June 21- Stories In Structures: Our History In Architecture

Speakers: Frances Schierenbeck, Don Anderson

Every day our town’s story unfolds right in front of us, in our great old homes and commercial buildings. Learn more about our rich architectural heritage from architectural historian Frances Schierenbeck, who will introduce you to the styles of buildings you’ll see around town, and docent Don Anderson, who will tell the stories of many older buildings that have reinvented themselves to remain relevant as the town has changed.

Healdsburg’s Carnegie Library, now the home of the Healdsburg Museum

Farmers and Mechanics Bank, now used as retail space

June 28- Dining & Lodging Back in the Day

Speakers: Jerry Haag, Joanne Taeuffer

Healdsburg today has a reputation for fine dining and luxury lodging establishments. Back in the day, the town offered far different options for both. Jerry Haag will tell stories of some of the old eateries in town including Lonnie’s, the Heidelberg, Buffi’s, The Ark and more. We’ll also count on the audience to share their favorite dining experiences from past years. Joanne Taeuffer will show you some of the town’s old-time guest accommodations, including old hotels downtown, resorts in Geyserville and Skaggs Springs, tent cabins at resorts on Fitch Mountain and highway-front motels.

Geyser Hotel

Painting of Clark Foss’s Stage Coach on Road to Geysers Resort

Buffi’s Restaurant

July 5- Treasures of the Museum Collection

Speakers: Stan Becker, Kay Robinson

The Healdsburg Museum has a collection of more than 10,000 items – photos, print materials, objects and books -- that represent the town's heritage. This collection is organized and managed by a volunteer committee working year-round with Museum staff. Committee members Stan Becker and Kay Robinson will talk about how the collection is housed, organized and maintained. And they will share the stories of their favorite artifacts.

July 12- Leisure Days: Places to Play

Speakers: Jim Dreisback, Meredith Dreisback, Kay Robinson

Healdsburg residents have always known how to have a good time and these talks will introduce you to some of our venues for recreation. Jim Dreisback will tell tales of the Villa Chanticler, former French vacation resort, one-time casino with some gangland-style intrigue and site of parties and dances for many decades. Kay Robinson will tell the history of Recreation Park, including Prune Packers games, the Future Farmer’s Fair and the projects to light the field and build new stands. And Meredith Dreisback will take you to various other leisure venues such as Tayman Park Golf course, Palomar skating rink and dance hall and Camp Rose on the Russian River.

Villa Chantecleer visitor

Bob Mascherini running bases at Recreation Park, circa 1948

Boating on the Russian River

July 19- Coming to America, Italian Style

Speakers: Don Anderson, Joe Pelanconi

Many of Healdsburg’s immigrants during the last part of the 19th century came from Italy. You’ll see these families’ names everywhere today. Don Anderson will delve into why the Italians came to the U.S., how they ended up in Healdsburg and how they helped build our town as wine makers, farmers, merchants and community leaders. Then local historian/writer Joe Pelanconi will tell the story of his family in Geyserville and Healdsburg.

Clementina and Giuseppe Domenico Pelanconi

July 26- Booms, Busts And A 40-year Doom-Loop

Speakers: Joanne Taeuffer, Eric Drew

Here’s a look at the economic circumstances of Healdsburg over the years. Joanne will cover Healdsburg’s early history of economic ups and downs. Then Eric will focus on the 40-year period between 1962 and 2002, when the town was in a “doom loop.” This difficult period started when the freeway opened, funneling people away from downtown and precipitating a slow-moving economic crisis that eventual led to the town’s current economic prosperity.

Healdsburg residents largely opposed Prohibition

Healdsburg exit, Highway 101

August 2- Pioneer Wine and Agriculture Families

Speakers: Susan Young Sheehy, Julie Seghesio Neumiller, Louis Foppiano.

Convener: Dennis Hill

Three descendants of pioneer families engaged in the wine industry and farming, Julie Seghesio Neumiller, Susan Young Sheehy and Lou Foppiano, tell the stories of their families – how they came here, their farming histories, how they started their wineries and how those businesses evolved. Convener Dennis Hill will provide an introduction putting these three families into historical perspective.

Silas Young at the reins on the Young Prune Ranch, circa 1912

Foppiano Ranch on Old Redwood Highway

August 9- Alexander Valley Annals

Speakers: Claire O’Neil, Jim Dreisback, Meredith Dreisback

Learn about Cyrus Alexander, the overseer for the Rancho Sotoyome land grant and later owner of much of the valley that bears his name. Then hear about the history of the tight-knit community that still calls it home. We’ll tell the stories of the Jimtown Store and Alexander Valley Store, the Ladies Aid Society and their annual Christmas bazaar (a holiday tradition since the 1950s), the iconic Alexander Valley Community Church (founded 1896,) the Community Hall (a youngster, founded in 1922) and more.

Cyrus Alexander

Alexander Valley Community Hall

August 16- Long-Gone Industries: Lumber & Prunes

Speakers: Steve Deas, Joanne Taeuffer, Don Mitchell

Two economic engines of years past in Healdsburg – lumber and prunes – are mostly gone, leaving behind only the name of one of our newest housing developments, The Mill District, and the name of our baseball team, the Prune Packers. Steve Deas, Joanne Taeuffer and Don Mitchell will talk about the history of these two industries. And we’ll be counting on the audience to add their memories of the time not so long ago when prunes were king.

Horse team hauling monster log

Prune blossoms

August 23- Celebrating Creativity, Culture & Festivals

Speakers: Claire O’Neill, Frances Schierenbeck

Healdsburg’s vibrant arts scene and calendar of celebrations, festivals and fairs is nothing new. It has always been thus. Claire O’Neill, a member of the Healdsburg Creative Leadership Team, will talk about the role of the arts and creativity from Pomo basketry to Ballet Folklorico to the Healdsburg Jazz Festival. Frances Schierenbeck will talk about some of the many festivals celebrated throughout the years from May Day Knights to Water Carnival Queens.

Medieval Tournament of 1877 Drew Crowd of 6,000 People

Water Carnival on the Russian River