LAKE COUNTY – For many years, Ruby Glebe has been the county's historian, working to document the unique stories of the people who have called Lake County home.
But before she fell in love with its history, Glebe first fell in love with the county itself.
Glebe came to Lake County from Vacaville in 1937. She lived with her brother outside of Kelseyville on a ranch.
She said she instantly fell in love with the countryside. “It was the most beautiful country I had ever seen; so much different than Vacaville,” Glebe remembered.
The county provided the opportunity for Glebe to cultivate her interest in hiking and hunting.
Glebe became acquainted with the county’s settlers and became interested in their stories. That led her to begin documenting their accounts – including the hardships they recalled as they tried to get into the county.
“This was not an easy county to settle,” Glebe explained. “The stage coach roads were rough.”
The roads went from Cloverdale to Highland Springs, Calistoga to Middletown, and Williams through Bartlett Springs, said Glebe.
Her growing interest in county history resulted in her joining the county historical society in 1955. Her work began with the discovery of the old jail in Kelseyville, located five miles out of town, where it was a mill house.
Over the course of many years, the jail was moved to Lakeport and back to its original spot in Kelseyville, she said.
One of Glebe’s major accomplishments was being part of the committee that provided the county with a museum. In 1969, two people from each district were appointed to see if the courthouse museum could be saved, she said.
“We could not raise funds through taxes,” she said. “The museum was funded with 98 percent of federal state grants. The county was split on keeping the museum. The new courthouse wanted a sweeping view of the lake.”
However, the courthouse was built on top of a spring, she said. “The museum had to stay, or else the courthouse would have slipped into the lake,” Glebe mused.
In 1978 the museum was dedicated, debt free. “It cost $498,000 and was paid for,” Glebe said, a note of satisfaction in her voice.
She served as the treasurer for 16 years and was the featured speaker at the museum’s 25th anniversary. She also served on the museum advisory board for 30 years.
Glebe also was honored for her work with the county’s Geothermal Society from 1982 to 1992. She promoted the industry and saw its great potential.
“Air pollution was a major concern, but that can be controlled,” Glebe explained. “It is a heavily restricted, good, clean industry.”
When she's not busy helping to document the county's history, she has helped beautify the county by planting flowers and trees along Kelsey and Stone creeks.
Glebe’s work is a labor of love. She's called upon her passion for the county while serving in the volunteer County Historian position.
Her dedication to the county gained her notice once again recently. Last month the Board of Supervisors presented Glebe with a proclamation honoring her work.
E-mail Emily Silva at
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