- Riverside County's Regional Parks
Currently researching
and writing the history behind 19 of the County's most well-known and
best-used regional parks. These include Bogart Park, Box Springs
Park, Crestmore Manor (Park District Headquarters), Gilman Historic Ranch
and Wagon Museum, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Hurkey Creek Park,
Idyllwild Park, Jensen/Alvarado Historic Ranch, Kabian Park, Lake Cahuilla
Recreation Area, Lake Skinner Recreation Area, Lawler Lodge, Louis
Robidoux Nature Center, Martha McLean/Anza Narrows Park, Mayflower Park,
McCall Memorial Park, Rancho Jurupa Park, San Timoteo Schoolhouse, and the
Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve.
- The Pines-to-Palms Highway
Researching the
reasons behind and the construction of the Pines-to-Palms Highway,
Riverside County's original scenic highway. Begun in 1929 and
finished at the height of the Great Depression, this road symbolizes the
early Zeitgeist of doing whatever was needed to draw visitors and tourists
to an area, namely the desert and mountain area of the County. It's
also indicative of the times, when people came together for the good of
the community, not just themselves as is so prevalent today.
- The Incorporation of Cabazon
This is a fascinating
story of how a small town was talked into incorporating in 1955 to allow
card room-style gambling. The main player, Jerry Kosseff, typified
the slick Hollywood investor set and masterminded the scheme, only to have
it die on the vine for a number of reasons.
- Poly High 100th Anniversary Project
In 2011, Poly High
School in Riverside will turn 100. I'm in the process of
interviewing former students and graduates about their times at Poly, what
they remember about school, their teachers, their fun time, and Riverside
in general. Would like to talk to as many students from the 1920s
and 1930s as I can at present, and will eventually take the project clear
through today. Eventually this will become either a publication,
display, or ??
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