ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS for MAIN STREET: THEN AND NOW
“The unique quality of a small town is that an individual can be known and can make an impact. Neighbors who believe in a cause can work together to make it a reality. …The enduring qualities of Willits have been determined by the people who have made it their home, and who have devoted time and energy to making that home the kind of place they want to live.” Mary Campagna, formerly of the Mendocino County Museum, an editor of the Willits Hometown Guide (1986)
We wish to remember in particular Lynn Kennelly, who dedicated nearly three decades as Director of the Willits Chamber of Commerce. In Lynn’s words: “You just gotta love your community and the people in it enough to take time to invest in a relationship, treating everybody like family, with respect. That’s what resonated with me when I moved to Willits, that people genuinely care about each other.”
In the spirit of all those who have devoted time and energy to this project, by granting an interview or donating photos or simply sharing stories, we would like to thank the many people who contributed to Main Street: Then and Now.
Mike A’Dair
Tom Allen
Laura Allman
Ann Alumbaugh
Fritz Bacci
Chris Baldo
Bill Barksdale &
Joe Dowling
Russell & Sylvia Bartley
Kate Black
Hugh Boone
Doug Brown
Betsy Bruneau
Bruce Burton
Edie Ceccarelli
Linda Costecki
Misty Cook
Lori Dorholt
Ellen & David Drell
Dusty Duley
Bonnie Harrah Dye
Steve Eberhard
Judy Fisch
Evelyn & Adrian Fisher
John & Charline Ford
Bud & Sharon Garman
Sally Gearhart
John Glyer
Emmy Good
Pauline Grzanich
Ralph Pisciotta
Annette Piñon
William Ray
Jarvis Raymond
Dorothy Willburn Reid
Martin Rodriguez
June Ruckman
Gail Savarese
John Sherman
Javier Silva
Claudia Smith Hill
Sienna Stone
Larry & Virginia Stranske
Larry & Kathy Strathman
Pete Swanton
Dave & Nong Sirada Tomes
Robin & Jim Tomes
Nina Tran
Francisco Trejo
Mary Anne Trevey
Melissa Ulrich
John Wagenet
Annie Waters
David West
Dusty Whitney
Earlene & Bob Whittaker
Ron Wilburn
Stewart Wilburn
Richard Willoughby
Gail & John Yde
Sherri Gregory-Pruett &
Herb Pruett
Bruce Haanstra
Margie Harrah Handley
Anita Sison &
Rick Hawley
Claudia Smith Hill
Frank Howard
Priscilla Hunter
Richard Jergensen &
Annie Waters
Valerie Kendrick
Lynn Kennelly
James King
Marc Komer
Tom Lucier
Ann & Jon Maglinte
Sara & Tom Mann
Arnie Mello
Opal Miner
Maureen Moore
Cindy & Verne Morninglight
Glenn Neutren
Charlotte Oeding
Joan Greenberg Papantoniadis
Ron Parker
Victoria Patterson
Lee & Evelyn Persico
Bob Petty
We would also like to thank those from the following organizations for their assistance of all kinds:
Willits City Hall and Planning Department
Willits High School
Willits News Photo Archive
Willits Photo Club
Grace Hudson Museum
Mendocino County Historical Society
Whitney’s Babcock House Museum
Willits Branch, Mendocino County Library
Main Street: Then and Now
There would be no exhibit at all were it not for the curiosity, creativity, persistence, scholarship, and investment of energy and time by Kim Bancroft and Judi Berdis. They took an idea and ran with it, unfurling the banners of history and imagination, and reaching out to the Willits community. Our gratitude for their work as guest curators and story-catchers, and for their research, insights, and perseverance. Behind and in front of every great exhibit is a designer, an architect of the structures described in words, and printer of the images painted in thoughts. That wizard is Kiersten Hanna and her staff at Braggadoon Signs & Graphics, a partner in every sense in the creation of this exhibit. We are exceeding grateful to Mendocino County Museum’s Program Specialist/Curator, Neeka Aguirre. She was responsible for shepherding the project, coordinating the elements, overseeing the installation, and all-round communication, ably assisted by our Summer Intern, Anna Heckadon, This exhibit was made possible through the guidance and support of MENDOCINO COUNTY MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS, Steve Prochter, Scott Ferleman, Brent Walker, Gail Yde, and Alyssa Ballard.
This exhibit is produced and funded by Mendocino Museum Community Partners (MMCP) dedicated to supporting the Mendocino County Museum through Exhibits, Education, and Events for Community Engagement. MMCP is very thankful for a grant for the Main Street Exhibit from the Judy Pruden Historical Preservation Fund of the Community Foundation of Mendocino County and for generous support from the George & Ruth Bradford Foundation.