LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Library’s Book-to-Action: Oral History program will begin with Dr. John Parker speaking about the history of Hoberg’s Resort. This free program will take place Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Library at 1425 N. High St. This is the first event in the Lake County Library’s series of Book-to-Action: Oral History events that will continue all during April. Parker’s program will kick off the series by showing the importance of preserving history. Residents can also sign up for Book-to-Action and receive a free copy of the book “The Oral History Workshop” at the program. For more information call 263-8817.
Parker’s firm, Wolf Creek Archaeology, performed an archaeological assessment on Hoberg’s Resort in Cobb in May, an invaluable, highly-detailed report on the historic resort that burned in September’s Valley Fire. Ironically, the fire cleared some previously-inaccessible areas which gave Wolf Creek Archaeology space to expand the dig zone.
Hoberg’s long and interesting history began when Gustav and Matilda Hoberg homesteaded on Cobb Mountain with their children in the 1880s. They later developed the property into a resort which remained in the Hoberg family until the 1970s. In its heyday, Hoberg’s attracted celebrities from the sports, political and entertainment worlds. The Maharishi Mahesh Yogi bought the resort in the 1970s. The resort was sold in 2010 to the Cobb Mountain Partners and then sold again in 2014 to the Lake County Partners, LLC. The Valley Fire destroyed the resort in September.
Parker has worked as an archaeologist for 43 years. His doctoral dissertation focused on changes in settlement patterns in the Clear Lake Basin during the past 12,000 years. His website wolfcreekarcheology.com contains information about archaeological projects in Lake County and Northern California. Parker currently does archaeological consulting, assisting land owners through the planning and project development process in a way that protects historical sites.
The Book-to-Action program is a variation on the traditional library book group. Participants collectively read and discuss a book, then put their newfound knowledge into action by engaging in a community service project or activity related to the book’s topic. Join local residents to discuss The Oral History Workshop, which explains how to open the door to memories and record those vivid stories for future generations. Share with other readers your favorite aspects of the book, and pose questions you’d like to discuss. Get ideas about how you can get involved in volunteer oral history projects in Lake County.
Some Book-to-Action events will include workshops and book discussion where participants will learn how to do oral history and then record oral history interviews. Other events will feature people telling their Valley Fire stories. Book-to-Action: Oral History culminates in a five-hour recording session on April 23 at the Schoolhouse Museum in Lower Lake. The full calendar of events is available at all Lake County Library branches and both Lake County museums, and is posted at library.lakecountyca.gov.
The Lake County Library is on the Internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
