In Santa Ana, always struggling to shine amid its tonier Orange County neighbors, the historical society has found a way to get people to think differently about the city -- by recalling its rich past.
On tours of the city's downtown, a guide takes visitors back to the turn of the century, when the city was a regional center of money and power and the United States was a different place as well.
On one recent expedition, guide Tim Rush reminds visitors of a time when Santa Ana got more respect and was chosen as the place to construct lavish homes and buildings.
Rush, a member of the Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society and a longtime city resident, tells visitors that many of the structures they'll see were built when "paper clips, picture postcards, safety razors, ice cream cones and the yellow pages were among the newest fads" in the early 1900s.
After several unsuccessful attempts to separate from Los Angeles County, Orange County was formed in 1889, and Santa Ana became the county seat. City founder William H. Spurgeon was elected chairman of the Board of Supervisors. Although it is not the oldest municipality in Orange County, Santa Ana was flooded with commerce, and wealthy merchants lived in spacious homes nearby. That makes downtown Santa Ana a favorite among local historians.
"If you are looking for historic buildings, Santa Ana has more than other cities in Orange County. That it was the county seat gives it an edge," said Orange County historian Jim Sleeper. Comparing it to the hubbub New York City, he said, "Fourth and Main was like Broadway and 42nd Street for Orange County. Some buildings have been modified with new facades, but underneath there's history."
These days, a trip to downtown for many county residents is usually for official business in one of its courthouses or governmental buildings. But only recently has the area begun to live down a reputation for crime and urban decay and, increasingly, its streets are dotted with restaurants, shops and galleries.
The 31-year-old historical society, which has 375 members, has sought to maintain old buildings, often taking positions on development proposals, such as one for a 37-story office tower that it opposed.
On the first Saturday of each month, Rush's three-hour walking tour begins at 2:30 p.m. at 120 Civic Center Drive, the historic Queen Anne-style Howe-Waffle House. The building is named after Willella Howe-Waffle, one of the county's first female doctors.
