Helme-Worthy House (ca 1880), Huntington Beach

I went for a walk in downtown Huntington Beach this evening and was struck by the "naked" state of the historic Helme-Worthy House at the corner of 6th and Walnut. It's needed stripping and repainting for decades, and I'm very, very pleased to see that it's finally happening. Also, it appears that the windows are also being restored. And did I mention that the redwood underneath still looks like new?

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The house was built at 5th St. and Verano Ave. (now Euclid) in Santa Ana around 1880. Matthew Helme purchased the house from the Leatherman family and had it moved to its current location in 1903. Mules were used to pull the house along -- rolling it on logs.

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Helme established the M.E. Helme Furniture Co. in 1904, and the store he built still stands behind the home, facing Walnut Ave. (see photo below). He was also involved in the incorporation of H.B. and served on the first City Council and as mayor. Both the house and the store are still owned by descendants of Matthew Helme.

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According to Diane Marsh, Helme's "main interests as a City Councilmember were the modernization of the fire department, establishing municipal gas and water systems, paving the dirt roads, and installing street lights."

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The house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

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Luckily, the enormous "Strand" commercial complex now being built around the Helme complex has left most of the area's historically important buildings in place. This includes El Don Liquor on PCH, which once served as the offices of the Huntington Beach Co., and as the city's first movie theater.

Bolsa Chica, Midway City, Milford Zornes & cannons

Today's photo shows the Midway City Volunteer Fire Department in about 1936. Thanks to Tim Castroreale for the many Midway City images he's collected and shared.
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You may remember my recent post about artist Milford Zornes' 100th birthday. Sadly, I have to report that Mr. Zornes died Feb. 24th. I was glad I got the chance to meet him and learn from him. He lived a long, full life, and he leaves an enormous legacy of art and inspired students.
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Civil War historian Charles Beal asks a good question about this photo in today's Register. Namely, what's the story behind the cannon? In fact, there are two cannons at Savanna High School in Anaheim. Does anyone know their history?
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Of course, the big history story in today's Register was actually a pre-history story. See "Unearthed Bones Reignite Dispute." In an email I received today, fellow Huntington Beach resident Marinka Horack expands on the story. She writes...

"Flossie Horgan, executive director of the BCLT [Bolsa Chica Land Trust] broke this story to the Register. She discovered this scandal while in Sacramento a couple of weeks ago when she had a meeting with Dave Singleton of the Native American Heritage Commission.

“Apparently, Hearthside Homes has dug up dozens of ancient human remains in this past year of construction on the Upper Bolsa Chica Mesa. They did not report them right away to the O.C. Coroner as they are required to do. Some 174 human remains have been found on the construction site which is directly over ORA 83, a Native American site that has been dated to go back as much as 8,500 years ago.

“Dr. Daniel Rogers of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History has stated that ‘ORA 83 is the kind of site that could significantly broaden our understanding of human cultural history with implications that extend far beyond California.’

“Despite this, Hearthside was allowed to build on top of ORA 83…

“The two Native American moderators quoted in the article are paid very well by the developer to observe the archaeological work and approve of the developer's procedures...”

Captain Hook, Disneyland Hotel, Tustin & Orange

Today's image shows the Pirate Ship Restaurant at Disneyland in the 1960s. It seems this photo was taken after the Chicken of the Sea sponsorship was dropped and the "naming rights reverted" to Captain Hook. Click on the photo to see a much larger version with plenty of detail. Blog-readers from the Anaheim Colony will notice a young Mike Tucker seated next to his mom and sisters. The photo comes from his collection.

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Speaking of Disneyland, Don Ballard has just launched a new blog about the history, development, and ephemera of the Disneyland Hotel. I hope his blog is as interesting as his book.

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The Tustin Area Historical Society is looking for volunteers to help at their annual home and garden tour on May 17th. If you'd like to help, call the TAHS Museum at (714) 731-5701.

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The Old Towne Preservation Association in Orange will hold its Preservation Awards Dinner on May 10, at the Woman's Club of Orange, 121 S. Center St. Nominations for awards will be accepted through April 10. For more information or tickets, visit otpa.org.

Buffalo Ranch, OutsideTheBerm, Orange County Ice

"Texas Tiny" downs a buffalo burger at Newport Beach's old Buffalo Ranch in today's image. In this March 1955 photo, Buffalo Ranch head-honcho Gene Clark points and laughs at the enormous... sandwich.
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Speaking of old Southern California tourist attractions, one of the better blogs dedicated to that subject is going into semi-retirement. OutsideTheBerm has provided us with some great images and interesting discussion-fodder since it went online. However, I understand that OTB's blogger-in-chief has some amazing real-world projects in the offing which we'll all enjoy. Stay tuned.
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Warning: There's a little profanity and crudeness in the last segment of today's blog entry. If you're one of the rare squeemish readers who actually made it past the photo of Texas Tiny, this would be a good time to put on your peril-sensitive sunglasses.
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Orange County Ice, at Claudina and Santa Ana St. in Anaheim, has been making ice since the 1920s when they packed it into citrus box cars for shipping. Unfortunately, the building is almost completely rotted out, making preservation impossible. Before we knew about the physical condition of the building, Keith Olson wrote an email that rode the line between rant and poetry. It illustrates how attached we become to buildings that remind us of an age before Walmart and mobile phones.

THIS SUCKS. I MEAN REALLY, REALLY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"There are very few things I cherish (and the number is dwindling)

"There are very few things that are reliable, dependable, and consistent (and the number is dwindling)

"There are very few things that near perfection. Things that do one thing and do it very very very well. (and, yes, the number is dwindling).

