Living Memorial Nominations – August 2018
The Costa Mesa Historical Society is currently accepting nominations for its Living Memorial Award.
52nd Anniversary of the Diego Sepulveda Adobe restoration
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…
Bessie Lounsberry: A Most Remarkable Woman
Bessie Nell (White) Lounsberry (1886-1972) made many important contributions to the civic life of 1930s-50s Costa Mesa. She compiled the city directory, worked local elections, and served on the Costa Mesa Citizen’s Council, along with other volunteer roles. Her seven-year beautification campaign led to the planting of 1,026 trees. She was honored for her decades of selfless service with the Costa Mesa Historical Society’s second Living Memorial Award in 1973.
An August 1980 shot of The Shamrock, later The Helm, at 1824 Newport. Today it is a retro lounge, The Boulevard.
The Shamrock: Costa Mesa’s First Cocktail Bar
Costa Mesa’s first cocktail bar opened at 1824 Newport in August 1944. The bar, first called the Shamrock and later the Helm, survived nearly seven decades before closing in August 2011.
Costa Mesa 129 Years Ago
Society director Bob Palazzola uncovered this gem from the April 1979 the Costa Mesa Historical Society Quarterly. It paints a colorful portrait of early Costa Mesa. Note the reference to A Slice of Orange by Edrick Miller in the final paragraph. The book is essential reading for local history fans.
Costa Mesa Aviation Accidents
By Dave Gardner, Society President
On June 5, 1935, a Stinson SM-6000 Trimotor made an unscheduled landing at the Joe Volck residence on the northeast corner of West Bay St. and Harbor Blvd. There were no serious injuries.
This Month in Costa Mesa History
The Sunday Speaker Series is on hiatus until September. But history never rests. Many notable events in Costa Mesa history happened in July. On July 22, 1769, Portolá first entered Orange County. 41 years later an expedition member and his nephew (José Antonio Yorba and Juan Pablo Peralta) received a land grant for Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana. Costa Mesa sits on the southwest portion of the rancho. Costa Mesa’s first church, the Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church,…
Stephen O’Neil Highlights 2018’s Early California Days
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…
Newport Beach Mayor Visits Boatbuilding Exhibit
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…
History Nuggets
The Santa Ana, Fairview, and Pacific Railroad was one of the shortest-lived railroads in boom-era Orange County. In March 1889, the Santa Ana River overflowed at Fruitland, washing out a portion of the nine-month-old tracks, and the small repairs were never made. The town of Fruitland was near the intersection of present-day Harbor and Warner. It is called a phantom town because it was never officially registered. In addition to the town of Fruitland, the right of way survey…
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