O.C. Fair, SAAAB, Harris Co., Placentia, etc.

With the Orange County Fair opening in just a few days, here are a few images of Fair plans and preparations in 1949. That was the first year the Fair was held at the current Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. You can see how much of the old Santa Ana Army Air Base (SAAAB) was still standing as the conversion process began. Today, the footprint of the SAAAB is now occupied not only by the Fairgrounds, but also by Orange Coast College and Vanguard University. (In fact, a few original SAAAB buildings can still be found at the Fairgrounds and Vanguard.)

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The images above date from May 1949, and come from the Bob Geivet Collection at the Old O.C. Courthouse Museum. (Digital scans are available through the O.C. Archives.) The second image shows animal pens being built. The third image is a background detail, showing some of the the SAAAB barracks.

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The Harris Company department stores of the Inland Empire actually got their start in O.C. as dry goods merchants Phil Harris & Bro. in Santa Ana and Harris & Falkenstein in Anaheim around 1900. Arcadia Publishing has just released a new book about the chain, which closed in 1999.

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A recent Register article featured the 100-year-old John Wagner House in Placentia.

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The topic at the next meeting of the South O.C. Genealogical Society will be “Newspapers: A Gold Mine of Information.” The meeting will be held July 19 at 10am, at the Family History Center, 27976 Marguerite Pkwy, in Mission Viejo. The speaker will be Connie Moretti. For more information, call (949) 581-6292.

Capistrano, Harvey's Broiler, Judge Fergueson, etc

Today's images show the (pre-restoration) ruins of Mission San Juan Capistrano. The color postcard image is undated, and the second image (from the Library of Congress) is dated circa 1907. Flashing forward 100 years, it's amazing how much remains and also how much has been added. A recent Register article detailed the past five years of the historic Mission under the administration of Rev. Arthur Holquin.

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Reconstruction of the old Harvey's/Johnnie's Broiler in Downey (which I mentioned months ago) has begun. Mr. "Downey Conservancy" has posted a bunch of photos on Flickr from this morning's groundbreaking ceremony. I also stumbled across a documentary about the destruction of this Googie landmark, called "Killing History."

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Former Judge Warren J. Fergueson of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal has died at age 87. His first judicial appointment was to the Municipal Court in Anaheim (1959-1961), after which he served Orange County as a Superior Court judge (1961-1966).

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Anaheim Life has graced us with a look back at Anaheim's 1901 4th of July parade.

Villa Park, Kelloggs, Cleveland National Forest, etc

Those who ordered copies The Hidden Jewel – a history book about Villa Park – should get them by the end of July. For more information, call (714) 998-1500. All proceeds go to the Community Services Foundation's historical, cultural and educational programs. One hopes that some of it will go to save the only historic buildings in the city (which are currently threatened with demolition). Today's photo shows the Villa Park area (looking south) in about 1890.
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The descendants of O.C. pioneer Hiram Clay Kellogg held a family reunion yesterday at the historic Kellogg House in Santa Ana. The house is now part of the Centennial Heritage Museum.
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The Huntington Beach Centennial Celebration Committee is asking longtime residents to share their photos and stories of their city in preparation for H.B.’s 100th Anniversary in 2009. Stories can be up to 2,000 words, and photos can be up to 500KB. Details are available on the Committee’s website.
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Speaking of centennials, July 1st marked the 100th anniversary of the federal designation of the Cleveland National Forest. For more information about related centennial happenings, visit the forest’s website. (Yes! The forest has a website! I wonder if it’s maintained by squirrels and scrub jays.)

Laguna Beach, Anaheim, Fiscus cottage & July 4th

Happy Independence Day! Today's photo shows a very busy Laguna Beach on July 4, 1924. The inset image shows a detail from the photo so you can read some of the signs. (As always, click on the images to enlarge.)

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Another win for the good guys! The ranch foreman's cottage from the Fiscus Ranch in Anaheim has been saved from the bulldozer, thanks to the City's Preservation Office, and the vocal support of the Anaheim Historical Society, the Anaheim Neighborhood Association and the ANA's Historic Preservation Committee. Cynthia Ward has posted more details on her Anaheim Life blog.

Richard Neutra building in Newport threatened

I was going to post some sort of upbeat 4th of July-type post tonight, but this late breaking news from my friends at the Recent Past Preservation Network needs immediate attention:

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"Mariners Medical Arts, designed in 1963 by world-renowned modernist architect Richard Neutra, is threatened with demolition to make way for a new medical office complex. Located at 1901 Westcliff Dr. in Newport Beach, Mariners Medical Arts consists of three structures connected by serene gardens and covered walkways. Lush plantings and shallow reflecting pools complement classic Neutra design elements, including vertical metal sun louvers and "spider legs" made of steel I-beams.

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"In 2002, the Orange County chapter of the American Institute of Architects recognized Mariners Medical Arts with a 25 Year Award of Excellence. The current owner of the property is proposing to construct a new, larger medical complex on the site by systematically demolishing the existing structures and replacing them with parking lots.

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"Local architect John Linnert is concerned about the potential demolition of Mariners Medical Arts, and fears that Newport Beach is on the verge of losing one of its most significant architectural landmarks. 'It just makes you feel great walking amongst the buildings that were created, composed, and articulated by such an architectural master,' says Linnert.

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"Dion Neutra, son and partner of Richard Neutra, says he 'considers this the best example of this kind of project the practice did during its heyday. It would be a tragedy if this example were lost. Instead, it should be rehabilitated and brought back to its earlier glory replete with the water features...'

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"Interested members of the public are encouraged to attend the next scheduled Arts Commission meeting for the City of Newport Beach and speak on behalf of preserving this important Neutra building. Each member of the public will have three minutes to comment on non-agenda items of public interest. The Arts Commission advises the Newport Beach City Council on all matters pertaining to historical and cultural aspects of the community and participates in the designation of historical landmarks.

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Next meeting: July 10, 2008, at 5:00 p.m.

Location: Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave., Conference Room
Letters of support can be mailed to: Newport Beach City Arts Commission, City of Newport Beach, 3300 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
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"...The complex appears to eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, as the property has achieved significance with the past 50 years and represents the work of a master. Mid-twentieth century architectural resources are threatened nationwide, and Mariners Medical Arts is a particularly well-preserved and intact example of Richard Neutra's classic modernist expression. Demolition of the complex will result in the loss of an essential component of Newport Beach's history and built environment.

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"Any organization interested in knowing more about the preservation campaign to save Mariners Medical Arts from demolition is encouraged to contact [Devin Colman at] the Recent Past Preservation Network. "

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Everything they say is true, folks. This is one of O.C.'s best-hidden architectural jewels. As a child, my pediatrician's office was in this complex, and it's one of the key places that inspired my love of Mid-Century Modern. Any other suggestions on how to save Mariners Medical Arts?

Knott's, Buena Park & the Newport Pop Festival

We've all heard of Walter Knott, and most of us have seen photos of him. But you don't often see film of him. Here's a rare example from the 1960s.

The Buena Park Historical Society has added short photographic tours of the Bacon House and Whittaker-Jaynes House to their website.

Jeff Overley of the Register is working on a story about the Newport Pop Festival's 40th anniversary. If you attended the show "back in the day," he'd love to hear from you. (Thanks to OCThen.com for this item.)

It's a slow day, so I thought I'd remind everyone that you're welcome to join and add photos to the O.C. History group on Flickr.

Fountain Valley in the 1960s

Today I'm posting three photos of a very rural Fountain Valley in the 1960s. The first photo (top) is a view looking north up Brookhurst St from Garfield Ave in July 1965. Note the movie screen for the Fountain Valley Drive-In on the horizon. The second photo looks westward along Talbert Ave from the Santa Ana River bridge in 1962. The final image is an eastward view along Talbert Ave from an unspecified point in the Fountain Valley area.

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This is the 44th anniversary of the Fountain Valley Fire Department. Their first Fire Chief was H.C. Mickey Lawson.

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Although the name "Fountain Valley" was used to describe this area as early as the mid-1870s, the town was known for many decades as Talbert. However, "Fountain Valley" was selected as the city's name when it incorporated in 1957. (I'm sure I'll post more about Talbert/Fountain Valley at some point in the future.)

Orange Coast College and El Toro events

The Orange County Library Association's current newsletter features a little history on the Orange Coast College Library. Their new library (opened in February) replaced the Norman E. Watson Library, which closed over five years ago. The article continues,...

"In 1948, OCC's first Library was a converted Santa Ana Army Air Base barracks building. The second library, which opened in 1951, was the graceful clock-tower building that still sits in the quad today. [See photo above.] Later it was the Admissions, Records and Counseling Building, and currently serves as a “surge” structure for campus construction projects.

In 1969, OCC opened its third library facility. The four-story Norman E. Watson Library, located north of the college’s Student Center, closed in 2000. It underwent an extended renovation process and reopened last fall as the Norman E. Watson Enrollment Center.

In 2000, OCC’s library was "temporarily” relocated to a 25,000 square foot facility, consisting of 32 interlocking portable structures, and situated on the northern perimeter of the campus and west of LeBard Stadium. OCC’s fifth and most current library is located on the opposite side of the campus, next to the Arts Center and Doyle Arts Pavilion."

For my money, the clock tower building shown in today's photo is still the most attractive of the library's many incarnations.
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Bonnie Bennett Hendrie will discuss the history of the Bennett family at Sunday's meeting of the Saddleback Area Historical Society. The meeting will be held at 2pm tomorrow, at the Heritage Hill Historical Park, 25151 Serrano Rd. in what the carpetbaggers call Lake Forest.
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The Amigos de la Colina, the docent group for the Heritage Hill Historical Park in El Toro, celebrated their 25th anniversary on June 21st.