Lining up for the Flag Day Parade…starts at 10 am in the La Mesa Village. Join the fun! #flagday

What is it Wednesday? Any guesses? This is on the back porch at the McKinney House Museum. #WhatIsItWednesday #historylovers

50 Facts about the La Mesa History Center #18: Four Hole Outhouse on the LMHC Property

Sticking with the topic of "structures on the La Mesa History Center property," the small wooden structure between the lemon trees on the south side of the lot has a surprising history. While it is currently used as a storage shed for gardening supplies and paint cans, it started its existence as a four hole outhouse! The La Mesa Historical Society received it as a gift from the Spring Valley Historical Society (SVHS) in 1977. Information from Spring Valley indicated that it was build in 1890 when a lemon ranch was established in the area. A family by the name of Bussey either owned the ranch or acquired it by 1895. By the 1920s it was purchased by Richard and Grace McGowan, who operated a turkey farm there. The McGowans retained the property until the mid-1960s when Caltrans purchased the land for a planned interchange of State Highways 94 and 125. Caltrans donated the outhouse to the SVHS at that time and mained it at the Bancroft Ranch House property. Ultimately by the late 1970s the SVHS decided they were not in a position to restore the structure and donated it to La Mesa with the goal that it could be restored along with the McKinney House. On July 8, 1977, LMHS member (and La Mesa fireman) Jim Orsborn and a group of volunteers from the Fire Department and the Explorer Scouts transported the outhouse in a pickup to the McKinney House property. There is was eventually restored - a replacement door was added and the roof was reshingled - and it was placed on its current permanent foundation. Restoration did take some time (and funding) - the attached pictures dated "circa 1984" and feature Board members Karna Webster and Donna Regan standing in front of the building.

(Adapted from the article by Donna Regan in the September 15, 1977 Lookout Ave. newsletter)

50 Facts about the La Mesa History Center #17: Thelma Vandetta Palermo Building
The La Mesa Historical Society formed a Building Committee in February, 1987 to deal with a space issues within the McKinney House. The Committee members included Lloyd Donahoo, Beatrice Acers, Pat Kettler, Donna Regan, Nadine Washburn, Dennis Tuttle and James Hart. The committee identified three goals:

1. Further develop and improve the McKinney House as a museum by expanding exhibit space to provide a more educational and interesting experience for the visitor.
2. Provide needed work space for the Society's programs and for the fundraising activities which support them, such as the work of the Quilters, a major source of income. Activities would include Directors' and committee meetings, work on collections, exhibits, and publications, and research.
3. Create a safe storage area for the society's collections.

To address the second goal, committee member and architect Dennis Tuttle designed a workroom to match the existing McKinney garage (now used for archival storage behind the Palermo Building) and the McKinney house. A fund-raising campaign kicked into gear in August, 1987 and construction of the building began with a ground-breaking ceremony in the spring of 1989. The workroom was completed in August of that year and the original entry featured two sets of French doors. In honor of her generous contributions to the Society and to the Building Fund, the Building was named the Thelma Vandetta Palermo Building. The Palermo Building continues to be the hub of archival research for the LMHC (although one set of French doors have been replaced with a wall to provide more storage space) and is open every Saturday from 1 pm to 4 pm.

Where is it Wednesday? Specifically tell us where this La Mesa building is/was located and what you know about it. #WhereIsItWednesday #justguess

50 Facts about the La Mesa History Center #16: Oldest documents in our collections

While La Mesa was incorporated as a city in 1912, the La Mesa History Center hold records from even earlier in the history of the area. A few of these older documents were donated at the end of 2024 and are pictured here. The first was a La Mesa Dramatic Club and Dance program from October 18, 1894. The next two were related to the La Mesa Grammar School's Class of 1895: the Grammar School Diploma of Rupert N. Parks and the Second Annual Commencement Program for La Mesa Grammar School Class of 1895. The LMHC also received a copy of the graduation essay on Transportation that Parks wrote and that is referenced in the program.

WHAT IS IS WEDNESDAY - As we head into summer we are pulling out some of the items from our closet. Tell us what you think this is. Look closely. #WhatIsItWednesday #historylovers #vintagestyle

50 Facts about the La Mesa History Center #15: Collection Highlight - Preserving the history of military service in La Mesa

On this Memorial Day we take a moment to remember the sacrifice of those who have given so much for our country. Within the History Center's collections are many documents and artifacts that bear testimony to this service. The latest additions to these collections include digitized copies of the letters and military documents of William Arthur Emmons, father of the long-time LMHC volunteer Charlene Craig. Emmons served as a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force during the Second World War. Today we remember his service and that of all the La Mesa who have served their nation. The La Mesa History Center is honored to preserve their memory.

50 Facts about the La Mesa History Center #14 - Lloyd Earl Donahoo

Lloyd Donahoo was the first president of the La Mesa Historical Society. Born on Christmas Day, 1918, to Roy Thomas Donahoo and Frances Althea Bryant Donahoo, Lloyd was a gatherer of stories who loved to share tales of growing up in La Mesa, including writing a recurring column of remembrances in the La Mesa Scout in the early 1980s. He was a paper boy, a member of the "Turtle Creek Gang" and a Boy Scout in Troop No 5.

After graduating from Grossmont High School, Lloyd was an apprentice at his father's plastering company. In 1940 he joined the La Mesa Police Department before serving as a Radioman 1st class on the SS Morning Light in the South Pacific starting in 1942. After returning to La Mesa following World War II, Lloyd rejoined the police department for a few years before he returned to plastering work. In 1964 he went back to school for a teaching credential and went on to teach at Grossmont High until he retired from teaching in 1980. Not one to sit still, Lloyd started another career in retirement , becoming a tour guide for travel agencies.

In his personal life, Lloyd married Jane Ann Coolidge on September 23, 1939 (March 16, 1920 - March 27, 2000). The couple had two sons, Michael and Roy. Lloyd passed away on March 16, 1991.