Millard Alva Hollenbeck
1891-1988

From "History of the Sacramento Valley", 1961

MILLARD ALVA HOLLENBECK

With experience in contracting, dating from the early years of his career, when he was associated with his father, Millard Alva Hollenbeck has in recent years been active in Auburn as a builder of residences and industrial plants. He takes a full part in the civic and organizational life of that city.

Born at Palo, Iowa, on May 3, 1891, he is a son of Alva Edison and Rose (Langguth) Hollenbeck. When he was young the family moved to Pasadena, and Alva E. Hollenbeck became a general contractor there. His son attended the public elementary and high schools of the city, and in 1909, at the age of eighteen, joined his father in the contracting business. They continued together there for some years, after which Mr. Hollenbeck was an independent contractor in southern California.

He came to Auburn about 1941, and established his own business in that city as a builder of homes, plants, and commercial structures. He has erected many fine residences in both the Auburn and the Lake Tahoe districts, and he also built a fine home for himself and his family on the crest of the hills which overlook the northern fork of the American River.

Mr. Hollenbeck is a Rotarian, and a member of the lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at Auburn. In Masonry, he is a member of the higher bodies of the order, including the chapter of the Royal Arch Masons. He has no church affiliations.

In Auburn, on June 27,1943, Millard Alva Hollenbeck married Edna Reynolds. Active in political affairs and in many organizations, Mrs. Hollenbeck is the subject of a separate biographical sketch accompanying. By a previous marriage, Mr. Hollenbeck is the father of two children: 1. Donald William who was born in Pasadena. 2. Dorothy, also born in Pasadena. She is the wife of Mr. Hayden Russell. Mrs. Russell has two children, whose names are Dusty and Jack.

EDNA REYNOLDS HOLLENBECK
(Mrs. Millard Alva Hollenbeck)

In business, in community life, in political affairs, and in organizational work, Edna Reynolds Hollenbeck (Mrs. Millard Alva Hollenbeck) has been compiling a record of noteworthy service over the past several decades. She and her husband and one married son now live in Auburn.

Born Edna Reynolds at Chico, in Butte County, on June 27, 1888, she is a daughter of Edward Tillotson and Frances Elizabeth (Barnard) Reynolds: Her father, who was born October 23, 1847, at Mendon, New York founded the firm of E. T. Reynolds and Son at Chico, which he thereafter managed. Frances Elizabeth Barnard, whom he married, was born in Glenn County, California, on September 5, 1858.

After receiving her public elementary and high school education, Mrs. Hollenbeck entered California State Teachers College at Chico. Her father had laid the cornerstone of this institution (first known as State Normal School) in the year of her birth, acting as grand master of the local Masonic lodge. She studied voice culture at Chico and Oakland, and also took two years of art courses, and two years of study in accounting.

From 1917 to 1938, Mrs. Hollenbeck was associated with the firm of E. T. Reynolds and Son at Chico. She became owner of the Hotel Auburn in 1938, and was active in the operation of this hotel until 1943, when she sold it. She has since been associated with her husband in buying and developing real estate, in building, and real estate sales. They were together in the project of building the business block known as Hollendale Village, on Highway 40 near Auburn.

A Republican, Mrs. Hollenbeck was chairman of the Women' s Republican Club in 1942. She was active in organizing the Pro-American Club in Placer County, and served for one year as its treasurer. From 1938 until 1947, she was a member of the State Chamber of Commerce Taxation Division. A member of the Auburn Chamber of Commerce from 1938 until 1944, she served as a director throughout that period. She has been secretary-treasurer of the Auburn Community Foundation.

She is past chairman of the Auburn Chapter of the American Red Cross, having held office from July, 1945, to July, 1947. While serving as committee chairman of the recreational program and public relations, she became one of the active group to establish the Auburn Recreational Park and Parkways District. She was appointed by the board of supervisors to membership on the advisory committee in December, 1947, to serve until the election the following June, as one of the group directing the program of the Recreation District. In 1950 she was elected by popular vote to serve on the same board. She was also chairman of organizations in the Auburn area interested in raising funds for swimming pools. She continued to serve on the Recreation Board until December 31, 1957. In 1953, she was appointed by Governor Earl Warren to serve on the Twentieth District Fair Board, and is still a member of that board, being currently a director in charge of the Home Economics Division.

Mrs. Hollenbeck is a former treasurer of the California Hydraulic Mining Association. She is an organizing member of the Tamsen Donner Women's Service Club of Auburn; a past member of the Business and Professional women's Club of Auburn; past president of the Soroptimist International Club at Auburn; and a member of Crystal Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in that city, having transferred there from the Josephine Chapter at Chico. A member of Pi Kappa Sigma Alumnae, she was formerly president of its Tau Chapter at Chico. This is the educational sorority of the State College. At the present time, Mrs. Hollenbeck is regent of the Auburn Emigrant Trail Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She has attended both Presbyterian and Congregational churches.

Edna Reynolds was first married to Robert Wellington Durham of Durham, Butte County, on September 5, 1906. To their marriage three children were born: 1. William Wellington, born in Durham on October 1, 1907. He is married and the father of four children. 2. Robert Wellington, born at Chico on February 14, 1911. He has two children. 3. Ruth Elizabeth, born in Oakland on April 21, 1918. She married Dr. Howard M. Joseph, and they have four children. Robert Wellington, Sr., and Edna (Reynolds) Durham were divorced in 1921. On February 1, 1926, she became the wife of Harry King Davis, who died in August, 1938, at about the time Mrs. Hollenbeck became the owner of the Auburn Hotel in Auburn. Her marriage to Millard Alva Hollenbeck took place on June 27, 1943. He is the subject of a separate biographical sketch accompanying. He is the father of three children by a previous marriage.

Sacramento Bee
February 2, 1969

Edna Hollenbeck

AUBURN - Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow in the Chapel of the Hills for Edna Reynolds Hollenbeck, 80, Auburn community leader and resident of the area for 40 years.

A native of Chico, she died yesterday in a local hospital.

She was a former owner of the Auburn Hotel and was active in many local organizations. Mrs. Hollenbeck also was treasurer of the California Hydraulic Mining Association, spearheaded the organization of the Auburn Area Park and Recreation District and was a former member of the 20th Agricultural District Fair Board.

She is survived by her husband Millard; son, William Durham of Auburn; daughter, Elizabeth D. Joseph of Sacramento, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family requests that any remembrance be sent to the Auburn Area Park and Recreation District.

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