McCOY-HARE House on the grounds of the Westminster Museum (OC Tribune photo).

By Declan McDaniels/Orange County Tribune

  “What was in your backyard 100 years ago?”

It’s an intriguing thought, and one that may not get enough attention. To think about how far our communities have come is both inspiring and daunting. One hundreds years ago, the world worked pretty differently. And 100 years before that seems ancient. But even though so much has changed, we’re not very far removed from the creation of the towns and cities that surround us. 

  According to long-time Westminster Historical Society member Diane Tollefson, this question of what our environment looked like 100 years ago is a primary reason why people should care about history.

At the Westminster Museum in Blakey Historical Park there are decades worth of invigorating history that give insight into what this land was like before our time. Located at 8612 Westminster Boulevard, the museum is operated by the Westminster Historical Society and contains relics from the beginning of the city’s founding and before. Westminster Historical Society Curator Steve Iverson explained that the buildings at the museum were moved onto the property to be kept preserved and to stand as a symbol of the city’s history.

THE SHUTTER SHAK

“Each of the buildings here was moved onto the property, it’s jointly owned by the historical society and the city of Westminster,” Iverson said. “We have three buildings here that are from the Warne Ranch, or Warne Farm… they owned the land that is now little Saigon. This building came over in 1989 to 1994, and it was originally in Midway City. It’s the Midway City Women’s Club building, built in about 1929.”

Westminster was once mainly farmland, and one of the biggest attractions at the museum is the plow, which at the time of its creation was said to be the largest in the world. Standing at 12 feet tall and 37 feet long, the plow is hard to miss. Westminster Historical Society Director Nick Popadiuk explained that the plow was a challenge to maneuver, and that it was made in response to a flood that was affecting the farmland.

   “The Post family were neighbors to the Warnes, and they built the world’s biggest plow. It dug a six foot plus furrow, and a lot of times it would be pulled by three, but if you wanted to get through the field in a hurry, you’d get five tractors to pull it. This thing weighs like 10 or 11 tons,” Popadiuk said. “It was built because the Santa Ana River flooded, and all of the farmland… silt was everywhere. The land was valuable enough to spend the effort to turn the ground over.”

While the plow might be the most noticeable attraction at the museum, the McCoy-Hare House is one of the oldest. It was built on Westminster Avenue in 1874, and according to Tollefson and it might be the last building in existence from this time.

“It was the original pharmacy in the town, and it’s probably the only building that we know of that is still extant from that 1870s period when Westminster Colony was founded,” Tollefson said.

Another prominent sight on the grounds of the museum is the Shutter Shak, which is shaped like a film camera and acted as a shop to develop and purchase film.

“This is an example of California crazy architecture, buildings that look like objects,” Popadiuk said. “You drove up to this place, dropped it off here, and the guy took it. It was in a parking lot at a store. They had film for sale, and they were taking film to develop.”

While Westminster may get recognition for its big machinery or its buildings shaped like objects, there is much additional context about the city that is momentous in the broader scope of society. Arguably the most famous historical account to come out of Westminster is the 1947 Mendez vs. Westminster case, which challenged segregation in schools. The judge ruled in favor of the Mendez family, leading to the end of school segregation in California and setting the stage for the well-known 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case.

“We had segregated schools, not just in Westminster or Orange County, all over. There was this one couple who had it up to here. Mr. and Mrs. Mendez,” Tollefson said. “It was the first step in the nation where they fought for desegregation in schools.”

The museum is full of authentic artifacts, and it’s always looking for newcomers that are passionate about history. Tollefson reflected on the fact that most of the members associated with establishing the Westminster Historical Society are no longer living, explaining the need for young people to get involved.

“I just looked at a list the other day from 1975 of all the people who are members, and there must have been 40 or 50 people. I was only 32, all of these people were old, 60, 70, 80 years old. I’m the only one living off of that whole list. So I’m the oldest continuing member of the historical society,” Tollefson said. “We look for young people, because you need to have young people.”

The Westminster Museum is a staple in the city, and its longstanding efforts to sustain a connection to history is an important part of the community. Young people who are captivated by history are profoundly encouraged to get involved and continue the bridge that has been created from the past to the present. Visiting hours for the museum are 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month.