LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Library’s free lecture series Know Lake County will feature the Lake County Historical Society (LCHS) on Aug. 20 at 2 p.m. at the Lakeport branch of the Lake County Library.
Dr. John Parker, vice president of the LCHS, and Phil Smoley, a member of the LCHS board of directors, will speak about the LCHS and its programs and projects. For the past 60 years the LCHS has published the Pomo Bulletin, a journal of Lake County history which is sent to all members. The LCHS presents programs on Lake County history several times a year at various locations around the county. Photos from the LCHS’s collection are available for purchase.
The society sells books about the county’s history. Books and copies of the Pomo Bulletin will be for sale at the Know Lake County program. The LCHS website lakecountyhistory.org has more information about the society and its programs.
The LCHS in partnership with the county operates the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum on Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville and the Gibson Museum & Cultural Center on Calistoga Road in Middletown.
The 19th century Ely Stage Stop ranch house was moved in 2007 from near Highway 29 to 5 acres on Soda Bay Road donated by Beckstoffer Vineyards. After extensive restoration, the Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum opened in 2011. The LCHS has built a barn on the property and is currently building a blacksmith and machine shop, with plans to build two more barns to house artifacts and displays. The Ely sponsors a monthly Fiddle Jam with the California Old Time Fiddlers Association, puts on History Day programs and conducts science camps for students.
The Gibson Museum is housed in the former Gibson Library which Chauncey W. Gibson donated to Middletown in 1930. A new larger library opened in 2013 and the old library became the Gibson Museum. Gibson presents Fireside Chats with local historians and presents rotating displays on south county history. Permanent displays tell the story of the land and the people of the area.
Lake County PEG TV records the Know Lake County presentations for re-broadcast on PEG TV Channel 8 and on lakecountypegtv.org. The presentations are also available on DVD to check out from the Lake County Library.
The library is located at 1425 N. High St. in Lakeport. For more information about Know Lake County and other library programs call 263-8817.
The Lake County Library is on the internet at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and Facebook at Facebook.com/LakeCountyLibrary.
