Lake Elsinore Historical Society

03/08/2021

02/04/2021

Historic 43-Acre Bible College Up For Sale In Murrieta

For a mere $50 million, you could own this 😯

The property on Murrieta Hot Springs Road was first developed into a luxury retreat in 1902.

02/04/2021

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Riverside County History Symposium. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Sharing from Riverside Historical Society:

2021 Riverside County History Symposium
Registration is Now Open!
Hello Everyone! I hope this e-mail finds you safe and healthy despite all that’s been happening.

It’s time to register for the Riverside County History Symposium. Like so many other events of the last several months, this one will be virtual. Because it’s virtual, it will be shorter also, but no less enjoyable!

Here are the details:

Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (Registration link is below)

Cost = free!

This year, we will hear about the famous Willie Boy story from the Native American perspective and we will be joined by two excellent living-history portrayers from the Temecula Valley Historical Society. The itinerary is below:

10:00 a.m. - "Willie Boy from Native American Voices." – Dr. Clifford E. Trafzer (Distinguished Professor of History and Rupert Costo Chair in American Indian Affairs at the University of California, Riverside).

11:00 a.m. – “Edna Hall Swanguen” – Portrayed by Michele Elling. Edna Hall Swanguen was a colorful character who was a wife, mother, and owner of Hall’s Café, the first restaurant in Temecula. Edna was also the switchboard operator for the entire Temecula area for over 25 years.

11:30 a.m. – “E. Hale Curran” – Portrayed by Mindy Johnson. E. Hale Curran was a business woman who grew up in the Fountain House Hotel and was employed at Guenther’s Murrieta Hot Springs Resort. During her 99 years, Mrs. Curran lived a fascinating life.

We hope that you will join us for a morning of local history on Saturday March 6. As always, if you have any questions or would like any additional information, please feel free to write us at [email protected].

Here is the link to register:

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZJxFn2peRQmgP7Tq542CFQ

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

*NOTE – Please mark your calendars for March 5, 2022 for the next Riverside County History Symposium. It is our intent to hold an in-person event as all the previous ones have been. We are still able to have it in the old Corona Theater, and will be planning accordingly. More information to follow.

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Riverside County History Symposium. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

02/02/2021

Photos from Lake Elsinore Historical Society's post

02/01/2021

September 4, 1958, ELP

02/01/2021

Building Permits, Source: September 11, 1958, ELP

02/01/2021

EUHS Bus Routes in 1958, Source: August 28, 1958, ELP

01/31/2021

Musselman's Cafe, Source: May 15, 1958,

01/31/2021

Ralph A. Muncy, Wildomar, Source: May 1, 1958, ELP

01/31/2021

Photos from Lake Elsinore Historical Society's post

01/30/2021

Photos from Lake Elsinore Historical Society's post

01/30/2021

Photos from Lake Elsinore Historical Society's post

01/30/2021

Grand Ave Phone Exchange, Source: May 1, 1958, ELP

01/30/2021

PTA Hobby Show, Source: January 30, 1958, ELP

01/30/2021

Elsinore 20-30 Club, Source: March 27, 1958, ELP

01/29/2021

Menifee Valley Historical Association

SAMUEL WALKER FAMILY. Samuel came from Illinois and his wife Alice Wickerd from Michigan. They married New Year's Eve in 1875 and came to Menifee about 10 years later.
Pictured, from left to right, are Samuel, Alice, John, Zona, Callie and Claude Walker.

The Walker Ranch was located on Haun Road, south of Holland. The sons never married, but the girls united the Drake and Roberts' family.
#menifeehistory

01/28/2021

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum

Join us on January 27—the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau—for International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

This ceremony, customarily a solemn moment of reflection at our Museum, has been reimagined as a transatlantic digital commemoration. #WeRemember

01/26/2021

Arlington National Cemetery

On January 26 at 8 p.m. ET, ANC historian Allison Finkelstein and members of the ANC Education Team, in conjunction with the National World War I Museum and Memorial, will lead a live webinar discussing the history of the Tomb, the importance of this centennial year, and newly available educational materials about the Tomb and its place in American history.

For more information and registration: https://my.theworldwar.org/7706

01/22/2021

Menifee Valley Historical Association

This is a family photo of David and Leona Wickerd with their 12 children. The couple were married August 1900 and came to Menifee ten years later. His brother John Wickerd arrived in 1907 with his wife and eight children. Both families had lived previously in Eagle Rock, California.
Their combined properties in Menifee extended north from Scott Road to Wickerd Road and west of Bradley Road.
Pictured, left to right, are, David, Margaret, Frank, Austin, George, Jack, Ina, Walter, Clara, Ruth, Winona, Erma, Karl and Leona. Winona was their first child born in Menifee in 1910. The children married, built houses and raised families on the same land.

The area was nicknamed Wickerdville because their property was so large and inhabited by the Wickerd families.
#menifeehistory

12/14/2020

The City of Lake Elsinore is excited to announce that The Anchor, the City's new crisis stabilization housing, is nearing completion. We will be hosting a safe, curbside drive-thru event on December 18th called The Anchor Drop in preparation of move in day on Dec. 30. We need your help to spread the word to your volunteers and members for support.

