Author Archives: nancyleek

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About nancyleek

Nancy is a retired librarian who lives in Chico, California. She is the author of John Bidwell: The Adventurous Life of a California Pioneer.

Electioneering — American Style

Posted on March 14, 2016 by nancyleek

Just as John Bidwell had his casaba melons, so Henry Wallace had his banana squash. Grown right here in Chico, the giant squash shown in this photo played a role in the presidential campaign of 1948. This item came via … Continue reading →

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Bidwell’s Political Views

Posted on March 13, 2016 by nancyleek

A snippet from a letter by John Bidwell gives a glimpse into his political views in 1891. The image may be difficult to make out — it reads as follows: What political party do you belong to? As to myself, … Continue reading →

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Chico through Time

Posted on March 5, 2016 by nancyleek

My two Bidwell books are now available at the Chico Museum.If you want to pick up a copy, you can get both books at Bidwell Mansion, Made in Chico, The Bookstore, Patrick Ranch, Chico Museum, The Rusty Wagon (Orland), or … Continue reading →

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Mystery Solved!

Posted on March 1, 2016 by nancyleek

Back in November 2014 a metal box was discovered in the base of the pioneer monument that sits on the corner of The Esplanade and So-Wil-En-No Ave. A mystery time capsule! What wonders might it hold? At the time I … Continue reading →

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A Verse for Leap Year Day

Posted on February 29, 2016 by nancyleek

Once upon a time, when the rules of courtship were strict, and a woman could only wait for a man to get a clue and propose marriage, tradition had it that during a leap year a woman could propose to … Continue reading →

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The Story of So-Wil-Len-No Avenue

Posted on February 28, 2016 by nancyleek

I was reminded this afternoon by Sandy Hill that I never followed up on the origin of the name of So-Wil-Len-No Avenue, which she asked about in a comment. The background is interesting, and worth knowing for any Chicoan who … Continue reading →

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A Little More about Nicolaus Allgeier

Posted on February 19, 2016 by nancyleek

I have written before about Nicolaus Allgeier, for whom the town of Nicolaus was named. His first employer in California, John Sutter, assigned him to run a ferry on the Feather River. John Bidwell often stopped at his place in … Continue reading →

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Where Is/Was Bidwell Avenue?

Posted on February 11, 2016 by nancyleek

Take a look at the section labeled NUMBER 3. It’s at the top of the map. That’s where I live, on Bidwell Ave. The Bidwell Ave. on this old map runs from Lindo Channel to the County Road (now Bell … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

More about the Rancho Chico Map

Posted on February 9, 2016 by nancyleek

This map has the name “B. Cussick, Agt” near the bottom. The name helps date the map. So who was B. Cussick? Bernard Cussick, known as Barney, was born in New York state in 1848. In 1876 he came to … Continue reading →

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Rancho Chico Map

Posted on February 8, 2016 by nancyleek

On my recent trip to the Bancroft Library I looked at this “Map Showing the Subdivisions of the John Bidwell Rancho,” which is in the Bidwell Family papers there.  I don’t think Meriam Library has a copy of this, or … Continue reading →

Posted in Maps, Rancho Chico | 4 Comments