ABOUT US
MISSION STATEMENT
The Dixon Historical Society strives to protect, preserve, and promote the history of Dixon and its surrounding areas by honoring its first inhabitants, The Wintun/Patwin native peoples, the Spanish and Mexican governance of this area, along with the pioneering families and various cultural groups who later settled here. We are a 501(c)(3) membership-based organization that contributes time and resources to interpret and sustain local history, and to provide community outreach through museum exhibits, lectures, events, research, publications, and educational activities, in order to ensure a legacy that will enrich the lives of present and future generations.
Employment Opportunities
with the Dixon Historical Society
None at this time.
OFFICERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Frank McKinney
Museum Curator
Frank was born and raised in Iowa. He went to high school in Bettendorf Iowa and then to College at Iowa State University where he earned a B.S. in History with lots of minor work in Forestry (although no forestry program was offered as a minor). While attending ISU, Frank joined the US Army Reserve and took some time away from schooling to attend Basic and Advanced training at Fort Moore (Benning) in Georgia. This military career lasted for 11 years. After graduation from ISU, Frank went to work for the Minnesota Historical Society as a Site Guide at Historic Fort Snelling and as a Microfilm Technician with the Library and Archives Division of the MNHS. It was while working at Fort Snelling that Frank began blacksmithing under the tutelage of Master Blacksmith Tom Sanders. After 36 years, Frank is still a practicing blacksmith and teaches blacksmithing classes at his shop, Sentinel Forge, in Garden Valley.
During his time at Living History Farms and the Floyd County Museum, Frank completed his M.S. Degree in History. In conjunction with the academic work in history, Frank also incorporated museum studies into his degree program and attended the Cambell Center for Historic Preservation Studies in Mount Caroll Illinois. He also did an internship in collections management at the State Historical Society of Iowa.
Other positions held by Frank include: Site Manager, Old Fort Madison in Fort Madison Iowa; Historical Operations Director, Living History Farms, Des Moines Iowa; Director, Floyd County Historical Society, Charles City Iowa; Executive Director, National Museum of Forest Service History, Missoula, MT. While working as the Director at Floyd County, Frank worked for the State Historical Society of Iowa as a Grant Reviewer and Technical Assistance Network Consultant.
Frank started his own horse shoeing business in 2004 and continued that in Montana until March 2022 when he and his wife Jane, moved to Garden Valley California. The move to California was precipitated by excessive wintertime precipitation in the form of snow, and the fact that his younger son and family moved to Folsom. Frank also has another son living in Las Vegas, and a daughter living in Iowa. Frank and Jane have 8 grandkids ranging in age from 1 to 19.
In addition to serving as the Curator for the Dixon Historical Society, Frank manages the Blacksmith Shop in Coloma for Cal State Parks and the Gold Discovery Parks Association. Frank’s goals for the DHS are to help in the strategic planning process, get a good handle on the collection and get it into a computer database, and begin a capital campaign. The ultimate goal of a capital campaign is to get the Museum into a larger facility where the Society can safely store/exhibit the collection and hold public programs for the community.
Kim Schroeder-Evans
President
Born and raised in Dixon, Kim Schroeder-Evans appreciates her familial history. Like most immigrant families who come to the U.S. for a better life, hers was no exception. Her father's family came to Dixon from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany in 1860 in search of work. Her mother's family came to Dixon from Scotland (via Tennessee) in 1917 in hopes of a better life. As Interim President, Kim spends her time helping to plan programs for the quarterly meetings, educational outreach and community outreach. If you have any topics of interest that you would like to learn more about through the Dixon Historical Society, please email dhs.dixonhistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Vice-President
Bill Schroeder
I am a 5th generation resident of the Dixon/ Silveyville area. My families came from the Schleswig/Holstein area of then Prussia and later Germany. Married to Kathy for 54 years, and we have been blessed with 3 sons, 3 grandsons, and 3 granddaughters who live in Dixon. I would love to see them take interest in the history of Dixon as they get older. My interest in history started with U S History in Dixon High School and continued throughout my life. I was too busy farming and never thought of joining the Dixon Historical Society until around 2008 when I was retiring from farming. About that time Ardeth Riedel asked me to be her VP. She said there wasn't much for the VP to do, so I said "Yes, I'll give it a try." Little did I know she was setting me up for the "Big Job.” Some of my accomplishments include getting the Dixon Public Library to digitize and index the Dixon Tribunes, and I have digitized most of the grammar schools and all the high school yearbooks, up to 2018. I’ve enjoyed working with the DHS Board and am proud of finally accomplishing what so many before us had always wanted--the Dixon History Museum.
