Newport Beach Mayor Visits Boatbuilding Exhibit

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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…

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History Nuggets

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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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Remembering Barbara Panian

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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.

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Society Volunteers Receive US President’s Volunteer Service Awards

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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.

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Costa Mesa Rejects Annexation

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May 22nd marks the 90th anniversary of what was called “one of the warmest elections ever held on the Mesa.” At issue was an attempt in 1928 to annex 6,000 acres of property to Santa Ana. The strip would have run due south from that city to the Upper Newport Bay, and would have included Delhi, part of Paularino, and most of Costa Mesa.

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