History and Events Blog - Page 12 of 22 - Costa Mesa Historical Society

Happy Birthday, Gladys! Longtime Society Volunteer Turns 100

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Post published: December 2, 2018
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Happy birthday to Gladys Refakes, the longtime society volunteer who turned 100 this past October! On October 25, representatives from OneOC hand-delivered a bouquet of flowers to Gladys while she was hard at work. Fresh fruit was served over lunch — this healthy lady doesn’t eat cake. A couple days later, family, friends, and colleagues gathered at Zov’s in Tustin for more festivities. Gladys has volunteered for the society since the early 1980s. In that time the…

Our Past Deserves a Future

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Post published: December 2, 2018
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This fall, society archivist Mary Ellen Goddard led a four-part seminar on archival practices. In addition to its wealth of practical information, the seminar helped answer the question, “What does the society do?”

Adobe Plaque Dedication

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Post published: December 2, 2018
Post category:Public Events

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…

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

2018 Year in Review

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Post published: December 2, 2018
Post category:Society News

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…

George Vincent Fox's dog tag from World War I.

Fairview Register for November 2018

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Post published: October 30, 2018
Post category:Newsletters

Learn about Fred McDowell's talk on World War I, the World War I diary of George Vincent Fox, the Society Shuffle, last summer's Concerts in the Park and more in the November 2018 Fairview Register.

Fred McDowell poses in front of period rifles

Fred McDowell on World War I

Post author:Program Director
Post published: October 30, 2018
Post category:Public Events

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…

George Vincent Fox's dog tag from World War I.

The World War I Diary of George Vincent Fox

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Post published: October 30, 2018
Post category:History

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.

Items in storage boxes are checked against catalog records in the Society’s PastPerfect database.

The Society Shuffle

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Post published: October 29, 2018
Post category:Society News

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.

Do You Love Working with Old Photos?

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Post published: October 29, 2018
Post category:Society News

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…

Historical Society Museum

Society Elections November 18th

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Post published: October 29, 2018
Post category:Society News

The Costa Mesa Historical Society elections will take place at the beginning of the Sunday Speaker Program on November 18th.

Fairview Register for November 2018

Fred McDowell on World War I

The World War I Diary of George Vincent Fox

The Society Shuffle

Do You Love Working with Old Photos?

Society Elections November 18th

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Diego Sepulveda Adobe

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