The Anchor, located at 215 W. Graham Avenue, will serve as the first step for many chronic homeless residents from Lake Elsinore, Wildomar and surrounding County areas to end their homelessness through the support of the City and our non-profit partner, SWAG. The facility is currently in the midst of improvements and rehabilitation funded by a $3.1 million State grant from Project Homekey.

In preparation for this housing facility, the City is seeking the community’s help to prepare units and provide donations for the incoming clients. The City needs leaders such as yourself to assist those less fortunate in our City, especially after the difficulties many of our community members have faced this year. So, please consider taking advantage of our volunteer opportunities and spread the word to other leaders in the community!

Below are three ways to sign up for volunteer opportunities, we hope you take advantage of and share these links and the attached flyer with your friends, coworkers, and family members to spread the word of the City's efforts to reduce homelessness through community action and involvement.

LE Gives Clean Extreme Move-In Ready Day: Sign up to clean, decorate, and furnish an individual housing unit, at The Anchor, for the incoming cohort of clients. You will be able to sign up for any date between 12/21 to 12/28 and for times between 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Bring your family and loved ones to help give back! All check in times have been staggered and units will be for only those in a household or individuals that sign up together.
The Anchor Drop Curbside Donation on December 18th: The Link will allow you to choose specific item(s) to purchase and drop off during the grand opening. Items range from housing supplies, furnishings, and gift cards. Stop by and drop off to aid those in need in our community! We also welcome any FOOD products as well.
LE Gives Sign Up Form: To find out more and sign up for ways to volunteer and give a hand up in a variety of ways through our LE Gives campaign at www.lake-elsinore.org/LEGives.

Please spread the word and sign up for these opportunities to help reduce homelessness in our city by giving a hand up rather than a handout! We welcome other specific ideas or donation drives you or your organization would like to coordinate for the 18th or another time.

Thank you!

Nicole Dailey
Assistant to the City Manager
Cell: (951) 833-5497
Email: [email protected]

12/01/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

Menifee Valley Historical Association

Here is a memory written by Rosamond (Brown) Morrison in 1992 about her early years growing up in Menifee, when life seemed a lot simpler. #MenifeeHistory

11/27/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

THE ROBERTS HOUSE
In 1890 Charles Roberts bought this house known as the Emmalita Villa. At the age of 43, he married Callie Walker in 1915 and they lived there.

Charles farmed with seven horses. He grew grain, raised cattle, goats, pigs, chickens and turkeys. He planted a large orchard and vineyard. There was a wonderful spring that supplied water for the house and irrigation for the orchard. There were two other springs - one hot and one cold on the property.
Their two children (Alice Emmalita and Lerner) learned how to herd horses, cattle and goats before they were old enough to go to school. They attended the one room schoolhouse in Antelope and were driven to school everyday except when it rained - they had to walk in the adobe mud for 3 1/2 miles round trip! Their shoes dried by the wood stove until it was time to go home.
The home was located on the west side of Briggs Road just south of Scott Road. Lerner and his mother lived and farmed on the property until 1950 when it was sold. They moved nearby to Hemet and bought an apricot orchard.
The family farm was bought by the Anheuser-Busch Company, where they operated their Western States Headquarters and raised Clydesdale horses to show in parades and fairs.
#menifeehistory

11/24/2020

Sharing!

The Ercole family - as in the family behind the restaurant/bar on Manhattan Ave - in Manhattan Beach in 1922. @historyofercoles with @get_repost
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In celebration of #ItalianAmericanHeritageMonth, a look at members of the Ercole family in Manhattan Beach, CA, in 1922. The Ercoles originally hailed from Quattordio, Alessandria, Italy, and many of them immigrated to America — specifically the Los Angeles area — in the early 1900s. The eponymous owner of the restaurant-bar, Joe Ercole, is in the back row on the right. He moved to Manhattan Beach from L.A. around 1918 with his wife, Martha, and two boys, Al and Pete, who look like the youngsters in front of Joe, to his right. Their daughter, Marguerite, was born in 1921, and she might be the little one in the front row, but it’s not clear. (Martha had passed away in April, 1921, so she’s not pictured here.) Joe would open Ercole’s as an ice cream & sandwich shop in 1929 with a friend, and though they’ve swapped ice cream for beer, Erc’s continues to be a Manhattan Beach mainstay. Joe married his second wife, Blanche, in 1933. All three Ercole children would become business owners in Manhattan Beach and raise their families there.
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The others in the photo: (from the left) John Dentis and his wife Gina who’s in front of him; Stephano and Lena Ercole (Joe’s aunt and uncle); possibly Joe’s brother-in-law who’s also named Joe Ercole. The woman in the front on the far right is unidentified as are the rest of the kids. Thanks to members of the Ercole family who shared this picture and its history.
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#Ercoles #ErcolesCafe #ErcolesManhattanCafe #HistoryOfErcs #vintage #classic #manhattanbeach #vintageManhattanBeach #VintageLosAngeles #Ercoles #historic #ManhattanBeachBars #historical #divebar #EvolutionOfErcoles #HistoryofManhattanBeach #oldbars #ManhattanBeachHistory #SouthBay #SouthBayDiveBars #archives #archivesofinstagram #LostAngeles #LegacyBars #SaveFamilyPhotos

11/23/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

The two Walker sisters shown here are Callie (Walker) Roberts on the left and Zona (Walker) Drake on the right. They are the daughters of Samuel and Alice (Wickerd) Walker.
Samuel Walker called their daughter Callie, his California ruby because she was born in California. Her sister was his Arizona diamond and called her Zona since she was born in Arizona, or so the family story goes.

