KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum's monthly living history series' most recent guest shared memories of Kelseyville's colorful past.

Lifelong Kelseyville resident Floraine Chalk was the visiting local historian on April 25.

Her appearance was the third so far in the series, which has included Ruby Glebe and Skip Rohner.

The video of her appearance can be viewed above.

Daughter of Louise and Elvin Saderlund, Chalk's family had a ranch and a number of local businesses in Kelseyville, including a store and car and tractor dealerships.

Seated on the stage stop museum's broad wraparound porch, Chalk discussed the founding of the local post offices, shared about some of the early families who came to settle in Lake County and gave a brief overview of her own family history.

After her father's death in 1972, her mother donated the land in Kelseyville that would become known as Saderlund Park.

She remembered playing in the old Kelseyville jail when she was a child. Her son, Bob Chalk – the city of Clearlake's retired police chief – joked that she probably should have spent a little time in it.

She also recounted the July 1942 fire that burned six businesses in downtown Kelseyville.

There also was the incident where some local boys inadvertently dug up the graves of Charles Stone and Andrew Kelsey, who were murdered in retaliation for their cruel treatment of the local Pomo.

The boys had to march through town, rebury the bones and build a small fence around the graves, she said.

The property that is now home to the Big Valley Rancheria at one time belonged to her great-grandfather. She said the state took the property by eminent domain in order to create a rancheria there.

Her first job was working at the Argonaut Store, near the site of the current Mt. Konocti Growers.

She said during the discussion that she recounted Kelseyville burning twice during the years she has lived there.

Chalk also shared with the group a variety of historical pictures she has collected over the years, and read some passages from historical reports about local roadways including the Highland Springs toll road.

She had on display at the event some of her artwork – a number of painted teapots and milk cans.

At the museum's next living history event on May 23, Ruby Glebe will return for her second appearance.

The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is located at 9921 Highway 281 (Soda Bay Road) in Kelseyville. Current hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Visit www.elystagestop.org or www.lakecountyhistory.org , check out the stage stop on Facebook at www.facebook.com/elystagestop or call the museum at 707-533-9990.

Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.