Santa Ana, Valen-Presidents Day, genealogy and a tree-shaped building

S. Hill & Sons Hardware & Dry Goods Store, Santa Ana.

This photo shows early Santa Ana hardware store proprietor Sam Hill (on the left) and is one of many similarly fascinating images that hang on the walls of the Howe-Waffle House Museum at 120 Civic Center Drive West, in Santa Ana. The Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society is hosting a "Lovers and Leaders Tea and Tour" (celebrating both Valentine's Day and Presidents' Day) in this beautiful Victorian house on Feb. 1, noon to 4pm. Come enjoy "a cup of tea and a selection of delicious sweets" as well as an exhibit of "valentines dating back to the 1800s, and historical presidential trivia, including how Teddy Roosevelt inspired the creation of the famous stuffed bear!" Adults $5, Seniors and Members $4, Students K-12 $3. A optional guided historical walking tours of Downtown Santa Ana (an additional $8) will begin at 2:30pm -- Call 714-547-9645 to RSVP. (A combined house and downtown walking tour ticket is available for $10; please arrive before 1:15.)

On April 19th the Church of Latter Day Saints Family History Center in Orange will hold an all-day fair including workshops that have applications to local history.  For example, last year, they offered Spanish Land Grants in the Southwest, How to Research a Cemetery, Photo Retouching for Beginners,  Document Sources, and County Websites, just to name a few.  No details on this year's program, but you might want to save the date on your calendar if you're interested.

By the way, I'm told the "Bear Tree" store at Hobby City -- one of the best remaining examples of programmatic architecture in Orange County -- is no more. And just like that, Southern California crept one more increment toward total blandness.