Student-Senior Day is April 5 at museum

The March photo contest ends Monday. This is the last weekend to get out and snap some photos of Douglas County waking up to spring. Our weather has been so glorious that trees are leafing out and flowers are blooming everywhere. Does that mean it will snow soon? This is Nevada where all things are possible. Bring your photo to the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center, at 1477 Highway 395, Gardnerville or e-mail it to me at in2my2cats@yahoo.com.

Saturday, April 5, is our next Student Day. We have changed things and added free admission for seniors, 65 and older, as well. So now young and old alike can enjoy the Student/Senior Day events. This Student/Senior Day features our own cowboy poet, Ken Gardner, demonstrating the art of writing cowboy poetry. See him at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. in the downstairs meeting room.

Don't forget the continuing lecture series. Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m., a panel consisting of Guy Rocha and Carol and Martin Griffith will discuss "The Search for Spofford Hall: How Nevada History is Built."

Thanks to the Griffiths and Rocha, we know Andrew Spofford Hall was born June 14, 1827, in Geneva, New York, eventually moving to California in 1849. These Nevada historians discovered the name Andrew Spofford Hall in the 1850 U.S. Census. Come hear the rest of their findings.

There are a lot of great things going on now that it's almost April. First, the exhibit committee will be spending a good portion of April getting the Genoa Court House Museum ready for its season opening on May 3. Some of their plans include a new addition for the jail and new display work.

Next, Shannon Hickey and Douglas County Historical Society curator Ellen Martin have been working on the Van Sickle Library in the Gardnerville museum. This is a research library filled with books and papers on the history of Douglas County. The ladies have been cataloging, stabilizing the old books, adding protective covers and labeling, organizing and computerizing the collection. Future users should find the library much easier to navigate.

DCHS President Grace Bower has finalized plans for our summer flea markets. Twice a month starting in June, DCHS will turn the Gardnerville museum parking lot into a flea market where you can rent a space to sell your collectibles and antique "junque." You can sell your treasures while enjoying the visibility of being right on Highway 395. Applications for space will be available soon at the museum as well as on the Web site.

In addition to the opening of the Genoa Court House Museum on May 3, make plans to attend the Pony Express Re-Ride and Snowshoe Thompson Day. The re-ride will be June 19 at Woodford's on Highway 88 at approximately 10:01 a.m. The ride is from west to east this year.

At the Genoa museum there will be an Education Day with an appearance by Don "Snowshoe" Thompson with all of the usual attractions we have had in past years. Check with the museum, 782-4325, for details beginning May 3. The Genoa museum will be open daily 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through October.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum 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.

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