By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Patriotic Buntings Decorate Old Building
Members
Members of the Historical Society, left, Gloria Bracco, Mary Banda, Paulette Roberson, and Marina Campbell quickly opened the buntings with delight when they arrived. - photo by VIRGINIA STILL/THE NEWS

On Saturday, June 22 the Riverbank Historical Society gathered to give the Historical Museum, 3237 Santa Fe Street, building a decorative look just in time for the upcoming holiday.

Historical Society President, Paulette Roberson was delighted when Gloria Bracco, member, donated six red, white, and blue flag buntings for the outside of the museum. Bracco purchased them from an online U.S. flag website. The buntings were made in the U.S.A., which seems to be a rare find these days, said Roberson.

As stated from the historical marker, the building was constructed in 1921 and was originally a public library. In 1996, it was placed into the National Registry of Historic Places. The history of the community is preserved in the museum by the Riverbank Historical Society.

Several members of the Historical Society were there to assist with the decorating of the building. When the patriotic buntings arrived the members did not hesitate to open up the boxes and start decorating. Councilmember, and Historical Society member, Cal Campbell grabbed the ladder, found some hooks and started putting them up on that warm Saturday.

Preston Tucker, society member also jumped into action and made sure the ladder was sturdy for Campbell. Other members like Judie Hardie, Marina Campbell, Marg Banda, Glen Ditman, Bracco and Roberson were there assisting with the placement of the buntings.

The Riverbank Rotary Club chose Tucker to be their honorary member, which means that he will no longer have to pay any dues. The Rotary also gave Tucker a check in his honor for $500 to help with funding for a new roof for the Museum. Tucker was the Fire Chief in Riverbank and has had a street named after him, Tucker Drive in Riverbank.

For the past several years the roof on the museum has needed to be fixed. The Historical Society made a deal with the City of Riverbank to split the cost of the roof to get a new roof. The item was listed on the agenda at the special meeting held on Wednesday, June 26. The City Council approved to pay half of the cost for the new roof for the museum.

Since they made the deal with the City, the members from the Society have been on a fund raising campaign. Several different businesses and clubs have also donated some funds to help the Society get the new roof they have been waiting for.

“I am delighted that we are finally going to get our roof,” said Roberson. “I hope the work on the new roof starts really soon.”

The museum will be hosting Memories Day on Tuesday, July 9 from 11 a.m. to noon. Josephine Landon will be the guest speaker that day and will be discussing the first military draft in Riverbank.

The museum is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.