Almost from its beginning, the American Victorian Museum (hereinafter referred to as the "AVM") became a vital center for all the arts with performing groups and individuals heading the menu.

Credit for giving the AVM its name goes to Howard Wahlstrom, a friend of museum founders David Osborn and Charles Woods, who offered the suggestion after a group brainstorming session. It was immediately agreed upon and the non-profit corporation was formed using that name.

The AVM also served as an educational facility for the University of California Extension Division at San Francisco and Davis, and University of San Francisco Extension. For-credit seminars were held on premises conducted by specialists in the area of study pursued.

It's banquet facilities were constantly in use and a special Sunday Brunch was a well attended weekly treat. A number of groups met regularly at lunch in the Old Stone Hall and a variety of installation and award dinners were booked.

A roster of events staged and produced in the AVM, is seemingly endless. Some events that were created by the Museum are the recently concluded 25th annual Teddy Bear Convention that continues in the building; Robbie Burns Night, a celebration of the Scottish poet's birthday; Queen Victoria's Birthday, Fright Night (Halloween), Songs and Stories of the Gold Rush and in cooperation with KVMR-FM, more than 350 Sunday live concerts from the Old Stone Hall. The place was always "jumpin'."

An FM radio station? Yes, in the 1970s, the AVM applied for and was granted an FM license to operate a community radio station. The call letters "KVMR-FM," which translates to "Victorian Museum Radio," were chosen. It was staffed with volunteers and the transmitter is located on Banner Mountain. The station operates today with those call letters and is listed in the Sacramento Bee radio log as "full spectrum," at 89.5 mega hertz.

For many years the AVM hosted the annual St. Nicholas Artists' Christmas Fair at which scores of local artisans sold their creations. Former California Governor Edmund G. "Jerry" Brown, Jr. held campaign rallies in the Great Hall and Burgess Meredith, accomplished stage, screen and TV actor, appeared to lend his support to the AVM produced Songs and Stories of the Gold Rush.

Songs and Stories was a selection of songs and stories dating to the great California Gold Rush and featured Jon Meredith, guitar; Fred Forsman and Bob Wyckoff, storytellers and a supporting cast of musicians and actors. The show's format, with a few added stories and songs, was repeated three consecutive years in the late 1980s.

In January 1996, Friends of The Nevada County Library in conjunction with a multitude of supporters, including the Nevada County Library System; sponsored a nostalgic, single night's free showing of Songs and Stories that played to standing room only in the Great Hall where it had been successfully produced more than 10 years previously and featured members of the original cast.

By far the most ambitious and one of the most successful productions ever presented in the AVM or anywhere in western Nevada County was the seven performance run in September 1977, of Benjamin Britten's medieval miracle play "Noye's Fludde." The play was produced jointly by Nevada City's Trinity Episcopal Church and the Community Players of Nevada County and featured a very talented all-local cast.

"Noye's Fludde" is Britten's musical recreation of the Biblical flood interpreted by a cast of nearly 100. Some 70 children dressed in costumes topped in paper mache animal heads, represented the animals in Noah's Ark. The heads and costumes were designed by Ellie Cassese and Margaret McPherson and constructed by the ladies of Trinity Church.

Co-producers were Bill and Ilsa Barnhart with stage direction by Diane Fetterly, sets, Bruce West; choreography, Kerry Burcham and musical direction, Chris Nelson. Bill Barnhart coached the soloists and conducted a 60 piece orchestra. The opera played to packed houses and all reviews were glowing.

On February 2, 2002, Nevada County lost one of its historic preservation champions. David Sayles Osborn died at age 70, in Nevada City. Osborn was a co-founder of the AVM and for more than forty years a leader in our local historic preservation movement.

The AVM continues its outreach by sponsoring a ten-day Sierra Nevada Altar Show at the Nevada County Fairgrounds and the just

concluded 25th Annual Teddy Bear Convention in the Miners' Foundry Building.

Today, the Miners Foundry is a much quieter place than it was when Osborn and Woods ran the American Victorian Museum. However, it is still one of the most important buildings in Nevada City's Historical District. Without the inspiration and preservation efforts of those two men aided by a legion of friends and museum members and myiad volunters, it might not have survived. When the foundry was purchased in 1972, by the AVM, there was talk of extensive remodeling and the possibility of tearing a portion down for a parking lot.

"I am pleased that Foundry is still operated as a community center and am most grateful for the care and dedication of the Miners Foundry Cultural Center, its Board, staff and volunteers in continuing and amplifying the work we (Osborn and Woods and the AVM group) began thirty-five years ago." -Charles W. Woods, Nevada City, March 31, 2008.

Next time: A look at the Miners' Foundry Cultural Center today.

Bob Wyckoff is a retired former Nevada County newspaper editor/publisher and author of local history. His latest, "The Way It Was; Looking Back in Nevada County," is published by and available at The Union newspaper, 464 Sutton Way, Grass Valley. Contact him: bobwyckoff@sbcglobal.net or P.O. Box 216, Nevada City, 95959.