FIDDLETOWN SCHOOHOUSE BUFFET BREAKFAST AND BAKE SALE November 9, 2008

The crisp autumn air carries the scent of maple syrup and bacon to guide visitors to Fiddletown on Sunday, Nov. 9 for the 14th Annual Fiddletown Schoolhouse Buffet Breakfast and Bake Sale from 8 a.m. to noon at the Fiddletown Community Center .

Sponsored by the Fiddletown Preservation Society, this scrumptious all-you-can-eat breakfast will consist of French toast, scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, bacon, sausage, pastries/muffins, fresh fruit, orange juice, tea and coffee. The cost for the savory meal is $8 for adults, $3 for ages 6 to 16 and $1 for ages 5 and under.

The bake sale will feature local homemade goodies and desserts. Donations of your favorite treat will be gratefully accepted. Just bring it along the day of the breakfast.

Also for sale will be the local history book, “Fiddletown: From Gold Rush to Rediscovery,” by local author and historian Elaine Zorbas, who will be signing books for anyone who purchases one that day. The book offers a glimpse into the personal stories of past residents of this charming gold rush town. Prints of the schoolhouse and other items will available for sale.

All proceeds benefit the Schoolhouse Restoration Fund. The historic one-room schoolhouse is located on American Flat Road across from the Fiddletown Cemetery. The original building was built in 1862. By 1863, 124 children were enrolled at Fiddletown School. The town’s name was changed to Oleta in 1878 and the building became known as Oleta School. It served children in grades 1 through 8 until 1955 when the school was closed and students began attending school in the town of Plymouth six miles away.

Restoration work on the schoolhouse continues to progress. Although the septic system has run into a snare, other work is being completed in the main schoolroom. The ceiling and walls are covered with the trim of the windows and blackboards. The lighting of the school room is on from the front to the rear of the building.

The small gold rush community of Fiddletown is located 40 miles southeast of Sacramento in Amador County. The breakfast and bake sale will be held at the Community Center, which is easy to find on the main street – just look for the building with the giant fiddle on top.

FPS is a non-profit organization incorporated in 1964. Membership in the Society is open to anyone interested in preserving, maintaining and restoring the historical buildings, records and relics of Fiddletown. For more information on the Fiddletown Schoolhouse Buffet Breakfast and Bake Sale, call Mary Kwoka at (209) 245-3041. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Fiddletown Schoolhouse Restoration Fund, PO Box 53, Fiddletown, CA 95629. To learn more about the FPS, visit the Fiddletown Preservation Society's web site at www.fiddletown.info.