All That Glitters

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California – Sutter’s Fort is a white-walled adobe compound that sits midtown, surrounded by lovely homes and sidewalked streets, looking rather unassuming now. How is it connected to the story of the Gold Rush Days? I see a little girl go running past, a long gray dress, a ruffled cap. “It’s field trip day,” the guide explained. “in fact, the children are staying overnight. They’re even cooking their own meals. See, they’re dressed like children back in 1845.” Sutter’s Fort is part of the California State Parks system now, offering educational programs for school children, and other daytime and evening events. I began to look around.

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Cartoons and Cholera

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — How many stories in a cemetery? How many tears, how many broken dreams, how many celebrations of life? Novels rowed in stone, in fragrant flowers, in epitaphs carved into marble slabs. Walk the paths of Old City Cemetery, you’ll find the Sacramento story there; laid out Victorian style, in tales that everybody knows; and new discoveries that send us to the research books. We know about the cholera. That time in 1850 when almost a thousand died, killed by something no one understood. It took its toll by cramping up the gut; the watery diarrhea could kill in hours, leaving those who lived to live in fear, for who’d be stricken next?

The story. October 8, 1850, the New World docked in Sacramento; a passenger collapsed on the wharf, began an epidemic that killed over 800 people in less than three weeks. Thousands fled in panic, leaving the stricken behind; 17 of the 40 treating physicians died. Victims were buried in mass graves; a monument erected in 1852. The monument does not mark the actual locations of the victim’s graves, however, but reminds the viewer of their fate.

We didn’t know the process for making concrete markers in the 1940’s though; research was needed to explain a strange finding recently.

The story. November 8, 1933, Caroline Wemmer died of hypertension; was buried in Old City Cemetery. Last fall, a crew worker discovered a newspaper cartoon in pristine condition adhered to the back of her concrete marker, which had become loose. The cartoon was Mickey Finn by Lank Leonard. Another loose stone – that of an infant who only lived two days in 1940 – also had newsprint on the back; thereby pinpointing a time. Research showed that during that period wet newsprint was placed on the bottom when concrete was poured into a form – it helped with curing. Mystery resolved.

Some stories changed the course of history, others just intrigue the mind; you’ll find more than 25,000 of them in Old City Cemetery, the final resting place of the famous and the infamous; pioneers and immigrants; their families and descendants; the plain and the plain extraordinary. This outdoor museum shows California culture from gold rush days until the present time.

Wander through numerous group plots honoring members of the Pioneer Association, Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Volunteer Firemen, Improved Order of Red Men, state government, Donner Party survivors, veterans of the Civil War and other wars. See one of the most beautiful records of history in the Historic Rose Garden. Composed of old or antique roses collected from cemeteries, old homesites, and roadsides in California, many of these roses came to California in the holds of ships or tucked in wagon trains; brought by pioneers to beautify new homes; eventually a slip was planted on their grave.

Tour are self or docent-guided. http://www.oldcitycemetery.com/

Easter Ham

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — I grew up on Easter ham. Mother baked it long and slow, brown sugar on the top, fragrant cloves rowed up in diamond-pattern style. Potato salad made with egg, and mustard, pickle relish too. When I became the Mom, I changed the pickles out for celery; it was the 70’s, and freshness was in vogue. In recent years of living on my own, I’ve favored eating out; sit back and be catered to, I say.

Where in Sacramento would I find some Easter ham? I browsed the internet, made a list of brunches at the big hotels and fancy restaurants. Do I really want the $50 elegance? The stand-in-line, the crowd? I’d need a nap, lose an afternoon for sure. So, something else. The internet revealed a matinee, Woody Guthrie’s American Song. It just so happens I’ve been humming one of Woody’s tunes as I’ve been traveling west. » read more

Conversation on a Bench

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California – “It was on my Bucket List,” Jo-Ellen answered to my question. “That’s why I’m here today. There were things to do at home but then I told myself ‘This stuff will still be here tomorrow. The Promenade is now.’ So here I am.” I nodded, completely understanding what she meant.

