate & fork!
Doors open at 5:00 pm.
More details to come and will be posted
on the Society‘s website.
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Announcing the Society’s Annual Meeting & Fall Potluck at Endeavor Hall
Veterans Day: Thursday, November 11th at 5pm
Clayton resident Willem Ridder, author of Countdown To Freedom,
will be our guest speaker after our potluck and brief general meeting.
Willem lived in Nazi occupied Holland from May 10, 1940 to May 5,
1945. During that time, his family along with all of the Netherlands
experienced the loss of their freedom, something most Americans
cannot fully imagine. Will‘s personal and inspirational story will
leave you appreciating both your freedom and the World War II
veterans who defeated Hitler and whose humanitarian aid saved the
Netherlands from starvation.
Will‘s informative book will be available for purchase.
The Historical Society‘s annual meeting will also include the annual election and installation
of directors and officers. Below is the recommended slate by the Nomination Committee:
EXECUTIVE BOARD
 President: Ted Meriam
 1st VP: Dick Ellis (Programs)
 2nd VP: Sheila Driscoll (Membership)
 Secretary: Barbara Fogerson
 Treasurer: JoAnn Caspar
BOARD
 Peggy Arundell
 Sue Kelson
 Sally Turner
 Renee Wing
Bring a main dish, salad or dessert to serve 8 people. Also, invite a friend!
Beverages will be provided, but bring table service for your group.
Memorial Funds
A gift of any amount to our Memorial Fund is a lasting way to honor someone special.
Their names will be placed in the "Book of Memory” that is permanently displayed at the museum.
Send your memorial donation to CHS—Attention Memorials, PO Box 94, Clayton, CA 94517
I would like to make this contribution of $_______
□ In Honor of
□ In Memory of
(check one)
Name of person(s) to be honored or memorialized:
______________________________________________________________
Please Send Acknowledgement to:_______________________________________________________
Address: _____________________________
City, State, Zip: ____________________________
Donor(s) _____________________________
Address: _________________________________
City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________________________________
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In the Museum Gift Shop
California Archaeology Month
October 2010
Preserving California’s Archaeological Record
Excavation

Analysis

Curation

Education
Clayton Historical Society Museum Presents:
Whispers From The Past
Images
Of America
CLAYTON
Saturday, October 9th
2:00 pm until 4:00 pm*
Available in the museum gift shop
$12 for members of the Society
$15 non-members
*Registration begins at 1:45 pm on the 9th
Parent’s signature required
Every Clayton home should have one!
A workshop for 3rd through 6th graders
who want to explore Clayton’s past.
Also in the Gift Shop
Clayton Cotton
Throws
T-Shirts
Clayton License
Plate Frames
Clayton Mugs
Images of America
Clayton Book
Mt. Diablo Maps
City of Clayton
Trail Maps
Local History Books
On Saturday, October 9th, a California archaeologist will be
at the Clayton Museum conducting a workshop about
Clayton’s past including what life may have been like in
Clayton hundreds of years ago.
Admission is FREE
BUT space is limited so register early
Registration forms are available inside
the museum during regular open hours, at
the society website www.claytonhistory.org
AND on the museum flagpole
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Calendar
Oct. 2-3
Oktoberfest
Museum will be open 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Sat. & Sun.
Oct. 4
Old Timers
11:30 am, Museum
Oct. 7
CHS Executive Board Meeting
3:30 pm, Oak Street
Oct. 9
Whispers From The Past (children‟s workshop)
2:00 pm until 4:00 pm, Museum
Oct. 14
CHS Board Meeting
3:30 pm, Museum
Oct. 15-17 Used Book Sale, Clayton Community Library
Check times at www.claytonlibrary.org
Nov. 1
Old Timers
11:30 am, Museum
Nov. 11
CHS Fall Potluck Dinner
Endeavor Hall
Doors open at 5:00 pm, Dinner at 5:30 pm
Society General Meeting at 6:00 pm
Speaker, Willem Ridder at 6:30 pm
Nov. 26
Decorate Museum for the Holidays
Dec. 6
Old Timers
11:30 am, Museum
Dec. 9
CHS Board Meeting
3:30 pm, Museum
Dec. 10
Christmas House Tour
Around Clayton & Museum
Jan. 3
Old Timers
11:30 am, Museum
Jan. 10
BAHHM Meeting at 9:30am
at Endeavor Hall & Museum
Jan. 13
CHS Board Meeting
3:30 pm, Museum
Jan.
