The Ocean Beach Historical Society Presented: THE Annual WISTERIA TEA PARTY
Sun.,  March 25th, at 4761 Niagara Ave., 92107 (OB)
Forecast rain didn’t stop over 100 OBHS members from a afternoon of partying. The Wisteria Tea Party was held at the Titlow house in memory of Ned.
In the yard of a early 1900’s home, we celebrated under the largest Wisteria canopy in OB, where guests will enjoy tasty delectables while listening to live music by VIOLINIST ALICIA PREVIN and CELLIST MARK SANDER, SINGER ANTONIO JOHNSON, SINGER/ACCORDIONIST BILL CORWIN,  VIOLINIST GINA and husband KENNY JAMES ON mandolin. OBHS surprised Ron May with the OBHS 2012 Historian Award for his many years promoting history and preservation. The opportunity drawing was a great success with wonderful prizes donated by local businesses and friends of OBHS.

Feb. 16th, 2012, The OB Historical Society Presented: Author Diana Lindsay on the MARSHAL SOUTH and the GHOST MOUNTAIN EXPERIMENT, For 17 years, from 1930 to 1947, poet, artist, and author Marshal South and his wife Tanya lived on Ghost Mountain—a remote, waterless mountaintop that is today within California’s Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. They began their homesteading adventure when the Great Depression left them few options to survive. They turned to nature and began an experiment in natural living that included raising a family under the most primitive conditions.

OB Historical Society has pledged $100 to the Congress of History upcoming conference ‘From Inkwells to Internet: The History of Learning in the San Diego Region ‘The conference wasbe held March 2 and March 3, 2012.

We welcomed back Photographer Joe Ewing at the Jan. 19, 2011. The previous year we were blown-away by Joe’s incredible OB photos. He impressed us again in 2011. Joe captured the beauty and essence of beaches, pets and community.

Dec, 7, 2011 A wonderful write up in Union Tribune (SignOnSanDiego) about Ned Titlow written by Caroline Dipping (her articles). A great man who made many contributions to this community and the OBHS, Thank you Ned we will miss you.

“Surf Paradise” was the theme for the 2011 OB Holiday Parade. The OB Historical Society entry had a Special Guest and Treat….OB Cartoonist Mike Dormer (with Mop on his head) and his legendary “HOT CURL” sculpture (on loan from the Surf Museum in Oceanside) in the back of Todd Partridge’s red and white classic 1965 Chevy Truck!  Leading the group was Bert Bade in his Red Mini, with his “family of elves”. Two sets of twins were with the OBHS group. Thanks to all those who helped and joined us in the parade.

OBHS Presented A Tribute to Ned Titlow—Tales of  NED, Nov.17th O.B.’s Beloved Obeacan and local historian Ned Titlow passed away Oct. 29th, 2011. Ned was an active community member, Past President and sitting- Vice chair of the Ocean Beach historical society. his legacy stories and joy of growing up in Ocean Beach made him an integral part in teaching Ocean Beach history.
Nov. 2011, Ned was going to present an OBHS program “tales of intrigue.” instead with  his passing we presented “A Tribute to Ned Titlow–Tales of Ned!” We showed Ned clips, photos, and had “Ned stories and witticisms!” to tell.
With our friend’s passing we have lost a great deal of firsthand O.B. history. But, the good thing is, many of us knew Ned, and learned O.B.’s history from him, so we are able to pass-on the colorful history he left us.
Because of Ned, many people appreciate our history, and love our Ocean Beach community.

Oct. 20, 2011— A really fun night was had with Wonderland Documentarian, and Local Obecian Noah Tafolla, who presented “The History of San Diego Neighborhoods”. Noah has dedicated years to teaching people SD history through his Wonderland Series. He stressed that people learn their family community  histories so future generations will have this vital information.

Sept. 15, 2011, OBHS Presented Richard  Carrico: Then They Turn Into Stones Again: San Diego’s Neglected Naturalist Author: Judy Van Der Veer of Ramona

Born in 1912, Judy Van Der Veer spent her early teenage years in a house just below Banker’s Hill in San Diego, rode horses from Mission Valley to Ocean Beach, snuck into a hangar to see one of Lindberg’s new planes, dropped out of high school after her junior year, and lived most of her adult life as a rancher-writer in Ramona, CA. She won her first poetry contest when she was sixteen with the poem Little Woodland God, which has been continuously reprinted in poetry collections and anthologies. She published her first book when she was twenty-four and went on to write more than 5 adult books including My Valley in the Sky and 6 very popular children’s books including Hold the Rein Free.
Before her death in 1982, Van Der Veer wrote more than 500 articles that appeared in publications including Westways, the christian Science Monitor, the San Diego Union, Poetry Magazine, and San diego Magazine. In her time, Judy Van Der Veer was noted for her advocacy of animal rights, fought to preserve habitats, was sympathetic to marginalized Indian and Mexican people, and was known as an ecologist before the term came into common usage. Often compared to John Steinbeck and Willa Cather, Van Der Veer’s minimalist, naturalistic works are largely forgotten in the twenty-first century.

Aug. 18. 2011, Ocean Beach Historical Society presented Kathy Blavatt— “O.B.’s Weird, Wild and Wonderful”, program and book premiere. Kathy’s showed photos and told stories of the beach town of Ocean Beach, San Diego.
In describing the unusual things or events in Ocean Beach you commonly hear the classic response, “That’s O.B.”. Kathy’s photos are “That’s O.B. moments” which include: Humorous subjects; local characters and celebrities; interesting scenery; animals and oddities… basically the weird, wild and wonderful of make-up of our unique community.
Kathy is an O.B. local and the Creative Director for the Ocean Beach Historical Society.
The O.B.’s Weird, Wild and Wonderful book is the 2nd in the Espresso Diaries Series, and Kathy’s 4th book. It is available at Newbreak Coffee and Olive Tree Market in O.B.