The Legacy of the Civil War in Orange County
 

Photo above, courtesy Orange County Register
 

Local author, Civil War historian, former Santa Ana mayor, and long-time SAHPS supporter Gordon Bricken received some great coverage in the Register for his wonderful book, Pioneers in Blue and Gray, which documents Civil War vets who lived and died in Orange County.

Click here to view the article.  If you're interested in buying the book, SAHPS has a few left.  Email Roberta at sales@sahps.org for information and costs.

OC History Book on Railroads & Depots
 

Railroads have been a part of Orange County for over 130 years. The great names of American railroading including Atchison, Topeka, Santa Fe, Southern Pacific, and Union Pacific were firmly planted here by the early 1920s and linked with the largest interurban rail system in the United States, the famed Pacific Electric Railway. Thousands of people passed through Orange County's depots during the 1940s as they came to serve at the many military bases located here during World War II.

The names have since changed and yet the county's rail scene remains as dynamic as ever, with Amtrak, Metrolink, and amusement park railroads joining the Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Union Pacific. Railroad depots, new and old, are located across Orange County and continue on both as vital parts of history and the future of transportation for America's fifth most populated county.

Highlights of Railroads and Depots of Orange County:

· Offers a complete review of Orange County’s railroad history dating back to 1877

· Shows how railroads were a key factor in Orange County’s early settlement, agricultural development and population growth

·  Displays rarely-seen images primarily from local Orange County photographers including Tom Gildersleeve, Cliff Prather, Robbe Gibson, Rob Richardson and various local history collections

The book is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and through the Society. Contact us directly at sales@sahps.org if you'd like to purchase a copy.

Civil War Updates

Thanks to work by Charles Beal, and his compatriots Glen Roosevelt, Gordon Bricken, Paul Gillette and the Civil War Roundtable of Orange County, the important impact of the men and women who left the Mid-West, South, and East Coast after the US Civil War to come to the West Coast and make a better life for their future, and in particular Orange County, are not forgotten.  Click here for more information on the contributions and to learn about the latest updates about who is interred in local cemeteries.

County Historical Site 51

The Society is proud to announce that the Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle House and Medical Museum is the recipient of the Orange County Historical Commission’s Historic Plaque No. 51.

The plaque was dedicated at a ceremony at the Dr. Howe-Waffle House on Saturday, March 28, 2009. Not so coincidentally, this date was chosen for the ceremony because it is also the anniversary of the day the house was moved 34 years ago, and we felt that this would be an appropriate way to celebrate!

Thank You!
To all of our friends - members, residents, city leaders and staff, and local businesses - who helped us raise the money needed to perform a major renovation on the House -- including painting, new roof, gutters, wrought-iron fence repair, landscaping, etc., etc., we thank you!  Click here to see the latest photos. We'll have photos of our renovation event posted soon.  Meanwhile, here's the banner we're proudly hanging saying "Thanks!"
 

» Downtown Walking Tour -- Our Downtown Architectural walking tours are available on the first
   Saturday of each month -- only by reservation at least 3-4 days in advance.  Do not show up
   without a reservation.  (Our volunteer tour guide will only be there if prior reservations are made.) 
   This is a 2 to 3 hour tour of downtown beginning at about 2:30 pm.  Call 714 547-9645 in advance. 
   Leave your name and phone number. Our tour guide will contact you to confirm the reservation.
   Click here for more information and to see photos of a few of the buildings you will see.

»  Santa Ana Naval Air Station Photos Now Online: Our good friends with the Tustin Area
   Historical Society have posted some great photos of the early days of the Santa Ana Naval Air
   Station (the blimp hangers).  Before they start tearing one of them down in the name of
   "progress" (we need more shopping centers and houses in that area), you might want to look
   at the old photos and maybe take some quick peaks of what is still there while you're shopping
   at the new Costco.  Visit the Tustin History site at www.TustinHistory.com and click on the
   links to go to the Lighter-than-Air (LTA) Blimp Airbase Photos.

»  Vintage Orange County History Books by Jim Sleeper available for a
      limited time!  The Society has obtained a few copies of the 1982 classic
     Orange County Almanac (3rd edition) and Great Movies Shot in Orange
      County.  Just as fact-filled and witty as they were 20+  years ago,
      Jim's classic books have a wonderful humor that makes history fun.

      These are tough books to find but we have them and we have new copies! 

      Go to our online store for info.