A Conversation with L. Byron Culver

L. Byron Culver and cousin Dottie Haskell

Irvine History Today, January 27th, 2016

The Culver Family were early pioneers on the Irvine Ranch. Fred Culver was one of James Irvine's most successful tenant farmers and his impressive home at Culver's Corner was a local landmark.
Willard Culver ran the Blacksmith Shop (1909) that still stands in Old Town Irvine..now Knollwood Restaurant. Willard was wounded in pursuit of the Tomato Springs bandit in 1912.

This week's show features a conversation with L. Byron Culver, grandson of Willard Culver. He has done extensive research into his family's history and shares some unique stories of their time on the Irvine Ranch.

Willard Culver (left)  and sons

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Old Town Irvine

Irvine History Today  Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Old Town Irvine is the city's own historic district located at Sand Canyon and the 5 Freeway. 

Before Irvine was a large, master-planned city it was the 110,000 acre Irvine Ranch. Old Town Irvine is the collection of preserved buildings that made up the area's crop storage and shipment center. In other words, it was Irvine's first "downtown." 

The week's guest,  Irvine Historical Society docent Mary Susa,  describes the monthly tours that she leads through Old Town Irvine and why its preservation is so important.

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William Pereira and the Master Plan for UCI

Irvine History Today: Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Few others have had more influence over the creation and design of UCI than William Pereira, the architect who devised its master plan. 

This week's show will feature a conversation with architect and historian Alan Hess about Pereira's forward-thinking vision for campus life at UCI and how it is still apparent today. 

Alan Hess is the author of nineteen books on Modern architecture and urbanism in the mid-twentieth century and is a local authority on William Pereira and his influence on the development of Irvine.

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Irvine History Today #1 Chris Jepsen - OC Archives 1-6-16

Chris Jepsen, Assistant Archivist at the Orange County Archives and "OC Answer Man" for Orange Coast Magazine shares his thoughts on the importance of local history preservation. Make sure to check out his excellent local history blog, OC History RoundUp

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And so it begins...

This week on Irvine History Today,  Ellen Bell will be joined by Barbara DeMarco Barrett of KUCI's "Writers on Writing Program." Ellen will discuss her inspiration for the show, her passion for local history and her determination to preserve Irvine's heritage for the future. Orange Coast Magazine's "Mr. Answer Man," Chris Jepsen, will also call in to discuss the importance of local preservation.