OCHS events
Annual OCHS Public Celebration
Join us for a Roaring Twenties Party & Presentation at The Villa in Orange!
You are cordially invited to “dress to impress in 20’s fashion” and attend the Annual Celebration of the Orange Community Historical Society! Enjoy a delicious dinner, entertainment, silent auction and a special presentation.
Historian Chris Jepsen will tell the riveting story of how notorious Chicago gangster Al "Scarface" Capone from 1927 to 1931 secretly tried to take control of the huge Rancho Santa Margarita which included much of South O.C. and all of today's Camp Pendleton, and had an unguarded coastline perfect for landing shiploads of illegal booze. The exciting story includes rancheros, bootlegging, and Capone's face-off with the padres of Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Chris Jepsen is an independent local historian and longtime president of the Orange County Historical Society. He has written for numerous publications, maintains his own O.C. History Roundup blog, and has developed tours and museum exhibits. A graduate of CSUF, Chris' greatest education was five years of daily mentorship as assistant to Southern Californian historian Phil Brigandi.
Thursday, January 23, 2025
The Villa
at 510 E Katella Ave, Orange CA 92867
Ticket purchase link and more details HERE!
For more information you can contact us at info@HistoricalOrange.org or leave a message at (714) 202-7570
OCHS General Meeting
Join us for a free Orange Community Historical Society meeting open to the public as you learn about the lovely Victorian home that sits on the corner of N. Olive and W. Palm! Built about 1895 for Orange pioneer D. C. Pixley, Eric Vogelvang who grew up in the house since Jr. High, will take us on trip back in time, tracing Pixley's influence in Orange, as well as subsequent owners, leading to Chapman College's early years in Orange.
Bring a friend, this will be a very special program!
Tuesday November 19th at 5:30 in the Community Room of the Orange Public Library Main Branch.
General Meeting
Join us as the Orange Community Historical Society welcomes our mayor, Mr. Dan Slater for an informal update on what is new in the City of Orange!
Planned months before our budget crisis, we'll learn about his own history with our city, the latest addition he has made to our Florence Flippen Smiley Archives, and what is on the horizon for Orange in light of our financial challenges. Monday July 22nd at 5:30 in the Community Room of the Orange Public Library Main Branch.
Annual Celebration
Chapman University’s NEW Expanded Hilbert Museum of California Art
Don’t miss this exclusive tour of the newly expanded Hilbert Museum especially arranged for the Orange Community Historical Society! The Hilbert has become one of Orange County’s top museums since its opening in 2016, earning rave reviews on Yelp and Google and a%racting more than 30,000 visitors per year. Enjoy a sumptuous reception and a welcome presentation by museum founder Mark Hilbert and director Mary Pla%, before you set off to explore the North and South Wings of the expanded museum. You’ll enter a portal topped by a spectacular 40-foot-wide glass mosaic by Millard Sheets and then experience the stunning building, designed by architects Johnston Marklee of Los Angeles. Explore the nine opening art exhibitions – including galleries devoted to the history of California art, works by Norman Rockwell, Disney’s Mary Blair, Navajo “eye dazzler” blankets, Modernism in California art and much more.
Mingle in the outdoor Grand Atrium as you enjoy gourmet appetizers and drinks from the no-host bar. Our presentation will be in the Community Room followed by Gallery viewing.
General Meeting
In November of 1923, ceremonies were hosted in Orange, California, forming the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks Lodge number 1475. While the first members were 53 transferees from the Santa Ana lodge, there were 75 local residents waiting in the wings to take the Obligation in a large initiation meeting. Many early members were also leading citizens of our town, with names like Huff, Hirstein, McCandless, Mansur and Muench. The first Exalted Ruler was A L Tomblin.
Meetings were first held in the Ehlen & Smith building (later Friedemann Hall) before moving to the Odd Fellows lodge above Watson's Drug. Later they moved across the street when the Odd Fellows were unable to meet their financial obligations for the lovely new building they built on the North side of Chapman.
OCHS will salute the Elks Lodge with our Saturday, January 27th meeting at the Lodge 211 East Chapman, at 10:00 in the morning. We will start with a simple breakfast in the dining room, (a nominal fee will be collected), followed by a tour and program about the Elks. We will also hold our official annual voting meeting, as per our by laws.
Our speaker will be Leading Knight, J C Cortez, who will also be installed Exalted Ruler in 2024. (J C also served as the first Duke of Orange for the Chamber of Commerce May Parade.)
We hope you can join us for this great opportunity to learn more about this active fraternal lodge and their many ways they support our community.
Please note that free parking is available on Chapman and side streets, the Library and City Hall parking lots. The lot immediately behind the building is a private lot NOT owned by the Elks, and offers parking for a fee.