Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Dance in a Subterranean Roundhouse: In 2014, Dr. Parker received an email from the Wildenstein Gallery in New York asking about a painting that was up for auction. The auction was of several art works owned by the Rothschild Family. The painting was of an Indian Ceremony and was done in the 1870’s. Joseph Baillio (of the Wildenstein Gallery) wondered if the painting was of a California tribe so he sent a copy for Dr. Parker to look at. This presentation talks about the painting, how it fits into the History of Lake County, and where it is now.

Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Lake County’s Chinese Pioneers: John Parker will talk about the history of California’s Chinese Pioneers and their influence in Lake County. Dr. Parker spent 5 years sorting and cataloging 5 tons of Chinese artifacts recovered from a parking garage project in San Luis Obispo.

Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Come sit in the barn and enjoy the bluegrass sounds of the California Old Time Fiddler’s Association players as they jam between noon and 2. Grab a burger or dog at the grill, a beer, wine, or soda and have a picnic. See you there. Free to Historical Society members and $5 for non-members (or join at the door to get into all fiddler’s jams, and Popcorn Lectures for free for the year).

Students from the school are split up into groups of 8 or 10 and proceed to history stations. There may be 6 or 8 stations including Blacksmith Shop, Stone Tool Making, Life on the Range, Stone tool making demonstration , Washboard and Wringer, Gold Panning, and more. Each group of students spend at least 15 minutes at each station before they rotate to the next station.

Students from the school are split up into groups of 8 or 10 and proceed to history stations. There may be 6 or 8 stations including Blacksmith Shop, Stone Tool Making, Life on the Range, Stone tool making demonstration , Washboard and Wringer, Gold Panning, and more. Each group of students spend at least 15 minutes at each station before they rotate to the next station.

The annual LCHS/Ely picnic is a potluck where the Ely Museum supplies the burgers and hotdogs. The event is free to all Historical Society Members and $10 for non-members (but join at the door to get in free, along with all Fiddler’s Jams and Popcorn Lectures for the year). Members are asked to bring a dish to share.

The History of Hoberg’s Resort: 1890-1974: Archaeologist Dr. Parker takes you through a “time machine” to experience life at the longest operating Lake County Resort. Though much was destroyed by fire in 1936, the resort came back bigger and better. Run by 3 generations of Hoberg Family members, it was one of California’s premier “all-inclusive” resorts through the 1950’s. All resort buildings were destroyed by the Valley Fire in 2015, revealing a buried time capsule of historical items used by guests and staff between 1890 and 1936. Parker will bring some of these items to share during the talk.

Students from the school are split up into groups of 8 or 10 and proceed to history stations. There may be 6 or 8 stations including Blacksmith Shop, Stone Tool Making, Life on the Range, Stagecoach Rules, Washboard and Wringer, and Gold Panning. Each group of students spend at least 15 minutes at each station before they rotate to the next station.

Students from the school are split up into groups of 8 or 10 and proceed to history stations. There may be 6 or 8 stations including Blacksmith Shop, Stone Tool Making, Life on the Range, Stone tool making demonstration , Washboard and Wringer, Gold Panning, and more. Each group of students spend at least 15 minutes at each station before they rotate to the next station.

Students from the school are split up into groups of 8 or 10 and proceed to history stations. There may be 6 or 8 stations including Blacksmith Shop, Stone Tool Making, Life on the Range, Stagecoach Rules, Washboard and Wringer, and Gold Panning. Each group of students spend at least 15 minutes at each station before they rotate to the next station.

The Death of Harry Floyd: Natural Causes or Murder? Historian Phil Smoley will dive into the history of the Captain Floyd Family and their ties to Lake County.

History of the Ely Stage Stop: Historical Society President and Ely Museum Curator Dr. John Parker will introduce the history of the Ely Stage Stop from 1860’s construction, it’s place in the annual Lake County cattle drives, vigilante justice, and it’s use as a horse changing station, school, public house, and post office.

November’s lecture is The Gopcevik Decree: The Man Behind the Document presented by Historian Phil Smoley.

Phil’s day job is broker owner of Country Air Properties. He is available to speak at events on topics related to history and real estate.

Along with fascinating information about Lake County History, you'll enjoy fresh popcorn at all our Popcorn Lecture Series. See you in the red barn!

The day starts with the Certification Training in the Red Barn for new CTA’s (from 9:00 till 1:00). Then from 2:00 to 3:30 all CTA’s are invited for the “Edventure” tour of the Ely Museum Grounds. This will be led by Dr. John Parker (Museum Curator).

This year the Ely Stage Stop Museum will feature two of our historic carriages in the Pear Festival Parade. Our booth on Main Street will have Historical Society and Ely Museum information, books for sale, and a special membership offer (all of next year plus the last three months of this year). Membership gets you into all the monthly Fiddler’s Jams, all the year’s “Popcorn Lectures”, and the annual Picnic for free.

September’s lecture is the showing of the film A Walk Through Time: The story of Anderson Marsh This Emmy award winning documentary will be shown with commentary by Co-Producer Dr. John Parker

Along with fascinating information about Lake County History, you'll enjoy fresh popcorn at all our Popcorn Lecture Series. See you in the red barn!