Quarterly Chapter Meeting Minutes — Saturday, January 9, 2017

Galt Historical Society Meeting Hall
Galt, California

Introduction

• Janis Barsetti, President Galt Historical Society welcomed the chapter to Galt. She thanked us for coming.
• Meeting called to order at 1:00pm by president, Joel Windmiller.
• Joel thanked the Galt Historical Society for hosting our meeting. Special thank you to Ida Denier for the delicious lunch.
• Members and guests present: 33
• Introductions:
  • Gale Weber, resident of Galt
  • Steve Lisuk, Lincoln Highway History, member of Galt Historical Society
  • Bonnie Rodriguez, Galt Herald Newspaper
  • Gene Palazzo, City manager of Galt
• Minutes of our Rancho Cordova meeting October 8, 2016
  • Motion to approve, Paul Gilger
  • Dennis Larson, second
  • Minutes approved

Officer, Staff and Committee Reports

State Director: Bob Dieterich

• Bob unable to attend. He sent email report.
• Jess Peterson will continue as treasurer for the Lincoln Highway Association. He will process the conference registrations and registrations for the Summer tour from his Utah address.
• Monument on Taylor Road: The holes in question are part of the pavement and should remain. In the slab on US 40 pavement, the holes were used to eject grout under the pavement to level the road.
• Concerning the deterioration and erosion under the the short stone bridge along Hwy 50 along American River Canyon: it is not our bridge. It belongs to the US forest service in the El Dorado National Forest. They are very strict regarding repairs. They need to contacted before repairs are attempted.
  • The bridge is part of our history and a historical part of California. We should talk to someone about it before it is condemned and cannot be used.
  • The bridge will still accommodate passenger cars, and motorcycles, but don’t try to take a bus across.
  • Neil Rodrigues showed slides of the bridge and the foundation where work is needed. Neil will follow up with the proper authority regarding what repair can be done.

President: Joel Windmiller

• Joel sent 280 reminder postcards with 3 returns.
• Attendance today, thirty-three members and guests present. Thank you all for coming. Great turnout for a rainy day.
• Western Terminus marker in San Francisco had some graffiti. Joel called in a favor from a friend and it has been taken care of. So far it is holding up nicely.
• Signs in Galt have been posted on Lincoln Way in Galt. Great locations and good visibility. A job well done by Joel Windmiller, The Galt Historical Society and the City Council of Galt. Take a drive down Lincoln way and enjoy the signs.
• Joel talked to Media Solutions regarding the Terminus marker plaque. The white paint faded due to the use of substandard paint. It is being taken repaired. There was some rust discovered on the back; it has been removed. Additional coat of paint to protect from the salt air and additional damage. The repair is still covered by warranty. Tentative date for reinstallation will be last January or early February.
• The Orangevale Bridge is coming along well. Structure for the deck has been installed. They are suspending work until the spring when the weather is better.

Vice-President: Neil Rodrigues

• Nothing to report besides the stone bridge repair.

Treasurer: Grant Gassman

• Two deposits for signs, two disbursements one for meeting supplies and $100 donation to the Port Stockton Motorcycle Club.

Secretary: Myrna Johnston

• Extended a welcome back to Jackie Lee.

Gary Kinst: Traveler Newsletter, Historian

• David Cole, California Chapter member since 1992 passed away on November 22, 2016. David was one of our members who didn't like e-mail, and correspondence was accomplished via snail mail. David contributed numerous articles to the LHA Forum magazine as well as material for our own Traveler Newsletter.
• The Mayor of Galt questioned the route of the Lincoln Highway through Galt as there were several theories. The Lincoln Highway entered Galt on the north from the Upper Stockton Road where it made a right/left jog onto A Street and then Church Street. At the southern end of Galt the highway turned left onto G Street and then right onto Lower Sacramento Road and across the Dry Creek Bridge. Early railroad mapping. Google imaging and a 1915 B.F. Goodrich Route book provided confirmation. The story is in the January Traveler.
• Big "L" at the Lincoln Center shopping center on Pacific Avenue in Stockton was removed on December 9, 2016, upgraded and re-installed on December 29, 2016. Follow-up article will appear in April Traveler.
• Caltrans has published a book called A Historical Context and Methodology for Evaluating Trails, Roads, and Highways in California. It includes three photographs that Gary supplied. It’s available online at Caltrans’ web site.

