Can you hear the crack of the bat? This is a tricky one. Where and when was this taken? #whereisitwednesday #summerfun☀️😎

DON'T MISS IT! SILENT MOVIE NIGHT RETURNS! GET YOUR TICKETS NOW!
THIS SATURDAY JULY 18TH 6:30pm at TRINITY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH,
3902 KENWOOD DRIVE, SPRING VALLEY.
Experience La Mesa's Pioneering Movie History with two one-reel 1911 locally-made silent movies and a 1916 Douglas Fairbanks feature, all accompanied by organist Russ Peck on the San Diego Theater Organ Society's historic Wurlitzer 4/24 Theater Pipe Organ!!!
Historian Jim Newland will open with a short history of legendary director Allen Dwan and the Flying A film troupes time in La Mesa 1911-12.
Tickets at lamesahistory.com
$25 per ticket, $20 for LMHC and TOSSD members.

Join us tonight at 7 pm on the patio at Bougie's (4679 Date Ave) for a glass of wine and a talk about local history. #historyisfun #lamesavillage

Buy tickets now at lamesahistory.com #silentmovie #lamesa #blackandwhitefilms

Happy 250th Anniversary to the USA!
La Mesa History Center shares this iconic photo of the La Mesa Springs 4th of July Celebration of 1911. This photo taken at the corner of Spring Street and Lookout Ave (now La Mesa Blvd), is taken less than one year from the City of La Mesa's incorporation in February 1912, and shows the efforts of the citizens of the small, but growing rural/suburban community of roughly 700 citrus farmers, businessmen, developers, and residents demonstrating their pride for our amazing nation and their burgeoning community.
We hope that this special 250th anniversary 4th of July finds you celebrating with family, friends, and all of the Greater La Mesa community--along with our great nation.

Special thanks to our Members, Supporters and Partners who help us provide interesting, accurate and relevant history and events.
NOTE: THAT THE MCKINNEY HOUSE MUSEUM AND CENTER'S RESEARCH ARCHIVES WILL BE CLOSED TODAY, JULY 4TH IN OBSERVANCE OF THE HOLIDAY.

Don't Miss Our Upcoming Events:
Hot Summer History Nights at Bougies' Cheese Shop (4679 Date Ave, La Mesa)
Thursday July 9th, 7-8pm: Historian Jim Newland will present "How La Mesa Became La Mesa"

Saturday July 18th: Silent Movie Night Returns!
6:30pm at Trinity Church, 3902 Kenwood Drive, Spring Valley.
Tickets $25, $20 for LMHC and TOSSD members.
Available at lamesahistory.com
The program will feature San Diego organist Russ Peck accompanying two locally-made 1911 Flying A one-reelers and a 1916 silent film superstar Douglas Fairbanks' feature on a historic Theater Pipe Organ. Historian Jim Newland will open with a short presentation on the Flying A Company's history in La Mesa.
Tickets $25, $20 for LMHC and TOSSD members.
Available at lamesahistory.com

La Mesa has been a vibrant village for many years. Where is this and can you guess the year? #WhereIsItWednesday #lamesavillage

This is almost sold out. Get your tickets at https://lamesahistory.com/event/silent-movie-night/

Happy 100th Birthday Rolando!
The original Rolando subdivision opened for sale on June 27, 1926. A group of Los Angeles and San Diego-based developers had big plans for their 505 acre project set between the State, and then US Highway 80 (El Cajon Blvd) and the recently paved University Avenue extension from East San Diego to La Mesa.
The early years of Rolando (1926-29) would see five subdivision units graded and paved. Designed by Los Angeles landscape architect Theodore Meier, the tract featured cutting-edge suburban design with sidewalks, street lights, curved streets and pedestrian walkways of the "rolling lands" (in actuality cut-canyons on a mesa) that is the origin of the name Rolando = "rolling lands-o."
Although only a dozen or so houses were built in the 1920s, (then after a decade in foreclosure), the Rolando Village Company re-opened the tract in 1939. Thus the generalization that Rolando features 1920s streets and 1940s houses.
The story of course is far more interesting, and also features small tract house sections and other highlights of the evolution of this stable and comfortable suburban neighborhood.
Historian Jim Newland's Rolando Centennial History Lecture of May 18th covers much of that legacy and will be posted soon on the La Mesa History Center's YouTube page.

This will sell out. Get your tickets at https://lamesahistory.com/event/silent-movie-night/