Book benefits burnt-out Paradise museum

PARADISE — Did you know that the Skyway between Chico and Paradise was named by Mrs. Mathilde B. Sorenson of Brookside Avenue in Paradise, and that she won a $25 bond for coming up with the name in a contest held before the road opened in July 1950?

Well, you would if you read a newly published book compiled to assist the Gold Nugget Museum.

The main museum on Pearson Road was destroyed in the Camp Fire last November. It still operates out of the much smaller Depot Museum in the Paradise Community Park off Black Olive Drive. There are plans to rebuild at the Pearson Road site, and such artifacts as can be salvaged are being collected for that eventuality.

But as is the case with rebuilding much of Paradise, the question is how to pay for it.

That was the question on the minds of a couple of historically minded folks a few weeks back. Beth Hoyt of ABC Books in Chico was talking with Josie Reifschneider-Smith of the Association for Northern California Historical Research, a Chico-based publisher of historical books, wishing there was a way they could help the museum.

“We were talking and I said, ‘why don’t you do a book?’” Hoyt said Friday, recounting the conversation. “Josie said, ‘we can do that’,” and the ball started rolling from what Reifschneider-Smith called a “shared lightbulb” of inspiration.

ANCHR approached the museum, which was more than eager to participate. The museum’s bi-annual publication provided ample material to draw from, and 36 articles that provide a quite comprehensive overview of Paradise’s history were gathered into the book, taking its title — “Tales of the Paradise Ridge” — from the museum’s publication.

There are stories in the book about the Dogtown Nugget and the Honey Run covered bridge. You can read about the Pearson House — now the site of the ACE Hardware store — and “Leaking Pipes Part of Ridge History.” And isn’t that the case again after the Camp Fire?

The book was provided at cost to the museum, so it gets all the profits of the editions it sells. It’s available at the Depot Museum, which is open noon-4 p.m. Thursday through Monday at 5570 Black Olive Drive.

It’s also available at other locations, including ABC Books at 950 Mangrove Ave. in Chico. “It’s actually doing very well,” Hoyt said. “People come in and buy one, then come buy another for other people from the area.”