Coming fall events at museums

Did you have a chance to catch "The Curse of the Hanging Tree" last weekend? It was a lot of fun. If you missed it this year, make a note to see it next time. You won't regret it.

Tomorrow and Sunday Genoa hosts the 87th Candy Dance. This is another one of those "don't miss it" events in Douglas County. If you have never been, you are in for a treat. Stop by the Genoa Court House Museum while you are there and see the Candy Dance exhibit inside and the local artists outside. The Genoa Court House Museum will close for the winter season Oct. 7.

The September photo contest is supposed to end today, but. Someone once told me that once you say "but", you have erased all you said before. So, I erase that deadline because I think we need to extend it to next Monday, Oct. 1. There may be some of you who think the Genoa Candy Dance is the most typical thing about September in Douglas County. If you do, we'll give you time to take your photo, print it up and get it to either the Genoa Court House Museum or the Carson Valley Museum & Cultural Center in Gardnerville by Monday. If you don't have a printer, one of several one hour photo printing locations can print it for you.

Once the September photo contest is over, the October photo contest will start. I'll go into more detail and go over the rules in next week's column. Just remember, these contests are to find out what you think best represents Douglas County each month. We want and need your input.

Saturday, Oct. 6, will again be Student Day at the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville. All students get in free when they bring an adult with them. This student day will feature tours of the museum at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. with costumed guides. Watch for Student Day in November - Sue Smith has something special planned.

Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. is the next lecture series. William J. Makley will be our guest speaker, talking about Lucky Bill Thorington. He will tell the story of this real Nevada character who is featured in his book "The Hanging of Lucky Bill." Copies of the book will be available after the lecture.

Oct. 19-21 is Haunted Weekend. The Gardnerville Ghost Walk is Friday, Oct. 19, where the past comes to life in historic downtown Gardnerville. The DCHS Cemetery Tour is Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Mottsville Cemetery, the oldest cemetery in Nevada. The Genoa Ghost Walk is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 21. The cost for each day's event is only $5. More about this historic weekend soon.

Starting Monday, Oct. 1, you can register to decorate a Christmas tree for the Carson Valley Museum. This is a great project for groups, scout troops or individuals who just want to help with the festivities in the museum over Christmas. You or your group can sign up to decorate a tree now and have a few weeks to plan your strategy. The trees are decorated and put in place Nov. 28 - 30. Visitors to the museum and guests at the annual Holiday Tea will vote for the best tree.

Speaking of the Holiday Tea now is the time to start thinking about sponsoring a table for the tea which is to be held on Dec. 2. Then, too, there is the annual Cookie Walk, also on Dec. 2. This year the Cookie Walk will include breads and candy in addition to cookies. More information will be available as we get closer to these events.

If you have any questions about anything mentioned here, please call the Douglas County Historical Society at the Carson Valley Museum in Gardnerville at 782-2555 or the Genoa Court House Museum at 782-4325.

Information available at www.historicnevada.org. And, if you have the time, both museums are always looking for interested volunteers.

-- Contact Ellen Caywood at in2my2cats@yahoo.com

or 790-1565.