Fairview Register Monthly Publication of the Costa Mesa Historical Society Headquarters: 1870 Anaheim Ave Member: Conference of California Historical Societies, National Trust for Historic Preservation & American Association for State and Local History VOLUME: 145 No. 5 EDITOR: Cynthia Humphreys 949-631-5918 DATE: May 2013 Website address: www.costamesahistory.org E-mail address: cmhistory@sbcglobal.net President s Message A SAAAB Celebration Our 37th annual SAAAB Reunion was held Saturday, April 13th at Orange Coast College. As you walked in to the event, you were greeted by a sign that read: "WELCOME TO THE SANTA ANA ARMY AIR BASE." Upon entering the lobby, there were a group of photos showing views of the former SAAAB site from the Former Cadet Mike Hartunian war years and some of the base activities. The Freedom Committee of Orange County was represented by 4 veterans with a display and information table. Across from the Freedom Committee was Kathy Bequette of the Costa Mesa Historical Society, who had a table with SAAAB items for sale. Other historical society volunteers were on hand to show their support. They were Gladys Refakes, Susan Weeks, Mari Palazzola and I. Master of Ceremonies for the event was Doug Bennett, Executive Director, Orange Coast College Foundation. After the opening ceremonies, we were served a very nice lunch of chicken and salmon with veggies provided by OCC Catering. The College Airline and Hospitality Program provided the staff and service for our lunch. The entertainment portion of Mari Palazzola, Kathy Bequette the program started off with a short video from the 2012 Orange County Fair titled (Continued on Page 3) Costa Mesa Historical Society Presents Discovering Costa Mesa: Before We Became One Two Videos from CMTV s Costa Mesa Series featuring video host Brad Long Sunday, May 19, 2013 Doors open 2pm ~ Program at 2:30pm Free Admission, Refreshments for All Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum 1870 Anaheim Avenue, NW Corner Lions Park Complex In the first video, the Estancia Adobe from 2005, Brad will meet with docent Richard Duvall and historian Hank Panian as we tour the adobe inside and out and learn its history and about the era in which it was built, the artifacts in it and also about its restoration. In the second video, Historic Homes from 2009, we jump a hundred years as Brad visits several houses built in the late 1800 s and early 1900 s. We will meet architect Richard Dodd, some of the owners and city staff as we visit the Laperle house, Station Master s house, the Pink house, the Sparks house and a few others and learn about what makes these homes unique to us. For further information call (949) 631-5918, visit www.costamesahistory.org or go to facebook/costa mesa historical society Promoting and preserving Costa Mesa s history is our mission. FAIRVIEW REGISTER, FAIRVIEW, LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, MARCH 2, 1889
Upcoming Costa Mesa Events Goathill Junction Model Railway Open 3rd Saturday of each month (May 18, June 15). OC Model Engineers operate 7 1/2 gauge train on 5+ mile track. Free public rides-fairview Park. Costa Mesa 60th Anniversary Weekend Celebration! COME TO THE BIGGEST BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN ORANGE COUNTY! JUNE 28-30, 2013 The 60 & Fabulous Celebration will offer a unique array of food, art, and music events centrally located at City Hall and on Fair Drive. FRI JUNE 28 SAT JUNE 29 SUN JUNE 30 5 PM - 11 PM 3 PM - 11 PM NOON - 8 PM Visit www.travelcostamesa.com/costa-mesa-60/ or www.facebook.com/costamesacityhall 60th Weekend Celebration Events include: TASTEFEST Serving up culinary masterpieces from nearly 30 local restaurants. Featuring a street wide beer & wine garden. CHEF OF THE TASTE Experience a cook-off competition of local chefs. ARTWALK The city of Costa Mesa is officially the City of the Arts. Featuring an artist showcase of local talent from our city and local communities. KIDZONE For kids of all ages. Rides, games, puppeteers and more. SENIOR DAY Includes a swing dance competition, Miss 60 & FABULOUS beauty competition and more. CONCERTS Featuring live entertainment for every era on Main Stage and Community Stage. CLASSIC CAR SHOW Over 100 vintage cars in City Hall parking lot. EDUCATIONAL AND HISTORICAL Special displays show the city s history, featured throughout the venue. Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club Hosts 66th Annual Fish Fry and Carnival: Fri. May 31 is Carnival Only, Sat. June 1 and Sun. June 2. Joined this year by the Community Run at 8am, June 2. At Fairview Park. Society Spring Opening & Membership Drive Sun. June 9 Speaker: Retired OCC History Professor Hank Panian and The Birth of Our City. Doors open 1pm for exhibit viewing; Program at 2:30pm. Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum, 1870 Anaheim, Northwest Corner of Lions Park. Concerts In The Park Tuesday Evenings in July Opens 5:30 pm, Music begins 6:15 pm. Free family entertainment. Presented by the city of Costa Mesa and Costa Mesa Community Foundation. Activities for the kids, gourmet food trucks and a wine and beer garden. At Fairview Park. OC Fair 2013: Come & Get It Fri. July 12 Sun. Aug. 11 Open Wednesday thru Sunday OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa Scarecrow Festival Sat. Oct. 12 Find the Costa Mesa Scarecrow around town! Follow on Twitter @ImaScarecrow1 Build a scarecrow and enter the contest to win fabulous prizes!! At Fairview Park. Details to follow. Early California Days at the Adobe Sun. Oct. 13 Annual outdoor educational event features adobe museum tours, speaker, exhibitors, food, entertainment, and activities for the entire family! At Estancia Park. Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/costa mesa historical society
(Continued from Page 1) "A Salute to Heroes." Next, the featured speaker, Jonna Doolittle Hoppes, took the stage. Jonna is the proud granddaughter of Jimmy & Josephine Doolittle. Most people associate Jimmy with leading the Doolittle Raid of April 18th, 1942. However, Jonna's talk revealed so much more about this fine American. Jonna spoke of her grandfather's accomplishments, but also his challenges, disappointments and hardships. She also spoke of the loving relationship between her Susan Weeks, Gladys Refakes grandparents. When you listened to the stories and recollections, you understood the sense of pride that Jonna has. That pride was evident in anyone who knew Jimmy Doolittle. At the end of her talk, Ms. Doolittle Hoppes stressed the need for all of us in the audience to record our stories by saying "Tell Your Story." Those stories are important to those in the present and the future. Once we are gone, the unrecorded stories are lost forever. Ms. Doolittle Hoppes gave an excellent presentation. It was well received and vigorously applauded. L-R: Freedom Committee Members Robert Myer Fred Wagner, Frank Pangborn, Jack Hammett At the conclusion of the program, 16 former SAAAB cadets took the stage for a group photo. Everyone was then invited to witness the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Veteran's Resource Office on campus. Photos of this and other activities of the event were shown in the April 19th issue of the OC Register s The Current. If you weren't there, try to make it next year. In the meantime, remember to tell your stories. See you at the Costa Mesa 60th Anniversary Weekend Celebration June 28-30! Society News Visitors to the Society Downtown Museum will notice changes both outside and in. The new iron perimeter fence and gates are in place and landscaping is underway. Inside, work has begun on a new permanent exhibit to debut at the Spring Opening & Membership Drive on Sun. June 9. The exhibit covers the period from the Native American era through the mid-1960s and will replace the existing exhibit that covers the same period. Many thanks to Society members for their volunteer efforts with the Costa Mesa 60th Anniversary Celebration Committee including Treasurer Susan Weeks, Board Member Tess Bernstein, Board Member Rachel Perez Hamilton, and Member Evie Johnson. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please visit the City s website http://www.costamesaca.gov for information and an online application. In Memoriam Honoring One of Our Own A memorial service was held on Wednesday, April 24th for Ralph McKenzie Holmes who passed away in January. Ralph was a former cadet of the Santa Ana Army Air Base. He also served many years as a Board member of the Costa Mesa Historical Society. Several of us from the historical society were on hand to pay our respects. For all the good things you can say of a man, Ralph was pretty much all of them. He was respected, well-liked, informative and a helpful volunteer, just to name a few. He was a good man. CM Historical Society President & SAAAB Wing Representative Bob Palazzola And along with so many others, I was honored to know him. Rest in peace Ralph and thanks. Bob Palazzola
COSTA MESA HISTORICAL SOCIETY P.O BOX 1764 COSTA MESA, CA. 92628 Phone (949) 631-5918 ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANTA ANA,CA PERMIT NO. 4352 DATED MATERIAL Costa Mesa Historical Society P.O. Box 1764 Costa Mesa CA 92628 Membership Form Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: E-Mail: Membership Categories Annual Special Individual Family $ 15.00 $ 20.00 Historical Society Life Member SAAAB Wing Annual Member $ 1000.00 $ 10.00 Student (under 16) Contributing $ 5.00 $ 50.00 SAAAB Wing Life Member $ 50.00 Business & Professional $ 100.00 Public Agency $ 100.00 Benefactor $ 250.00 Make your checks payable to the Costa Mesa Historical Society. The Society, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, operates under the Corporation Laws of the State of California.