By: Susan Belknap, Gold Country News Service
1:25 AM PST
With the beginning of the year, visitors to the event center at the
Blue Goose Shed in Loomis will notice a big change.
It won't be anything they will see, but they will notice the
improvement nevertheless. Thanks to the volunteer efforts of several
volunteers of the South Placer Heritage Foundation, the event center
and its restrooms will soon feature central heating and air
conditioning to ensure the comfort of all its guests.
According to South Placer Heritage Foundation President Randy Elder,
both units were delivered a few weeks ago. Elder expects completion of
the installation to be before the first event scheduled in January.
"We just filled a huge sinkhole adjacent to the building that needed
to be completed before the units can be placed, " Elder said. " Over
the years water has just eroded the pavement."
Heating and air conditioning are just part of the improvements the
Foundation has made to the Blue Goose Shed during the last few years.
The foundation actually owns the building, which was built in 1945, and
has been leasing the land from Union Pacific. In addition to the event
center, the Loomis News newspaper and the Blue Goose Produce Company
occupy space in the historic shed.
Elder attributes the success of the foundation to the generosity of
the community residents and local businesses. In addition, this is the
second year the United Auburn Indian Community has awarded the
foundation a grant of $20,000.
"Each year the tribe gives out $1 million to local projects," Elder
said. "The money we've received this year went directly towards the
heating and cooling of the event center."
In addition to receiving the grant from the Indian community,
businesses and private donations, the Cowboy Poetry Fall Gathering held
in November helped to fund the renovation projects.
According to Cheryl Stokes, chairperson for the event, approximately
1,200 people attended the two-day show that raised more than $20,000.
Stokes was pleased with the amount in comparison to last year's figures
of $11,000.
"I feel the Blue Goose holds a unique history and wonderful memories
for many generations that still reside here in Loomis," Stokes said.
"Many people are reminded of their younger days when they enter the
Blue Goose. We have heard stories from many about how they worked
summers packing fruit, or the fact that their after school job was
working at the Blue Goose."
Roger Smith, foundation board member for the last few years, also
believes in preserving the history of Loomis. He believes the Blue
Goose is a focal part of town and that it adds some life to the
nightscape of Loomis.
"I'm a preservationist at heart, " Smith said. " The Blue Goose
needed our attention. It's a piece of history you can't replace."
Besides keeping things warm in the winter and cool in the summer the
foundation has also used some of their funds this year toward the
replacement of the building's electrical system. According to Elder the
existing power supply isn't enough to handle the demands of the current
use of the building. Plans for a new transformer with help from Pacific
Gas & Electric are in the works.
"We've spent a ton of time the last five months on that part of the
project," Elder said.
The third project occupying time for foundation members is the
installation of a catering kitchen to provide meals at the event
center. Elder said the appliances include an oven and stovetop,
refrigerator and commercial quality sinks and countertops.
There's always something to be done and Elder said that the board
members of the foundation are currently reviewing their goals for
2006.
"We couldn't do it without the donation of labor and services of so
many people and businesses," Elder said.
