Foothills Sentry - February 2024

Page 9 Foothills Sentry February 2024 7540 E. Chapman Ave. Orange, CA 92869 (714) 639-9792 MEAT&DELI, PRODUCE, BAKERY, FRESH FISH, GIFT BASKETS, WINE MON-SAT: 8am - 9pmSUN: 8am - 8pm www.Pac i�i cRanchMarket.com $ OFF Excluding alcoholic beverages and tobacco products. With coupon only. May not be combined with any other offer or discount. Limit one coupon per customer. Valid only at P aci�ic Ranch Market. When You Spend $25 or More * EXPIRES: 2 / 29 /2 4 5 OC’s Premier ProduceMarket A lot map, circa 1888, indicates that the houses at 171 (above left) and 177 North Cypress Street (left), have been "on the record" for over a cen- tury, making at least one of them an apropos candidate to serve as a City of Orange Historical House/Museum. The houses are owned by the city and the Orange Barrio Historic Society is hoping to convince the city to allow local history stories and artifacts to have a home. Barrio Society is looking for a home to house city history By Douglas Westfall While Orange is a historic city, with the second largest historic district in all America, it does not have a dedicated historic/museum house. More than half of the cities in Orange County have them, in- cluding Fullerton, Anaheim, Gar- den Grove, Irvine, Santa Ana and Buena Park. Most of these historic homes have been converted into local museums, featuring artifacts, fur- niture and space to host programs. Orange has a history center in the Main Library, but it does not rec- reate history like a home from the past, lived in by the people who shaped a community can. There are two historic homes, at 171 and 177 North Cypress, that the Orange Barrio Historic Society would like to transform into an Orange historic house and museum. If not both, then at least one. Both houses date to around the time of the city’s incorpora- tion (1888). Back then, agriculture was the main source of income, with fruit and nut trees the primary crops. The majority of the field work- ers were Hispanic, and those mi- grants built a community north of Chapman Avenue and east of the railroad station and tracks on Cy- press Street. Cabins for seasonal workers were joined by houses built by permanent residents. Three of those houses exist to- day, and are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City of Orange owns two. The City of Orange purchased the two original Barrio Houses in July 2017, using federal funds designated for the parking struc- ture on Lemon Street. At the time, it was believed those his- toric properties would have to be moved to accommodate the park- ing structure. That was not the case. The houses remain in place, and the city rents them out. Paul Guzman, president of the Orange Barrio Historic Society (OBHS), along with this writer, have asked the city to donate one of the two houses to the historical society to use as a historic house and museum. Programs, open to all residents, could also be pro- vided there. The homes are in a perfect location for that purpose. There is adequate parking, and they are just one block from the railroad station, allowing them to be served by public transpor- tation. The OBHS would pay for maintenance and upkeep. There would be no cost to the city or taxpayers. Orange used to have a historic house/museum. During the Bi- centennial of 1976, a plan was developed to acquire a building for historic presentations. The program was established the fol- lowing year by then-Mayor Gene Beyer, and it came to pass with the Ainsworth Home. Funding came via donations, as did the Victorian furnishings and period décor that reflected the home the Ainsworth family lived in at the turn of the previous century. The home was used for historic presentations, grant conferences and other programs. Tours were offered. More artifacts were do- nated, and in 1995, another plan was put together to hire a mu- seum director and operate the facility independently from the city. The plan was presented to the mayor and then put on hold. Soon after, the volunteers at the history house were told they had to vacate, that the city was go- ing to transfer the building to the Housing Authority. The furnish- ings were taken to a warehouse behind the police station. They are all gone now. Douglas Westfall is a certified national historian and a member of the Orange Barrio Historic So- ciety. He has, for years, been col- lecting artifacts for retention in a historic house. Orange residents named Mentors of the Year The Big Brothers Big Sisters OC named its Orange County Mentors of the Year finalists, which included mentors from the Orange community. Big Sister Jennifer Arnoldt has mentored Jazelle Lopez since 2018, when Jazelle was a preco- cious 10-year-old, with dreams of going to college, but struggling with self-identity. Arnoldt has helped Jazelle build her confi- dence and skills, such that she is now a thriving high school fresh- man, capable of achieving her dreams. Big Brother Chris Pyon is credited with helping Angel Her- nandez, born with a physical dis- ability, be kind and accepting of himself. Angel is now pursuing a degree in mechanical engineer- ing at college, and still regularly breakfasts with Big Brother Chris. Big Brother Antonio Alvarado worked hard to connect with Little Brother Daniel Rivera, who was an introverted, socially shy 11-year-old when they ini- tially met. Alvarado planned spe- cial outings to lean into Daniel’s unique interests, and develop a relationship. Big Brothers Big Sisters creates and supports one-to-one mentor- ing to help empower youth facing adversity, and support them with strong and enduring mentoring connections. To learn about the program, see ocbigs.org . CPOC features March 5 primary topics The February 15 meeting of the Conservative Patriots of Orange County (CPOC) will focus on the upcoming March primaries. Following the general business discussion, election updates will be provided by Election Integrity Committee Chair Susan Stivers; Linda Cone, Education Commit- tee Chair; and Legal Action Com- mittee Chair Alex Haberbush. The group has launched its Young Patriots Section for those up to 25 years old with valid stu- dent ID; tickets are $20. Students under 18 with valid ID must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; parent/guardian tickets are $30. Missed the January meeting? Membership and guests heard from 37th Assembly District Candidates: Crystal Miles, Ste- ven Choi, and Anthony Kuo; 67th Assembly District Candidates: Beth Culver, Mary Reynolds; 68th Assembly District Candi- date Stephanie Townsend; and 72nd Assembly District Candi- date Casey McKeon. President Deborah Pauly recog- nized Lisa Frank as the "Hold the Line" recipient for outstanding service. Frank was the recording secretary two years, and will now serve as the CPOC social media officer. The meeting is at the Santa Ana Elks Lodge, 1751 S. Elk St. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; a buffet dinner will be served. Tickets are $30 with advance purchase on- line at conservativepatriotsofoc. org, or contact Peggy Baranyay, (714) 828-1289/swtmthr@sbc- global.net. Tickets for nonmem- bers are $35. VP men: get off the couch Don Attore has initiated a weekly men’s walking club, pri- marily for Villa Park gentlemen over 65. He encourages the men to deploy “off the couch and onto the sidewalks together” on Satur- day mornings at 9 a.m. The group will meet at the Coffee Grove and walk for up to three miles. Well- mannered dogs are allowed, if on a leash. For info, or to get on the roster, call or text Attore at (714) 325-7555. Applications for TAWC scholarships now available Tustin Area Woman’s Club (TAWC), an all-volunteer philan- thropic community service orga- nization, has announced that its college scholarship application forms are now available on the club’s website, tustinareawoman- sclub.com , or via the websites of each TUSD high school. For over 60 years, TAWC has given college scholarships to de- serving Tustin Unified School District students. This year, TAWC will offer a $1,000 collegiate scholarship to one or more graduating seniors from each of the five high schools in the district: Beckman High, Foothill High, Hillview High, Legacy Magnet Academy and Tu- stin High. The TAWC scholarship application deadline is March 1.