History

“History is who we are, and why we are the way we are.”

David McCullough

Growing up among the grey pines and manzanita of western Shasta County, I always had a healthy interest in history. However, it wasn’t until I began my own research into our past that I discovered how much of our written local history is one-sided and superficial. I became obsessed with finding and sharing untold stories of our past, and I’m particularly interested in the histories of the marginalized and oppressed. 

From 2013 until 2018, I was affiliated with the Shasta Historical Society. I have since cut ties with that organization in protest over the board of directors’ mismanagement of personnel and resources.

This Place Matters—Redding

In 2016, together with Debra Lucero, Patricia Lord, Sue Lang, and Mike Flanagan, I cofounded This Place Matters—Redding: a grassroots coalition of individuals, non-profits, and businesses who care about creating an authentic sense of place in Redding and believe historic preservation is a fundamental ingredient of economic revitalization. Together, we led the charge to save the Bell Rooms, and won the first preservation victory in Redding in over two decades. 

Upcoming Projects

  • TBA

Past Projects

Presentations / Talks

  • “Like So Many Sparrows: A Brief Survey of Historical Traumas in Shasta County,” for Shasta County Counseling, Cal HOPE Shasta, and DCMP (CARR Fire Disaster Case Managers) on August 28, 2019
  • “Like So Many Sparrows: A Brief Survey of Historical Traumas in Shasta County,” for the Strengthening Families Collaborative ACEs Learning Community on August 9, 2019
  • “History Exposed: Amateur Photography in Shasta County,” March 15, 2018
  • California Street: From Main Street to Metaphor,” January 8, 2018 at Pasts & Futures of California Street.
  • “The Hidden History of Sherven Square,” March 12, 2017
  • This Place Matters—Redding launch event, November 15, 2016
  • “A Brief History of Redding’s Red Light District,” March 19, 2016

Guided Historic Walks / Rides

  • “A History of Regional Transportation in the Shasta Region,” May 31, 2019.
  • “This Ghost Matters: Tales From Redding’s Chamber of Horrors,” October 27 and 29, 2018. 
  • “The Life, Death, & Rebirth of Downtown Redding,” October 20, 2018.
  • “Tales from Redding’s Other Side,” October 6, 2018
  • “A History of Redding’s Growth,” July 14, 2018

Videos/Interviews

  • “The Ruggles Brothers’ Deadly Heist,” Lost Gold, The Travel Channel (first aired: December 30, 2018)
  • Copper Mining in Shasta County,” 2017 Local Content Vehicles Cities Tour, CSPAN3 (March 10, 2017)

Articles

Notable Discoveries

  • Opening date of iconic local restaurant Jack’s Grill
  • Discovered the majority of the original facade of 1449 Market St (built in 1903 and current home of the Shasta Historical Society) is likely still present under the existing facade. 

Miscellaneous Projects

  • Co-produced a free outdoor screening of the film Who Is Bozo Texino? featuring Q&A with director Bill Daniel, October 15, 2018.
  • Commissioned by the McConnell Foundation to research the history of the Winetrout Building at 1313 California Street in Downtown Redding. (More commonly referred to as “the old police station” or “Lou Gerard’s Ford.”), Spring 2018. 
  • Commissioned by the Shasta Historical Society to research historic structures in Downtown Redding for a proposed update to Redding’s inventory of historic structures, 2017–2018.  
  • Commissioned by private party to research history of 2269 Waldon Street in Redding, winter 2016.
  • Speaker about local history for Leadership Redding, 2016–2018, 2021. 
  • Asked to speak by other organizations such as Caltrans District 2; Sunrise Rotary Club; the Grindstone Club; Western Star Lodge No. 2, F&AM; the Redding Cultural District; and others. 
  • Contributed in various aspects to “Faces of Shasta County” and other Shasta Historical Society productions. 
  • Contributed research to “Voices from the Golden Ghosts” (2019).  
  • Collected oral histories from Lou Gerard, Larry Morgon, and Frank Treadway (2018). 

“American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it”

James Baldwin