Did you know there are stormwater exfiltration tanks buried underneath the yet-to-be-constructed parking lot? The pit to hold the exfiltration tank is more than 9 feet deep. After the tanks are in place they are surrounded with gravel. Finally, the tanks are covered over, ready for construction of the parking lot. Amazing, huh?
The west side of the historical society’s building at 1870 Anaheim Avenue is undergoing a major transformation from turf with shade trees to parking lot. With the removal of the shade trees, the society was faced with the prospect of an increased heating effect of the afternoon sun on our floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows. The solution? Insulation!
A call to our friends at Ganahl Lumber netted us a donation of 14 sheets of rigid foam insulation. On Friday, April 6, a team of volunteers installed the insulation in the west-facing window frames. Thanks to Steve and Estelle Hughes, Bob Palazzola, Rob Braun, Mary Ellen and Art Goddard, the insulation panels were cut and installed in about three hours.
If you were one of the several dozen smart shoppers who visited the Costa Mesa Historical Society on Sunday, February 18, you know the difference between “vintage” and “rummage”. Everything from school yearbooks to picture frames, small furniture pieces to historic bric-a-brac was available at reasonable prices. The sale of these collectible items not only generates cash for your society, but also frees up storage space at the society building. OK, you’re a smart shopper but missed the sale. No worries — get yourself down to the society museum ASAP to see what’s left to buy. Last call!
Changes are coming to the west side of the Costa Mesa Historical Society building. In the middle of February, the west yard was stripped of its trees and turf to make way for a stormwater reservoir and parking lot in connection with the new public library and community center projects at Lions Park.
Although we are sorry to see the trees go, the society still has eleven mature trees on its east and north sides. Another “benefit” of the tree removal is better visibility of our signage from Anaheim Avenue. Stay tuned for further progress reports.
Your historical society held its annual Installation Dinner on January 26. Attended by nearly sixty society members and friends, the evening event was held at a new venue — the famous Newport Rib Company. After President Dave Gardner’s welcome, attendees enjoyed a buffet dinner which included BBQ tri-tip and chicken. Following the meal, speaker David Whiting took the audience on a “Race for the Wall,” a heart-warming tour of Vietnam vets riding motorcycles from Rancho Cucamonga, California, through America’s heartland, and on to the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Washington, DC. According to Whiting, a columnist for the OC Register, riding with the vets was “the best thing I’ve ever done.”
The final order of business was the installation of society officers and board members for the 2018 term. Experienced “installer” and former mayor Mary Hornbuckle conducted the ceremony with warmth and wit. Not leaving anything to chance, Hornbuckle also “installed” the audience to support the officers and board members throughout their 2018 terms.
After the installation, President Dave Gardner closed the meeting with his humorous monologue honed through decades of experience with Toastmasters International. — ART GODDARD
February 18, 2018, 1-4 p.m.
Join the Costa Mesa Historical Society February 18th for its second annual Bring a Friend event. This free event is being held at the Costa Mesa Historical building at 1870 Anaheim Avenue, Costa Mesa in Lions Park near the Donald Dungan Library. Last year’s offering was well-received and considered a great success. On sale will be rare local history books and other printed materials, framed historical pictures, vintage clothing, and dozens of picture frames of all sizes — including panoramic sizes, most with glass. Locals will love the large collection of yearbooks from the Newport-Mesa intermediate and senior high schools and Orange Coast College. Everyone is welcome to browse and will surely find books and other items of interest at prices from 50 cents to $75.
At the same time, you will be able to present and record stories about Costa Mesa’s unique past. Seating will be provided to those who wish to listen to these interesting tales. As always, everyone is invited to browse the museum, relax, and have refreshments.
There is free parking next to the historical society building. For more information, email us or call 949-631-5918.
The Costa Mesa Sanitary District (CMSD) recently commended the historical society for 50+ years of preserving and promoting local history. At their December 12, 2017 board meeting, the CMSD Directors presented a proclamation to historical society representatives Art and Mary Ellen Goddard. In part, the proclamation noted the society’s years of voluntary community service, our museums and research capabilities, and our partnership with the Sanitary District for wrapping the District’s utility boxes with historical images. Thank you, Costa Mesa Sanitary District!
You can see the Pump Station historical images at: cmsdca.gov/index.php/wastewater/pump-station-art-history
As the bottom of our newsletter states:
Promoting and preserving Costa Mesa history is our mission
The whole purpose of preserving any history is to inform and educate future generations on things as they were at that point in time.
This is accomplished through such things as photos, stories, records and materials.
We welcome any one of those items to add to our collection to preserve. However, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and our search for photos of Costa Mesa is endless. Photos capture a moment in time. Some of those moments represent a slice of history. An example of this was in our December newsletter showing the fire that destroyed the Clark house.
You may have a photo that was taken in Costa Mesa showing a parade, the Fish Fry, the construction of a shopping center or the destruction of an historic building or an important event and so on.
If you have any such photos, but don’t want to part with them, we would be happy to scan them into our system and you can keep the original. Any photos of early Costa Mesa are most desirable, but bring in what you have. Your participation would assist us with our very important mission.
– Bob Palazzola
Please join us January 26 at 6 p.m. at our new location, Newport Rib Company for the society’s annual installation dinner. This year’s speaker is David Whiting, an award-winning Metro columnist from the OC Register. In his talk, ”Faith and Hope: Our American Land,” “we will travel across this great country and visit the towns where volunteering still matters. We will meet people who make a difference and we will do it on motorcycles with thousands of veterans as they make their way to the war memorials in Washington, DC.”
Dinner includes chicken and tri-tip, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, garden salad, corn bread and honey butter, brownies and cookies, and non-alcoholic drinks for only $25. Reservations and payments must be finalized by Friday, January 19.
There’s still time to sign up. Call 949-631-5918 to reserve your place now.
As the bottom of our newsletter states:
“Promoting and preserving Costa Mesa history is our mission”
The whole purpose of preserving any history is to inform and educate future generations on things as they were at that point in time.
This is accomplished through such things as photos, stories, records and materials.
We welcome any one of those items to add to our collection to preserve. However, it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words and our search for photos of Costa Mesa is endless. Photos capture a moment in time. Some of those moments represent a slice of history. An example of this was in our December newsletter showing the fire that destroyed the Clark house.
You may have a photo that was taken in Costa Mesa showing a parade, the Fish Fry, the construction of a shopping center or the destruction of an historic building or an important event and so on.
If you have any such photos, but don’t want to part with them, we would be happy to scan them into our system and you can keep the original. Any photos of early Costa Mesa are most desirable, but bring in what you have. Your participation would assist us with our very important mission.