Solano History Exploration Center

10/02/2026

Tell your mayors and local government officials about the proposed changes to Section 106 .

We’ve prepared resources to help:

📄 Open Letter to City Mayors and Local Government Leaders
Share the letter with your local elected officials to help them understand what the proposed changes could mean for local communities.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/cbjtbnkw

✏️ Working Letter Template
Customize the letter for your community by adding local priorities, concerns, and a Section 106 success story that demonstrates the value of the review process.
🔗https://tinyurl.com/3bup9krz

📧 Email Template
Draft an email to introduce the issue and encourage local government leaders to learn more and engage.
🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2nhxess6

Use these resources and have a conversation with your mayor, city council, county commissioners, or other local government leaders about Section 106. It is important to bring local perspectives into the conversation.

Learn more and access the all Section 106 resources through NAPC’s Advocacy Page. 🔗https://www.napcommissions.org/advocacy

08/22/2026

In October 1874, a man named Malcom Benton entered John Hopkins' house on Sherman Island and stole $520. Sherman Island is a 14,000-acre island in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, located in Sacramento County but bordered by Solano County to the east and south.

Residents in the area began a search, and a local man named "Dutch Fred" spotted the thief running into some bushes. He shouted the alarm, and a 100-member posse began searching, including "Dutch Fred," who was armed with a sh***un.

During the search, Fred wandered away from the posse's search and was found an hour later, described as "insensible" and unarmed. Fred was taken to his cabin, and after he was revived, he recounted that while walking through high weeds, he came upon the thief, who wrenched his sh***un from his hands and dealt him a terrible blow to the head. After that, Fred had no further recollection.

The "scoundrel" escaped the posse on Sherman Island but was captured a few days later by Solano County Deputy Sheriff Wells. Deputy Wells tracked the thief to Collinsville and recovered $476 of the stolen cash. The thief admitted to spending the rest of the cash on clothes. He was booked into the Solano County Jail at Fairfield.

The Solano Napa Chronicle reported that Deputy Wells wasn't done in Collinsville that day.

Going after the Sherman Island thief wasn't the main reason he was in town that day. An Italian man named Doati was reported to have robbed the Hoskins' Store in Collinsville. The man stole some money and a pistol and then turned to a countryman patronizing the store and robbed him of his jewelry.

The robber took off, but Deputy Wells also tracked him down. The newspaper ended its report with the following: "....and now the scalawag is in the Solano bastille awaiting examination."

08/16/2026

07/20/2026

Mike Whitley of the Vacaville Heritage Council’s history walk through downtown Vacaville on Saturday effectively showcased the city’s history, from its indigenous inhabitants to its present. Whitley, assisted by Cricket Kanouff, Head …
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03/13/2026