Clayton Historical Society celebrates the importance of its history
CLAYTON, CA (Oct. 29, 2024) — History attempts to answer the questions we have about the people who came before us.
What did they look like? What were their names? Where did they live? What did they wear and what did they eat? How did they interact with one another? What were their ideas and beliefs?
People are interested in people and history is about people.
Ask almost anyone about history classes and chances are you will be met with an eye roll and a groan. Was there ever a subject so dry and dusty?
“Why do I have to learn this? And what does it have to do with me?” we would say as young students.
Teaching history
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough voiced dissatisfaction at the way history has been taught, saying there is no excuse for it to be boring.
“History, really, is an extension of life,” he said. “It enlarges and intensifies the experience of being alive, like poetry and art or music.”
An informed history requires meeting the ugly low points head-on as well as understanding the inspiring high points and all points in between. McCullough believed that knowing history is part of our role as citizens. “It reinforces our beliefs and values and provides important lessons for our actions and decisions.”
My enthusiasm for the history of Clayton came about when I was in our museum research room one afternoon, casually thumbing through one of our many binders. Except for folks researching their family roots, I thought, how many people are going to open even one of these binders? Yet I found they contained so many interesting stories about the Miwok, miners, farmers, merchants and their families.
Writing newspaper articles for the last seven years has been my pleasure. I hope I have created a “sense of place” for the residents of our town and its surrounding areas.
50 years
The Clayton Historical Society (CHS) is celebrating 50 years in our community, and we would love to have you join us at Hoyer Hall at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 for wine and snacks. Dick Ellis, former president and one of the original founders, will give a short talk on how CHS was organized and why it was felt to be a critical feature of the city.
The public is invited and admission is free. Hope to see you there.
For more information or to become a member, visit claytonhistory.org. Visit the Clayton Museum from 2-4 p.m. Wednesdays and Sundays at 6101 Main St.
Debbie Eistetter
Debbie Eistetter has been a resident of Clayton for almost 30 years. She serves on the Board of the Clayton Historical Society and believes that history shows us the way to a more enlightened present and hopeful future. For more information about the CHS Museum please visit claytonhistory.org