History and the Holidays

Today's photo shows Balboa Island's Marine Ave. decked out for Christmas in the late 1940s. I'm taking a break from my Knott series today to post information about some fun holiday historical events. Get out your calendar and start marking dates,...
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Come to a party, learn about local history, and do some Christmas shopping all at the same time at the Orange County Historical Society's "Author's Night" and Holiday Party on Dec. 10th. Authors speaking about, selling and signing their books at this event include Richard Dodd (Architectural Styles in Orange County), Phil Brigandi (On My Honor: A Century of Scouting in Orange County), Doris Walker (Orange County, A Natural History), Stephanie George and Carlota Haider (Sowing Dreams, Cultivating Lives: Nikkei Farmers in Pre-WWII Orange County), Jay Jennings (Knott's Berry Farm: The Early Years), Christiane Salts (Cordelia Knott: Pioneering Business Woman), and Lawrence De Graaf (The Fullerton Way: Fifty Years at California State University, Fullerton). The folks from CSUF's Center for Oral & Public History will also have a variety of their earlier titles available for sale. There will also be holiday refreshments and perhaps a visit from a famous (jolly) special guest. The program begins at 7:30pm, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., Orange, and is open to the public.
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The Orange County Archives, the Old O.C. Courthouse, and the Howe-Waffle House will throw open their doors for holiday open houses this Saturday, Dec. 5th. From 10am to 4pm, the Archives will offer behind-the-scenes tours and a rare weekend opportunity to do research using their outstanding collections. The general public is welcome. The Archives is located in the Old Courthouse at 211 W. Santa Ana Blvd., Room 101, in Santa Ana. The Museum upstairs will also be open and will offer crafts for kids and a showing of the movie "Rocky & Bullwinkle," which was filmed in the building in 2000. Also, the beautiful Dr. Howe-Waffle House & Medical Museum, just across the street, will offer refreshments and tours amid Victorian-inspired Christmas decor.
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The Anaheim Historical Society will hold their Annual Victorian Christmas Party at the historic Woelke-Stoffel House, 419 N. West St., this Friday, Dec. 4th. You have to see this Victorian gem (also known as "The Red Cross House") to appreciate how much restoration work has been done recently. Both the Woelke-Stoffel House and the even-more-historic Mother Colony House (next door) will also be open for open houses sponsored by the Anaheim Public Library, noon-3pm, Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.
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The Dana Point Historical Society's Holiday Open House will be held Dec. 6th, 2-5pm, at the Dana Point Community House, 24642 San Juan Ave. They're planning "an extensive display of the development of Capistrano Beach through the newly aquired Doheny Collection. There will be photos, tract maps, house plans, and [plans for] commercial buildings of the early 1930s."
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The Huntington Beach Historical Society will hold it's annual holiday open house Dec. 4th, 5-9pm, and Dec. 5th, noon-4pm, at the historic Newland House, 19820 Beach Blvd.
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No matter what part of O.C. you hail from, remember that memberships in city and county historical societies make great Christmas gifts. I suppose that sounds commercial, but becoming a part of these great non-profit groups really is a win-win situation that benefits the whole community.