Webmaster: Jimmy Lin

• Jimmy unable to attend. While on vacation in Taiwan, Jimmy posted the Traveler from a train.

Sign Committee Chair: Michael Kaelin

• Thank you to the Galt people for the historic material and the calendar. Copies of Bank of Stockton branch has historic photos.
• Michael has driven on every segment of the Lincoln Highway in this area. He has found every part of the Lincoln Highway in this area.
• Thanks to Joel Windmiller; Bill Von Tagen in Truckee; and Kevin Shawver, project manager from Stockton.
• Project in Lathrop has been approved by the city council and the mayor. Mick is working with the senior engineer on the placement of the signs. Eight signs all together; five on Harlen, another three in the Mossdale area.

Speakers

• Paul Gilger Speech to Senior center for the second time used a video, 2013 tour. Turnout about 50.
• Neil Rodrigues led a couple of tours on the Lincoln Highway. People are getting interested in history and the Lincoln Highway. Younger people are getting interested. Tours with AMC Pacific Gold Rush Ramblers club, and Classic Japanese Motorcycle club. They ask where does it end? The other side of the country. Is it still there?

Coach tours/car cruises: Mark Hoffman

• Planning two coach tours this year. Pleasanton was popular, plan to do that again and come back on I-80 early June. For early October, perhaps an overnight trip to Carson City, overnight have a speaker and return. Information soon. $125 to $400.

Old Business

• Paul Gilger
  • Big tour next June: Northwoods Tour on Jefferson Highway. 25th anniversary of revitalization of the LH Association in Iowa.
  • First day on Lincoln from Dennison to Ames. Then, starting from Colo, 5 days on the Jefferson to Winnipeg, Canada.
  • No tour in 2018. in 2019 there will be our tour and Pine-to-Palm Highway from Winnipeg to New Orleans.
  • Details and registration in the next Forum.
  • Returns from Winnipeg: Starting to organize Trans-Canada Highway to Vancouver and Old US 101 back to Bay Area. Easterners to Mackinac Island.
  • $390 driver $360 passenger deadline May 1. Limited to 60 cars.
• Kevin Shawver
  • Signage in San Joaquin County from Sacramento County line to Woodridge, Stockton through French Camp to Lathrop city limits, to Tracy city limits, to Alameda County line. Almost all signs up on Lower Sacramento Road. Hold up is the weather.
  • Next stop is through Lodi. Looking for public support and social media, letters of recommendation from historical societies, and the wineries because they rely on tourism.
• Michael Kaelin
  • Cities have their own ideas about how and where to post signs. Best way is to go from the top down. Make presentations to City Councils and historic societies in the counties to complete the placement of our signs.
  • We have settled on directional signs will be standard sign size with a directional arrow.
• Discussion regarding the placement and usefulness of directional signs.
  • People can get frustrated very quickly if they can’t find the route.
  • Discussion Regarding Lincoln Highway and directional signs.
  • Motion for directional signs at intersections for public use finding Lincoln Highway. To be refined at a later meeting. Passed by show of hands.

New Business

• Officer elections
  • President, Joel Windmiller
  • Vice-President, Neil Rodrigues
  • Secretary, Jackie Lee
  • Treasurer, Grant Gassman
  • Webmaster, Jimmy Lin
• Motion to accept the slate of officers by Jim Armstrong, second Neil Rodrigues. Motion passed.
• Paul Gilger: 2019 Military Vehicle Preservation Association 100th Anniversary re-enactment
  • The chapter is joining the discussion of 2019 Military convey. A twenty-nine day convoy of 100 restored vehicles.
• Port Stockton Motorcycle Club 2017
  • Kevin Shawver presented a check for $100 to Ricky Lee Pierce for support of their motorcycle tour on August 26–27, 2017.

Adjournment

• Motion to adjourn: Paul Gilger.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:00pm.

Presentations

• Steve Lisuk, Galt Historical Society: Brief history of Galt and the Lincoln Highway.
• Neil Rodriguez: DVD presentation 1919 Military Convoy across the U.S. from Washington, D.C. to San Francisco

Respectfully submitted
Myrna Johnston, Secretary