The STAR Newsletter is published Quarterly by North Star Historic Conservancy. The Spring, 2021 issue was published in March, 2021. You can view or download it online at:

https://thenorthstarhouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Newsletter-2021-03.pdf

In this issue:

• Article: “Julia Morgan and the Hearst Estates: A Contrast in Styles”. For about 25 years, Julia Morgan and William Randolph Hearst worked together creating two major estates: the well-known Hearst Castle and the little-known Wyntoon. Follow along that journey with the words and pictures in this article.
• President’s Message
• Sherian Kutzera joins the NSHC Board of Directors
• Taming the Hawthorn Hedge — the volunteers undertook a major pruning effort to start restoration of the hedge that separates the driveway from the front lawn.
• Transporting a 23-ton piece of equipment from the train station in Colfax to the Central Shaft on Allison Ranch Road.

UPDATE April 6, 2021:  We are cautiously optimistic about being able to have some outdoor events this summer. 

Sunday, October 17 will be a new, fun event which we are developing in partnership with Soroptimist Club of the Sierra Foothills. We’re still in the planning stage, but mark your calendars. We’ll have the Soroptimist Garden Shop, tours, and more.

We might be able to have one or two of the “Friday Nite Locals” concerts. Still working on that.

It has been a long year for all of us and we are anxious to resume relaxing and “enjoying company” at the House.

Previous Post:

The North Star House continues to be closed due to safety precautions and government regulations during the pandemic. Even though we cannot open to the public right now, we are continuing with house restoration and planning for the future.

• The construction volunteers are utilizing the house closing to spread out into all of the first floor rooms with restoration and finish work … using masks and social distancing.
• The garden crew is maintaining the Heritage Garden, which is growing and filling in nicely. It will look gorgeous when we are on the Soroptimist Garden Tour May 22-23, 2021.
• We are revamping the Open House and Docent program, plus adding a new Landscape Tour that will be available in 2021.
• We have interesting speakers lined up for a 2021 Speaker Series.
• We plan to launch Friday Nite Locals concerts in the summer, featuring established local artists and introducing new talent.
• And we have learned to have Board meetings via Zoom!

We look forward to welcoming you back to the House when we are able to host the public again.

North Star House Docents tell our story to the visiting public. We are the voice of the Foote Family, Julia Morgan and the North Star Historic Conservancy.

The North Star House docents are trained volunteers who act as a knowledgeable visitors’ guide to further the public understanding of the North Star Historic Conservancy, the Julia Morgan designed North Star House and the surrounding property.

Docents greet visitors and provide an informal tour of the house answering questions about the house, the Foote family and the North Star Historic Conservancy. They serve a 3 hour Saturday morning shift once a month from April through October. Docents also have the opportunity to volunteer for NSHC events and specially arranged tours of the house. We are a friendly group who have several social events during the year.

Please contact us if you would like to find out more about this volunteer opportunity.

If you love history and architecture, this is a job for you.