Social Setting
The fabric of the area begins at individual homes and ranches into small area communities which include social and fraternal clubs, churches, and benevolent groups with activities such as parades, dances, bonfires, and sports teams.
Two essential community attributes often found adjacent to each other were one-room schools and cemeteries. This was a practical approach for setting aside land and facilitating upkeep and maintenance of these pieces of vital infrastructure.
Around EG Town by Chalmers & Richard Gage
In May of 2016, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation sat down with Richard Gage and his 98-year-old father Chalmers Gage to learn more about the Gage Family and their Elk Grove roots. To our delight, not only did we hear about the Gage Family, but we learned a great deal more about other families and what life was like in Elk Grove through the years. Joining us in the discussion was Jack Mahon, cousin of Chalmers and Richard.
Delta Stories by Lorraine Croup
In May of 2019, Lorraine Croup entertained the audience of the monthly Elk Grove Historical Society general meeting by sharing her unique insights and personal stories of the Sacramento River Delta. Lorraine's captivating and graceful manner brought to life the history and character of the region. The Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation had the distinct honor of capturing Lorraine's presentation.
EG Book Club History by Larkin & Jim Penrose
In February 2018, the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation had the opportunity to record the story of the Elk Grove Book Club, as told by Larkin Morse Penrose and her husband, Jim. Their story chronicles the history of the Club and the ten forward-looking women who founded the Club in 1937. The Club still operates today under its original by-laws and is one of the oldest book clubs in the United States.
EG Book Club Roundtable by Club Members
In early summer 2018, current members of the Elk Grove Book Club and sons and daughters of the founding members of the Book Club chatted with Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation about the story of the Book Club. Established in 1937, the Book Club is one of the oldest, continuously operating book clubs in the country. Current members were Maureen Gormley, Larkin Morse Penrose, and Marsh Green Holmes. The sons and daughters were Margaret Costello Ehlers, Mary Etta Costello Hamzawi, Carolyn Costello Flood, Oscar Mix, David Sperry, and George Beitzel.
EG Cosumnes Cemetery District by J. Lambdin & D. Gale - Clip 1
In 2018, Jonathan Lambdin and Deborah Gale gave the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation an account of the history and future of the Elk Grove Cosumnes Cemetery District and its six historic cemeteries, including an overview of the purpose and vision of the district. Along the way, they share a bit of history about how windmill blades were used as grave markers and many other interesting and little-known facts about the district.
EGUSD by Arlene Hein & Elizabeth Pinkerton
In the spring of 2018, Arlene Hein and Elizabeth Pinkerton met with the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation to discuss early schools of the area and how the creation of the Elk Grove Unified School District in 1959 dramatically affected the communities of the area.
Early Life in Elk Grove Area by Ellen Rosa
Mrs. Ellen Rosa describes her remembrances of what life was like in the early years in the Greater Elk Grove area. Mrs. Rosa is a descendant of the Rhoads and Sheldon families of the Cosumnes River Valley and has done extensive research and authored several articles and books on the subject of the first European settlers in the area.
LMML Why Record History by Several Contributors
Our mission of the Foundation is "to research, document, record and preserve, present and publish the personal stories and family histories of the greater area of Elk Grove." But why is this undertaking important? We asked several people around Elk Grove to give us their opinions on the question. Here are some of their responses.
Rhoads School by School Alumnae
In March 2017 the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation interviewed six graduates of the historic Rhoads School House. Built in Slough House in 1872 and in use until 1947, students from the first to the eighth grades were taught at the same one room school. The former classmates in our discussion were: Betty Woolever, Melba Mosier, Joan Holt, Leo Fassler, Ray Martinez and Leslie Ostman. The graduates share many stories, memories and impressions they have from their years at the Rhoads School.
Siwash & Bruceville by Ed Keema
In January 2017, the LMML Foundation recorded a meeting of the general membership of the Elk Grove Historical Society, which featured speaker Ed Keema. His topic was the history of the town of Siwash, which became Bruceville, and the families of the area. The Keema's are early residents of the Siwash area of Elk Grove, having emigrated from Prussia then crossed the plains to the West Coast in 1851.
Sloughhouse Cemetery Tour by Roberta Tanner
On a crisp spring day in 2018, Roberta Tanner of the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers gave the Linda Mae Mahon Lema Foundation a walking tour of the pioneer Slough House Cemetery. Roberta was extremely informative about the history of the cemetery and of the many notable people who are at rest in the oldest pioneer cemetery in Northern California.