Streetscape Committee honors 5 with engraved tiles

Five people who made contributions to building Auburn and Placer County were recognized with an honorary tile Thursday. The City of Auburn Streetscape History and Arts Advisory Committee (SHAAC) presented the engraved tiles, which can be found at Central Square Art Park. The committee was formed out of the larger Auburn Urban Development Authority in 2009. The unveiling reception to honor the installations was held at the Auburn Chamber of Commerce. A short program included historical reenactments for four of the five people, as one of them is still alive today. The new tiles are: * Virginia Jane (Ray) Bell. After becoming a widow at age 41 with 6 children, she took over the Bell Electric Company, which brought lights to Auburn in 1889. She was also the first president of the Auburn Women's Improvement Club. Patti Baker reenacted Bell. * Monroe "Spud" DeJarnette. He was a visionary founder of the Auburn Symphony in 1988 and champion of the Auburn State Theatre. He was a much-loved musician, educator, conductor, community and service club leader and volunteer. He was also a winner of the 2000 McCann Award. Linda King, DeJarnette's daughter, felt he built a bond once he moved to Auburn. "My dad loved Auburn," King said. "What he really loved the most was when he learned the heart and soul of Auburn. He got to know the people who he realized shared his passion. He wanted to live in this beautiful town that he also wanted to enrich the cultural environment." King said her father loved to go backpacking. "He loved nature, and he loved music," King said. "The two were hand in hand." King said he loved to parachute out of airplanes in the 1940s and '50s. DeJarnette taught music classes at Foresthill High School. Wanting to make Auburn his home for the rest of his life, DeJarnette had the family home built that would look out to the coast range and the Sutter-Buttes. "He (could) tell you stories about house building," King said. "He wanted to retire in a beautiful place, in a beautiful setting. … He was my hero." * Dr. John F. Engle. He was the Placer High School principal from 1906 until 1936. During his tenure, he stressed prominence in academics and athletics. He saw the expansion of the landmark buildings seen on campus today. He also established Placer College in 1936, which later became Sierra College. Bill Gray reenacted the principal. The actor talked about Engle being born on a farm in Indiana. As the future educator grew up, he wanted to do more than just be a farmer in which most people around that state were like. "I loved conversation and debate," Gray said, reenacting Engle. "My teachers insisted on discipline, repetition." That developed into earning college degrees in philosophy, psychology and law. He went on to teach history and economics in Utah. Engle was a multitasker when he arrived on the Placer High campus. Along with his administrative duties, he also taught history and mathematics. * Joanne Neft is a businesswoman and visionary who devoted her life to preserving and promoting art and agriculture. She pioneered the region's Farm to Fork movement. She founded the Auburn Foothill Farmers Market in 1989 and the Mountain Mandarin Festival in 1994. Former Placer County Supervisor Jim Holmes spoke of Neft's success that included seeing the growth of a farmers market in Davis. "Most of us know Joanne," Holmes said. "The agriculture community was blessed when Joanne arrived on the scene in Placer County. She recognized the history of agriculture in Placer County from the Gold Rush to today." Neft spoke to the large gathering at the installation, saying, "When I came to Placer County, there was no farmers market. My parents lived in Santa Barbara, and there was a farmers market there." Familiar with the farmers market in Davis, Neft felt it was time to get one going in Placer County. "I went to the (Placer County) Board of Supervisors," recalled Neft, who was given $2,000 to start a farmers market in the county. Neft pointed out there are now 14 farmers markets in the county. Most are in-season, and three run year-round. "Which I think is quite amazing," Neft said. * Gussie Alberta (Wright) Stewart. She was the first female attorney in Placer County in 1915 and first woman president of the Placer County Bar Association in 1940. She started the Auburn Camp Fire Girls and was a fierce protector of women's and children's rights. Marsha Porte reenacted Stewart. Brad Weisberg portrayed Stewart's husband. "I represented businesses and practiced in several areas of law," Porte said as Stewart. "I think the cases that meant the most to me were the ones that I represented women and children. Especially in cases that were in abusive situations; divorce, custody, support matters." During their marriage, Stewart and her husband raised 19 children, all of whom came from abusive situations. "We felt grateful that we could help and get them back on their feet," Porte said.