Photo Courtesy of Northern Mariposa County History Center
HISTORY CENTER TO REOPEN - ANNOUNCES NEW DAYS OF OPERATIONS
After a month-long closing for refurbishing and setting up a few new displays, the museum will reopen to the public on Thursday, February 9th, 2017. President George Partan Sr. announced that “ In order to better accommodate visitors to the area, the museum’s hours of operation in 2017 will be Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. plus most long holiday weekends.” These additional days include: President’s Day, Monday, February 20th; Memorial Day, Monday, May 29th; both Monday, July 3rd and Tuesday, July 4th on Independence Day weekend and on Labor Day, Monday, September 4th.
2016 Gala event (pictured above and below)LIGHTS! CAMERA!! ACTION!!!
The Gala Reopening Party is set for Saturday, February 4th from 2 - 5 p.m. There will be wine, compliments of Duo Ragazze Winery (including one white variety that recently won a silver medal), Indigeny cider, a traditional tea service, plus a variety of “sweet and savory” finger foods and pastries to enjoy. A raffle and live auction are also planned. Auction items include an autographed DVD of Ron Howard's documentary, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week.
This is the first fund-raising event of the year, with some of the funds to be used to help restore the 3-stamp mill recently donated to the museum by Janelle and Charlie Danel. The stamp mill, which stood for the past decade or more in the garden of the Coulter Cafe and General Store will be re-erected on the museum’s grounds, with much of the rotting timbers needing to be replaced.
Cathy Partan, chairperson of the organizing committee encourages everyone to get into the theme and come as your favorite western movie character. Tickets for this event are $15, just call 209-878-3750 or purchase at the door. 
New Displays
There will be a display featuring early “Hollywood” movie artifacts relevant to the gold country. Other new displays include “Healthcare in the early 1900’s” and another themed “Children’s Toys.” Both will features new acquisitions recently donated to the museum. The Pioneer Showcase will feature the Degnan/Mintzer/Wagner family. Patrick Degnan, a minor, arrived in the 1870’s and after establishing himself sent to Ireland for his sweetheart, Catherine Teague. They married and settled in Coulterville, One of their children, Catherine Degnan, married George C. Mentzer in 1905; their daughter, Mildred married John (Jack) Wagner who arrived in the area in the early 1900’s. Jack was a logger for Yosemite Sugar Pine Lumber Co., was a roadbuilder for the Yosemite National Park Service and eventually became the Coulterville Constable in the 1960’s.
Shawn Shimer serving breakfast
NMCHC Monthly Breakfasts
The monthly breakfasts, held the second Sunday of each month, this month on Sunday, February 12th, is the oldest, longest running fundraising activity of the museum. It not only helps offset the operating costs of the museum but is a fun “destination” for a Sunday outing. All-you-can eat pancakes, eggs, choice of ham or sausageand beverage costs only $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children or a family “package” for $15.00 (2 adults & 2 children). The breakfasts are held at the Old School House in Historic Coulterville, located at the corner of Broadway and Cemetery Streets. This month, since the breakfast falls a few days before Valentine’s Day, all “Moms” are going to receive a fresh flower.
Be sure and check out what’s happening at the museum on the “Northern Mariposa County History Center” Facebook page. The Northern Mariposa County History Center is a 501c3 private, non-profit charitable organization established in 1976, with the Coulterville museum opening to the public in 1980. Displays and historic photos provide an authentic glimpse of the life and times of the pioneers who helped settle the local area in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. It is dependent on community support for its operations.
Come get involved!
