MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – With the cutting of a ribbon on Saturday, the doorway to the past for Middletown, Cobb and south Lake County was opened at the Gibson Museum and Cultural Center in Middletown.
The refurbished and converted facility, which previously housed the Middletown Library, is as much a tribute to volunteerism and industriousness as it is to history.
Indeed, the work by the many citizens who contributed to the transformation was in itself historic.
The museum is named for Chauncey W. Gibson, the man who in 1929 contributed funds to build the town a library.
His great-great-nephew, Harry, was on hand to help officially usher in the building's new era.
The May 3 ribbon-cutting ceremony date matched the same date the building first opened in 1930 as did the post-flapper era attire worn by many of those present for the occasion.
Those people most directly involved with the task were in a celebratory mood. But they were also relieved to have the conversion completed on schedule.
Nina Bouska, one of the new museum's dedicated volunteers, said she was “tired,” but in the same sense happy to see the work completed.
“I am mind-blown (over) how much our volunteers have done,” Bouska. “I was here Thursday afternoon about 5 o’clock and I thought we won’t make it this week. It was a miracle.”
Voris Brumfield, who oversaw the conversion, was equally delighted.
“It is like I’ve been in labor for 11 months and finally the baby is delivered,” she said with a laugh. “We are thrilled by what our future holds here for Middletown, Cobb, south county and the Hidden Valley community and thrilled by, one, maintaining this building and then, two, preserving the history in this community.”
Just about every era of the Middletown area is represented in the museum, including American Indian.
“I’ve always been excited to see it,” said Molly Pragni, who spent time exploring the museum’s prehistoric display. “I always knew that we were geologically diverse.”
Terry Hoberg, being a member of a family that once was famous for its resort and health spa, was most interested in more recent history.
“The property for the resort was homesteaded in 1895,” she said. “It was a very famous resort and the open dance pavilion got top name bands, such as Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. People came from down the Peninsula, some all the way from Southern California.”
She added, “During Prohibition there were these big pillars out front. The story goes that they were all hollow and that’s where they hid the booze.”
Bouska said plans for the operation of the museum, located at 21267 Calistoga, call for hours to be 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Visit the museum's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CGibsonMuseumCulturalCenter or its Web site at http://www.cgibsonmuseum.com/ .
Email John Lindblom at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .