Anderson Historical Society plans open house

Mary Kofford

FOUNDING FATHER DESCENDANTS - Working on retracing the family tree, three descendants of Elias Anderson look through old letters and documents from the 1800s, now at the Anderson Historical Society Museum. Left to right are Sue Taylor, 45, of Eagle River, Alaska, great-great-granddaughter of Anderson; Donna Dixon, 72, of Lompoc, great-great-granddaughter of Anderson; and Joyce Schaper, 55, of Yorba Linda, great-great-great-granddaugter of Anderson, and Dixon's daughter. The women were visiting in Anderson last week, just one week after Elias Anderson's birthday, which was Feb. 2. Anderson lived from 1817 to 1907.

In honor of Founder’s Day, the Anderson Historical Society will be holding its annual open house on Saturday, Feb. 17, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

New exhibits will be of early gold mining on Clear Creek and vicinity.

Also available for reviewing will be old documents where mining districts and mines were located in Shasta, Trinity and Siskiyou counties and, in some cases, who owned them.

Artifacts from the Anderson era of 1850-1900 will be displayed, including a display of a register of visitors at the old Anderson Hotel.

Another display will consist of antique glassware originally owned by early Cottonwood and Anderson settlers and handed down to present family members.

Pictures and information on the John and Josephine DiLullo family will be part of the displays. Included is the old typewriter used by Josephine who wrote a gardening column for the old Anderson Valley Newspaper. She composed many poems and read at the many clubs in Anderson in which she was involved. She also helped to organize the first Shasta District Fair.

Their son, Bob DiLullo, was a former Anderson City Council member and mayor. He was involved in the Federal Emergency Management Agency, many organizations regarding education and retired from Shasta County as deputy road commissioner.

There is also an exhibit of toys for children.

Not to be forgotten is an updated exhibit on early ranching tolls and the Stabler gun exhibit for the men folk.

New displays are in place and the old Columbia one-room schoolhouse will be open for touring with the new handicap ramp available for assisted access.

The Anderson Historical Society and Museum will also be celebrating its new heating/cooling system, thanks to a $9,200 grant from the Shasta Regional Community Foundation funded through the McConnell Foundation and installed by Integrity Heating and Air of Anderson.

Refreshments will be served by the Anderson Women’s Improvement Club.