New Special Exhibit Opens
Frankly Speaking
Feb. 7
Old Timers
11:30 am, Museum
Feb. 13
Annual Camellia Tea
1:00 pm until 4:00 pm, Museum
Quilt
Pattern
Fundraiser
Here is the perfect gift or stocking
stuffer for your quilting friends or
yourself. This 45½‖ square wall
hanging pattern, ―I‘ll be Home for
Christmas‖, is available for a
suggested donation of $3 each. A
sample of this wall hanging is on
display at the museum.
The patterns were donated by
Volney Peters
whose
wife,
Margaret, developed and sold the
pattern. When made with different
colors, this ―Christmas‖ wall
hanging could be hung year ‗round.
Thanks to society member and
quilter, Linda Pinder, for donating
the fabric and for piecing the
museum‘s sample hanging and to
Elaine Beattie from In Stitches
Quilting, located in Walnut Creek
for donating her professional
machine quilting services.
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Communications from your Curators—Mary Spryer and Renee Wing
You‘d think that museum activity would slow down during the hot summer
months; but we were quite busy all summer long. First, you‘ll notice that the museum
has some new, good-looking benches on the front porch. Memorial money was used for
new seating there. For the 5th summer in a row, the museum was open to the public each Wednesday
evening in conjunction with the Classic Car Show. Our dedicated volunteers re-opened the museum from
June 16th until September 15th. Char and Renee spent most of their Wednesdays at the museum, but thanks
are also due the following docents who gave up a summer evening (or two): Sally Turner, Dick Ellis, Jim
Trolan, Jan Trolan, JoAnn Caspar, Brad Shackleton, Logan Shackleton, Barbara Fogerson, Mary
Wacker, Pat Spada, Sue Kelson, Dan Richardson, Marj Ditzel and Adela Oldford.
For quite a few years now, we have opened the museum to the public after the July 4th parade. These
dedicated volunteers made that possible: Peggy Arundell, Charmetta Mann, Sally Turner, Julia, Sue
Kelson and Logan Shackleton.
We opened the museum to the public again in mid-July when the Clayton Community Church showed
the movie, Night at the Museum, on July 16th. It was Ted Meriam, Dick Ellis, Sue Kelson, Barbara
Fogerson, Sally Turner and Bev Voelker who made this opening possible.
In August, I had the pleasure of touring two groups from Kinder Care located on Marsh Creek Road.
Their summer theme was Wild Wild West so their visit to our museum worked out perfectly. The kids had
great questions and were a delight, as they are every summer.
On Labor Day Saturday, once again, our dependable docents signed up to open during the downtown
Soapbox Derby. Charmetta, Dick Ellis, JoAnn Caspar and Sally Turner came down to the museum to
open up for the many downtown visitors.
If you‘ve ever visited the museum in the summer, you know that we have air conditioning; something I
really missed when it broke down in July. Thanks to Walt Moore from Clayton Valley Mechanical,
Heating and Air Conditioning for coming down right away and repairing the problem in-between open
hours. In addition to making the museum more comfortable for visitors and docents, our air conditioners
assist us with the preservation of the museum‘s collection of artifacts. The National Parks Museum
Handbook recommends that museums keep the temperature between 60º and 75º. We hope that adhering to
these guidelines will help preserve our collection for generations to come.
Greeter and Docent News
It‘s been a while since I‘ve welcomed our newer docents. Bev Voelker attended one of our fall potlucks
and expressed an interest in volunteering, and we‘re happy to have her working on the 3rd Wednesday of the
month. Linda Pinder works as a docent on the 1st Wednesday and comes in again on the 2nd Sunday of the
month to help open the museum. Linda has spent many hours in the past few years helping with the Clayton
Gardens Tour; now she‘s also helping out on the museum side. Her organizational and problem-solving
skills and her willingness to help out wherever needed make her a wonderful addition to our growing list of
museum docents. Martin Easton is working on the 4th Sunday of the month. Martin isn‘t new to the
museum, the society or Clayton for that matter, having family that arrived in Clayton in 1872. I get to work
with Marty, and I‘m telling you, we have a lot of fun. Anna and Michael Wendorf work together on the
second Sunday of the month. Anna jumped in with both feet when she also volunteered to be on the Garden
Committee as well. Michael is using any down time at the museum wisely, and is reading our many binders
and books about Clayton. Student docent, Kate has been helping in the Kid‘s Corner on the 4th Sunday of
the month with her friend Samantha who has already helped me figure out some fun games for next year‘s
fourth graders to play on their field trips. Julia helped out after the July 4th parade when we were short a few
volunteers and will be coming in regularly as a student docent.
