As we were: Rotary auctions elephants

60 Years ago

Sept. 18, 1952

Rotary White Elephant Auction Sale Nears

Placerville Rotary Club’s White Elephant Auction is scheduled to take place at the Bell Tower a week from Saturday afternoon, and judging from the list of items already assembled, the Rotarians can be expected to turn over title to the elephant, howdah, maharajah and possibly a harem by the time all coins change hands.

A fantastic list of equipment — refrigerator, bicycle, baby walker, golf bag, a shotgun, a self-propelled automobile, fishing tackle, Walt Jenkinson’s crib and high chair — is already gathered from as far away as San Andreas, with more to come …

Clyde Curtis is chairman, aided by George Bishop and Jim Sweeney and many others. These members, President Joe Fitzpatrick and all Rotarians are collecting items for the auction, storing most of it at Hatch Chevrolet …

 

105 Years ago

Sept. 14, 1907

We Hope They Will Succeed

The Shakespearian students of Placerville and their friends have an opportunity of securing the services of Madame M. Barry, a noted reader and impersonator, for one evening, providing it can be arranged before the 1st of October, when she goes East under contract for three or four years. Madame Barry’s repertoire consists of readings from ten of Shakespeare’s plays, besides selections from Victor Hugo and other authors, and the press notices she has received besides words of praise from writers, layman, and Statesmen including Pres. Roosevelt, place her in the front rank as an interpreter of the higher dramatic art. … Mrs. M. Q. Meehan met Mme. Barry during her summer vacation and speaks in the highest terms of her charming personality and histrionic ability, and thinks that Placerville’s literary loving people will sustain a great loss if they miss the opportunity now at hand …

 

The Teacher’s Institute

County Superintendent S. B. Wilson is endeavoring to arrange for the holding of the Annual Teacher’s Institute, beginning October 14th, and in the matter of educational interest expects to have it fully up to the high standard of those which have preceded it …