MISSION STATEMENT
To protect, preserve, and promote the history of Dixon along with its pioneering families through exhibits, lectures, and events as well as research, publications, and educational activities. We are a membership based organization that contributes time and financial support to collect, interpret, and sustain local history; ensuring a legacy that shall enrich the lives of present and future generations of Dixonites.
BOARD MEMBERS
Get to Know Us
We have a very important mission here at Dixon Historical Society: To educate and enlighten the minds of our visitors and to encourage curiosity and a thirst for knowledge. We believe in educating the community and passing on the joy we carry for our work. However, our work is never complete—there is always something new to learn!
BILL SCHROEDER
President
(707) 678-3655
Bill is a 5th generation resident of the Dixon/ Silveyville area. His family came from the Schleswig/Holstein area of then Prussia and later Germany. Bill has been married to his wife Kathy for 52 years and they have been blessed with 3 sons, 3 grandsons and 3 granddaughters
His interest in history began while attending Dixon High School where he took a U.S. History and his interest continued throughout his life. Bill was too busy farming and never thought of joining the Dixon Historical Society until around 2008 when he was retired from farming. About that same time Ardeth Riedel asked Bill to be the Vice President of the Historical Society. Little did he know she was setting him up for the "Big Job". So on what would had been his father's 100th birthday on January 19, 2014 Bill took the reins. Some of Bills accomplishments getting the Dixon Public Library into digitizing and indexing the Dixon Tribunes along with digitizing most of the grammar school and the high school yearbooks. But the most pleasure he has received is getting a Dixon Historical Society Board that works well together. This has allowed the Dixon Historical Society to finally accomplish what the forefathers of Dixon had always wanted, the Dixon History Museum.
LORAN HOFFMANN
Vice President
(707) 372-7094
Migrating from Vallejo to Dixon along her husband and two young sons in the mid-seventies, Loran and her family immediately loved the small town of approximately 3,000 people. They had built their home on the edge of town facing west to the Vaca Mountains and a field of watermelons. Retiring from UC Davis in 2005, Loran enjoys traveling and studying history of the 1800’s - 1950. She considers Dixon her home and loves discovering and sharing interesting facts about the history of Dixon and the families that have chosen to make it their home.
CAROL ABRAMS
Second Vice President
(707) 330-4485
COMING SOON!
MARIA CORNEJO LOPEZ
Secretary
(916) 275-1684
After a 38-year career in human resources management with the State of California, Maria has settled down to retired life, except when she and her husband, Joaquin, are off exploring new parts of the world. She was born (in Dr. Long’s downtown office) and raised in Dixon. She earned her B.S. in Business Administration from CSU, Sacramento, and soon afterward married Joaquin and had her children, Amanda and Esteban. She is dedicated to preserving and documenting not only her family’s history, but also that of her beloved hometown.
DIANE SCHROEDER
Acting Treasurer & Member at Large
(707) 678-2698
COMING SOON!
NELSON SPARKS
Member at Large
The Sparks family roots go back to 1850 in the Northern California area. They were ranchers in Solano, Yolo and Yuba Counties. His father was in the Navy and had numerous CONUS and overseas assignments. Nelson graduated from UC Davis, joined the Air Force and served twenty five years in aircraft maintenance and logistics, his last assignment was at Travis AFB. Nelson and his family have lived in Dixon since 1999.
KAYLA NELSON
Historical Society Intern & Website Administrator
A Northern California native, Kayla was born and raised in the Lodi area. She is a mother of two and her husband is Active Duty Air Force stationed at Travis AFB. She has lived in Missouri, Kansas, Texas and in 2019 the Air Force brought her family back to California. They fell in love with the Dixon and decided to plant some roots down. Kayla attends the University of Nebraska at Kearney where she is working towards her degree in History; her focus is public history, archives and museums.