Sharing is nice

I hear rumors that another O.C. city wants to turn their historical photo collection into a “profit center.”

Whether this rumor is true or not, it reflects a disturbing trend. More and more, local libraries and city councils see their community historical collections only as a way to make money. This, it turn, reflects a basic misunderstanding of the way local history is done.

Local history is usually collected, researched, written, and sometimes even published by volunteers. Many of these volunteers are retired. Being passionate about what they do, they donate innumerable hours to projects that enrich our community. None of them expect to get rich doing this. In fact, they’re usually happy to break even. But very few of them can afford to sign up for a project they know will leave them “in the hole.”

Creating or jacking up costs for photo use ensures that community history will be relegated to real estate calendars. Local historians are shut out when illustrated books, websites, and A/V presentations become prohibitively expensive.

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I'm not kvetching about a small fee to cover reproduction costs, or a few bucks charged by a struggling non-profit. I'm talking about larger fees charged by government agencies (which we already fund through taxes) and even higher fees charged by some historical societies that supposedly want to promote an understanding of local history.

It’s also worth noting that such community photo collections tend to be built over many years, with donations from many families and individuals. In most cases, these donors thought they were giving something to their community – something that would be available to anyone who wanted to learn. These photos belong to the entire community.

And what does a government agency really have to gain by charging steep fees for historic photos? Not much. Even if the fees didn’t drive away business, the profits wouldn’t pay for the gas in one fire engine.

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My plea to everyone -- from government agencies, to historical groups, to individual historians -- is to SHARE what you have with anyone who has a serious interest. There is little to be gained by hoarding and price-gouging. There is MUCH to be gained if we all work together.

Tongva Tribe

I've had a link the the Juaneno Band of Mission Indians on this site for a while now, but nothing for the Gabrielino (Tongva) Tribe. I wanted to correct this, but it seems that (in a classic case of modern tribal politics), nobody can agree on which website is official. Here are three to choose from:

• Gabrielino/Tongva Tribe
• Gabrielino/Tongva Tribal Council
• Gabrieleno/Tongva Tribal Council of San Gabriel

I guess once they figure out who the real Tongva leadership is, I'll add a more permanant link to the more permanant website.

On Sept.. 30, 2007, from 11 am to 4 pm, a Tongva group will sponsor a free Native American arts and crafts festival, "The Gathering at Kuruvungna Springs." The springs site (and event) is located on the grounds of University High School 1439 S. Barrington Avenue, West Los Angeles. The event will include traditional music, dancing and foods, traditional children's games and crafts, Indian tortilla making, and basketweaving and weaving demonstrations. There will also be tours of the Kuruvungna Village site and springs, and a cultural display of Tongva history and artifacts.

Today's photo (above right) shows a reproduction of a kich (home) as used by the local Indians.

Blimps, frogs, Little Hollywood, two Walters, etc.

As I drafted today's entry, it seemed like there was a lot of Tustin news. So I figured a Tustin photo was in order. The image at right shows MCAS Tustin (the old Lighter-Than-Air base) in 1957. I particularly enjoy seeing all the nothing that surrounded the blimp hangars.

I guess the folks developing this land are now shocked to learn that the ground is sorta squishy in places. In the words of one local historian, "You know, they called it the 'Cienega de las Ranas' [Swamp of the Frogs] for a reason, folks."

Werner Weiss of Yesterland.com made use of some of some images he collected on his recent visit to the O.C. Archives. In his latest site update, he juxtaposed aerial views of Disneyland from 1955 and 1960. The differences are interesting, as are the photos themselves. The 1955 photo came from County records and (by total happenstance) was taken the day before Disneyland opened. The 1960 photo actually came from the Knott's Berry Farm collection. I guess Walter was keeping an eye on Walt, even if they were on friendly terms.

Now that the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum is under new management, they also have a new website. Meanwhile, The Nixon Foundation (now called The Nixon Library & Birthplace Foundation), still maintains its old site.

Recent renovations to the George Key Ranch historical park in Placentia are complete. The next time you see him, give Key Ranch docent Bradley Flynt a bad time about having to wear a badge and uniform. Throw your hands in the air and yell, "Don't shoot!" He loves that.

The City of San Juan Capistrano is considering the addition of affordable housing units to the "Little Hollywood" area of the historic Los Rios District. Meanwhile, at the Mission, Juaneno basket weavers are again practicing their trade. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Tustin Preservation Conservancy and Tustin Historical Society have teamed up to host trolley tours of local historical sites. I must admit, I wasn't aware of the Tustin Preservation Conservancy until now. I'll be adding a link to their website soon.

While I'm a sports (or sports history) fan, I did notice the Tustin News story about Evelyn Furtsch of Tustin. She won a gold medal in the 400-meter relay as a member of the U.S. women's relay team in the 1932 Olympics.

And rounding out this special Tustin edition, Tustin High School is celebrating it's 85th Anniversary with a historical photo exhibit.

