SMARTSVILLE CHURCH

RESTORATION FUND, INC.

PO Box 374

Smartsville, CA 95977

Tax Exempt I.D. No. 68-0412321

YUBAROOTS WEBSITE ARTICLE

Revised  9-3-08 

There is a lot of exciting news from Smartsville these days and it all started with preparations for Kathleen Smith and Lane Parker’s new book on Smartsville and Timbuctoo - required reading for all local history buffs and YubaRooters.  When Kathy and Lane came to Smartsville last summer to collect digital images of our precious photographs we didn’t have any idea how that process would change our little town. 

We met collectively a couple of times at the fire station where Kathy and Lane scanned our photos and we met other residents and ancestors of local pioneers.  Kathy and Lane learned about our church restoration group and we talked a lot about Smartsville.  Later, as the book neared publication we started talking about having a celebration that would allow people to buy copies of the book, talk to the authors, see the former Catholic church project, and in general, have a good time honoring the pioneers of Smartsville.  That was the origin of Pioneer Day 2008. 

At about that time Kathy became curious about why the “S” that had been taken from our name had not been returned, so she contacted the U.S. Board of Geographic Names in Virginia.  It seems that all of us who Kathy and Lane talked to were very enthusiastic about retaining the original spelling of Smartsville.  When she asked the board to consider reinstating Smartsville’s original spelling, they readily agreed, to our astonishment, to talk about it.  Kathy, excited about the possibilities, contacted us to generate letters of support.  Unknown to Kathy, Kit Burton had recently written an article about the Smartsville S in his column in the Penn Valley Courier.  Kathy and Kit then went to work and asked all the local organizations they knew for letters of support. 

A big stack of letters, topped by a resolution from the Yuba County Supervisors, was subsequently sent to the California Committee on Geographic Names and to the federal Board of Geographic Names.  The California Committee voted unanimously in favor of the restoration on July 16 and then, with California’s endorsement, the US Board voted unanimously to restore our name on August 14, 2008, nearly 100 years after it was first changed.  We received national as well as local news coverage for this historic event.

This spring, prior to publication of Kathy and Lane’s book, Yuba County announced an upcoming General Plan Amendment.  John Waskiewicz a local rancher and commercial airline pilot, concerned that Smartsville area residents might not have their opinions fully heard by the county, organized a committee to bring the community together to discuss this important issue.  Several town meetings were held and, although there were diverse points of view, neighbors met neighbors and discussions were lively and sincere.  Many of the people attending the General Plan meetings were also contributors to Kathy and Lane’s book and helped plan the Pioneer Day festival.  

 
 
Presentation of the special USA flag to high bidders Bill and Bev Brandon.  From left to right:  Bob Ray, Janet Burton, Sandy Ray, Kit Burton, Quinn Swift, Bill Brandon, Terry Nester, John Waskiewicz, Leanne Beem, Kathy Smith.

Pioneer Day was a big success.  It occurred prior to the US Board of Geographic Names’ decision, so there were no celebrations about the “S” on that day.  However, there were mining tours, crafts, food, entertainment by the Rough and Ready Fruit Jar Pickers, raffles, tours of the church, pony rides, gold panning, blacksmith demonstrations, self-guided tours of town, and opportunities to talk with Kathy and Lane about their new book.  Proceeds from Pioneer Day went to the Smartsville Church Restoration Fund (SCRFI).  Many people attending this festival remarked about how nice it was to meet neighbors for the first time and to talk with old acquaintances. 

Planning for Pioneer Day began in earnest in May.  Kathy Smith agreed to direct the planning and called a meeting of Smartsville residents and landowners.  Kit Burton and Stacey Ward, the only two remaining active SCRFI board members were there with about 18 other interested neighbors and friends.  The meetings were held every week until Pioneer Day and virtually everyone in the planning group worked hard to make the festival a success. 

After the festival was over the planning committee was still fully charged and ready for more so the energy was switched to SCRFI.  In August SCRFI met to elect five new board members (Kathy Smith, Quinn Swift, Terry Nester, Debbie Nester and Brian Bisnett) and started planning for their next church restoration project.  A new SCRFI website is in the works, plans are being discussed for a party to celebrate Smartsville’s original name restoration, and for Pioneer Day 2009. 

Everyone interested in our church restoration project is invited and encouraged to attend our monthly SCRF meetings held on the second Tuesday at 6:00 pm at the Smartsville fire station.  Our next restoration project will be to straighten the bell tower and replace its foundation.  We need funding - the amount is yet to be determined - and volunteers experienced in engineering, building construction, grant application, and publicity.  When our bell tower project becomes better defined we will need donations of materials and specific kinds of construction assistance.  We look forward to seeing new faces at our next meeting.

©  Photos courtesy of Kit Burton and used here with his permission.

CONTACT 

Please call Kit Burton at (530) 743-0413 if you would like more information or have questions.