When docent Rob Sansom walked into the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum for the first time and saw the little bar that had been set up all he could think of was, “What a cool place this would be to have an old-timey drink!”  With that idea in mind the Ely’s “Cocktails in the West” program began – historic cocktails in restaurants that capture the history of Lake County.

In most depictions of the Old West saloon, whiskey was the drink of choice but there was a thriving cocktail culture during Victorian times.  “Professor” Jerry Thomas is the most well known of the Victorian mixologists of the day as he is one of the few that wrote anything down.  Armed with “Professor” Jerry Thomas’s recipes, sourced by David Wondrich in his 2007 book “Imbibe”, there were some simple cocktails that one might have encountered at the Ely Stage Stop.  The menu for “Cocktails In The West” include the Champagne Cocktail, Whiskey Cocktail (predecessor to the Old Fashioned), Manhattan Club (the original Manhattan), the Saratoga and the Sherry Cobbler, a quite refreshing beverage for the summer!

The three participating restaurants in our Cocktails In The West promotion are the Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake, the Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville and the Boar’s Breath in Middletown.  Each building has it’s own history.  The Blue Wing Saloon Restaurant in Upper Lake, adjacent to the Tallman Hotel, is a recreation of the original 1880’s saloon that was demolished during Prohibition.  It captures the spirit of the Victorian saloon with it’s Eastlake back bar and Lake County black walnut bar top.  The Saw Shop Gallery Bistro in Kelseyville is housed in a 1906 late Victorian period building with some of the architectural details still intact.  During it’s life as a boarding house and private residence it has been home to many of Lake County’s ancestors, past and current. The bar was milled from Lake County black walnut too!  And finally there is the Boar’s Breath in Middletown.  The oldest of the three buildings, the corner brick building has housed a turn of the century general mercantile (Cannon Bros.) and the original “Corner Store” now known as Hardester’s.

The Blue Wing, Saw Shop and Boar’s Breath are looking forward to serving everyone some historical spirits!  So starting the week of July 15th stop in to any one of these establishments and order up a cocktail that Black Bart might have enjoyed.  If you want the recipes, stop by the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum to purchase recipe and history booklets!  Cheers!

For more information, www.elystagestop.com, www.facebook.com/elystagestop, elystagestop@gmail.com or better yet stop by and see us! The Ely is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville and is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 3pm, or call us at 707.533.9990 during business hours.

QUICK! It’s time for the 2013 Ely Quick Draw. This is your chance to win a fabulous wood picnic table and bench set for your outdoor entertaining needs. Beyond-sturdy two inch thick solid wood was used so it will last a very long time. The set was made right here in Lake County, USA, by the Konocti Conservation Camp CC#27. Known for their fire suppression support and community service projects, the camp has donated this great piece for a raffle to raise funds for a set of tables that will greatly enhance Ely’s event space for future festivities.

The 2013 Quick Draw ticket sales started July 6th. The autumn drawing date will be announced at a future time. So buy early and buy often. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20. Purchase tickets from our docents during museum hours, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Saturday & Sunday or from any of our volunteers anywhere/anytime you may run into them. Watch for us at many public events.

Operated by the Lake County Historical Society, the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road in Kelseyville. Visit our websites at elystagestop.com or lakecountyhistory.org, as well as www.facebook/elystagestop.

Attendees of the June 22nd Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum’s first annual Picnic on the Porch had a wonderful time. Greeted by old time music performed by Uncorked (Don Coffin, Andy Skelton, Eleanor Clark, and Dan Harris), everybody got in the mood quickly. There was toe-tapping, hand-clapping and even some dancing in the parking lot.

Barbara White modeled a typical traveling woman’s outfit she would have worn riding the stage line. Other period clothing was on display inside the house as well as on the porch.

Old fashioned aprons and teapot collections were on display compliments of several Lake County Historical Society members who are local historians. Select pieces of their collections were loaned for the day’s event. Both displays were very impressive, taking guests back to another time.

A delicious box lunch catered by Rosey Cooks was enjoyed at noon on the porch. Docents provided an elegant setting for 80 guests. White linens accented by green checkered tablecloths adorned each table. Fresh floral arrangements in green Ball mason jars were offset with yellow linen mats complimenting the country decor. The weather was perfect for al fresco dining that day.

After lunch seven themed baskets were raffled off. District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown helped to encourage raffle ticket purchases in the final minutes with his own version of the “stretch”. Silent auction items continued to collect bids during the lunch and raffle.
Winners were announced as each item closed.

Guests were encouraged to self-tour the new barn where several agricultural pieces were displayed. Items in the barn and on the grounds had been smartly labeled to help with their identification.

Seating for Ely Stage Stop events is always limited so remember to get a ticket early when the next event is announced. It would be a shame to miss it!

Be sure to visit the Lake County Historical Society’s and the County of Lake’s newest museum. The museum address is 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville (near Clearlake Riviera). Current hours of operation are 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM each Saturday and Sunday. Visit our websites at elystagestop.com or lakecountyhistory.org or visit us  at www.facebook\elystagestop.

