Support artists and have a cool treat at a Victorian Fremont house
By Arathi Satish
Step back in time and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere of Shinn Park while eating delicious ice cream and looking at local art around one of Fremont’s historical sites. Sponsored by Fremont Cultural Arts Council and Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, the event will be held on Sunday, July 21. Connie Chew, President, Fremont Cultural Arts Council said, “We are pleased to bring back Arts and Crafts in Shinn Park. Combining this event with the Mission Peak Heritage Society’s Victorian Ice Cream Social will mean there will be more fun.”
Al Minard, who has been organizing this event for many years, said, “Local artists and crafters will display, demonstrate and sell their art work on the lawn in front of the 148-year-old Shinn House. Art work includes paintings, quilts, photographs, ceramics, etc. All sales of arts and crafts go completely to the artists. There is no charge for enjoying the art, music and dancing.”
Visitors can tour the historic Shinn House with a docent dressed in historic costume, or they can relax and walk around the beautiful gardens maintained by the Friends of the Heirloom Flowers (who will also be at the event selling plants). They can see unusual trees, colorful flowers and enjoy the musical performances.
Minard pointed out, “The Shinn family arrived in what was then Niles in 1856, established a plant nursery, and later developed orchards and gravel quarry.” The family donated land so a church, a veterans hall and an elementary school could be built. Minard continues, “Shinn family members became authors, teachers, publishers, diplomats, forest rangers, etc. Allen Shinn became a three-star Admiral in the United States. By taking a tour of this beautiful house you can not only learn about the family but the workers who lived and worked there. There is so much history and beauty in this park for you to enjoy.”
The youth can once again participate in a special local event. The Shinn House is one of the nine local Passport to Adventure sites, generating traffic on Facebook and other social media platforms. To learn more about the Passport to Adventure program, see the Museum of Local History – Passport to Adventure page (https://museumoflocalhistory.org/passport-to-adventure/).
Apart from ice cream, there will be soft drinks and water available for purchase from noon until 4pm. The docent-led house tours provided by Mission Peak Heritage Foundation will begin at noon with the last tour at 3:30pm. The house was completed in 1876 and the interior walls and woodwork are the same pattern and colors as the house was in the 1880s. Milicent Shinn, the daughter of James and Lucy Shinn was the first woman to earn a Ph.D. from the University of California and this was her home during much of her life. (Cameras are permitted both on the grounds and in the house.)
As local artists and crafters will be selling their artwork, the community will not only benefit from this event, it also provides an opportunity to purchase one-of-a-kind items. Profits will be used for historical preservation and restoration by Mission Peak Heritage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
For more information call Joan Butler at (510) 795-0891, visit www.historicshinnhouse.org or visit FCAC website at www.freemontculturalartscouncil.org or email Al Minard at am********@co*****.net .
Victorian Ice Cream Social & Arts and Crafts in Shinn Park
Sunday, Jul 21
11am – 4pm
Shinn Park
1251 Peralta Blvd., Fremont
Park Admission: Free
Tours of Shinn House: $4 adults, $2 children 7-15, under 7 free
