Costa Mesa Historical Society

remembering one of our own... Dear Fellow Members - It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of Art Goddard, one of our long time volunteers, due to cancer on February 13, 2021. He was 78.... Art and his wife Mary Ellen moved to Costa Mesa in 1977 and she started volunteering at the Society shortly after that. "Art began volunteering for computer stuff, when we first got our Apple (the little one with the tiny screen in a tall little box) in the early 1980s" said Mary Ellen and he has been our main "tech guy" ever since, working primarily behind the scenes. As he told "I Heart Costa Mesa" in 2015, "I saw that this place really needed some technical expertise, some computer savvy. So, I began the process of switching us from paper and things that weren’t going to work in the future, to something that would." Art obtained a Bachelors degree from Worchester Polytechnic Institute, attended the University of Alaska-Fairbanks and received a Masters from Montana State University-Bozeman in electrical engineering. He then embarked on a 32 year career starting with Collins Radio and later Boeing, retiring from there as an executive in 2001 which gave him more time to devote to the Society and other hobbies. One of those hobbies was ham radio. He was first licensed for that in 1956 and was a life member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) holding positions in that organization. Art was active on the air from HF through microwaves. A member of the Southern California Contest Club, he took part in contest expeditions, travel was another hobby, to locations ranging from subarctic to tropical around the world. As part of his volunteering, Art and Mary Ellen collaborated on two books on behalf of the Society published through Arcadia Publishing and still available. They are: Early Costa Mesa (2009) and Costa Mesa: 1940-2003 (2016). No Public services are planned at this time but it hoped that a memorial service will be held in 5-6 months when Covid is past us and public assemblies are again possible. Sympathy cards may be addressed as follows: Mary Ellen Goddard and Family c/o Costa Mesa Historical Society P.O. Box 1764 Costa Mesa, CA 92628 Kind Regards, Terry Shaw President, CMHS

If you squint a little bit you might imagine that we were back in the 70’s - 80’s for a minute with the Cannery in the background. This boat is Rainmaker, one of three Crystaliner 43’s ever built by the Norek’s. This boat has been in the harbor for over 40 years and, originally built for Woody of Woody’s Wharf, it still is in the minefield portion of the harbor. Kenny and his business partner are having this boat renovated soon, parts of the work to be done at the Newport Harbor Ship Yard. The diesel sounds great! Another Costa Mesa fiber-glassic.

Do you remember when the South Coast Plaza area looked like this? Painting by Scott Kennedy in 1986.

Did you see the Holland Families 09 racer this last weekend?

the Society is waiving dues for 2021 if you have paid your 2020 dues. please see the attached for details. if you have not paid your 2020 dues you may receive a letter shortly indicating the amount owed. we look forward to your continued support, without which we don't exist.

Costa Mesa was often called Little Detroit because of the fiberglass cars and the customized automotive businesses. Pepper tree is the one that comes up in conversation most often.

The Costa Mesa Historical Society Museum and the Diego Sepulveda Adobe are temporarily closed to the public, effective immediately, to safeguard the health of our visitors and volunteers. This page will be updated as the situation changes. We look forward to re-opening as soon as it is safe to do do. Stay well!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/NBB4OC/permalink/3620907657947961/?sfnsn=mo

Historical footnote: in an episode of Dragnet from about 1953 or 4 called The big casing, the husband who was suspected of murdering his wife mentioned that he had been an instructor at the Santa Ana Army Air Base which was located in Costa Mesa. By the way, the crime lab did their work and verified that the husband was telling the truth in that the wife had committed suicide!

Newport Blvd. & 19th Street . . 1995

The Pilgrim of Newport, (now Spirit), is floating beautifully in Dana Point Harbor at the Marine Institute. Dennis Holland built Pilgrim on his own property in East Side Costa Mesa. There is nothing like the legacy of a tall ship serving a community. .

Costa Mesa was Home to over 100 boat building businesses including Willard Marine. Willard, known most for the Vega, also built this schooner, Lively. Here is Lively sailing fast into the harbor.

https://www.latimes.com//viola-smith-costa-mesa-resident-a

https://www.facebook.com/576802805686507/posts/3878382255528529/?sfnsn=mo

Have you discovered the mural by Allyson Wong Fine Art yet? Allyson's work is very diverse and includes interior and exterior murals.

An interesting event via Skype by the OC Historical Society.

and another from harbor roller rink...

sharing...good page for those with memories of harbor roller rink...

Fiberglass boat building was one of Costa Mesa's earliest industries after agriculture. In addition to fiberglass, surfboards were also being shaped and glassed. Do you know of any other industries or surfboard brands that were started here? This ad is from "Dextra."

Costa Mesa has seen many restaurants come and go through the years. When I was a kid, it was a real treat to go to Loves and have a kids meal with grilled cheese and BBQ beans. What was your favorite that is no longer in town?

This sounds interesting!

In January 1985, our speaker at the annual installation dinner was Frances Munoz, Judge of the Orange County Harbor Judicial District. She was the first Hispanic woman judge in California. She is being honored at the local Spanish Heritage Month with a mural that is to be on a wall at 3001 Killybrook in Costa Mesa. The event begins at 9AM tomorrow -- Thursday, Sept. 17. Those who can go -- masked, of course, and distanced, are invited.

Captain Fred Bockmiller’s life as written by his family. The Captain had many adventures during his lifetime.