Diane Schroeder
Treasurer
My family arrived in Dixon in 1917 and my husband Syd’s in 1860 in the Silveyville area. Dixon’s 1940 population was approximately 1,100. By the 70’s, Dixon’s population had increased to 5,000. Feeling that the City was overpopulated, we moved to the Silveyville area to raise our children. Our home is where the Silveyville hotel once stood which was also a stop for the stagecoach and Pony Express on their way to San Francisco. I was employed by Armour and Co. (formally Mace Meat Co.) as the Director’s secretary and accounts payable bookkeeper until 1969. I retired in 2007 from UC Davis as the Business Office Manager and Financial Officer for The Center for Health and Environment and the Ag Health and Safety Center. With the opening of the Dixon History Museum, we can document, preserve our history and have educational events for our children and the community.
Ashley Alvarez
Secretary
Although Ashley may be considered a “transplant,” she has lived in Dixon for almost 25 years and is extremely proud to be a part of such a tight-knit community. Ashley fell in love with volunteer work as a teenager while volunteering with her humanitarian grandmother, Jewel Fink. Along with volunteering over the years with many non-profit organizations, Ashley has also served on boards such as the Solano Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board, Tremont Elementary’s School Site Council, and held roles as the Secretary for both the City of Dixon’s Transportation Advisory Commission and Parks and Recreation Commission. Ashley’s career began in the financial industry, but she “retired” (as she likes to say) from the financial industry after she had her first born. Her retirement was short lived, however, as she still felt the need to be involved in her community, and she returned to work with the City of Dixon to serve the town where her children would grow up. After a family illness, she began assisting the family business, where she is one of the fourth generation to work there. Ashley is lucky to be supported by her doting husband, Jimmy, and has two school-aged daughters. For questions regarding volunteer opportunities or communications, please contact her at dhs.dixonhistoricalsociety@gmail.com.
Herbert Hartsook
Member-at-Large
I am an Ann Arbor, MI native and a University of Michigan graduate with my degree in History-The Administration of Archives. I have a lifelong interest in history and worked as an archivist for almost 40 years, mainly with the University of South Carolina Libraries. I hope my experience documenting life and government from the colonial period to the present will prove valuable to the Society. My wife, Melinda, and I moved here during Thanksgiving week, 2020, following our son to Northern California. We quickly fell in love with Dixon’s charms. Melinda grew up in Palo Alto and always wanted to return to the area. I also volunteer with the Friends of the Dixon Public Library and am excited at the opportunity to become more involved with this vibrant community.
Carol Abrams
Hospitality Chair
Carol Abrams is the Hospitality Representative for the Dixon Historical Society. Carol has lived her entire life in Dixon. She was born in Dixon, got her education in Dixon, married in Dixon, raised her family in Dixon and continues to be an active member of the Dixon community. Carol’s family and extended family includes 9 children, 27 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. Most of her large family has also lived in Dixon their entire lives. Carol supports the Dixon Historical Society as the Hospitality Chair, which involves planning refreshments and supporting ongoing work.
Meggie Huvar
Docent
I am Meggie Huvar. I am fourteen years old and attend Dixon High School as a freshman (9th grade). I take dance classes at Dixon Dance Studio, and am on Dance Company. I am a docent at Dixon Historical Society, and have been since the start of last summer. I love volunteering and will continue to do so throughout the years.