Come to the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum for the first day of Summer! On June 22nd we’ll be having a “Picnic On The Porch” for the whole family to enjoy! The day will be filled with entertainment and living history. Begin the day listening to local musicians as they recreate the music of the Stage Coach Era. Barbara White will be all decked out in Victorian-era clothing plus you’ll see a display of what women were wearing throughout their daily life from a dressing gown to a beautiful ball gown. Check out the Ely’s Stage Coach, a replica of that used on the Highland Springs to Pieta line. Around noon we will gather for the “Picnic On The Porch” and enjoy a yummy box lunch from Rosey Cooks and refreshing beverages with a Trio of Tasty Treats for dessert – Sweet! Then we’ll all stretch our legs with games and basket raffles. Take a tour of the museum and then head down the hill to the Ely’s new Barn and see our progress.

The fun begins at 11 AM through 3 PM. Event cost is $30/per person. For tickets, call Pam Hendricks at 707-279-0427 or visit the museum and ask the docents during museum hours, Saturdays and Sundays, 11 AM to 3 PM. The museum is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville. Space is limited so get your tickets early.

Barn raising activities at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum are in full swing. Volunteers have ramped up their Saturday work as the weather continues to cooperate. There have been reports of a curious “pink” barn on the site. That’s because the old barn wood had to have a special primer coat applied to both sides to provide extra protection for its new life at the museum. This week the final barn red color is starting to appear.

The Lake County Historical Society, operator of the museum, welcomes all interested volunteers to expedite the completion of this first barn.  Once the exterior is completed, the barn interior can be populated with the Lake County Historical Society’s collection of artifacts and can also be used as an event destination.

Old wood is needed for siding on this and future barns that will be constructed at the Stage Stop. If anyone has a barn or building to donate, Ely volunteers can help take it down in exchange for the wood. Remember that donations to the Ely Stage Stop are tax deductible.

The museum address is 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville (near Clearlake Riviera). Current hours of operation are 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM each Saturday and Sunday. Volunteers will assemble at the museum site at 09:00 AM on Saturdays for barn raising activities. Contact number for questions about volunteer work, donations of old wood, or docent applications is (707)263-4180 x 102. Visit our website at www.elystagestop.com.

Ely Stage Stop & Country Museum (ESSCM) continues to grow. The October article gave readers a first year’s review of activities. Things have not slowed down since then.

Fulfilling a promise made during an April visit to the ESSCM, Congressman Mike Thompson returned to the museum on October 15 to present a United States flag that was flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Thompson feels at home at the Ely Stage Stop and fully supports the museum’s efforts to preserve a special part of Lake County’s history, providing a showplace for life in the early times of the county. It was an honor to have him in attendance as the flag was raised for the first time at the museum.

The Farm to Table Winemaker Dinner, in partnership with Wildhurst Vineyards, was a huge success in October. The event sold out early and many of those who missed out asked to be placed on a waiting list for a hopeful second such event. The museum has proven itself to be a desirable setting for intimate gatherings and will host future fund raising events.

Barn building continues although winter rains have slowed the progress. The local community came forward and donated additional monies to help with roofing materials. Volunteers were able to install 3/4 of the metal roof before the rains hit. The County Building Inspector has given the green light for putting the wrap on the exterior, a prelude to starting the siding. Once the exterior is finished, the barn interior can be populated with the Lake County Historical Society’s collection of artifacts and can also be used as an event destination.

A dinner was held on December 1 at the Stage Stop to honor the docents who volunteer their time. Weeks prior to the dinner, the docents submitted their individual votes for the first Docent of the Year Award. Lake County Historical Society President Phil Smoley presented the award to Bill Lane that evening. Bill’s exceptional contributions of time and energy were enthusiastically recognized by his fellow docents.

Everyone who visited during the holidays got to enjoy the museum decked out for Christmas. Docents gave a grand Old Fashioned Christmas look to the Stage Stop.

Prospects for early 2013 include a return of the Science and Museum Camp in the spring. Watch for various fund raising activities such as a Trash and Treasures “Yard” Sale, a Mother’s Day Tea, and possibly a Quilt Show.

Be sure to visit the Lake County Historical Society’s and the County of Lake’s newest museum. The museum address is 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville (near Clearlake Riviera). Current hours of operation are 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM each Saturday and Sunday.

2012 was a really busy year at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum (ESSCM). Docents greeted visitors each weekend day from 11:00 to 03:00. The docent pool continued to grow and now includes people of many diverse talents. We have woodworkers, seamstresses, floral arrangers, bakers, computer geeks, historians, and barn builders to name just a few. Displays change as new acquisitions are received.

In April, Congressman Mike Thompson visited the museum as part of his Lake County Tour. He saw first hand how all involved with the museum have contributed to preserving a part of Lake County history. Fulfilling a promise made during that visit he returned to the museum on October 15 to present a United Sates flag that was flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

The Museum has become a destination for social and educational events. On separate Saturdays in May the museum welcomed the Lake County Model A Club and a Science and Museum Camp put on by the Lake County Children’s Museum of Art and Science. In June the Lake County Historical Society held its annual picnic on the grounds giving members and guests a special opportunity to learn about the County’s colorful history of highwaymen as well as history of the Ely Stage Stop itself. At the 2011 Lake County Wine Alliance Auction, a Wildhurst Winemaker Dinner using ESSCM as its setting was purchased as a silent auction item. That dinner was held at the Stage Stop on July 22 and proved a huge success.

