Alpine bids adieu to museum director

More than 70 people turned out at the historical society's November meeting to bid a fond farewell to Museum Director Dick Edwards, who is retiring in December.

County Supervisor Don Jardine presented Edwards with a proclamation recognizing his nearly 12 years of service to Alpine County, and expressing warm wishes to Edwards and his wife, Ruth Ann.

Museum Assistant Wanda Coyan also presented Edwards with a commemorative plaque, and the historical society awarded him the honorary title of Director Emeritus.

Under Edwards' devoted stewardship, the Alpine Museum successfully accomplished several important milestones, including completing the carriage shed and related exhibits; finishing the working stamp mill; and creating a historically-accurate blacksmith shop exhibit.

He also brought the museum into the 21st century by implementing archival software to access photos and artifacts.

Of all his accomplishments, however, Edwards takes the most pride in his role in ensuring the Markleeville schoolhouse received historic recognition.

"Getting the schoolhouse placed on the National Register of Historic Places was the first thing I wanted to do as director," Edwards recalls. "We not only accomplished that, but recently were able to repaint the schoolhouse inside and out, helping ensure this landmark building remains in good condition for years to come."

Edwards has been instrumental in expanding the museum's local photograph collection and obtaining significant artifact donations, including hoisting wheels from the I.X.L. Mine and the copybooks of early mining capitalist Lewis Chalmers. He also created or upgraded a number of the museum's intriguing local-history exhibits.

All that hard work has not gone unrecognized. "Visitors constantly tell us they can't believe what a great museum this small county has," Edwards observed with pride. "We have been so lucky that the people who came before us had the foresight to create such a wonderful resource here in Alpine County."

A former park ranger and ranger-historian at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc, Calif., Edwards assumed the directorship of Alpine County Museum in 1997, after 34 years of service with the California State Parks Service.

"I had been visiting Alpine County for a number of years with my friend, Jim Long," Edwards recalled.

"They were looking for a museum director, and I told them I'd work for a small salary without benefits. That must have sealed the deal; I got a call the next day."

For more than a decade, visitors to the museum atop Schoolhouse Hill have come to depend on Edwards' knowledgeable dissertations on Alpine County history, accompanied by a tail-wagging welcome from his canine sidekick, Buddy.

It is difficult to picture the museum without them. But Edwards won't exactly be idle in retirement. He has already been asked to volunteer for the Poway Historical Society in Southern California.

Luckily for Alpine County, their new "emeritus" director plans to hitch a ride back with friend Jim Long for frequent return visits.

We're counting on it, Dick.

INFOBOX:

Alpine County Museum (530) 694-2317

Schoolhouse Hill

Markleeville

The Museum expects to re-open Memorial Day Weekend, 2009.