Meet "The Friends"
The Friends of the Old Lewiston Schoolhouse Library and Museum (FOLSLM) is a group of determined donors and volunteers who have teamed up for a common cause: The success of the small community library and historical museum located inside the renovated schoolhouse that served the people of Lewiston from the town's glory days of the California Gold Rush through the construction of the Trinity Dam in the 1950's.
Our volunteer "staff" consists of a few dozen locals who are called upon throughout the year for various duties that benefit the schoolhouse. From lending a hand for seasonal fundraisers to playing hostess to the public during visitors hours, our people are the bedrock on which the schoolhouse is built. When the need arises, we've even been known to solicit the services of local businesses and craftspeople who are always happy to participate. There is no limit to the generosity and dedication of all our volunteers, and without them, our beloved library and museum could never be the same.
As a non-profit organization, the livelihood of the schoolhouse relies entirely upon the various contributions of books and materials, historic artifacts, and most important, money, in order to ensure the survival and growth of our organization. All donated books are appreciated and considered for placement in the library, but, because of space constraints, some are relegated to our sale bin. The donation of any old photographs and artifacts from the past that apply to the Lewiston Historic District, especially the Old Schoolhouse, is strongly encouraged, and indeed they will always have a place in our museum. But the real bread and butter of our project comes from the annual dues of our paid membership. For instance, $100 is all it takes for an individual to become a Life Member, which automatically entitles the contributor to a lifetime subscription to our popular quarterly newsletter! And the generous few who sign up for our new Life Benefactor membership tier will also receive one of our lovely and elegant, custom-made etched glass crystals with the Old Lewiston Schoolhouse presented in all its glory. The membership scale is, as follows:
Of course, monetary donations of any amount don't automatically necessitate membership, which is why cash donation boxes are set up inside the schoolhouse for anonymous contributions. Thank you to all our good-hearted givers! Anyone interested in membership or just an anonymous contribution can mail it to:
Annual Fundraisers
Each year, we hold several events for public consumption in order to promote the spirit of community good will and to raise money to support the many functions of the Old Lewiston Schoolhouse. Members of the community are encouraged to participate and the turnouts are always impressive. We rely on these fundraisers for the bulk of our livelihood as a library/museum, and we strongly urge anyone interested in attending or contributing to do so by contacting us for more information about specific dates and times. Below is a rough schedule of these events. We hope to see you there!
Board of Directors
What organization would be complete without a governing body to call the shots? Our Board of Directors is a five-person committee that gathers once a month to vote on fundamental issues that affect the schoolhouse and the Lewiston community as a whole. Elected annually, our board members are a diverse lot who are passionate about the future of the library and museum, and, like the rest of our volunteers, strive toward serving the people of the area with a sense of dedication, commitment, and appreciation for the cultural and historical assets the schoolhouse brings to this bucolic mountain community that is Lewiston. Perhaps some introductions are in order!...
Copies of our quarterly newsletter are available at the schoolhouse and are distributed countywide at several locations including the Trinity County Library and the Trinity County Chamber of Commerce in Weaverville. Each issue comes complete with community events listings that highlight upcoming happenings in the greater Lewiston area. If you'd like your name added to our mailing list, please write to the address above and request it. Keep in mind that all Life, Life Plus and Life Benefactor members (those contributing $500 or more) receive a lifetime subscription to our newsletter! We take great pride in our printed publication, beautifully assembled four times a year by our intrepid newsletter staff. It makes a great companion piece to this website as it provides a unique view into the inner workings of our organization and consequently, the Lewiston community at large.
Your schoolhouse awaits...
Nestled among the trees of Old Town Lewiston, near the junction of Turnpike and Deadwood Roads, The Old Lewiston Schoolhouse overlooks the Lewiston Historic District, as she has for more than a century and most certainly will a hundred years from now. Some of us like to think of the old gal as a beatific lighthouse, standing resolutely like a beacon in the fog, offering guidance to wayward ships who, like lost souls search desperately for something, anything that resembles a refuge from the storm. Those ships are us, the people of this fine town, and she provides us all with some glimmer of hope for the future. Yes, our glorious schoolhouse: The history she has seen, and the future only she could know. We bask in her beauty; we gaze, awestruck by her magnificence, and we honor her because she honors us. We are lucky to have her, still.
