Fall 2020 California Chapter Meeting Saturday, October 10, 2020 Sign in — 12:30 PM (US Pacific Time) Meeting starts — 1:00 PM (US Pacific Time) Open to the public
The California Chapter of the LHA will have our fall meeting online via Zoom. Chapter members without access to a computer or smartphone are still welcome to join us, but will need to ask family or friends to view the meeting on their computer or smartphone.
The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM. The host will be chapter president Joel Windmiller and chapter secretary Paulette Johnston.
Agenda
COVID-19 impact on LHA activities
Officer and Committee reports
National Conference schedules for Illinois (2021) and California (2022)
No presentation is scheduled, but this might change before the meeting
Summer 2020 California Chapter Meeting Saturday, July 11, 2020 1:00 PM Open to the public
The California Chapter of the LHA will have our summer meeting online via Zoom. Chapter members without access to a computer or smartphone are still welcome to join us, but you will need to ask family or friends if you can view the meeting on their computer or smartphone.
The meeting will begin at 1 PM. The host will be chapter president Joel Windmiller and chapter secretary Paulette Johnston.
Agenda
Updates on what impact COVID-19 has had on LHA activities at the national and local levels
Officer and Committee reports
National Conference schedules for Illinois (2021) and California (2022)
No presentation is scheduled, but this might change before the meeting
A hotel originally built in 1853 with substantial additions including a blacksmith shop in 1863. In the cellar is the famous opening to the Blue Lead Mine. Known early as “3 Mile House” the building has served as a stage coach stop, general merchandise store, hotel, post office and community hall for 135 years. This building is perhaps the best preserved frame structure of its size in the entire Mother Lode. The earliest owner of record was Elihu Meredith who owned hotels in Coloma and on Green Valley Road. According to the Mountain Democrat, this house also served as the voting precinct headquarters from 1854 until after the turn of the century.
The Smith Flat House was the western terminus of California’s first state highway, the Lake Tahoe Wagon Road, which was approved by the state Bureau of Highways in 1895. The Pioneer alignment of the Lincoln Highway traveled past the Smith Flat House in 1913.
The California Chapter of the Lincoln Highway Association will hold our summer meeting at the beautifully historic Rainbow Lodge on the old Lincoln Highway in the scenic Sierra Nevada Mountains. The chapter has rented the lodge for the day!
The lodge, originally called the Rainbow Tavern and Trout Farm, was built in 1927 and opened to the traveling public all year round. It is nestled in the forest of the Sierra Nevadas on a scenic portion of the Lincoln Highway, overlooking the Yuba River.
We will have a barbecue lunch out in the back patio with a view of the river, and hold the meeting and presentation inside in the Presentation Room after lunch.
We are limited to fifty (50) participants, so to attend, you will need to mail a payment for $35 per person, postmarked by June 14. The fee covers the lunch and a share of the lodge rental cost for the day.
Schedule
10:00 am — Meet and greet
Enjoy the beautiful Sierra Nevada surroundings and the historic Rainbow Lodge itself.
11:30 am — Barbecue lunch
Served on the deck (or in Yuba Room if weather does not allow outdoor seating)
Menu:
Beef hamburgers served with all the fixings, including lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and cheese, served with potato chips
Knockwurst and bratwurst
Veggie burgers (must be requested in advance)
Homemade potato salad and cole slaw
Fresh watermelon for dessert
Sodas, coffee, tea
No liquor or beer will be served
1:00 pm — Meeting
3:00 pm — Presentation
Donner History Along the Lincoln Highway
Reservations
This meeting will be popular, so reserve your spot as soon as possible. Please mail the following information:
Names of each participant in your party
Mailing address
Phone number
Email address
Whether you want a veggie burger instead of a hamburger
A check payable to Lincoln Highway California Chapter, in the amount of $35 for each participant in your party
Mail info and checks postmarked by June 14, 2019 to:
Lincoln Highway California Chapter 1136 Capri Drive Campbell, CA 95008-6007
Rainbow Lodge History by the Donner Summit Historical Society
Rainbow Tavern, as it was then known, was built in 1927 by Herstle Jones who also built Nyack Lodge. He was the brother of Oscar Jones who built the Soda Springs Hotel. Rainbow Lodge served as a way stop for summer travelers over the Sierra Nevada mountains offering meals, rooms, and cabins as well as a trout farm. Visitors could catch their fish and have the dining hall prepare them for supper. Once Old Highway 40 (the Lincoln Highway) was plowed in the winter, Rainbow Tavern became a winter destination and way station as well. A rope tow was built out back and skiers were welcomed. Later, skiers who were more adventurous were taken up to the Sugar Bowl ski area. There were also two gas stations located at the Rainbow Tavern for needy travelers.
A video covering the highlights of the 2018 Lincoln Highway Conference in Iselin, New Jersey is now up on YouTube, courtesy of Prairie Rivers of Iowa. The video contains footage of various talks, banquets, and tours.
Ernie Schirmer’s talk on early 20th Century road construction is available as a separate video.
Lunch at 12:00 noon Meeting at 1:00 pm Open to the public
Agenda:
Officer & committee reports
Updates: website, 2019 Military Convoy Tour, LH signs and markers, White Rock Road, Truckee, 2019 Conference, Stone Arch Bridge, Clear Creek, LH California Brochure
