In September 1972, longtime Nevada City residents David S. Osborn and Charles F. Woods, artists, art historians, restoration specialists and civic leaders purchased the Miners' Foundry and established the American Victorian Museum.

The Museum occupied the premises until 1990, when according to Woods, "we were unable to fund necessary major improvements," in order to keep the building open. Today, the museum buildings are occupied by the Miners' Foundry Cultural Center.

The 25th annual International Teddy Bear Convention, one of the major events pioneered by the Museum is still carried on today under its sponsorship and will take place in the Foundry April 4-6. Information regarding the silver anniversary celebration online at www.teddybarcastle.com; or by e.mail: charles@wvswrite.com or telephone (530) 265-5804.

Let's backtrack to September 1972, and the beginning of what was affectionally called and remembered as the "AVM."

Why an "American" Victorian Museum?

"The era to which most of the artifact (then) displayed (in the museum) belonged - from the 1840s to the early 20th century- is the same time span which saw the founding and development of Nevada City, a uniquely Victorian town," Charles Woods explained.

He continued, "The ties between Victorian England and America of the time are both real and ideological. Many who settled the West were subjects of the English Queen and brought their goods, machines, their arts and crafts, their attitudes and styles and their prejudices and taboos. Many of these attitudes, symbols and images are still in evidence here today."

Many of the artifacts and other material displayed had been collected during a 20 year period by Osborn and Woods, who admitted to being hung up on the 19th century.

They had filled a small warehouse with Victorian era graphics, toys, games, furniture, clocks, ceramics, books and memorabilia of every description. The "accumulation" came mainly from America with a fair portion coming from Nevada City homes and businesses.

"We came to the practical conclusion that we could no longer afford to house and worry about all the stuff," Woods said and added, "so we bought the old Miners' Foundry to house it and started the Museum."

The AVM, was an immediate "hit" with the community and quickly became a social and cultural phenomena. A restaurant was opened in the Great Stone Hall that served lunch and dinner. A highlight was their weekly Sunday Brunch.

The place also became a venue for musical and theatrical groups and individuals. Education played a large role in the early years of the Museum. Accredited college level classes in a variety of disciplines were regularly scheduled with University of California, Davis and other university faculty members presiding.

It was here that the seeds for both Music in the Mountains and Foothill Theatre were germinated.

Dianne and Ralph Fetterly and a small group of dedicated Thespians produced the first show under the banner of "The Company." Today that group has become the nationally recognized Foothill Theatre.

In the musical arts department, Maestro Paul Perry provided entertainment at dinner playing classical grand piano while waiter Terry Brown would frequently pause while serving to sing an aria or a classic song. Today, Music in the Mountains provides a magnificent variety of talent across a wide musical spectrum.

The museum complex consisted of four contiguous buildings on 2 1/2 prime acres in downtown Nevada City. The Old Stone Hall dates to 1856, while the other buildings have various birth dates. All are part of today's nonprofit Miners' Foundry Cultural Center.

A principal Victorian mechanical marvel remains in what the Museum called the Exhibition Hall and in working order: a 23-rank tracker action pipe organ dating to 1881 and manufactured by California's first professional organ builder Josef Mayer. It is the only know Mayer organ in existence. It was restored in 1980, by Master Organ Restorer Robert Hunt and is occasionally played today.

Next time: The saga continues - additional activities including the founding of radio KVMR-FM, the landmark 1977 production of Benjamin Britten's Noye's Fludde; a founder passes and the American Victorian Museum today. We'll also look at activities in the Cultural Center.

BOB WYCKOFF is a retired Nevada County newspaper editor/publisher and author of local history publications including "The Way It Was; Looking Back at Nevada County," published by and available at The Union newspaper, 464 Sutton Way, Grass Valley. Contact him at: bobwyckoff@sbcglobal.net or PO Box 216, Nevada City CA 95959.