DOWNIEVILLE- The Native Daughter’s Hall, located at 318 Commercial Street in Downieville, has been gifted to the Sierra County Arts Council, the building’s fourth owner since 1864. After their first meeting spot burned, the Odd Fellows Organization
had the hall constructed. In addition to the upstairs meeting space, the lower level housed a kitchen, two bathrooms and an area capable of holding dinners/luncheons. In 1952 two organizations, the Native Sons of the Golden West (Parlor #92) and Native Daughters of the Golden West (Naomi Parlor #36), purchased the hall which they each used for their respective meetings. Occasionally, the two parlors joined together
to hold social gatherings. Then, in 1964 the Native Sons sold their half ownership to the Native Daughters. In addition to their monthly meetings the Native Daughters held two annual fundraisers that were open to community members – the Mad Hatter
Tea and an Ice Cream Social in late summer. For several years the Golden Rays Senior group used the lower level for their meetings. Then, in the late 1990’s, Sierra County contracted to house the local public library in that space. The library will remain there under the new ownership. With
interest in Native Daughters declining and upkeep becoming more difficult, the Sisters of Naomi Parlor felt that it was time to donate the building to an active organization that would not only have the capability to maintain it, but also to be able to
use it for more events to benefit the community. To quote the Art’s Council Executive Director, B. J. Jordan, “The hall will add to the cultural assets of Sierra County and be put to use for a variety of public cultural events.” The building will be officially known as the North Yuba River Hall. Since Naomi Parlor #36 voted to close the parlor permanently, they also transferred responsibility for maintaining the Downieville Museum to local Native Sons, Parlor #92.
Pictured above Native Daughter members Earlene Folsom and Karen
Galan hand over keys to the Hall to Sierra County Arts Board Member,
Feather Ortiz and Art's Council Exeutive Director B. J. Jordan.