We say goodbye to a long time Ocean Beach resident went to Ocean Beach Elementary and graduated Point Loma High School in 1940.

Friends of Historic Preservation,
Please visit our new website <http://www.fortguijarros.com/&gt; and announcement for the 1940s Reenactment World War II Dance the Fort Guijarros Museum Foundation is throwing on November 15, 2008 to raise money for scientific research on the history of Point Loma.
Ron May, Fort Guijarros Museum Foundation, San Diego, California

Featuring Photographer Steve Rowell
Ocean Beach photographer Steve Rowell has not only lived OB’s history, but also recorded it through his extensive photography collection. It includes the good, the bad and the weird, depending on your perspective.

Steve’s presentation of 100 photos embodies an indelible visual history of OB in the mid-60s — mid-90s. His images include memorable characters such as Jazz Musician Bob Oaks and the famous OB Spaceman.
Other photos show historical events such as the opening of the OB Pier with the Insights band playing and the construction of the Dog Beach Jetty.
Steve has taken pictures of many of our historical buildings from the past, such as the former D.C. Collier Cliff House above Alligator Rock at the foot of Coronado and Bacon, and the White House apartments with some of the original “Wonderland” facade incorporated into the entrance. He has also photographed Newport Ave. and many of its previous businesses during this time period between 1960s & 1990s.

Steve Rowell’s photos can currently be seen on
exhibit at People’s Food (top floor), through Dec. 31, 2008

Mignon Scherer our featured guest at the Oct. 16, 2008, at 7 p.m meeting is “the 30 ft. Woman”,
Just how does one become “The 30 Foot Woman”?
The answer is a lifetime of character building and knowing the right things to do.
In the case of Mignon Scherer, she became every icon of womanhood throughout her life.

As a teen, she started with a modeling career. Then, she threw in more glam by moving to New York and becoming a “Cigarette Girl.”
She followed that up with becoming the American icon of the time… a “Rosie the Riveter”.
Mignon then married a form military pilot that she met in college.
In traditional Americana fashion she became a teacher and mother.
Never slowing down, Mignon went back to school and got her PHD
at age 62, and then started her own business as a Marriage, Family &
Child therapist. Mignon moved to San Diego in 1956, and lives in a historical 1912 barn house in Point Loma. Besides multiple careers and family, activism and environmental issues play a major role in Mignon’s life. Her causes included water issues, over development, protecting public land, and many others.
Mignon’s nickname (The 30 Foot Woman) came from her work on the Coastal 30 Foot Coastal Height Limit,” a people’s initiative that passed and became law in 1972.
Because of Mignon and her associates, local beach communities, especially Ocean Beach, have maintained their unique small town beach character, instead of become Miamiadized.
Mignon has continued her activism as a senior. She sat for two terms on the Peninsula Community Planning Board. She continues to voice her concerns on global warming, the water crisis, airport expansion, and other issues at City Council and public forums.
Asked, “Why do you do all this in your retirement years”?
Her response is “Because it is the right thing to do”.
Join us Oct. 16th to hear this inspirational presenter.

The Removal of the Los Conejos and Capitan Grande Indians
and the Construction of Capitan Grande Reservoir
Our guest speaker for Sept. 18th OBHS meeting will be Richard L. Carrico who will talk about the history of San Diego’s water supply.
Since the time of the Franciscan priests, and construction of Padre Dam in what is now Mission Gorge, settlers sought to impound water in the semi-arid environment to slake the thirst of a growing population. Needing more water to serve the city of San Diego, officials began a search in 1915 to find a location for a new large dam. Copies of this award winning book will be available for purchase at the OBHS General Meeting.

Madame Tingley and the Theosophical Society Community on Point Loma

Many people have heard of the Theosophical Society Community on Point Loma. But who were the Theosophists and what where they doing on Point Loma? Find out at the Aug. 21, 2008 OBHS meeting at P.L.U.M. by our featured presenter Bruce Coughran.

Coughran grew up adjacent to the property (which is now Point Loma Nazarene University) and went on to write a master’s thesis on the colony.
From 1897 to 1942 the Theosophists, and their charismatic leader Katherine Tingley, were influential residents on Point Loma, while working for “Universal Brotherhood” around the world. Their community numbered almost 500 people at its peak, and the huge glass-domed buildings were a must see destination for visitors to San Diego from the turn of the Century to the 1920s. They had a symphony orchestra, a colony of artists, philosophers, scholars, writers, archeologists, a school for children, a university, vast agriculture and industries, including printing and weaving. They put on plays,
concerts, lectures and published books, not to mention being the headquarters for an international society.
Coughran’s prentation about the Theosophists and why they came here was full of interesting facts about our history on the hill.

The OBHS OB Historical Walk July 19th had a nice size crowd. Ned titlow, Carol Bowers and Pat James guided the tour. As an added bonus the group was invited for a special guided after-tour of the OB Hidden Garden which was in full bloom. Thanks to the guides and all that attended.

Over 200 attendees, many surfers, came to the July 17, 2008 meeting presented by local surfer, artist and author Cher Pendarvis. A slide show of historical photographs and stories of local surfers made for a fun time reflecting back on the local surfing hitory and culture. A big Mahalo to special guests Bud Caldwell, Mouse Robb, and Marsh Malcom and friends from the original “Sunset Surfers”, who told their tales and share their wonderful historic photographs in the slide show. Cher touched on the earliest days of surfing in Ocean Beach. Her presentation covered local surfing from the 1930s to the1960s. Photos courtesy of Mouse Robb & Marsh Malcom

The Ocean Beach Town Council Awarded the Ocean Beach Historical Society $500
from the Christmas Tree Fund. Thank you Ocean Beach Tree Committee
The OBHS was Awarded a San Diego County Community Project Grant
The grant will further the work of OBHS, by helping preserve the archives, and educating the community on the local history of OB through our website, events, and printed materials. Thank You to San Diego County.