Join Us in June!

All this month, we will be sharing the value of the Orange County Historical Society and the reasons why we need your support!

We're calling it our June Jubilee, as an homage to the ladies of Orange who raised money to place a fountain in the Plaza back in 1887. That year, the June Jubilee featured all kinds of events, including a play "The Plaza: A Local Drama in Five Acts"which raised money not only for the fountain but supported the local library as well.

In this podcast, we ask for your support.  To make the case, we have included a portion of the late Phil Brigandi's last speech for the Orange County Historical Society. His final words to us express our mission perfectly... We hope you will join us in the preservation of our local history.

Click Here and Become a Member Today!


Listen to The Podcast Episode Here

Baseball in Orange County - Chris Epting

The Covid-19 Pandemic may have stalled the 2020 season, but that doesn't prevent us from talking about baseball!

When people think of baseball and Orange County, they usually mention the Angels... But Orange County has a rich baseball heritage that goes back to the late 1880's more than 100 years before the Halos came to Anaheim. 

In this episode, Ellen Bell talks baseball history with Chris Epting, author of Baseball in Orange County. Epting shares how Hall of Fame legends, Walter Johnson, Joe DiMaggio, Connie Mack and even Babe Ruth are all part of the Orange County baseball story. 

Click Here to Hear the Podcast 

William Pereira and UC Irvine : Alan Hess

When a new University of California campus was needed in the early 1960's, William Pereira (1909-1985)  was the man with the dream.

Pereira was the visionary architect and catalyst that brought the university to the Irvine Ranch and was the creator of the first master plan for the city that would follow.

In this episode, Ellen Bell chats with Alan Hess, architect, author and historian, about Pereira's vision for the campus and how this master plan has come to fruition. Hess is a champion of architectural preservation and is a member of the Board of Directors of Preserve Orange County. 

Click here to hear the podcast!

Making History

We at the OCHS are used to studying history. Today, we find ourselves right smack dab in the middle of it.

The Covid-19 Pandemic and subsequent quarantine is changing the world as we know it. All around us, people are adapting to this new "normal," and we at the Orange County Historical Society are no exception.

In an effort to stay in touch with our members and to continue our mission of sharing local history with the community, we are launching this podcast - Vintage Orange.

Each episode will feature discussion of local history with the experts; authors, historians, and first-person witnesses. The first episodes will be former interviews from an earlier radio program on KUCI 88.9FM;  the UC Irvine station. In time, we will be recording new content as well to keep things current.

We hope you take a moment and listen...what else do you have to do right now?

Be well...
OCHS

NEW PODCAST: The History of Knott's Ghost Town : Phil Brigandi

Welcome to our very first OCHS podcast on Vintage Orange. It is fitting that our first interview be with one of the very best : Phil Brigandi. Phil's untimely passing in December of 2019 has been an incalculable loss for Orange County history lovers and we miss him dearly. Hopefully, hearing Phil's signature voice will be a happy reminder.

In 2016, I spoke with Phil about the 75th Anniversary of Knott's Berry Farm's Ghost Town attraction. It was one of his favorite topics....enjoy and please stay tuned for more podcasts in the future!

Ellen Bell
OCHS

Click Here to Listen to the Podcast Episode!