President's Message - Lafayette Historical Society

A visit to the Lafayette Library to check out or return books could provide an opportunity for you to increase your knowledge of Lafayette history. Laura Torkelson and John Stevens have put together the first of four informative displays on the neighborhoods of Lafayette to better chronicle the development of our town. The first installment is on display and covers the downtown section of town where the initial settlement began in 1848. See what the downtown businesses looked like over 160 years ago….many of the original buildings are still in existence but may have a different use or look than in pioneer times. This display will be followed in the next year or so with displays and information on our other “hoods”: Springhill, Happy Valley and Burton Valley. If you have memorabilia (or memories!) from the old neighborhoods, come into the History Room on any Saturday afternoon between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m.Laura and John would be interested in talking to you!

After you park your car in the Library garage, you might take a moment and view Old Betsy’s (the fire engine) cage….we have several historical signs that have been hung there. The signs are too large to have in our history room but are of some historical importance so it was decided to hang them in the cage. Currently on display is a sign from the law office of Harold Mutnick (local attorney, whose wife Dorothy wrote the definitive history of the area: Some California Poppies & Even a Few Mommies – A History of Upper California during the First Hundred Years) and a sign from the Lafayette office of former Lafayette City Council member and Mayor and Board of Supervisor Gayle Uilkema. Stop by and check the signs out.

There are now copies of Voices of Lafayette available for purchase ($20) at the History Room. A huge thank you to Bill Eames who gave permission for LHS to reprint this book the writing of which he sponsored, and to Julie Sullivan so wonderfully put together. The profits from the sale of the book will benefit the Historical Society.

Tom Titmus

It is with sadness that I report the death of Tom Titmus in August. Tom was a member of the LHS Board of Directors from 1996-2012 and President of the Society from 1999-2005. His wife Janice also served on the LHS Board. Tom was an active part of the Lafayette Community and practiced law here for many years. His quiet leadership and service to the Historical Society will be missed.