Steam Donkey Steam Up & Powerhouse Demo Dedication to Patrick Emmert

Steam Donkey Steam-Up & Powerhouse Demonstration Dedication to Patrick Emmert

Please join us on Sunday, May 28th at 9:00 am for our first Powerhouse Demonstration and Steam Donkey Steam-up dedicated to past board member and friend, Patrick Emmert. John Mount will present a plaque donated by Sierra Cascade Logging Conference in Patrick’s honor. Coffee and pastries will be provided.

Patrick Earl Emmert passed away on April 2, 2022 following a brief illness. He was born in Madera, CA on December 28, 1948. After graduation from Madera High School, Patrick worked as a firefighter in the Bass Lake area. That summer job set his career path, as he attended Humboldt State College, graduating with a degree in Forestry. His career was expanded as he worked in Canada, the Rocky Mountains and, finally back home in the Sierra Nevada, working as a Forestry Engineer. Later, he worked for Southern California Edison in the Shaver Lake region, working with loggers, engineers, pilots and government agencies.

As a hobby, Patrick helped assemble and exhibit logging artifacts for the Museum of the Sierra in Shaver Lake, including a restored, fully functional 1905 Dolbeer Steam Donkey, that he recovered in the forest with the help of his friend Mike Waters. His generous contributions to the Central Sierra Historical Society (CSHS) include being a board member from 1993 until his passing, with most of those years serving as the Secretary. Other roles at CSHS involved the Chair of the Acquisition & Exhibits Committee, an active member of the Sierra Steamers, Liaison to the Pine Logging Camp, Grant Writer, SCE Science Days Team Leader, and the CSHS Liaison with the Sierra Cascade Logging Conference. In addition to the steam donkey on display, he aided in the recovery of the second one currently being restored, and the newest exhibit, the Hayden Sawmill. He was instrumental in acquiring one of our future exhibits, the Emmert Stamp Mill. One of Patrick’s greatest accomplishments for the Historical Society was his production of a list of local sawmills from “back in the day”.

Known as a friend and mentor to many, Patrick will be remembered for his quiet strength, his integrity, his infectious laugh and humor and, his generous nature.

Sponsors: