Monday, August 06, 2007

Airport, Doris Walker, COPH, Buffalo Ranch, etc.

At right is the Orange County Airport as it appeared in 1957. The little restaurant on the right is called the Sky Grill and had a soda fountain. (Yes, that one building served as the terminal, the tower, the cafe, offices, etc.)

Author and local historian Doris Walker will be the highlight speaker at the Dana Point Lighthouse Society's quarterly meeting, Aug 9th, 6pm at the Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave., Dana Point. Doris will introduce and sign her latest book, Images of America: Dana Point, from Arcadia Publishing.

Chris Epting points out that the silo from the Buffalo Ranch (once in Newport Beach) is still standing. It was moved to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa. Epting's photos and comments can be found here. I worked at the Ranch on its last day. There were only a couple buffalo left. It was kinda sad.

The Fall issue of the CSUF Center for Oral & Public History (COPH) newsletter includes articles about Dr. Larry de Graaf, CSUF's 50th Anniversary, the MCAS El Toro oral history project, and the new book, Forgotten Patriots: Voices of World War II Mexican American Veterans of Southern California.

Speaking of COPH and veterans,... If you were stationed at or have significant memories of the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station and would like to participate in the Oral History Project please call (714) 278-8415 or email your contact information to them.

The private Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace became the federal Richard Nixon Presidential Library & Museum on July 10th, meaning it now officially falls under the auspices of the National Archives.

The Orange Community Historical Society offers visitors a peek into the history of downtown Orange with its popular walking tours. Each tour begins at the Ainsworth House, 414 E. Chapman, and lasts about 90 minutes. Suggested donation of $5 supports OCHS. Reservations are required at least 24 hours in advance: (714) 998-0330. For more information, contact tours@historicorange.org. Upcoming tours include...
  • Aug. 11, 10 am
  • Aug. 26, 4 pm
  • Sept. 8, 10 am
  • Sept. 23, 4 pm
  • Oct. 13. 10 am
  • Oct. 28. 4 pm
Mission San Juan Capistrano has released a new book by Fr. William Krekelberg, detailing the history of the Basilica Church's Grand Retablo. The book, titled simply The Grand Retablo, is available for $20 at the Mission's Pastoral Center and at the gift shop.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just one correction to your mention of the El Toro Marine Air Station Oral History Project -- the email address is:

coph-eltoro@fullerton.edu

By the way, I have some [now digital] home movies from the Buffalo Ranch.

Stephanie

Chris Jepsen said...

Correction made. Thanks for catching the glitch, Steph.

Gotta see those movies sometime!

Anonymous said...

My father was the first air traffic control tower chief at Santa Ana Airport in 1958. I have photo of tower built in 1959. The FAA had Orange County name the road to the control tower after my father, Isaac, "Ike Jones Road" in 1970, after his death in 1968, in Tucson, AZ.Many memories of planes and celebrities from John Wayne to Andy Devine..Randy Jones Tucson