Another Local History Website

In exploring for another purpose altogether, I fell into yosemitegazette.com, The link will take you to their archives, where you can explore to your heart's content. Look for the two articles on Jacksonville, written by a Sonora woman who grew up there in the 1930's and 1940's. Read some of the other articles, too. Read about John Sheehan, Billy Mitchell and the Gamble Building.

I love the attitude over at Columbia State Park, described in the article titled, "California governor says 'close the park'. Locals say 'baloney,', plan to keep park open." It's like the children's tale of the Little Red Hen. "If you won't help me, I will do it myself. And she did."

Or "The Little Engine Who Could" -- I think I can, I think I can, I t-h-i-n-k I can --- I knew I could!

It is an attitude still found around Groveland and Big Oak Flat. We did it with Wayside -- oops, Mary Laveroni -- Park. We did it with ambulance service. Remember SEMSA? We did it with our museum and library. We are still doing it with the museum. We will do it with the Gamble Building. County-wide, we can do it with Columbia State Park.

All it takes is your willingness to respond to the call, get your hands dirty occasionally, and help out. You will meet lots of interesting folk and learn all kinds of tidbits of interesting information about people and places in our community. You will make a difference.