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Throw Me A Curve

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California – A bunch of drinking buddies plotted out the Sacramento Streets, that’s all that I can figure out. I manage to get lost each time I venture anywhere, despite the efforts of my GPS. A careful study of the map just makes it worse, look for yourself! » read more

Capitol Kitty, Capitol Kids

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — “The Adventures of Capitol Kitty, an Almost True Story” (ISBN 0-439-45069-1, Scholastic, 2002) is a cats-eye view of how state government really works. Sharon Davis wrote the book during the time she was First Lady of California, about a real cat who lived just outside her office. She created a delightful tale to help young people get a sense of who works at the capitol. Proceeds from the sale of the book go towards the Governor’s Book Fund, a non-profit program established to provide grants to California schools for the purchase of library books. Buy a copy at the California State Capitol Museum Bookstore; your kids will love it – Capitol Kitty and Scare D Cat not only learn about the capitol, they also get an adventuresome fright, and a greater understanding of friendship and courage. http://capitolmuseum.ca.gov/

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Sushi, or Pho?

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — “Do you like sushi?” asked Liz, a bright and friendly Sac State student who works at the front desk of my hotel. I was asking for advice, a grocery store, pet supplies, good restaurants.

“Not so much,” I replied, with a sort-of-grimaced face, “though I do love Asian food.”

“Well you’ve got lots of choices here!” Liz waved her hands as she pointed towards Arden Way, and Howe, downtown, naming places I could find good food. Her nails sparkled as she waved, I reached out to touch, ten works of art in miniature, flowers layered in 3-D, “Explain these nails to me!” I smiled. I needed a pedicure too, Liz directed me. » read more

David and Zach Quest to Sac

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — David Mensch is a 52-year-old father who visited the capitol today with his 15-year-old son Zach. That may not seem unusual, until you hear the rest of the story. David and Zach’s appearance at the West Steps was the culmination of a 300-mile journey from Bakersfield to Sacramento. Three hundred miles in five days, that is, with David in a motorized wheelchair, and Zach riding alongside on his bike.

David, you see, has cerebral palsy. When he was born in 1960, he didn’t start breathing right away, and his parents were told he was brain damaged and should be put in an institution. They kept him at home, and raised him with his three siblings. » read more

I’ll Need My Easter Bonnet

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — What’s the fun going on in Sacramento while I’m here? Austin was head over heels in music with SXSW, Phoenix was immersed in March-spring-training baseball time. Now it’s Sacramento, first weeks of April, my birthday and Easter too. Look to the Visitor’s Bureau first. http://www.discovergold.org/ I’ve only got one full weekend and that weekend I see is packed with Easter fests. Kids are invited to run around and search for colored plastic eggs; the City of Sacramento is staging Saturday hunts in many parks: Spring EGGstravaganza at Elk Grove Regional; Alkali Flat & Mansion Flat Egg Hunt at Zapata; 15,000 eggs at Southside Park, crafts and raffle drawings too. » read more

April Foolishness

Linda Burton posting from Sacramento, California — April 1, a day for fools, and I’m out of cat litter, energy, and, it appears, good sense. My choice to drive north on back roads, thus neatly avoiding LA traffic clogs and saving time, has left me in the middle of who-knows-where, a high-wind weather system raging wild outside. If I blew away, no one would even know. The wind snapped the car door open; the temp had dropped to 44 degrees. I vaguely remembered sweating in Phoenix yesterday while loading up. Not so today. “Don’t pee just yet,” I warned the cats, “I’ll stop for litter soon.” Sand and pebbles scraped against the car like fine-blade knives; I could hear the noise, whap whap whap. A ding, my new-car glass is not so perfect now. A wooden chair ahead, squarely in the road, blown from someone’s yard. A garbage can. A tumbleweed (or tree!) almost as tall as me. Houses huddled; mountains just beyond with snow on top; it must have hit last night. » read more