Preserving historic buildings, and a tour of the Anaheim Cemetery

Local historian Cynthia Ward will speak on “Historical Preservation: Thinking Outside the Box,” at the Orange County Historical Society's next meeting, Thursday, May 10, 2012, 7:30 p.m., at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2400 N. Canal St., in Orange.

As California's economy shifts, and local governments lose redevelopment funds, preservationists must find new avenues to maintain and restore our historic legacy. Join us for an open discussion of how communities and non-profit groups may be moving forward in the future. Cynthia will also present examples of how others have used creative thinking to preserve our built environment.

(The photo below shows a historic home on Pine St. in Orange. The Clabaugh House (1880), shown above, is on Olive St. in Anaheim.)

Cynthia Ward is a preservation consultant, and owner of Cynthia Ward Historic Preservation Consulting. She specializes in research and documentation of historic homes for Historic Register applications, and Mills Act tax reduction program filings. She also designs restorations and adaptive reuse for both interior and exterior changes to vintage homes. She and her husband Richard are currently restoring their own second historic home, the 1908 era Owens House, in the Anaheim Colony Historic District.

On the following Saturday, May 12th, Cynthia will also take the Orange County Historical Society (and you, if you'd like to come along) for a tour of the historic Anaheim Cemetery, co-sponsored by the Orange County Cemetery District.

The cemetery, founded in 1866, is the final resting place of thousands of early Orange County settlers, over 500 war veterans, and members of families still living in the area. Recently, a number of the historic mausoleums and other structures have been restored. The photo below shows the historic entry gate.

The cemetery tour is free and will begin, rain or shine, at 11:00 a.m. in front of the cemetery’s office at 1400 E. Sycamore St. No reservations are required.

Just one of the interesting things you'll learn is that early Anaheim had a Chinatown. The photo below shows one of Anaheim Cemetery's Chinese grave markers. According to the Anaheim Public Library, the top of marker most likely "depicts the name of a city or town (not readable in photo)." From top to bottom, the text reads "PEI (white) / SA (sand) / CHUN KAN HU (Hu-Kan village, guarding or surrounding ditch) / LING (place name) / AN OUN (name or title of respect) / HUANG (family name) / KUNG'S (elder, senior, grandfather level) / FUN MO (grave)."

I hope to see you at both OCHS events later this week!