The Fountain Valley Drive-In, Yesterland and fossils

The Fountain Valley Drive-In is the subject of today's photo. It's hard to find good images of this place, which is why I'm swiping this crummy little one from the web.
Located on the west side of Brookhurst, this theater opened in the 1960s and closed in 1984.

Recent additions to Yesterland.com include retrospectives on the Disneyland Railroad's passenger train, the Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through, (which may be coming back soon), the burning settler's cabin on Tom Sawyer's Island, and a local Disney project that never quite panned out: Newport Coast Villas.

This summer, the Ralph B. Clark Interpretive Center in Buena Park has a new exhibit about the prehistoric horses and camels that once roamed this area. The exhibit is the work of paleontologist Lisa Babilonia and young volunteer/padawan paleontologist Charlie Epting (author Chris Epting's son). KOCE's "Real Orange" did a feature about the exhibit which ran tonight and will run again tomorrow at 8:00 am. (Yes, I know this is technically local PRE-history.)

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.

The Disney Gallery

I wasn't the only one who stopped past the Disney Gallery today to say goodbye before it closes. Disney legend Alice Davis also stopped by for an informal visit. (See photo above.)

For those who don't know, the Disney Gallery is located above "Pirates of the Carribean" in Disneyland, and since 1987 has featured rotating exhibits of artwork by Disney-affiliated artists past and present. As a local historian, I've especially appreciated the many exhibits that shed light on the history of "Walt's Park" -- from concept drawings to artifacts.

Originally, this space was intended as an apartment for the Disney family, but it wasn't yet complete when Walt died. Even after its conversion into an art gallery, these well-appointed digs and the adjoining courtyard remained a welcome respite of calm in the middle of a crowded theme park. It will be missed.

Alice said she would miss the Gallery and hoped it would re-open elsewhere in the park.

Later, I overheard a fan approach her and ask about her work on "it's a small world." She replied that she'd listened to that song all day, every day, for many weeks (sometimes even backwards), and hinted that something unpleasant would befall anyone who so much as hummed the song to her. She said this with a wink however, and admitted that she still goes on the ride once in a while.

Civil War veterans project and Charles Beal

Local history is done by passionate volunteers from all walks of life. This serves our field well, since everyone brings their own particular strengths and experience to the party. Licensed surveyor Charles Beal provides a fine example of this phenomenon in an article he wrote for the Summer 2007 issue of The Banner: The Journal of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

It started when the Civil War Round Table of Orange County located 730 Civil War veteran graves in nine Orange County cemeteries. Charles suspected there were even more, and he launched his own in-depth effort to find them and learn something about them. Over the years, he has done an enormous amount of research, digging through old newspapers, Grand Army of the Republic records, etc. (The database for the project was maintained by former Santa Ana mayor Gordon Bricken.)

But here’s where the story takes a twist: Charles writes, “… I thought about using my land surveying experience to document these graves. My goal was to determine latitude and longitude coordinates, photograph every grave and to plot them on aerial photographs. …This project would also perpetuate the grave stones forever, as many are becoming very hard to read.”

Charles used a Total Station instrument and data collector, as well as a Global Positioning System unit (loaned by the County Surveyor) that is “capable of obtaining coordinates within the size of a dime.” His project “documented 701 Union (30 unmarked) and 89 Confederate (4 unmarked) veteran graves. The data was stored on a DVD-Data disk that was distributed to local historical groups and local cemeteries.”

Coordinates and grave photos are available on Find-A-Grave, and the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society has posted additional data on their website.

Thanks to Charles and all those who worked with him and loaned equipment, we now know more about our local Civil War history, and future generations will be able to honor these veterans for their service.

Huntington Beach Lifeguards and Bud Higgins

Kai Weisser is working on a book about the history of Huntington Beach lifeguards, and needs our help in tracking down additional photos.

Kai writes, "The Arcadia [Publishing] book Huntington Beach Lifeguards will include the City Beach, State Beach (HB & Bolsa), Junior Lifeguards, competition, surfing the pier, and a chapter titled Extra..."

If you know of any historic or significant photos relating to this subject, please contact Kai at ktweisser@aol.com

I posted additional information and photos on the "Greetings From Huntington Beach" blog.

Today's photo comes from this book-in-progress. It's a 1939 shot of Lifeguard Chief Bud Higgins and Lt. Don Winters (who was later a Navy pilot, lost in WWII) on the Department's motorcycle. I'm guessing this was a staged shot, and the "victim" is probably another lifeguard.

Delbert "Bud" Higgins was quite the local hero, and later went on to be Fire Chief and (in his later years) the first City Historian for Huntington Beach. The guidelines he created for city lifeguard operations still serve as a model for lifeguard agencies the world over.

It's also worth noting that Higgins was one of the earliest surfers on the mainland. He learned to surf from Duke Kahanamoku himself in the 1920s and made his own surfboards out of solid redwood.