The Quarterly Newsletter of the
HERMOSA BEACH
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Volume Eighteen .......................................... Number One ..................................................... February 2006
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President's Message 2006 is an amazing year for the Hermosa Beach Historical Society, and with so much going on, I am going to outline them for you instead of editorializing. 1.) Hermosa Beach will be celebrating its Centennial Birthday next January 14th. We are planning to get the celebration started by "cutting the ribbon" to our new museum at noon. The museum expansion must be comp-leted in time to be a part of the celebr-ation. We need your help. Some of the major "hard costs" con-nected with the museum expansion are display cases, cabinetry, carpeting, lighting, and more. Significant donations will be propor-tionately emblazoned on a large permanent plaque at the new main entry to our museum. May we thank you in advance for your sup-port? If you are in a position to make a tax-deductible cash or in-kind donation, please call: 310-318-1403. 2.) The Hermosa Arts Foundation has stepped forward and donat-ed $5,000.00 to our museum expansion project. THANK YOU HERMOSA ARTS FOUNDATION! 3.) A Hermosa Beach resident who wishes to remain anonymous has tentatively agreed to donate $20,000.00 to our expansion fund (keep your fingers crossed). 4.) The Archives & Acquisitions Room is awaiting a few minor touches. Thanks to all of you who helped, it looks great. 5.) The "Antiques ROAD SHOW" fundraiser has been cancelled. The logistics connected with this event were not workable (maybe next year?) Apologies to those of you who were looking forward to cleaning out your garages and having your treasures appraised. 6.) Our fundraiser this year will be a Historic Homes Tour. Contact us if you feel that your home should be considered for our tour. 7.) Annie Seawright is now a voting Board Member. We welcome this hard working Hermosa Beach legacy to our organization. 8.) Chris Miller has joined our ranks as an Advisory Director. Her energy and special talents are a real asset to our mission. 9.) Our Annual Party at the home of Claude and Joi Brandeau is one not to miss. Their home is truly a work of art and an important piece of Hermosa's rich history, not to mention the good food and friends. 10.) The original 1951 16th Street Lifeguard Tower is in the process of being reassembled. We have penetrated the wall where the tower will serve as an entrance to our long awaited Surf / Beach Culture Room. 11.) Saturdays have typically been museum expansion volunteer days. Come by and work or just check us out and say hi. Please call first. HBHS Volunteer hotline: 310-318-1403 or e-mail: rick1@hermosaarts.org Our museum is a growing and dynamic community resource for historic preservation and education. NOW is the time to get involved. Yours In Service, Rick Koenig. In Memory of Betty Evans A long time resident and supporter of the HBHS recently died. Betty Evans was very prominent in Hermosa — an Easy Reader staff writer for nearly three decades, Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year in 1981 for community activities including work with the Hermosa Garden Club and the non-profit Friends of the Library, and author of nearly a dozen cookbooks. The following is an article from a long time friend of hers: Joanne Purpus. "Betty and I never knew each other on Valley Park Avenue as we had moved before the Evans bought their place, but we met when she asked if I would be interested in being a docent at the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History. I joined. She and I and Judy Astone went there every Thursday and became fast friends. |
While I was teaching and volunteering at the Palos Verdes Art Museum, I asked Betty if she would start a cooking class there. It was a great success and prompted an expansion of her cooking classes throughout the South Bay. My son, Timothy, assisted in many of these — he loved Betty and got to eat the results with the class. Betty's classes were expanded to catered luncheons at the museum. We keyed the luncheons to the type of speaker. Betty did the menu, I was in charge of costumes for the waiters and decor-ations and Jeanne Evans, Betty's daughter, served. At one lunch-eon the small kitchen oven wasn't big enough so Betty command-eered the pottery kiln! Betty also held classes in her home on Valley Park and at the South Bay Adult School. She would blend her recipes into tales of her many travels. Betty got into all of the great kitchens wherever she traveled with her husband, Gordon, who sketched the local scenery. Many fine cookbooks resulted incorporating Gordon's sketches. All of this started with her wonderful, casual dinner parties and luncheons under the grape arbor in her back yard. There she enter-tained the rich and not so rich and the famous and not so famous with her abundant warmth and charm…and great food! I shall miss her terribly." John T. Hales Sand and Strand Race The Sand and Strand Race has been renamed the John T. Hales Sand and Strand Race in honor of Hales who died last year and was known as an avid runner, among other things. The 2.5 mile and 5.0 mile races are run 45% on the Strand and 55% on the sand, with participants of all ages and ability level. The race begins Sunday, February 26, 2006 at 8:00AM on the sand, just north of the Herm-osa municipal pier at the shoreline. John is smiling down on us all!!
Just one more picture of our new sign 2006 Annual Meeting & Membership Party Sunday, March 12, 2006, at 6:00 PM There
will be light food and beverages. We will be discussing the past year's
operations, plans for the Museum Expansion, and electing four Directors.
You should be there! Only current members are allowed at the meeting,
but new members are welcome to join at the door. If you have not yet
paid your 2006 dues (check your mailing label for a 2006 date), send
them in with the membership slip that you
can download, or you may pay at the door. $50 for Patron, $25 for Household
membership, $5 for guest at the party. The new book, "Hermosa Beach",
by Chris Miller and Jerry Roberts, will be available for sale at the
party. If you do not already have this great book, plan to pick one
(or more) up! We'll see you there. Directions and Parking There is NO on-street parking available in the immediate neighbor-hood. There will be limited parking in the Quality Inn rear parking lot, 1/2 block from the house. We encourage you to car-pool to this event, or walk if you are in the neighborhood. |
