Although a relative newcomer to Lake County, Marina Vedovi is steeped in the area’s history. After all, she serves as a volunteer at the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center in Middletown. Vedovi was born in San Francisco and lived much of her life in the bay area working in different roles (It is fitting that one of these was as a librarian, for the museum occupies Middletown’s old library). She always had an interest in the past, however, so joining the crew of volunteers and helping usher Gibson through its first year came naturally.
1. Why volunteer?
When you’re a newcomer one of the ways to meet people with similar interests is to volunteer. You gain two things: you learn more about what you love and you meet people. It’s cognitive and social at the same time.
2. What’s it like to be surrounded by old stuff?
It’s like being in another world. I look around and I find myself comparing what things would have been like for people back then.
3. Is that what drew you to the museum?
I guess what I like about this is that it’s the history of common people, and ordinary people are fascinating.
4. Ever see an exhibit and think ‘I had one of those?’
[Laughs] Yeah — Well, I remember I had Nancy Ann dolls. I had a whole shelf in my room. This was all pre-Barbie doll.
5. What is the value of a museum like this?
It creates pride — especially for the people who are from the community. For people to feel they are a part of the wider history, I think it gives a sense of perspective. You look at this and you look back on your life and it makes you realize ‘I did some things.’
6. You must go through a lot of donated material.
I was just looking at an 1898 newspaper. We get donations and we get loans or articles of interest. It’s really fun going through things.
7. What constitutes a historical artifact?
That’s a good question. In museums like this, a lot of ordinary things in life — things that people used. And if you go back in time, more things were made by hand, so there’s the craftmanship element. We look at more recent things, too. I’m 71 and I look at these items from one perspective. But for someone who is 8 or who is 20, it’s a whole different view.
8. Do you have a favorite piece in the room?
That’s hard to say, but I always look at the rocks. I know that sounds silly, but I’m interested in the structure of the earth.
9. Do you have any Lake County diamonds?
I do. I was out walking with a friend and she gave me tips on how to find them.
10. How important is community support to a museum like this?
We couldn’t exist without them — and by the amount of donations we receive, there’s definitely community support. There are a lot of museums like this and they’re so manageable. For a visitor, it’s not like walking into the Louvre [looks up, wide eyed]. It’s so enjoyable. It’s about the people. There’s not that burden of elitist culture.
