Luckily there is plenty of amusement in it:

Clever Diamond K ad from the 1950s. Part of a series of similar ads.

At times it can be violent:

Get in the box Art!, 1950

It will often put you into the mindset of the times:

From the end of 1949

And sometimes you might stumble on a chapter of Lafayette history:

The Sun battles gambling in Lafayette, 1950

In the end, we hope you find what you are looking for. Swing by to do some research or just to look at funny ads.

“In the small settlement of the Motherlode, a group of disparate characters have set up a community, held together by the formidable Emaline, hostess of the Wayside Inn. It is there that Alex, on the run from something and disguised as a teenage boy, finds refuge. But once she strikes gold, buried secrets are revealed and danger surrounds her.” -an excerpt from “Crown of Dust” by Mary Volmer.

Mary Volmer

After 1848, when gold was discovered in California, dreams of adventure and instant wealth made westward movement the all-consuming passion of the nation.

“Go West Young Man” became the catch phrase of the era, but joining these youngmen was a hardy collection of women. Prostitutes and preacher’s wives, escaped slaves and society women,reformers, teachers, saloon keepers, cross dressers, criminals…the women of the Gold Rush helped shape the region and the nation. Yet their stories have been largely forgotten.

Who were Mary Ellen Pleasant, Georgiana Kirby, Mary Hallock Foote, and Madam Mustache? If you don’t know now you will when you attend the LHS Annual Potluck and this fascinating program.

During her engaging talk Mary Volmer will explore how the interplay of fiction and history allows for the compassionate re-imagining some of California’s most famous (and infamous) female residents.

Mary Volmer was raised in Grass Valley, California and lives in our area. She was the recipient of a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to the University of Wales, Scholarship in creative writing at Saint Mary’s College, California. She is now a professor and the founding Director of the Saint Mary’s College Honors Program and happily at work on a second novel.

We’ll be selling raffle tickets for “Crown of Dust” and Ms. Volmer will be available to sign copies of purchased copies of her book.

For questions about the event and reservations, please call (925) 283-1848 or email Lafayette.history@comcast.net.

-by Julie Sullivan

Are you smarter then a third grader? Now is the time to find out! And if you are not, you will be at the end of this exceptional pair of informative and fun events from the Lafayette Historical Society in April. Mark your calendars now and call LHS at (925) 283-1848 or send and email with your reservation request to Lafayette.history@comcast.net

Lafayette is one of the oldest settlements in Contra Costa County and several of the original buildings from the past remain in current use. Our rich history lives in these buildings today!

The presentation on April 25 will introduce you to the history of this interesting town. From it’s founding in 1848 when Elam Brown built the first house, through the growth and establishment of the La Fayette Post Office in 1857. Learn where the first general store was built, the second school house and the third school house. These are all buildings that still exist more than 150 years later. You’ll visit them on the walking tour if you join us on April 29th!

Mary McCosker, a Lafayette native, is a self-described history nut. Give her an excuse and she will dive into investigating any historical question put before her. She is the co-author of “Images of America – Lafayette”, a teacher of the History of Lafayette to third-graders in local schools through a program supported by “Lafayette Partners in Education” (LPIE) and the current president of the Lafayette Historical Society.

Mary’s deep-rooted knowledge of the area and her sense of humor promise to make these events extraordinary.

Michelle Chan also a longtime Lafayette resident and has been an LPIE instructor. She currently leads downtown tours for third-graders in Lafayette schools.

Marquis de La Fayette Display

LHS currently has the display shown above on the Marquis de La Fayette. It tries to answer the question: Who was the Marquis de La Fayette and why are we named after him? After you enter the library, walk forward past the media shelves and you will see the display over on the far right by the Homework room. Go up there and check it out!

There is a talk hosted by LHS coming up on the Marquis de La Fayette. Find out more here.

Join us at one or both of our October events and find out!

Lafayette’s Cemetery has been a landmark for many years.

Henrietta Hodges died of tuberculosis in 1854 when she was only 13 years old. Unfortunately, there was no cemetery to properly bury young Henrietta.  Medford Gorham permitted her burial on a portion of his land which was adjacent to the Hodges’ homestead.  “It was a pleasing grassy knoll with good drainage and a vista of lovely valleys and hills and hillsides.”

“The route of a road to commence at the road leading from Martinez to the Redwoods at or near the Grave Yard” was the official description given to the main thoroughfare that is now the interchange near Mt.Diablo Boulevard and Pleasant Hill Road on January 8, 1856!

Lafayette Cemeterybecame official on October 15, 1874, when Medford Gorham sold four and a half acres of his land for $100 to the newly formed Cemetery Corporation of Lafayette.  By that time many other settlers had been laid to rest there.  John Standish died in 1867 and is buried in the cemetery.  He is a direct descendent of Myles Standish, the Mayflower pilgrim.

Learn more about the history of Lafayette’s cemetery on October 26 from Mary McCosker and Nancy Flood  as part of our speaker’s series – plus take part in our first ever walking tour of Lafayette Cemeteryon October 30.  Attend both events and receive a $5 discount from your requested donation.

Seating is limited for the talk on October 26 and the cemetery grounds can be difficult to navigate because of the unpaved uneven grounds.  For questions or reservations email lafayette.history@comcast.net or call the History Room at (925) 283-1848.