Escalon Historical Museum

The Museum will be open this Saturday April 10th 12-4The Museum will be open this Saturday April 10th 12-4

We’re finally open today, come in and see us. We’re here until 4:00

The Museum is Open today 12-4 Spend $20 or more in the gift shop and receive a free giftThe Museum is Open today 12-4 Spend $20 or more in the gift shop and receive a free gift

We’re in the Red! As the county finally moves into a different colored tier, the museum can finally OPEN tomorrow 12-4We’re in the Red! As the county finally moves into a different colored tier, the museum can finally OPEN tomorrow 12-4

WAGGISH......... The Escalon Historical Museum is for sale! Any interested parties please inquire within. Wait! APRIL FOOLS!!!!!... But we do have items for Sale at the Museum Gift Shop Keep checking back here for days for us to be open. WAGGISH is a term from the 1580’s, it means humorous in a playful, mischievous or facetious manner. Hope your April has started off with a sunny disposition on a such a sunny day.

October 28th is being recognized in a growing number of states as First Responders Day. A national day to recognize and appreciate our nations fire, police, EMS and dispatchers for putting their lives on the line to keep us safe. The museum is proud to display an entire section of our local departments. Below are just a few pictures from the Images of America Escalon book which can be found in our gift shop. ... *In 1912, records indicate a fire department was organized. Mr. Doll was elected Chief but was soon replaced by W.R. Gregory due to his health. *The Police Protective District was organized in 1939 with Joe Korman as 1st Chief. *Escalon Community Ambulance started in 1961 by concerned local citizens.

Talk About it Tuesdays: Let’s give a little shout out to Farmington this week. A small town which is included in the Museums area of historical photos and artifacts. Pictured below in the early 1900’s is a photo of Toda Brothers Market and a more recent one closed for business again. This building is located on the corner of Farmington Rd (Highway 4) and Escalon Bellota Rd. Among many other types of business here over the decades was Ogilvie’s Grocery Store. ...In 1974, Ogilvie’s was the location in a movie called Dirty Mary, Crazy Larry where Larry (Peter Fonda) dumps cantankerous, petty thief and compulsive fibber Mary (Susan George) off to get rid of her only to realize she kept the map for their escape. Who can name some other business located at this address over the century?

The fortune in my cookie last night was right on the spot! ..............Your contributions to your community can be felt near and far............. As Vice-President, Facebook Administrator and Gift Shop Manager of the Escalon Historical Museum and Society, the year 2020 has been a tough year to lead. Keeping the community aware and involved in the museum and coming through the doors was hard with the doors closed. Thank goodness we’re open again now. With ...Facebook as a platform to reminisce, educate, entertain and aspire folks, local and across the country, it has been my pleasure serving as host here. On that note, HERE’S TO 2021! .........Please invite your friends and family to follow us on Facebook

Sunday Funday: A mystical magical fortune telling game from the 1920’s is included in our collection of games and puzzles at the museum. This Magic Crystal Ball Fortune Telling Game is from Czechoslovakia, a little crystal ball measuring about an inch is 32 sided that consists of numbers from 00-30. Roll the crystal to answer all your questions about love, marriage and finance or make a wish before rolling the ball. If an even number shows your uppermost wish will be grant...ed. If you land on an odd number your wish will not be granted. With movies like the 1920’s silent drama film The Fortune Teller, stage magicians and coin operated fortune telling machines, fortune telling became a form of entertainment. Popularized by Gypsies with head scarves and hoop earrings, today the crystal ball has become such a symbol of predicting the future that is almost always included in TV, movies and books to fortune telling. We see it in the Wizard of Oz, Big, Aladdin and Harry Potter series. See more

United Crusade workers in the 1960’s I see some familiar names but I wasn’t living here that decade. Do you recognize these hard at work volunteers?

Sometimes you come across just the right picture that symbolizes the epitome of American life. What’s your favorite pie? Apple, cherry, peach or berry.... These three gentlemen here seem to be asking the same question, giving the pie one last taste. Pictured below, circa 1950’s, is the pie baking winner, Fern Jones. ... Can you Identify the three blokes? See more

I recently found some pictures tucked away at the museum. There is quite a history on the building of dams in the foothills. Completed in 1912, the 400 ft high Goodwin Dam nestled in the Stanislaus River Canyon is shown then and now. Along with the building of a 2,000 ft long wooden flume carrying water 68 ft in the air to the Woodward Reservoir.

Early Agricultural Days. Escalon has been known over the decades for many types of crops, here we see several photos of Petri Wine Co., Hillside and workers in the fields.

UPDATE: Here’s the answers to who’s that gent From L-R Jim Crutcher, Leonard Beeman, Emanuel Franceschetti, Joe Harrison and band leader Maurice Agostini Hope you had fun guessing... In addition, here’s another singing group added below L to R...Don McLaren, Mark Swass, Tony Souza and Steve Liepelt, these guys were known as The Traveliers. See more

Finally We’re open today 10-2 Please follow social distancing guidelinesFinally We’re open today 10-2 Please follow social distancing guidelines

We’re finally open again! We’re not a salon, a pharmacy, a turkey ranch or a hardware store, we’re just your local museum. Starting Saturday October 3rd we will be back at it. Our business hours are Saturday 10-2 and Wednesday 1-4... Please follow social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. See more

Fun Fact Friday: Bon Vendredi mon bon ami! Which loosely translated means...... Good Friday my good friend. ... *Since 1886 Bon Ami (French for good friend) has prided itself on using simple ingredients to produce a high quality cleaner that works. It uses feldspar as a base abrasive mineral. *Once considered a waste material, feldspar was found to shine shovels of quarry workers paid to separate it from silica quartz. Silica quartz-based cleaners scratch things clean while softer feldspar-base Bon Ami polishes surfaces clean without scratching. *What’s with the Chick? The little Bon Ami chick has been a part of packaging and advertising since the late 1800’s. A just hatched chick became the perfect symbol for gentle Bon Ami because baby chicks don’t scratch for feed like older chickens do. * Bon Ami slogans: Hasn’t Scratched Yet! That’s clean made simple * Bon Ami is still available on the market today Information credited to bonami.com

National Farm Animal Awareness week is always held the third week in September. It provides all consumers, teachers, children and everyone who care about animals the opportunity to become educated on the extraordinary behaviors of farm animals. Fun Facts: * Did you know the only area of a pig’s body that sweats is it’s nose.... * Chickens recognize and communicate with other chickens using over 200 distinct sounds. * Cows have a memory of about 3 years. * Pigs are considered the 4th most intelligent animal after the chimpanzees, dolphins and elephants. * One mature ewe can produce 7-10 pounds of newly shorn wool a year- enough to make a mans suit. *Not only can goats swim but they are really good at it.