By ELLA ADAMS
Special To The Times
Looking for a way to support your local history? Members of the Escalon Historical Society have been working hard to protect and preserve the history of the community, and there are many options for local residents to help them out.
Your support is what makes the difference in keeping Escalon’s past alive. Whether you’re buying a commemorative brick, letting the good times roll at the Blue Jean Ball or becoming a valued member of the Historical Society itself, there are many opportunities to get involved.
Leave your mark on history by participating in the Brick Fundraising Drive. Available in different sizes with customizable messages, these bricks are displayed at the First Fire Station monument on Main Street as a lasting tribute to your loved ones or business. Whether it’s a level one brick for 100 dollars or a level three brick for 500 dollars, it’s a meaningful way to purchase a little piece of history to mark any occasion.
Dave Russell, President of the Escalon Historical Society, spoke about the different bricks available and how to determine which brick works best for your tribute needs.
“The brick levels mostly involve how much information you want to fit on the brick. The $500 brick is an eight-by-eight brick, and a business logo can be put on the brick,” Russell explained.
Don’t miss out, brick orders will be sent in soon, so make sure to get yours in time. Visit the Escalon Museum at 1630 Main St., Escalon, for more details and a form or call Sandy Russell at 209-838-1275 to make your purchase. Make checks payable to the Escalon Historical Society and help build something unforgettable – one brick at a time.
Dust off your denim and mark your calendars for the society’s Blue Jean Ball annual fundraiser dinner, set this year for Saturday, May 3. This event will take place at the Del Rio Vista Garden and will have live entertainment by The Modern Jazz Duo.
Tickets for the dinner are priced at $65 each and will be available for purchase starting March 22. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Escalon Museum on Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. or by calling Sandy Russell. Tickets will not be available for purchase at the door, so make sure to secure yours in advance for this event.
The museum is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.; they also offer school group tours.
If you wish to show extra support of the dinner and the Escalon Historical Society, sponsorship opportunities are available this year. There are various prices and incentive levels outlined in both the Escalon Historical Society monthly newsletter and on the Escalon Museum Facebook page.
There are other ways to support the museum, including shopping around at the on-site gift shop. Not only are there interesting finds ranging from puzzles and books to T-shirts and train whistles, but it’s also an important way to support the fundraising efforts of the Escalon Historical Society.
In addition to the gift shop, the museum offers a venue for private events, such as parties and reunions, for a donation of $200. For clubs or other organizations looking to meet without refreshments, the donation is just $50. If interested, contact Dorothy Miller at 209-838-7176.
“The community has been very kind to us. Everything you see here at the museum has been donated,” Russell said.
