Adobe Plaque Dedication

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Join us as Orange County Historical Commission dedicates a new plaque at the Diego Sepulveda Adobe on January 12. The restored adobe is the second oldest building still standing in Orange County. The plaque will recognize the adobe and the surrounding Native American site. As part of this free event, the adobe will be open for tours. So come on down to Estancia Park and celebrate the recognition of one of Orange County’s — and Costa Mesa’s…

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Read more about the article 2018 Year in Review
Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

2018 Year in Review

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Wow, hard to believe, but yes, another year just flew by! And what a year it was! Our accomplishments include: The opening of The Hull Story. Curated by society volunteer Nancy Pedersen, this exhibit honors the wood and fiberglass boat builders and manufacturers that transformed Costa Mesa from an agricultural-based town into "the Hub of the Harbor" from the 1950s-80s. Applying through the Orange County Historical Commission’s historic plaque program to receive county recognition for the Diego Sepulveda…

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Read more about the article Fred McDowell on World War I
Fred McDowell poses in front of period rifles

Fred McDowell on World War I

Join us 
2 p.m. Sunday, November 18 as Fred McDowell, Costa Mesa Fire Captain, helps us commemorate the  “War to End All Wars.” In a presentation featuring authentic military artifacts, costumed re-enactors, and a slide presentation, McDowell will discuss America’s largest battle (the Meuse-Argonne Offensive), the “The Lost Battalion,” and Sgt. Rochester, the young Costa Mesan who tragically lost his life in that battle. You won’t want to miss this! Download the full brochure (PDF) Directions Please note…

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Read more about the article The World War I Diary of George Vincent Fox
George Vincent Fox's dog tag from World War I.

The World War I Diary of George Vincent Fox

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One of the treasures of the historical society’s collection is the daily diary kept by George Vincent Fox, an artilleryman in World War I. Fox documents his journey across the Atlantic, his time on the front lines, and his postwar duty as peacekeeper. Although the prose is sparse and matter-of-fact, it vividly captures both the thrill and the tedium of war and peace.

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Read more about the article The Society Shuffle
Items in storage boxes are checked against catalog records in the Society’s PastPerfect database.

The Society Shuffle

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No, it wasn’t a two-step dance and it certainly wasn’t a cakewalk. But this Society Shuffle was performed at the Historical Society’s downtown museum September 22-26. Under the direction of Archivist Mary Ellen Goddard, the Historical Society’s storage area for collection items was cleared out, cleaned, and boxes re-shelved after checking their numerical order. This was a major effort, preparing the Historical Society for reviewing collection holdings and making space for new items. The photos tell the story.

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Do You Love Working with Old Photos?

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We’re looking for volunteers to assist us in the preservation of our local history. Do you like old photographs? Do you enjoy seeing them come back to life? We need your passion and your skills! Photo preservation and restoration is a key part of the Costa Mesa Historical Society’s mission. If you would like to learn more about this fun and gratifying volunteer opportunity, fill out the form below, give us a call at 949-631-5918, or drop us…

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