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July 2016 Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center: Where the Past Informs the Future By Jody Morgan Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center (315 Cortsen Road, Pleasant Hill) is tucked into a residential neighborhood developed on land once farmed by the Rodgers family. The ranch house, Pleasant Hill’s oldest extant structure, is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The sloping ground surrounding the building is a vibrant urban farm where classes in the kind of sustainable practices pioneer families employed are taught from the perspective of what will best sustain future generations. Seasonal festivals bring crowds of all ages to savor the experience, while neighbors gather regularly to enjoy connecting. In 1987, 120 years after the structure was completed, the Pleasant Hill Historical Society succeeded in saving the ranch house from demolition by facilitating the transfer of ownership of the Rodgers’ home, original wheat barn, and 2+ acres to
Serving Danville Volunteer Extr Extraordinaire – Chuck Schneck By Fran Miller It is the rare individual that can claim nearly four decades of volunteerism with a single organization. For 37 years, Chuck Schneck has served San Ramon Valley Little League in a number of capacities: field director, uniform director, Chuck Schneck at the ball field. equipment director, and snack shack director. For his outstanding service, Schneck was recently recognized formally by the League for his exemplary dedication with their creation of the inaugural ‘Chuck Schneck Volunteer of the Year’ award. “Chuck is a jack-of-all trades for the league,” says Scott Tinetti, president of San Ramon Valley Little League. “He maintains our facilities (especially at our main field at Los Cerros Middle School), manages
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RRCH President Denise Koroslev welcomes visitors to Rodgers Ranch.
the Pleasant Hill Park and Recreation District. Loved by many families over the years, the house was in a sorry state of disrepair and the barn was beyond redemption. A nonprofit formed as the Friends of Rodgers Ranch in 1991, and renamed the Rodgers Ranch Heritage Center (RRHC) in 2014 took on the task of restoration. When fundraising permits, salvaged portions of the dismantled barn, supplemented by 19th century wood from an Alhambra Valley barn of similar vintage, will be incorporated in a structure visually identical from the exterior. Modern interior space will include room for workshops. Current President of RRHC Denise Koroslev noticed some raised beds on the site during her daily morning walk in 1996. People working on the beds invited her to a meeting. Soon she was immersed in more than just planting herbs. “Physically helping with the restoration,” she writes, “enabled me to see ‘within the walls’ how the house was built. It helped me get a feel for the evolution of the site and all of its occupants over the years.” In 2008, the renovated farmhouse was ready to welcome visitors as well as to offer meeting space for local organizations. Currently, the Northern California Unit of the Herb Society of America, the Pleasant Hill Historical Society, and the Contra Costa Succulent Garden Club meet regularly in the Rodgers House. Private tours are tailored for each group. “Sometimes it is just a tour, and sometimes it is several hours of hands-on activities such as doing wash in a washtub, churning butter, and playing old fashion games,” Koroslev explains.
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See Chuck continued on page 10 By Linda Summ mmers Pirkle
Long commutes, busy schedules, and everyday stresses can take their toll. There is a local place of respite tucked away at the end of a winding two lane street in the Las Trampas hills above the town of Danville. The Franciscan Retreat House San Damiano offers retreats for groups and individuals. Just a ten-minute drive from the freeway, the beautiful and natural oasis seems miles away from the everyday world. Even parking your car in the lot can be a delight; often deer can be seen on the hills wandering among the grasses under huge oak and fragrant bay laurel trees. Up here the world slows down. San Damiano was built in the 1960’s and is home to a handful of friars. The Spanish architecture building looks its age. It is decidFriars from San Damiano from left to right: Father edly non-high-tech. The large Charles Talley, Father Evan Howard, Brother statue of St. Francis (patron of Michael Minton. Photo by Kathy Ellis Roncarati. animals and nature and founder of the Franciscan Order of Friars who run the retreat) beacons visitors to the massive arched door entrance. Once inside, visitors usually change their outside voices to a softer Volume VII - Number 9 almost whisper tone. People come to San Damiano for many different reasons, but most seem to find a 3000F Danville Blvd. #117, Alamo, CA 94507 bit of themselves with their visits. It is a treasure to (925) 405-6397 the many people who return time and time again. Fax (925) 406-0547 Eighty rooms can be rented for overnight stays. The simplicity of these rooms is also part Alisa Corstorphine ~ Publisher editor@ of their charm. Spartan but comfortable, each yourmonthlypaper.com room has a single bed (some have queens), desk, light, and bathroom. There is a chapel, library, The opinions expressed herein belong small meeting rooms, a large dining room, and to the writers, and do not necessarily reflect that of Danville Today News. a Fireside meeting room with banks of windows Danville Today News is not responsible for the content of any of overlooking the valley below.
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