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Call Me The Newcomer
(by Della Bacon - September 29, 2009)
In my last column I left you dangling. Thats right, I said, If you can dream it, you can achieve it, and many in our small community have lived to realize dreams do come true. One such person is Bud Bolt, the founder of Bolts Antique Tool Museum.
With a last name like Bolt, it didnt surprise me to learn that as a young man, he became fascinated with tools, mechanical things and, of course, cars. This lead him to a fruitful career marketing Snap-On-Tools. A happily married man he involved his wife, Laila, and the entire family in the art of searching for unusual tools and parts designed to build and repair the inventions of mankind, some long before he was even born.
Bud Bolts stories are fascinating; his knowledge of tools is overwhelming; his love for the Tool Museum is touching. So touching and sensitive, he has developed a following, of not only volunteers who donate their time at the museum, but also collectors, car-buffs, and businesses from all over the world, who frequent the museum, and our community with their personal touch, adding their collectibles and personal stories of exciting adventures while in search of something to be added to the collection.
Bolts Antique Tool Museum has recently expanded their gift shop. Mr Bolts articles and personal stories are neatly packaged and for sale at the the store. While Mr Bolt himself is articulate and entertaining to all, you will also find the docents full of life and exciting information, about the displays, and how they, the volunteers, have expanded on his dreams and added to the awesome collection of tools and original stories. The gift shop has added to their inventory with unique greeting cards, personalized shirts, cups and trophies available at reasonable cost. Residents will find the Christmas cards to be amusing and fun. Visitors will have something special and unique to take home. Newcomers to the community will get some insight into Oroville, and the efforts our town has created to make Oroville one of the most exciting places in California to visit.
And Now The Rest Of The Story: Why I am so excited about the additions to Bolts Antique Tool Museum Gift Shop? I received a special invitation to preview some of the newest goodies available at the museum, from none other than the infamous Bud Bolt, himself...which I eagerly obliged. How exciting it was to see, experience, and then hear from the folks who came up with some great new ideas.
Mary and Garry Gunderson currently live in Yuba City. They belong to the Mid Valley Historical Auto Club. A tour was arranged at Bolts Museum where they met Bud & Laila Bolt, who gave a wonderful presentation of The Dust Bowl Days. Later, they arranged a tour of the museum for another group, Northern California Regional Group of Horseless Carriage Club of America. These tours enthused Gundersons to seek out antique tools, which have since been donated to the museum. Each visit got Mary Gundersons heart beating faster, and her own creative talents roared in her head. You see Mary Gunderson is a photographer, and in her spare time she runs a small business known as Shenanigans. Well, Gunderson took photographs of some of the displays and made up a Thank You note for the Bolts, using one of the photos of the display. Gunderson tells me she had a little time on her hands, and her imagination caught fire. So, she made up several other cards, taken from her photographs and some of the tools she and her husband had purchased.
Well, Bud and Laila Bolt, immediately recognized her cards and talent as exceptional marketing tools. Is this the end of the story? Absolutely not...it is just the beginning. I promise you, if you walk into the museum and ask to see Gus, you will be pleasantly surprised. Congratulations Mary Gunderson, of Shenanigans. I am tickled to meet another talented artist from the North State. See? If you can dream it, you really can achieve it! One is never too young, or too old, to dream.
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O.K. guys its time to gear up for all the new exciting things scheduled for the coming weeks. I sure hope you made it to Orovilles Bounty and the Salmon Festival. Check the Community Events page for more information on Perry Mason Days and the play at the Monday Club. Did you make it to the Birdcage Theatre yet? The Odd Couple is one belly-laugh after another. The actresses, actors, directors and stage hands are amazing.
The Artists of Rivertown are so talented. Have you checked out their new location and new displays? If not, why not? Oroville is a fun place to live and to explore. When you see something that reminds you Oroville Has Talent, one cant help but be proud of our neighbors and friends who put out so much effort to entertain and amuse us. Yes, you can get involved, too. Me? I love the museums, the Downtown Business Association, and all the wonderful things Orovilles Chamber of Commerce comes up with. When was the last time you visited the Visitors Center or took your children to one of the historical parks or museums? Are you planning on attending the Chinese Temple Dinner At the Museum on October 24th. Have you met Steve Ballinger? Who is Steve Ballinger? Why, he is a new docent and currently working a the Nature Center.
I dearly love reading Jim Shelbys Newsletters, and am so grateful I am on his mailing list. Its called The Oroville Museum Newsletter. The best way to obtain it, is to visit one of the Oroville museums and sign-up...its free. In fact, plan to take your house-guests, relatives, and grandchildren out exploring what Oroville has to offer. It is a refreshing change from what I know as The City. Remember, there is nothing stuffy about our town. We share our talent and encourage happy folks to explore.
Oroville does have talent, and the talent comes from all over the world. Hey! Look at Duffy McDuffy, a great talent from Ohio. How sweet it is that he is willing to share his knowledge and expertise with us country folks in the north part of the State of California.
I will be in Downtown Oroville, in costume, (gold cap, clock purse, gold shoes and maybe a glittery gold dress), the First Friday in October. Will you join me? We could meet downtown. If the DBA does what it has done in the past, I promise you a frolicking good time. And this First Friday will feature 35 artists in over 30 downtown shops as an Art Walk event. As always, the merchants will have lots of exciting sales, fun, food and entertainment. You gotta admit the Oroville Downtown Business Association puts on a great show. They go out of their way to make the day a surprising adventure. Lots of bargain sale items, a sampling of good food, wonderful entertainment. When? Say it again, Sam! Friday, October 3rd! Please join us? For coffee, tea, or a shopping spree. We can check out the Art Walk and the new stores (Bella) and visit our friends in their new locations and established stores. Where? Historic Downtown Oroville.
Thats all for today folks. Drop me a line, if you are so inclined. I love getting your notes and messages ... della@diggernews.com
della bacon, The Newcomer
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