Swap meet set for Saturday

How did you like our first Douglas County Historical Society Swap Meet? If you're still not sure what that is, it's a little like a huge garage sale, discount store and craft fair all in one.

We are holding our second swap meet this Saturday, June 28, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 782-2555 today to reserve your space for only $10 and you can sell almost anything. You could sell your Aunt Tillie's pottery collection or your father's drill bits. You could even sell Jimmy's old toy train set. If you are a crafter, you can bring your afghans, pot holders, jewelry or whatever you make and sell it for very little investment. Hope to see you there.

Great news! The Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center now has the Web site www.Ancestry.com available for your use. Come into the museum Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and use our air-conditioned library to research your family tree for free. As an historical society, we are about the business of history. What better way to go about it than to let you trace your own family history for free?

Coming up the next Saturday, July 5, is our monthly Student-Senior Day. Our speakers this month will be Young Chautauquans Katie Antti at 11 a.m. and Serena Herup at 1 p.m. Both young ladies will be portraying Betsy Ross, maker of our first flag, in honor of Independence Day. Admission is free for all seniors and students accompanied by an adult.

Thursday, July 10, will be the next in Douglas County Historical Society's Lecture Series. Author and journalist Guy Clifton will speak about his new book, "Dempsey in Nevada." Jack Dempsey was heavyweight boxing champ from 1919-1926. His early life was tied to Nevada with fights in Reno, Tonopah, Goldfield and Ely. Having lost all his money in the 1929 stock market crash, he started from Reno first to promote fights and then to reclaim his title in the early 1930s. The lecture starts at 7 p.m. and admission is free.

Next on the calendar is the Art and Wine Festival, Saturday, July 19, from 4 to 8 p.m. The art will be on the front lawn of the Gardnerville museum while the wine and food will be in the parking lot. There is ample parking behind the museum at the school. Food is being provided by the Carson Valley Lions Club and the Western Nevada Cattlewomen. Wine will be poured by Lira's Super Market. Artists still have time to arrange for booth space to show and sell their art. Applications are available at the Gardnerville museum or by calling 782-2555.

The June Photo Contest ends next Monday at 4 p.m. All winning photos including June will be displayed at the Art & Wine Festival where we will begin pre-selling the 2009 DCHS Calendar. We will deliver calendars in time for Christmas giving.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville at 782-2555. Visit our Web site at www.historicnevada.org. Remember, DCHS and its two museums do not receive any regular state or county funding. It's up to our members and friends to help us keep our doors open.

n Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com or 790-1565.