It may seem that we have enough help at the museum, but we‘re trying to add to our list of docents so we
can expand our open hours in the (hopefully near) future. If you would like to spend about 2 ½ hours per
month helping us open our museum to the public, please email us—[email protected] OR call us
at 925-672-0240 and leave a message. You can also stop by and pick up a volunteer application form during
open hours—Mary Spryer
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Museum Hours—Sunday and Wednesday 2:00 pm until 4:00 pm and by appointment
Next Special Exhibit
Special Exhibit
Frankly
Speaking
September 19th through
December 2010
A Collection of Sewing Notions
from the Sewing Basket of
Kathleen Calhan
Kathleen has been collecting sewing notions
and supplies for years. This exhibit features
a large variety of specialized sewing tools
including:
clampsneedlesscissorspinspin cushionssewing birds
darnerssewing kitssewing basketsthimblesthread
holdersthread windersscissorsspoolsspool standstape
measuresrulersseam gaugesemerieslady’s companions
buttonsbobbinsbutton hookssewing caddiessewing
standsbodkinsneedle holdersneedle booksbuttonsthimble
cases thread waxerschatelaineslaceknitting needlescrochet
hookssewing machinesMauchline wareknitting needle guards
L to R: Fred Frank Sr holding Henry, Joe, Fred Jr, and Ben
Stories, pictures, maps & artifacts featuring
one of Clayton’s
Pioneering Families:
The Frank Family, who, through
marriage, are related to the following
Clayton Valley Pioneering Families:
BERENDSEN, BIGELOW, BLOCHING, BOLLMAN,
BROWN, CONDIE, DANA, DENKINGER, DUNCAN,
EASTON, GADDIS, GEHRINGER, HERRIMAN,
HOLLIDAY, LARSON, MITCHELL, MORGAN,
McGUIRE, McKEAN, MYRICK, O‘CONNELL,
OLOFSON, OLSEN, RASMUSSEN, RUSSELMANN,
SARGENT, SCHWENDEL, STOCKFLETH,
TAMAYO, TRETTE, WEAVER, WESTON
WILKIE and WRIGHT
January 2011 Through May 2011
August Visitors
An unexpected tour occurred in August, when the museum was closed to
visitors. The curators were moving displays around and a family of four
from New York parked in front of the museum. The family knew that their
relatives had once lived in Clayton and that they were descendants of one
of Clayton‘s Pioneering Families. Mary and Renee were happy to show
Duncan Chapman, his wife, Barbara and two daughters, Allegra and
Antonia around the museum (pictured on the right). Having their picture
taken in front of the jail was fitting, due to the fact that three of Duncan‟s
relatives were Clayton‘s town constables. George was the town‘s first
constable, succeeded by son Charles, who held that title almost
continuously from 1892 until 1937. Upon retirement, his son, Vic
Chapman (Duncan‟s Uncle), became Clayton‘s last constable. Duncan‟s
great-great grandfather, George Chapman, also built several of the first
structures in the center of town, including the Chapman Hotel which was
built in 1863 on the site where Skipolini‘s now stands.
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Update on the Museum’s Garden…Phase One…the Native American Plant Garden
In 2009 a landscape plan was drafted to renovate the Museum Garden area. Unfortunately, costs were
higher than expected and funds were not available to proceed with the project. Fortunately, volunteers have
recently found ways to get help with plant donations and have found corporate volunteers to help with labor
through the Volunteer Center of the East Bay.
On September 13th and 14th, members of the Clayton Historical Society and the Clayton Valley
Garden Club partnered with fourteen Chevron and Bank of the West employees and began preparation for
the first of three phases of the Museum Garden Project. The Chevron and Bank of the West volunteers
signed up to help during the annual Week of Caring through the Volunteer Center of the East Bay
(www.HelpNow.org.) Many employees of these local companies offer their time to local non-profit
organizations. This year, through the tireless efforts of society member, Linda Cruz, President of the
Clayton Valley Garden Club, the museum‘s garden benefitted from their donation of time.
The first phase of the garden is the Native American Plant Garden. Project
objectives were to display locally native plants which were used by the native
people living in the Mt. Diablo area and label plants to identify their uses. The
Clayton Valley Garden Club donated $200 for purchasing the Quercus
kellogii, Arctostaphylos glauca, Arctostaphylos Manzanita, Carex nudata,
Chlorogalum pancerideanum, Ribes aureum, Asclepia fasciolaris and Juncus
patens. The Sambucus Mexicana was donated by Garden Natives Nursery in
Martinez. A 5-gallon Rhamnus californica was donated by Michael and Anna
Wendorf. The Rosa californica was donated by Markham Arboretum and an
Artemisia douglasiana was donated by Los Medanos Community College
Preserve. Once these plants are established, they will be part of the educational
program the Clayton Museum plans for 4th Graders in the fall of 2011.
