Historic commission pushes downtown history projects: story map, banners and walking tours; seeks photos and funding

Grass Valley Historic Commission staff gave an update on a city story map and commissioners spent most of the meeting discussing downtown interpretive banners, walking tours and a proposed history day to promote local history.

Miranda Bacon, who is leading the story map input, told the commission she has begun adding text to the GIS-based story map but needs historic photographs for roughly 10 locations. "I have started to input that text into the program. 1 major thing that I found is that we don't have photos to go with these locations," Miranda said, and asked commissioners to supply historic images so she can show a demonstration at the next meeting.

Commissioners then spent extensive time on a banner program for downtown: members counted roughly 31 banner poles on Main and Mill streets and discussed ordering 31 double-sided vinyl banners (roughly 2-by-4 feet). Commission members noted vendor pricing of about $46 per double-sided vinyl banner and roughly $1,500 to outfit the downtown run if ordered together. Commissioners discussed ordering in phases and using donations and walking-tour receipts to fund the program. The commission was told vinyl banners perform well in weather and can be reused.

Commissioners considered banner content that would pair a historic person on one side with a place on the other and discussed including historic walking-tour dates, a landing page on the city website and the story map as digital support. Mark and others suggested coordinating with the downtown association, property owners and the city’s seasonal decorating schedule; one commissioner said some poles are unusable because building awnings interfere with banners.

Members discussed a potential "history day" — a free downtown event opening historic buildings (North Star House, Odd Fellows Hall, Elks Lodge, St. Joseph’s/Emanuel Church, Masonic Hall and others) and the Powerhouse to the public for one Saturday — and agreed to continue planning. The idea would pair open-house tours with increased merchant activity and promotion; commissioners suggested a modest, staged start and coordination with the chamber and downtown association.

Other outreach items covered in the meeting: fundraising and logistics for a bronze star unveiling (a July 21 reception and unveiling with nearly $1,500 raised for the plaque), an update that the Levine honoree item and the trestle wording had been on City Council’s May 13 agenda, and that 100 heritage books had been printed and may be sold through local booksellers with guidance from city staff on handling proceeds.

Assignments and next steps: Miranda will email commissioners the story-map texts and a request list for photos; Teresa (chair) and others will mine the library and local contacts for images; Diane will carry the approved trestle plaque wording and paperwork to City Clerk Taylor; commissioners agreed to continue banner and event planning at the next meeting and to explore staged purchases to match fundraising progress.