A large group of South Lake Tahoe friends gathered for a night at the Ranch.

We arrived early for a tour of the Dangberg home and grounds.
 
And we picnicked in history. What a great gathering of friends (old and new).


Cindy Southerland began, and ended, her Chautauqua of Annie H. Martin: The First Woman to Head a U.S. Treasury Facility, the Assay Office at Carson City as herself. Interestingly, in addition to performing as a Chautauquan, she is a historian and the author of the book Cemeteries of Carson City and Carson Valley.
For almost an hour, Cindy introduced us to Annie Hudnall Martin's life, from her birth in 1857 to her death in 1928. And what a life it was! Unlike the Anne H. Martin of woman’s suffrage fame, Annie Hudnall Martin was decidedly anti-suffrage (this prompted a great deal of discussion at the conclusion of Cindy's presentation).  We learned that Annie was the first kindergarten teacher in Nevada. After thirteen years of teaching, she purchased the Carson Daily News and served as its editor. She then secured a job as a clerk at the Assay Office, eventually being appointed as the first woman to serve as Superintendent by President Warren G. Harding. In addition to her career-minded pursuits, Annie served as organist for the Presbyterian Church for 40 years, played for inmates at the Nevada State Prison on holidays, enjoyed traveling, taking photographs, writing and even raised her great nephew during the last years of her life.
There is something so magical about learning history in such a historical setting.