Wanting to get a little vintage-y, Lori and I headed to the Tallac Historic Site for the 35th year of the Gatsby Festival.
This two-day FREE event is held each year the second weekend in August. Normally, I would have so been in 1920’s attire but life has been a bit too busy to extend the effort. Next year!
This is a delightful celebration of the Rip Roaring ’20s with a variety of events including: guided tours, vintage automobiles, historical talks, vintage market places, a silent auction, family games & activities, and even a speakeasy.
A unique history lesson was found at a display of Twistum Toys. These cute toys were made in Oakland (1922-32), a creation of the display owner's great uncles. Twistums are now rare and hard-to-find due to the short period of time they were manufactured. The small factory employed about 50 people during its heyday. Artistically colored and finely finished, Twistums have been valued since their beginning not only as unusual toys but as mascots and ornaments as well. Capable of performing amusing stunts and amazing changeable poses, they not only effect spontaneous attraction but people do not tire of them. Collecting sets or groups was popular.
I highlight for me was a tour of the Pope Estate. This Colonial Revival Shingle Style home was first constructed by George Tallant in 1884, as a 2,000 square foot rustic-style summer cabin. Five years later, San Francisco businessman William Tevis and his wife Marabella Pacheco bought it and expanded it to more than twice its original size. The grounds include numerous outbuildings, an arboretum, and a pond.
The final homeowner was George A. Pope who bought the estate in 1923, renaming it “Vatican Lodge,” a humorous reference to the family's name. The Popes added several additions to the property and used the estate in the summers until 1965, when the family transferred the land and buildings to the US Forest Service.
The home was decorated as it was when the Popes live there in the 30s.
Okay, this embossed tape is a historic link to my past. I loved my Dymo label maker, as did the Popes, obviously. Interestingly, David Souza from Oakland, invented plastic embossing tape and the handheld plastic embossing labeler. Dymo Industries, Inc. was founded in 1958 to produce these handheld tools that use embossing tape. Steve's grandma was a well known painter and titled all her works with this unique labeling system. Funny stuff in history.
A quick stop at the Blacksmith Shop is always worth doing. What an amazing artform which is awesome to watch.
Ogling vintage clothing, meandering about in history and just being lakeside in Tahoe...this is what a Summer day should be like (okay, it could have been warmer. It was only 60°).
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