The birth and early development of the communities of
Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo will be the topic of the Orange County Historical
Society's general meeting on Feb. 9th. Bob Bunyan, President of the Aliso Viejo Community
Foundation (AVCF), and former executive with the Mission Viejo Company, will
give us his first-hand account of the creation of these master-planned
communities that once were grazing lands for cattle. (The photo above shows cowboys branding cattle on the Moulton Ranch in 1913.) The
program will begin at 7:30 pm, at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St.,
in Orange.
The photo below shows a portion of Alicia Parkway in what's now Aliso Viejo, as it appeared in 1968.
Mr. Bunyan has served as President of the AVCF since
1999. Previously, he was a vice president in charge of sales and marketing with
the developer during the acquisition, planning, and development of properties
within Aliso Viejo. Prior to that he worked with the Mission Viejo Company
helping to plan and build the Mission Viejo
community. He continues to be engaged in the completion of the Aliso Viejo
master development plan, and through the AVCF, is also involved in the city’s
affairs and activities.
The photo above shows the intersection of Avery and Marguerite Parkways, in Mission Viejo, as they appeared in 1976.
Like Mission Viejo,
not too many years ago, the area now called Aliso Viejo was a working ranch. The
land had changed little since Mexico
granted it to Don Juan Avila in 1821. The Moulton family bought it over 100
years ago and formed the Moulton Ranch. In 1976, the Mission Viejo Company, purchased the last acres of the ranch for the
planned Aliso Viejo community. The first residences were sold in 1982 and the
burgeoning area became Orange
County’s 34th city in 2001.
This is a unique
opportunity to hear from someone involved in the evolution of both Mission Viejo and Aliso Viejo. The story of how they went
from ranchos to growing towns to modern cities should be fascinating.
Hope to see you there!
4 comments:
These photos of this area are fun to look at but also kind of sad. In the late 70's when I lived in Fountain Valley, my friend and I used to take our radio controlled gliders to what is now Alisio Viejo and fly them on the side of one of the hills out there. There wasn't much out there then but the signs of change were present. Now it's solid red tile roofs everywhere. I guess that's progress.
Jim from Magnolia Texas
The glider park is still there at Kite Hill North. It is part of Laguna Niguel Regional Park and sits atop a hill overlooking Alicia Parkway. It was also a hang glider spot in the late 70's.
I like the photo of the Avery/Marguerite Parkway intersection from 1976. I noticed there are three VW Bugs around the intersection, and a 65/66 Mustang moving away from the photographer. Very interesting!
Interestingly, with regard to the pic of Avery and Marguerite, the pillar on the right corner with the round top is still there!
Post a Comment