"One thing that fits in all the above categories (and other similarly wonderful categories) is the ice house (or company if you wish) on Claudina and Santa Ana Streets. Orange County Ice, but we've always called it The Ice House. They make ice. A plain, square, ivy covered non descript building where they make ice. They've been there forever doing one thing and doing it perfectly. They're always there. They always have ice. You walk up the steps, hand the guy $8 and he goes into the giant freezer and brings you a big assed 50 lb bag of ice. Perfect. I always go there for ice. I love that place. I went there today with Charlie. We got ice. We got our $2 change from a ten. And a notice. They're moving to SANTAGODDAMNANA and will be gone at the end of March. Shit.

"The city bought the building. Gee I wonder what will happen to it.

"I hate everything about this. May the fleas of a thousand camels infest the pubic regions of anyone even remotely involved in this despicable undertaking."

Katie Wheeler Branch Library opening, Irvine

Here are a few photos from yesterday's grand opening of the Katie Wheeler Branch Library in Irvine. As I mentioned in an earlier post, the building is a detailed accurate replica of James Irvine's ranch house, and sits in the exact same spot. In the back row of the third photo (L to R) are Supervisor John Moorlach (the tall, bearded fellow), Joan Irvine Smith (in red), and Supervisor Bill Campbell (with a replica of the original staircase behind him). Clearly there are also some County Library and Harbors, Beaches & Parks (HBP) folks involved in the ribbon-cutting too, but unfortunately I don't know their names. In the first (top) photo, you'll see noted Orange County historian Esther Cramer and her husband Stan, front and center. Special thanks to Glenn Frank for the photos.

Cypress, Brea, Anaheim, and Capistrano adobes

Today's photo shows beautiful downtown Cypress in about 1925. Although the Cypress School District was formed in 1895, the city first incorporated in 1956 under the name "Dairy City." The city's name was officially changed to Cypress the following year.
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Today marks the 91st anniversary of the incorporation of Brea. At the time, in 1917, the town only had 732 residents.
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Tomorrow (Sunday) will be the 151st anniversary of the formation of the Los Angeles Vinyard Society in San Francisco. This group of German immigrants would soon found a new vinyard colony in Southern California, and would name it Anaheim.
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Sam U'Ren will present a slide show about the preservation of the adobe buildings of Mission San Juan Capistrano at noon on Tuesday. The show will be included with the regular admission at the mission.

Brigandi, Geivet, Dana Point, the Fun Zone, etc.

Today's image again shows the old Orange County Hospital & Poor Farm. (Yes, that's actually what it was called.) Go see the 1914 hospital building (amid the towers of UCI Medical Center) while you still can.
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The Old Courthouse Museum Society's next meeting will be March 19, noon, at the Old Orange County Courthouse. Historian Phil Brigandi will give talk on "Orange County in the 1940s and 1950s" featuring images "from the Bob Geivet Collection." Lunch will be $7. Please make reservations in advance by mailing your name and payment to John Sorenson, 14932 Gainford Cir., Irvine, 92604. (Checks payable to Old Courthouse Museum Society.)
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The OutsideTheBerm blog recently posted rare interior photos of the Balboa Fun Zone's late "Scary Dark Ride." Also, enjoy a look back at the Buffalo Ranch in Newport Beach.

The Dana Point Historical Society will hold walking tours of historic Dana Point on March 1, 2, 8 and 9. The tours will begin at 2pm at Bella Bazaar at the corner of PCH and Blue Lantern. These tours coincide with the City’s annual Festival of Whales.
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Finally, I wanted to share another website I found relating to Johnie's Broiler, which I should mention was originally known as Harvey's Broiler. (See yesterday's post.)

Orange County Hospital, UCI, Johnie's Broiler, etc.

I hear that UCI Medical Center plans to tear down the old Orange County Hospital building (1914), which now sits in the middle of their complex in Orange. Has anyone heard details or whether there's a preservation effort afoot?

I seldom write about non-O.C. news, but this particluar saga near and dear to my heart... Some time ago, the current owner of Johnie's Broiler (1958) in Downey bulldozed most of this googie landmark without pulling demolition permits, doing environmental abatement, or alerting anyone in any way. In addition to angering the whole city (and Johnie's fans everywhere), I'm sure he also bought himself a peck of legal trouble. Anyway, the next chapter in the Johnie's story is about to be written, and you can help strike a blow for Mid-Century preservation...
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Chris Nichols of the L.A. Conservancy's Modern Committee (MODCOM), writes: "MODCOM needs your help!... Bob’s Big Boy is very interested in restoring Johnie’s Broiler... It [would be] a FULL REBUILD per the original plans. WOW. This is not just a local issue, it’s a grand piece of California Car Culture that we all want back. We need YOU to show up 7pm, next Tues., Feb. 26th at Downey City Council. We need your in-person support, it’s VERY important that you come – TV News is coming - we're trying to pack the council chambers - welcome Bob’s - and impress on [the] owner... that there is total support for their effort to rebuild Johnie's. Big Boy banner, hats, pins---- [We] need to pull out all the stops in support. If you really can’t attend and still want to help, please send a letter of support to the City Council. PLEASE ATTEND AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR JOHNIE’S BROILER! This could make all the difference. THANK YOU. Fun times - Coffee after."
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The Heritage Coalition of Southern California will hold its next meeting on the evening of Feb. 28 at the Heritage Square Museum, 3800 Homer St., Los Angeles. Tours will begin at 5:30pm, and a dinner meeting and roundtable will begin at 7pm. The cost should be about $18. Although the event is in Los Angeles, this site -- which includes eight historic structures -- would likely be worthwhile for anyone with an interest in architectural history. For reservations or more information, call Helen Brown at (562) 921-4218.