The hard working 6-member „Museum Garden Project Committee‟:
Clayton Valley Garden Club President Linda Cruz, CVGC member Steve Lane,
Museum Docent and Landscape Designer Anna Wendorf, Museum Curator
Mary Spryer and Society President Ted Meriam organized and worked both days, provided food, tools,
researched and procured the hard-to-find plants, donated various supplies, arrived early and stayed late.
Tami Pierce and Debbie Eistetter from the Clayton Valley Garden Club each volunteered one day of
work. Dick Ellis worked both days and hauled the green waste to the maintenance yard where the City of
Clayton allowed us to deposit it at no charge. Our local Clayton nursery located on Marsh Creek Road, R &
M Pool, Patio & Gardens, donated planting amendments for the project.
The bulk of the work on Monday was done by Chevron volunteers: Sue Lakin, Chris Cloud, Maria
Magat , Alex Goiriz, Cathy Burgess, Elaine Petkovich, Christine Heinz, Vickie Babcock and Pochi
Huang and on Tuesday by Bank of the West volunteers: Jessica Geronimo, Evelyn Sisco, Kathy Duff,
and Amy Chan. The plan & plant-list was designed by Anna Wendorf, who is a local landscape designer
working for Michael Tebb Designs in Concord. Anna donated her time to create this proposed landscape
design and plant list free of charge, set the schedule of tasks for the day and also instructed the volunteers on
the planting techniques to be used. Steve Lane helped the volunteers throughout both days and made the
necessary OSH stop for needed sprinkler supplies. Linda Cruz worked both in the garden and the kitchen,
serving her husband, Jesse Cruz‟s wonderful chili for lunch on Monday.
Phase one of this project is nearly complete. The plants have temporary labels,
thanks to Linda Cruz. Anna, Steve and Linda continue their commitment to this
project by setting up a watering schedule amongst themselves so that our ―baby‖
plants get the best possible start. The completion of the next two phases of this
project depends upon volunteers and donations of funds, plants and supplies. If you
would like to know about up-coming work days or if you would like to help with this
worthwhile project with your financial donation, please leave a message at the
museum, 925-672-0240.
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Letters from the Yukon
In 1899, men from Clayton travelled to the Yukon Territory of Alaska, which was then a "foreign country",
to prospect for gold. Among those were Lars Olsen (who was then married to Elizabeth Frank and had a
small daughter, Sarah, nicknamed "Sadie"), Fred Frank, Jr. (who was betrothed to Lillien Russelmann who
was the daughter of Fred's employer, Captain Freidrich Russelmann), Percy Douglas (who was a Clayton
purveyor of insurance and notary services whose offices were in the building of what is now Moresi's
Chophouse), and other brave residents of Clayton and its environs.
Some of Clayton's gold seekers wrote letters "home to Clayton" and they were preserved by the recipients
and saved through the generations. What follows is a glimpse of travails of those who left Clayton seeking
their fortunes in gold. We are grateful to Elinor Olsen for her preservation of her grandfather, Lars Olsen's
letters.
Forward by Janet Easton
September 5, 1899
Dear Lizzie and Sadie,
We are now on our way to Skagway on the S. Humboldt. We expect to get to Skagway on the evening of the
6th. This is the finest trip I ever had. We have plenty to eat and it is like going up the San Francisco Bay.
The water is as smooth as can be and the scenery is beautiful, land on both sides and rolling hills all covered
with timber clear to the water, and sometimes higher mountains covered with snow on the top.
I don't think we have seen 100 acres of land,-since we left Portland- except land that has been cleared-that
has not been covered with timber. The water we are going on is very narrow, from ¼ to 2 miles wide.
There are a lot of ladies and children that are going to Alaska. There are between 200 and 300 on board. I
wrote to you from Tacoma; it is a nice place. I did not like it at first. Seattle is also a pretty place and many
other places in Puget Sound are worth seeing.
Little Annie Iverson is not well. She was sick when we left Tacoma. She bruised her shoulder falling out of
the baby buggy in Tacoma but Ivngval is feeling fine. He likes to be with me. He calls me "Papa" which I
am proud of, you know.
Some are dancing and some are playing cards now while I am writing. I am in our little room. There are no
tables or chairs so I am lying on my stomach in the bed writing. We will get used to all those good things
after a little. Fred (Frank, his brother in law) enjoys the trip. He thinks there is nothing like getting out and
seeing the world.
I don't know if I told you to see Burke about selling the horses. Go to him and he will tell you what to do.
Don't forget to find out what each will bring and what Peters' three horses bring. Don't sell his colt; let it
run with ours if you've got feed; if not get a pasture for it. If you have any hay left next spring, sell it, if you
have enough for the ranch yourself.
