Save Old Shasta State Historic Park
On Monday, February 13th, Dave Scott, President of the Shasta Historical Society, and Gary Lewis, Board Director and Chairman of the “Save Old Shasta State Historic Park” Committee, delivered a letter of intent to Heidi Horvitz, Superintendent Cascade Sector of California State Parks. This letter of intent expressed the unanimous decision by the Board of Directors of the Shasta Historical Society to undertake and manage the fundraising activities to keep the Old Shasta State Historic Park open beyond the scheduled closure date of July 1, 2012. The goal will be to keep the Park open two days per week and, if fundraising is successful, possibly three days per week.
Staffing of the Park will be provided by shared staff in conjunction with the Joss House State Historic Park in Weaverville. The current budget to maintain the Old Shasta State Historic Park open on a two-day per week basis is $60,000 annually. An additional $12,000 annually will be needed to keep it open three days per week. Scheduled dates to open the Park will include one week day and one weekend day.
The Shasta Historical Society will manage all fundraising activities for this effort and will provide the necessary 501(c)(3) exempt status to enable donors to take a tax deduction for their donations. The Shasta Historical Society has established a separate bank account for this activity and will be custodian of the funds to support the Park. A committee appointed by the Shasta Historical Society will meet periodically with Park Service Management to review budgets and actual expenditures and disburse funds to cover operating expenses accordingly.
The Shasta Historical Society will be coordinating a number of events including a major donor evening at the Park (RSVP for this event at right), presentations to service clubs, art leagues, other historical societies and other interested groups as well as an appeal to the general public. All concerned citizens will have an opportunity to be a part of this effort. Donation requests will be made based on a three-year pledge over the period July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2015. California State Parks anticipates that traditional funding sources will have improved by the end of this three year timeframe.
The California State Parks is pleased to have reached this agreement with the Shasta Historical Society to preserve the collection of approximately 23,000 historic artifacts, the priceless collection of original artworks donated by Mae Helene Bacon Boggs as well as the historic structures including the Courthouse Museum, Litsch Store, Blacksmith Shop, Bakery and other significant structures. The Old Shasta State Historic Park is at the core of our local history and must be preserved for the enjoyment of local residents, tourists and perhaps, most significantly, by 3rd grade students who tour the facility as part of their County History curriculum.
The Shasta Historical Society is proud to be a part of this activity having been involved since the inception of the Park by donating a portion of the land where the Park is currently situated. The Board of the Shasta Historical Society believes this effort is very consistent with their mission “To collect, preserve, promote and communicate the history of Shasta County”.