Truckee Donner Historical Society

05/24/2026

I am working on gleaning Truckee News Items this morning and came across some articles in the Sept 8 1869, Truckee Tribune I found of interest. They aren't Truckee News but have you ever wondered what was going on or what people were thinking about in the early days? Here are some examples:

05/13/2026

The following article was located today while deeply researching restrictions during War Times. Not only did my Parents go through depressions but during WWII there were many issues families had to face. It got me thinking and explaining why my parents and grand parents passed on many "hacks" on how to save money. What do you remember the most from your families that went through WWII? Mine was always reuse the bacon grease to cook.
It does add a lot of flavor!

1943 January 7, Sierra Sun-Truckee Republican
Points rationing Steps Explained for near Future
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Eight Basic Steps Pointed out by OPA to Start Rationing Foods
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Point rationing will start in February for canned, bottled and frozen fruits, vegetables and juices, dried fruits and soups, according to advice received this week from the Office of Price Administration.
Boards will be the main source of accurate information on the system to be employed.
The steps to be taken are as follows:
1.—Rationing will be preceded by a short freeze so that the retailers can stock up and make ready.
2.—During the freeze every man, woman and child will be issued War Ration Book No. 2
3.—The blue stamps in Book No. 2 are for processed food.
4.—Letter of the alphabet on the stamp indicates when it is valid.
5.—The number on the stamp indicates its point value.
6.—Every man, woman and child will receive the same number of points less deductions for excess stock.
7.—It will take both money and points to buy rationed food
8.—People can choose what they want to buy with their points.
There will be no justification for hoarding. All rationed food, except home-canned, will have to be declared before getting a ration book, and stamps will be deducted by boards for hoarded foods.
Home canned foods will not have to be declared.
Remember food is important in the war strategy, the OPA points out. A soldier eats 20 per cent more that a civilian. Our men in Africa had to have 100 days of emergency food supply. The Russian armies are winning with American Foods.
Point rationing guarantees everyone at home his share of rationed foods.

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04/13/2026

03/28/2026

Great turn out last night for the Silent Film Presentation! Today's event is Historical Talk Presentation with featured speakers, David Antonucci and Mark McLaughlin! Talks start at 10:00 am so arrive early and enjoy cookies and snack, great conversations! Winter Carnival 2026 (or Spring?) 10046 Church St. Recs and Parks Community Center (Old Truckee Elementary School)!

03/27/2026

A different project going on is the indexing of all our digital collection of newspaper articles. One of the volunteers has been collecting articles for over 10 years from the now growing availability of Newspapers but it became apparent that how items were listed, explained, etc. was lacking greatly in how it needs to look today. So for two months so far each entry is being documented, reviewed by finding the original newspaper and retitled to today's standards. Needless to say so far we have reached the end of 1868 as we have it now. We started in 1863 as it was the beginning of settlement in Truckee areas. Had to share these three articles as an example of "newspaper wars" for Truckee. Remembering of course that it wasn't until 1867 that Truckee got it's own newspaper.

03/23/2026

UPDATE: The search is on for any information of the main building being moved from Redding to Truckee by the railroad. We have found many mentions of it's move to Bridge St. in 1955. I am now reading all newspapers from Redding and Truckee in 1904 to see if I can find a mention.

In 1904 the original Southern Pacific Hotel was moved from Redding, CA to Truckee. It was expanded at least twice after that. During the 1920s-1930s it was a haven for the movie industry and had gone from being workforce housing and eating facility to a "grand" hotel for travelers with a fine restaurant. By 1955 it was being closed down. Instead of demolishing the building it was cut in half and those two pieces were moved onto Bridge Street to become the Olympic Hotel. (Did a zoom in on the sign, we had the name wrong!) In March of 1964, one of the buildings caught fire resulting in the death of a Fred E. (Frank) Peterson, who is buried in the Truckee Cemetery. At this time both buildings were demolished and this site became the home of the US Post Office as we know it today.

03/22/2026

Dear Fans of the Bridge Street Stories, you can see what has disrupted the next chapter! But I anticipate posting the information on the SP Hotel Move and its demise tomorrow!

03/21/2026

The Truckee-Donner Historical Society (TDHS) is documenting Truckee’s historical Chinese communities. The first Chinatown was located on Jibboom Street circa 1867 to 1878. Merchants in Chinatown included Fong Lee, Quong Sing Lung, and Loon Tung Cheong. Researchers at the TDHS have located Chinese deeds, marriage certificates, announcements of the birth of children and the presence of traditional Chinese associations in Truckee’s Chinatown. During this period, Chinese residents were mostly employed by the railroad, worked as lumber men and laborers.
After a disastrous fire in Chinatown in 1878, the Chinese community moved to South Truckee along the Truckee River. Here, in the second Chinatown, a Chinese Herb Shop was built. This shop is the only remaining building representing the Chinese people who lived and thrived in Truckee for over 20 years. TDHS has documented this structure.
Due to an economic downturn and the presence of anti-Chinese sentiment, the Chinese were boycotted by local businesses, and pushed out of Truckee in 1886.
The Truckee-Donner Historical Society is seeking information about Chinese residents in Truckee circa 1867 to 1886. If you have information to share, please contact us at [email protected].

Cheong Sui Ping born in Truckee in 1867. Source: National Archives and Records Administration, Chinese Exclusion Act
Case Files, 1885

**UPDATE: This was not posted to become a platform for personal political or inflammatory views. It is being posted for people to share what we are learning about our community. Any comments made that are of a political or inflammatory direction will be hidden or deleted.

03/08/2026

Mark your Calendars! Special fun events coming up, please join us for the Town photo on Friday Night. If you don't have a costume, that's okay as we will have extra items or just come as your are! Saturday is our Historical talks with Two of the most fascinating Tahoe and Truckee Authors! And it is Free!