Augustin Espinoza is a history and political science major from Vanguard University who will be interning with the historical society over the fall term. Augustin will work on Mondays and Fridays for the next few months for a total of 90 hours, culminating in a letter grade. His primary work will be to develop a finding aid for Nell Murbarger’s non-local photographs. Next time you see him, be sure to say hello!
Stop by our booth at the 71st Annual Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Fish Fry this September 21-23 in Fairview Park. The popular festival expects an attendance of 15,000, and will feature live music, vendors, and carnival rides, not to mention plenty of fish made with Heinz Kaiser’s secret 70-year-old batter recipe.
“Even people who don’t like fish like ours,” says Mike Schaefer.
Costa Mesa Historical Society volunteers will be showing the DVD Echoes from the Fields and selling items from our gift shop. We are sharing the booth with the Friends of the Costa Mesa Libraries. It’s a nice partnership since we share the parking lot at Lions Park.
Proceeds from the event are donated to organizations throughout the community. So come on by and show your support!
Historical Society Charter Member Henry S. “Hank” Panian passed from this life on July 14. In addition to his career as a history professor at Orange Coast College and a dedicated family man, Hank made time for community service and your Historical Society.
Hank became a charter member of the Historical Society in 1966. Since that time he has:
Hank received the Society’s Living Memorial Award in 1987 and special recognition as one of two surviving charter members of the Society in 2015.
Rest in peace, Hank. This society will never forget your contributions.
— Art Goddard
The Costa Mesa Historical Society is currently accepting nominations for its Living Memorial Award. The award is presented to an individual:
Those wishing to nominate someone to receive the Living Memorial Award should submit a letter to the Costa Mesa Historical Society. The letter should state the nominee’s full name, some information about the individual, their achievements, and why the nominee is deserving of the award. The recipient(s) will be selected by the Board of Directors.
Please address the letter to:
Living Memorial Award
Board of Directors
Costa Mesa Historical Society
P.O. Box 1764
Costa Mesa, CA 92628
August 28 marks the 52nd anniversary of the restoration of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe. Originally built in the early 1800s as an outpost for vaqueros from Mission San Juan Capistrano, the adobe is not just Costa Mesa’s oldest building, it’s one of the oldest in Orange County.
In 1961 clapboard walls that had been built around the original building caught fire, reminding historians, among others, of the adobe structure beneath. The Segerstrom family donated the adobe’s 5-acre site to the city the next year. The city, led by assistant city engineer George Madsen, restored the structure under the direction of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Some reconstruction was necessary, but the restoration and furnishing process employed period methods wherever possible. The project was a resounding success. An estimated 700 people toured the “estancia” during the first open house in August 1966.
In 2012 Mexican artisans made further restorations. Floors were sealed, walls whitewashed, and exhibits updated, thus preserving the California landmark for a new generation.
Lovers of local history enjoyed tours of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe, live music by the Sweetwater Creek Band, and plenty of snacks at this year’s Early California Days event in Estancia Park.
A talk by cultural anthropologist Stephen O’Neil highlighted the day. O’Neil began with Spanish accounts of the Portolá expedition, then enriched the narrative with native perspectives. He drew a vivid picture of pre-colonial abundance: of water, trade, and people.
O’Neil also updated the record on Costa Mesa’s native history. Genga was the village in Fairview Park, he said, not Lukup, as was once thought.
Newport Beach Mayor Marshall “Duffy” Duffield made a surprise visit on June 7 to the Costa Mesa Historical Society’s boatbuilding exhibit.
According to exhibit curator Nancy Pedersen, “He is a really nice man and a fellow Newport High grad. Duffy liked the exhibit and his comment was ‘you need more room!’ I agree. It’s a rich history!”
Duffield is no stranger to the area’s boatbuilding tradition. He invented the popular Duffy electric boat.
The Hull Story is on view at the Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum at 1870 Anaheim Ave. The free exhibit is open to the public Thursdays and Fridays 10am-3pm or by appointment.
THANK YOU to City of Costa Mesa Public Services Maintenance Superintendents Jim Ortiz and Doug Lovell and crews for their responsiveness and upkeep of our Museum buildings exteriors and park grounds.
Society member and volunteer Barbara Panian passed away on March 30, 2018. Residents of Costa Mesa since 1956, Barbara and Hank Panian raised their family in the College Park neighborhood. Long-time docents at the Diego Sepulveda Adobe, Barbara and Hank were involved in the early days of the Society and attended many community events over the years. We offer our sincere condolences to Hank & family for their loss.
Our all-volunteer staff contributes more than 6,000 hours per year to fulfill the Costa Mesa Historical Society’s mission to preserve and promote Costa Mesa history. At the March general meeting, President Dave Gardner presented the United States President’s Volunteer Service Awards to the following society volunteers: Kathy Bequette, Sharon Dearing, Art Goddard, Mary Ellen Goddard, Cindy Humphries, Bob Palazzola, Dave Rusher, Terry Shaw, Karl Von Herzen, Hope Von Herzen, Annette Watson, and Susan Weeks.