Catching up: Friends reunite at Old Timers’ picnic

There were cans of beer instead of the traditional keg at the Truckee Old Timers’ Picnic on Saturday, but not much else was different than last year’s get-together.

“I’m not sure if that means people are drinking more or drinking less,” said 29-year-old Chelsea Walterscheid of Truckee. “Otherwise the picnic is kind of the same old thing.”

People sat, reminisced and caught up on current events since the previous picnic.

One difference at this year’s picnic – besides the absence of a tap – was that there was no raffle. Instead attendees received a mug commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Truckee Donner Historical Society.

But no change may be a good thing for the 23-year-old picnic, which has had dwindling attendance in years past. Historical Society President Sharon Pace Arnold counted 108 heads at Truckee River Regional Park for this year’s gathering – comparable to the turnout at the 2002 picnic.

Arnold and other historical society volunteers signed up two new members for the historical society, sold eight photos and 19 books on Truckee history. They also recruited three picnickers to volunteer at the old jail museum.

There were also some new faces, which gives her hope for future picnics, she said.

“There will always be an Old Timers’ Picnic, but anyone, young or old, can come,” Arnold said.

It’s the younger generations that will keep the Old Timers’ Picnic going. Walterscheid, a relative youngster at the picnic, said she would like to see more people from her generation attending. A lot of people are under the impression that only multi-generation Truckee families can go, she said.

“I don’t want them to not come because they don’t think they’re old enough,” said Walterscheid, who has been to the picnic for six years. “This is a cry out for help for all those young people to come out and talk to me.”

For more information on the Truckee Donner Historical Society, call 582-0893.