We are with Opswick and Waldell. The Langlows are on the way to Tacoma now, all of them. I think they
will live there.
(More of Lars Olsen's letters in the next Chronicles)
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Skagway, Alaska 1899
Citation: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/cph.3b12751/?co=pan
Museum Maintenance Volunteers
As you know, maintaining a home takes a lot of work. The museum‟s “Honey-Do” list of chores is no
different than the never-ending list you probably have tacked onto your refrigerator. Here are some
of the chores that have been done by our wonderful museum volunteers this past summer.
 Dick Ellis washed down the outside of the museum in time for our open hours on July 4th.
JoAnn Caspar arranged for our windows to be washed and the museum house cleaning in time for July 4th.
Dick Ellis and Linda Pinder assembled the benches and table for the front porch.
Dick Ellis designed and installed a broom rack and installed eye bolts on the front porch.
Steve Lane adjusted the sprinklers near the porches so that they don‘t spray on the porch steps.
Jim Conneally stained the front and side porches
Don Arundell‟s on-going commitment to sweep and rake around the museum each Sunday & Wednesday.
If you are able to help out with some museum maintenance projects, either as a one-time-only offer
or as regular commitment, please call the museum at 672-0240 and leave a message for Mary Spryer.
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 Memorials 
a lasting way to honor someone special
 Keith Bates 
Carmen Frank
Mary Wacker
Sally Turner
Jan & Karen Rosati
Jack Ayvazian & Patrick Browne
Harvey & Louise Wall
Barbara Fogerson
Teodoro & Maria Caponpon
Eileen Martin
Margaret Guilkey
Lee & Marilyn Sowersby
Charles & Elaine Evans
Blair & Emily Akey
Richard Ellis
Kathleen & Kal Horvath
Hazel & Gail Leveroni
Barbara Allen
Sue Kelson
Crescencia & James Shaw
Jean Bates Voorhees
Alise, Jason & James Puckett
Ann Baker
Sarah & Hannah Billingsley
Wilfredo & Vivian Nerida
Jim & Priscilla Schmalzel
JoAnn Caspar
Therese Nagler
Barbara Allen
Barbara Sickenberger
Barbara Fogerson
Robert & Eldora Hoyer
Catalina Wright
Mary & W.C. Delamater
Sandra Watson
Richard Ellis
Joan Giammona
Mary Wacker
Edith Mazzei
Mary Wacker
Sally Turner
Barbara Molloy
Charles & Elaine Evans
Joyce Murdock
Sandra Watson
Willis Clayton III
Henry Rehr
Marguerite Clayton Smiley
Barbara Allen
Barbara Fogerson
Sandra Watson
Richard Ellis
 Mary Lou Ellis
Catalina Wright
Mary & W.C. Delamater
Earl & Helene Duncan
Patricia Fraga
Memorial donations are recorded in a book
on permanent display in the museum.
In Loving Memory of Ronnie C. Pimentel(1948-1968)
Charmetta Mann & Janet Easton
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Clayton Historical Society Membership
This is an especially interesting time to be involved, at any level, with our Clayton Museum. To
mention only a couple of exciting new developments: the museum landscaping is being improved in
creative ways and some innovative new events, including a holiday fundraiser, are being planned.
Please consider giving a membership to a friend, neighbor or family member (perhaps as a way to say
thank you for a favor or for the holidays). This allows people to know you have a commitment to your
Clayton community. Many thanks!
Thanks again!
Sheila Driscoll
Membership Chairman
925-672-7947
[email protected]
Welcome New Members:
Duncan & Barbara Chapman
Doug & Toni Hegemier
Join the Clayton Historical Society!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Society Yearly Dues Membership Categories in 2010:
□ Student - $10
□ Senior - $10
□ Senior Couple - $15 □ Individual - $20 □ Couple - $30 □ Sustaining - $50 □ Business - $100
□ Volunteer-25 hours/year in the previous calendar year for one year membership free.
"One-Time Payment" Membership Categories in 2010:
□ Life-Individual - $500
□ 1857 League-Individual - $1,857
Please check the membership category and print all of the following information:
Name(s): ____________________________________________________________________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________________
City: ______________________________________ State:_____________ Zip: __________________
Home Phone:______________________________ Cell Phone:_______________________________
Email address: _______________________________________________________________________
Make checks payable to the Clayton Historical Society
Mail to: Clayton Historical Society, Attention: Membership
P.O. Box 94
Clayton, CA 94517
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Clayton Chronicles
P. O. Box 94
Clayton, CA 94517
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