The Ocean Beach Historical Society March 23, 2013 Annual WISTERIA GARDEN PARTY Fundraiser on was fabulous! Attendees spent the afternoon in the  garden of a early 1900’s home, under the largest wisteria canopy in O.B. Guests enjoy tasty treats while listening to live music.  Special guest “Mayor Bob Filner” awarded the OBHS a Proclamation for the event and the historical site of the party. The event included a LIVE AUCTION and OPPORTUNITY DRAWING with great prizes donated by local businesses and friends of the OBHS. Members of the Clarke family attended… Their family was the original owners who built the Wisteria House (After the Clarks, it was owned by the Titlows). Thanks To All That Made The Wisteria Garden Party A Success:
Volunteers, OBHS Board, Food Donors, Mayor Filner, Billy & Rag Swingers Band and the Opportunity Drawing Donors.

The OBHS is happy to announce that O.B.’s Noah Tafolla and WONDERLAND are back on TV!
“Get ready…. because my television show, Wonderland has a NEW home and a NEW time!  Monday – Friday @ 12 noon and AGAIN @ 9:00 pm on U-T TV, which is Cox Channel 114!!  Tune in or set your DVR and come with me as I explore San Diego’s incredible neighborhoods and meet the people that make our town so cool.”
— Noah

At our Feb. 21, 2013 Program Frank Gormlie, Editor of the OB Rag, gave a humorous and insightful  program on the history of the Ocean Beach’s Planning Board and the importance of O.B. residents taking part in their community groups. Frank was a member of the fist O.B. Planning Board, which was also one of the first San Diego Community Planning Boards elected by the community. Frank spoke about the importance of a good community plan that reflects what the residents want, and how they want to shape their future. Frank stressed the participation of residents in running for the board, going to meetings and voting in the election. About 1/3 of the attendees at our program were current and former planning board members. OBHS members express their hopes and concerns involving O.B.’s future plans. We want to thank Frank for a great presentation.

Celebrating the 125th Anniversary of Ocean Beach at the OB Holiday Parade was the perfect way to end 2012. OBHS’ Pat James & Jan Gawronski were judges.
The Ocean Beach Historical Society Won 3 Awards in 2012!
Assembly Certificate of Recognition
Ocean Beach Town Council Cultural Contribution Award

Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association Award (Susan James and Mary Alley received the Mainstreet Award for working on the OB 125 Year Anniversary Celebration and the Beacon’s OB Anniversary addition)
Thank you to the groups awarding our organization, and thank you to all those that worked hard to make the Ocean Beach Historical Society so wonderful.

The 33rd ANNUAL OCEAN BEACH HOLIDAY PARADE on Dec. 1, 2012, was spectacular.
The 2012 theme was 125 YEARS OF OB FUN. The OBHS honored ever decade starting from 1887. We had a number of children and adults walk with us in the parade in fantastic time-period costumes. Thanks to everyone that helped make this such a fun and memorable event!
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  On Oct. 18th Steve Rowell’s program was a visual treat with great insight into both our local 2 and 4 legged residents. He showed us his fabulous local bird photos and stories… visiting with a few new and old birds, as well as, an update on our local Osprey population.  Also, shown was some of the people, animals, plants, and scenery of the Ocean Beach area.
Steve Rowell is a well known Ocean Beach photographer know for his historical and bird/animal photos. His work is part of the permanent collection ay People’s Food.
The program is at the P.L. United Methodist Church, 1984 Sunset Cliffs Blvd., O.B. and is Free.

9/20/12— After an interview with Carrico that appeared on the front page of the UT the OBHS had a packed house attending The OBHS program: The Country Boy, Madame X, and the Japanese Spy—Author  Richard  L. Carrico about  a ring of Japanese agents and spies enlisted the help of U.S. Navy personnel to conduct espionage for the Japanese government that spanned for 1934 to 1936.  The centers of the spy activities were Washington D. C.; San Diego, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.  The events and persons involved in the espionage included Japanese students at Stanford and UCLA, Japanese bankers including Yoko Ono’s father, a noted medical doctor, a Navy officer and an ex-Navy enlisted man.  Those who ultimately broke and prosecuted the spy network included a incredible cryptographer Madame X, two alert Navy Captains, attorneys in Los Angeles, and the Office of Naval Intelligence.  The investigations spanned from Tijuana to San Pedro, Palo Alto to Washington D. C.  Mr. Carrico’s presentation will focus on the main characters and events from the historical novel that he is currently working on and will include quotes from court testimony, contemporary photographs, and an overview to what became of the various players in this intriguing historical drama. Richard L. Carrico, Dept. of American Indian Studies, SDSU

 Aug. 16th, 2012 OBHS  presented: Angels at 7 o’ clock San Diego’s Pioneer Female Aviators By California State Parks Historian Alexander D. Bevil ,  San Diego has played an important role in American aviation history. Indeed, some of the earliest attempts at controlled flight have occurring here. While most historians recognize the pioneering work of Montgomery, Curtis, Ryan, and Lindberg, most ignored the role women played in San Diego’s aviation history. Alex’s focus was on the untold story of San Diego’s female aviators within the broader context of the history of women’s aviation. Faced with gender bias, ridicule, and sometimes even outright sabotage, these “First Ladies of Flight,” whether they realized it or not, were pioneer feminists. All possessed a single-mined determination to fly, often paying the ultimate price for their efforts. Ironically, Alex’s presentation was held less than two miles from the forgotten crash site of one of these brave women, whose crashed aircraft was described coldly as “a pile of lumber.”