News and Events

For the 13 th consecutive year, the History Center is all decked out for the Holidays. This is a reminder that our museum will be open the weekend after Christmas, Sat & Sun 1 to 4pm, December 27 th and 28 th. It is a great place to unwind after Christmas week. See you there!

This issue of the Historian is the 44th edition published over the last 11 years with Kim Williams as editor. It will be the last edition published on paper. On the one hand, we are sad to say goodbye to the paper publication, but we look forward to issuing an online version in 2026. Stay tuned for our newsletter’s new digital era!

In this issue:

• Adobe Brick-Making in Carmel Valley
• A Message from CVHS Co-Presidents
• Kim Williams Steps Down as Historian Editor
• Dance Cards – Even in Carmel Valley
• An ESP Lab in Carmel Valley

Our yearly holiday party will be on Saturday, December 13 from 4:00 to 6:00. It’s a great event to catch up with old friends and meet new ones while enjoying refreshments and new exhibits.

We look forward to seeing you!

In this issue:

• Remembering Dale Vandervort’s Sycamore Farm
• Taking a Look Back
• Let’s Play Ball!
• Signs of Times Past Exhibit Expands
• Out of the Ashes/A Piece of History Preserved

About 20 members from the local chapter of P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) attended a talk given by Jeff Ohlson on May 13, 2025.

After the talk the group viewed the many exhibits in the museum and then listened to a song played on the museum’s antique graphophone. The group thoroughly enjoyed their visit.

The Annual Membership Meeting was held in April at the History Center. In addition to our normal business “state of the union” agenda, we said farewell to our President Kim Williams who retired from the Board after 11 years at the helm. A milestone worth celebrating! Jeff Ohlson gave a talk on The Rancho del Monte Country Club that was located off Country Club Drive. The Club was a social center in the 1950s and the presentation captured a memorable slice of Valley history.

Western artist Jack Swanson is considered the premier artist of the California vaquero and the horse and cow culture of the west. Art collectors highly value this work for its over 100 paintings, drawings, and bronzes along with Swanson’s life’s stories and personal photographs.

A few copies of his book, The Life & Times of a Western Artist, have been generously donated to the Society by his widow Sally.

For more information, click the link below:

Save the Date!

Our annual Holiday Party is on December 14, 2024, from 3:00 to 6:00 PM.
It’s a great event to catch up with old friends, meet new ones while enjoying a nibble and beverage.

We look forward to seeing you.

CVHS Historian Jeff Ohlson is shown giving a talk at the CV Trail & Saddle Club’s clubhouse in June 2024. The subject of his talk was on the Brands and Branding of Carmel Valley.

The talk was hosted by the Community Foundation of the Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club whose mission is to provide programs that benefit the community.

About 3 dozen people attended to learn about a subject deeply ingrained in the history of the West.