California Chapter meeting on Sat 7/10 — in person again!

Summer 2021 California Chapter Meeting: Lunch on the Lincoln
Saturday, July 10, 2021
11:30 AM–3:00 PM

Lunch: MUST RSVP BY FRIDAY, JULY 2
Open to the public

Moe Mohanna Event Center
2021 Old Bass Lake Road
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
Google Map

Directions: Take US 50 to Bass Lake Road (Exit 32) and head north. Turn left on Old Bass Lake Road, then turn left at the driveway with a row of Italian cypress trees.

Enjoy lunch and the sweeping views of the Sacramento Valley. Explore the longest remaining section of Lincoln Highway concrete in California.

11:30–1:00
Buffet lunch
(must reserve by Friday, July 2)

If you’re interested in the buffet lunch, please email chapter president Joel Windmiller at by Friday, July 2 with the number of attendees.



1:00–3:00
Meeting

  • Officer and committee reports
  • Updates for National Conference in Illinois and California
  • Lincoln Highway Byway in California
  • Folsom signage project
  • Western Terminus marker
  • Donated 1928 concrete markers in Placerville

California Chapter online meeting on Sat 4/3

Spring 2021 California Chapter Meeting
Saturday, April 3, 2021
Sign in starts: 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 spring meeting online via Zoom. Chapter members without access to a computer or smartphone are 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, with Jimmy Lin providing Zoom tech support.

Agenda

  • Officer and Committee reports
  • COVID-19 impact on 2022 chapter activities and in-person meetings
  • Updates on LHA National Conference for 2022 and 2023
  • Online membership and donation
  • Folsom signage
  • Historical Byway update

If you’re interested in joining us, please email chapter president Joel Windmiller at for Zoom meeting instructions.

California Chapter online meeting and officer elections on Sat 1/9

Winter 2021 California Chapter Meeting and Officer Elections
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Sign in starts — 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 winter meeting and officer elections 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

  • Officer and Committee reports
  • Officer elections
  • COVID-19 impact on 2021 chapter activities
  • Updates on LHA National Conference for 2021 and 2022

If you’re interested in joining us, please email chapter president Joel Windmiller at for Zoom meeting instructions.

California Chapter online meeting on Sat 10/10

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
  • Finding a new chapter historian

If you’re interested in joining us, please email chapter president Joel Windmiller at for Zoom meeting instructions.

California Chapter online meeting on Sat 7/11

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

If you’re interested in joining us, please email chapter president Joel Windmiller at for Zoom meeting instructions.

California Chapter meeting and elections on Sat 1/11

Winter 2020 California Chapter Meeting and Officer Elections
Saturday, January 11, 2020
11:00 am–4:00 pm
Open to the public

Smith Flat House
2021 Smith Flat Rd
Placerville, CA 95667
(530) 621-1003
Google Map

Meet and greet • 11:00 am–12:00 noon

Lunch • 12:00 noon–1:00 pm ($10–20 per person)

  • Sandwiches, burgers, pizza, salads, and soups
  • Beer, wine, soda, water


Meeting • 1:00 pm–4:00 pm
$10 per person cash
for room rental fee

  • Officer elections
  • Officer and committee reports
  • Updates:
    • Signage and markers
    • Website


Presentation

  • Trey Pitsenberger: Smith Flat House — Witness to History


History of the Smith Flat House

From the historical plaque on the building (El Dorado County Point of Historical Interest — Eld-007):

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.

California Chapter meeting on Sat 10/5: LOCATION & TIME CHANGED

NEW LOCATION AND TIME

Fall 2019 California Chapter Meeting
Saturday, October 5, 2019
11:30 AM–4:00 PM
Open to the public

Lorenzos Mexican Restaurant
3883 Taylor Rd
Loomis, CA 95650
Google Map

11:30–1:00
Lunch

  • Full menu is available
  • Pay the wait staff directly, as if at a regular restaurant outing


1:00–4:00
Meeting and presentation

  • Presentation
    • Trey Pitsenberger — Adventures in California History: Roseville to Auburn on the old Lincoln Highway
  • Officer and committee reports
  • Updates:
    • LH signage
    • LH markers
    • Website
    • 2019 LHA Military Convoy Tour

California Chapter meeting on Sat 7/13 — Register by 6/14

Summer 2019 California Chapter Meeting
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Registration required by June 14 — Limit 50 people

The Rainbow Lodge
50080 Hampshire Rocks Road
Soda Springs, CA 95728
(530) 562-5060
Google Map

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

Downloadable meeting flyer

We hope to see you in the Sierras on July 13!

Neil A. Rodrigues, LHA California Director
Neil_Rodrigues@yahoo.com


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.

 

California Chapter meeting on Sat 4/6

Spring 2019 California Chapter Meeting
Saturday, April 6, 2019
12:00 noon
Open to the public

Woodbridge Crossing
18939 N Lower Sacramento Rd
Woodbridge, CA 95258
(209) 366-1800
Google Map

Lunch at 12:00 noon ($20 cash preferred)
Sandwiches, salads, and soups

Meeting at 1:00 pm

  • Officer and committee reports
  • Updates:
    • Website
    • Brochures
    • 2019 Conference
    • 150th anniversary of Transcontinental Railroad

Presentations

  • Neil Rodrigues: Cold winter motorcycle ride to Duarte Garage
  • Trey Pitsenberger — Adventures in California History: Lincoln Highway tour

California Chapter meeting on Sat 1/5

Winter 2019 California Chapter Meeting and Officer Elections
Saturday, January 5, 2019
12:00 noon
Open to the public

Rubino’s Ristorante
5015 Pacific St
Rocklin, CA 95677
Google Map

Lunch — 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm

  • Menu includes: homemade pasta, soups, salads, and sandwiches

Chapter meeting at 1:00 pm — Agenda

  • Officer elections
  • Officer and committee reports
  • Website
  • California brochure
  • 150th anniversary of Transcontinental Railroad
  • 2019 Conference and Military Convoy Tour
  • Meritorious Achievement Award
  • West Sacramento LH Markers
  • Stone bridge repair
  • Signage projects
  • Presentations:
    • Clear Creek Road day trip in October
    • Shoring up of Stone arch bridge in November