The Douglas County Historical Society seeks to enrich lives by preserving local history and making it accessible to its communities and visitors, as stated in their website. Following this motto, the private and non-profit corporation has programmed, for the first time ever, a storytelling evening, for this May the 3rd. The Lekumberry family, owner of the J.T. Basque Bar in Gardnerville, Nevada has been invited to share their history and stories with their fellow citizens. “It’s an honor for us,” said Marie-Louise Lekumberry to EuskalKultura.com.
Gardnerville, NV. “People like to hear stories,” in the words of Cindy Rogers, director of the DCHS. “So this program seems to be popular. And us being a history society, listening is the best thing we can do.”
Rogers thinks that storytelling might also be a more appealing way for youngsters to show up to this kind of events. “In our programs, we mostly have people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. But we think that younger people might be attracted by this type of plans.”
For Lekumberry, “it’s an honor" to do this "in this beautiful community". "In a way, it’s like representing the Basque history, along with our family’s history.” Almost the whole family will be there, represented by three different generations, although Marie-Louise and her two brothers, J.B. and Robert, are the ones that will conduct the talk, aided by a power point presentation, pictures, and some videos.
To know who we are
“When we know where we come from we know who we are,” said Lekumberry. “It is important to have an identity and a history to have and share. Because our story just happened to be Basque, but we all came from somewhere. So it is a Basque story, but a universal story as well. It’s an immigrant story that you can extrapolate.”
They will first tell their father’s story (Jean Lekumberry) and how, being just 22, arrived in Gardnerville from the Basque Country, “with $32 in his pocket,” to work as a sheepherder. Then they will talk about what the city looked like in 1947, when Jean immigrated, and about the life in one of the many Basque Hotels that were there.
The talk will be at the Carson Valley Museum and Cultural Center, this Sunday, May 3, between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. There will be light refreshments and there will be no entrance fee. For more information, email dchs@historicnv.org or call to the following number: (775) 782-2555.
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