GALT, CA (MPG) - For nearly four decades, the Galt Area Historical Society has worked to preserve pieces of Galt’s past that might otherwise have been lost to dumpsters, forgotten storage boxes or abandoned buildings.

That mission is on full display inside the Rae House Museum, a Victorian Queen Anne Cottage-style home located at 204 Oak Ave. Visitors can walk through rooms filled with artifacts tied directly to local history, including Galt High School memorabilia, wartime tributes, farming relics and family heirlooms.

 

A mannequin displays a historic Galt High School band uniform alongside a photograph of the theater inside the school’s former campus.

“It was in pretty sad shape,” said museum historian Daniel Tarnasky, recalling the condition of the house before restoration efforts began. “Kids had gotten in here. It was vandalized, spray painted. So, it took a lot of work.”

Built in 1868, the Rae House was once home to early Galt resident John Rae and his family. After  years of deterioration following the death of longtime resident Alice Rae (John’s daughter) who remained in the home alone after her family moved away, the property was nearly demolished before the historical society stepped in.

The group launched its “Save the Rae” campaign to acquire the home and convert it into a museum for the city. Funding came through a mix of fundraisers, donations, business support and assistance from the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors. The city ultimately secured the house for the historical society after negotiating a deal with a developer.

Since then, restoration and upkeep have remained ongoing. Current improvements include new south-facing windows, planned floor restorations and ceiling repairs caused by temperature fluctuations inside the aging structure.

Tarnasky, who has been with the historical society for nearly a decade and serves as the resident historian, said the museum’s collection has evolved significantly over the years. Early donations helped furnish the home, but many items initially had little connection to Galt.

“After 30 years, there was a lot of things that didn’t have anything to do with Galt history,” he said. “So, everything you see in here now, about 99% of it, has to do with local history.”

Today, the museum highlights Galt’s agricultural roots as well as its schools, churches, military veterans and longtime community figures.

Among its more unusual artifacts that Tarnasky pointed out are two wooden grave markers from the Quiggle family, Lack Quiggle who founded the Herald Store, which served as temporary markers while stone markers were being built.

For Tarnasky, preserving those items reflects the society’s broader mission of “preserving the irreplaceable.”

“If we didn’t save it, a lot of it would go into a dumpster, and that’s happened before,” he said.

He recalled multiple rescues of local artifacts throughout his time at the society, including high school trophies from the 1920s and 1930s, a senior bench from Galt High School and records from organizations that no longer exist.

“That’s kind of what we do is try to keep that from happening,” Tarnasky said.

The Rae House itself also reflects Galt’s origins. Tarnasky said the city was originally a farming community that was established when founder Dr. Obed Harvey donated land to bring the railroad through town.

 

A wall inside the Rae House Museum is dedicated toward the history of Galt High School, including all its past and present principals, a timeline of events and an old bench donated to the society that was once located in the school’s main hallway.

“You can’t have a station without a town,” he said.

While wheat production once anchored the local economy, Tarnasky said Galt has changed dramatically over time and no longer relies on its agricultural roots to support its residents. Even so, he believes preserving its history remains essential as the city continues to grow.

“A lot of the people that came to Galt did it in the last 30 or 40 years, so they’re not really attached to it as some of the older ones are,” he said. “But they still need to learn where Galt came from.”

Tarnasky encouraged residents to consider donating items they may come across while cleaning out homes or family estates, noting that many everyday objects can hold important local history worth preserving.

 

Galt Area Historical Society resident historian Daniel Tarnasky points to a corner in the Rae House Museum that displays the history of Galt High School’s former aeronautical program offered from 1927 to 1929.

The historical society recently shifted its museum hours from the first Sunday of each month to the first Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to coincide with the Saturday Market and encourage more visitors to stop by. The nonprofit also continues to raise funds through annual events, including its Extravaganza and car show at McFarland Living History Ranch scheduled for July 11.

For more information about the society, donation inquiries or to schedule a tour, visit galthistory.com or email [email protected].