Partnering with the community took hold this year in three forms. One was with the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club as they took the ESSCM on as one of their newest Civic Beautification projects. Phase One has been completed with the construction, installation, and planting of four beautiful planter boxes just off the museum porch. This project will benefit the community for many generations. A second partnering was with this year’s 20th Anniversary of the Kelseyville Pear Festival inside the Pear Pavilion. Our authentic stagecoach was on display and docents were available during the day to answer questions about the ESSCM facilities and plans for the future. The third partnering was with Wildhurst Vineyards as a Fall Farm to Table Winemaker Dinner was presented on October 20th as a benefit for the stage coach which was on display for the diners.

And let’s not forget our latest news! Our long awaited barn raising has begun.
Over the weekends since August 18, weather permitting, volunteers have met at the museum site to begin the first display barn. The 2000-square-foot barn will house many of the Lake County Historical Society’s artifacts. The Carpenter’s Star quilt patch, donated anonymously through the Lake County Quilt Trail Project, will grace the side of the completed barn.

Come share our excitement as we enter 2013! The museum address is 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville (near Clearlake Riviera). Current hours of operation are 11:00 AM to 03:00 PM each Saturday and Sunday.

It’s been a really busy year at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum (ESSCM) since opening to the public in October of 2011. Docents greet visitors each weekend day from 11:00 to 03:00. The docent pool continues to grow and includes people of many diverse talents. We have woodworkers, seamstresses, floral arrangers, bakers, computer geeks, historians, and barn builders to name just a few. Displays change as new acquisitions are received.

In April, Congressman Mike Thompson visited the museum as part of his Lake County Tour. He saw first hand how all involved with the museum have contributed to preserving a part of Lake County history.

The Museum has become a destination for social and educational events. On separate Saturdays in May the museum welcomed the Lake County Model A Club and a Science and Museum Camp put on by the Lake County Children’s Museum of Art and Science. In June the Lake County Historical Society held its annual picnic on the grounds giving members and guests a special opportunity to learn about the County’s colorful history of highwaymen as well as history of the Ely Stage Stop itself. At the 2011 Lake County Wine Alliance Auction, a Wildhurst Winemaker Dinner using ESSCM as its setting was purchased as a silent auction item. That dinner was held at the Stage Stop on July 22 and proved a huge success.

Partnering with the community took hold this year in three forms. One is with the Clear Lake Trowel & Trellis Garden Club as they have taken the ESSCM on as their newest Civic Beautification project. Phase One has been completed with the construction, installation, and planting of four beautiful planter boxes just off the museum porch. This project will benefit the community for many generations. A second partnering is with this year’s 20th Anniversary of the Kelseyville Pear Festival inside the Pear Pavilion. Our authentic stagecoach will be on display and docents will be available during the day to answer questions about the ESSCM facilities and plans for the future.
The third partnering is with Wildhurst Vineyards as a Fall Farm to Table Winemaker Dinner will be presented on October 20th as a benefit for the stage coach which will be on display for the diners.

And let’s not forget our latest news! Our long awaited barn raising has begun.
Over the weekends since August 18, volunteers have met at the museum site to begin the first display barn. The 2000-square-foot barn will house many of the Lake County Historical Society’s artifacts. The Carpenter’s Star quilt patch, donated anonymously through the Lake County Quilt Trail Project, will don the side of the completed barn.
Come share our excitement!

The docents and volunteers of the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum are partnering with Wildhurst Vineyards to present a Fall Farm to Table winemaker’s dinner on Saturday, October 20th. The event will be held at the beautifully restored Ely Stage Stop located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) and is a benefit to help with the purchase price of the newly acquired stage coach that will be on display that evening.

The six course gourmet dinner will be prepared by Chic le Chef and each course will be paired with a Wildhurst wine. Additionally, there will be live music and a storyteller speaking on the history of the stage stop, the people closely related to it – including the infamous highwaymen – and the areas of Lake County served by it.

Seating was limited to 20 people and the event has sold out!

The stage can still be viewed during regular museum hours, Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm. Watch for the announcement of future benefit events to be hosted at the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum.

Fulfilling a promise made during an April visit to the Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum, Congressman Mike Thompson returned to the museum on October 15 to present a United Sates flag that was flown over the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.

As the pictures show, Thompson feels at home at the Ely Stage Stop and fully supports the museum’s efforts to preserve a special part of Lake County’s history, providing a show place for life in the early times of the county. It was an honor to have him in attendance as the flag was raised for the first time at the museum.

The Congressman was impressed with our acquisition of the stage coach now on display at the museum and with the progress being made on the barn raising. Over the weekends since August 18, volunteers have met at the museum site to begin the first display barn. The 2000-square-foot barn will house many of the Lake County Historical Society’s artifacts.

The Ely Stage Stop and Country Museum welcomes visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The museum is located at 9921 Soda Bay Road (Hwy 281) in Kelseyville.