The girls came with their parents to the Menifee Valley in 1889 and settled on what is now Haun Road, just south of Holland Road.
#menifeehistory

11/17/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

Zora (McGrath) and Hans Christensen Jr. are sitting under the trees at their first home on Antelope Road. She is holding her poodle.

Zora was the daughter of John and Maude McGrath who came to the valley in 1912. Hans Jr. is the youngest child of Hans Christensen Sr. and Rosetta Holland.

When Hans Sr. arrived in Menifee in about 1882 there were only a few families in the area. He met Rosetta the same year and soon after they had four children. Hans Sr. grew wheat and barley on his land and eventually became one of the largest landowners in the valley. He died in 1922 at the age of 70. His son Hans Jr. lived his entire life in Menifee and farmed with his four sons when they became of age.

Hans Christensen Jr (1894-1975) Zora (McGrath) Christensen (1896-1995). The next photo is the two of them at a younger age.
#menifeehistory

11/14/2020

Temecula Valley Chamber of Commerce

#TVCCNewsFlash Pechanga Pu'eska Mountain Day
Each year the City of Temecula and the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians recognize Pechanga Pu'eska Mountain Day as a local holiday. This holiday celebrates the culture of the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians. Pechanga Creative Studios produced a powerful documentary titled, "The Mountain That Weeps" which is being featured online at the American Indian Film Festival through November 14th. View the documentary at: www.mountainthatweeps.com

09/20/2020

08/25/2020

Welcome . . .

The Lake Elsinore Historical Society does not know
when the restrictions will be eliminated/reduced and
when we can open our Museum. Therefore, this
post will have to do for our regular September meeting.

Here is the latest news about LEHS and the community . . .

New Developments

USS Lake Elsinore
The replica of our namesake ship has been received and is ready for viewing. It will be exciting to share her history since her service of more than 100 years ago
during World War I..

Membership Dues
The Executive Committee has unanimously voted that existing memberships will be extended at no cost for one additional year, i.e., dues will now be payable in June 2021.
If you have already paid your dues, the next due date for your dues will be June 2022. The extension is due to COVID-19 and being on lockdown.

Lake Elsinore has a large number of new projects in progress.
A few are listed:

1. Alberhill Elementary School opened in August 2020. It is the Lake Elsinore Unified School District’s first new school since 2007. It is a state-of-the-art facility with a new campus for 21st Century learning.
2. Walmart Super Store - The concrete block walls are up and appear to be finished. The store is scheduled to open in October 2020. Grading around the perimeter of the property is underway for new businesses coming to the Walmart Center.
3. I-15 Railroad Canyon Road Interchange is underway with work presently being done during daytime and nighttime hours. Anticipated completion - 2022.
4. North Main Street & Camino del Norte - Work will begin soon to install traffic signals on both sides of I-15 offramps. A new way to avoid Railroad Canyon offramps.
5. New Circle K is being built at Riverside Drive & Joy Street with new signal lights.
6. Butterfield Overland Trail will connect with the new Murrieta Creek Multi-Use Trail. When complete, the trail will connect with the existing Levee Trail near Diamond Stadium providing a link between where you live, work, and play.

We will keep you informed about our future activities.

Executive Committee
Lake Elsinore Historical Society

07/31/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

Ya all seem to love the Rock House, so here is a story we know you will enjoy.

This photo shows Paul Wright as a young boy sitting on his donkey "old Joe". His father Edward is on the left and his mother Christine is second from the right.
“The rock house was built using Rose Quartz mined from nearby Crowfoot Mountain. The walls of the house were 2-3 feet thick and kept the house cool in the summertime. Kerosene lamps and candles were used for light. In the kitchen was a Majestic Wood Range on which all the cooking, baking and ironing was done” writes Christine in her 1973 Biography.
Christine utilized everything and nothing went to waste in her household. The photo is dated 1936.
#menifeehistory #murrietahistory

07/29/2020

Menifee Valley Historical Association

The Bouris brothers had orange groves, peach and fig orchards, and a 100 acre vineyard at their ranch off Scenic View Drive, south of Keller Road.
Many people came up the driveway to buy fruit and vegetables at their produce stand.
The home was a gathering place for family and friends from San Diego to Los Angeles. Their hospitality knew no bounds. They entertained and fed guests for days and weeks, and in some cases, months. They were Aunt Mary, Uncle George, and Uncle Sam to many children who spent their summer working and living here.
#menifeehistory #murrietahistory