Society News

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.

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…

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…

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”…

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,…

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…

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…

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…